The 5 best gaming CPUs of 2022

The microprocessor is the brain of your computer. Without it, it is impossible to perform all the complex tasks required of a PC today. Which model to choose in 2022 among the hundreds of references?

It seems like a long time ago that you could judge the performance of a microprocessor by its clock speed. The faster the processor, the more powerful it was. The equation was simple and all that remained was to arbitrate according to the price of the latter. But nowadays processors have several cores, physical and/or logical. Should we focus on absolute speed? Or the number of cores to perform these operations? What about the power required to run it, the famous TDP (thermal envelope)?

Historically, Intel, the American processor, has dominated the market, but in recent years the wind has been blowing in the direction of the American designer and manufacturer AMD. The latter struck a blow with its AM4 socket processors, offering an unparalleled price-performance ratio, allowing it to take over nearly 30% of the microprocessor market. But at the end of 2021, Intel is back with the Alder Lake processors, the twelfth generation of its microprocessors. So, which microprocessor should you choose to play video games?

Which high-end processor should you choose for your computer?

With the Alder Lake processors, Intel offers a hybrid architecture that mixes "P" cores for performance and "E" for efficiency. The "E" cores are lower performance cores dedicated (equivalent to 10th generation Intel) to background tasks. The Intel Thread Director technology assigns tasks to the right processors upstream of the Windows scheduler. This will make these processors perform well even under Windows 10. Today it is the master of the game for gamers.

1. Intel Core I9-12900K

For demanding gamers who want to run Battlefield 2042 with ultra settings at 144 fps you need a war machine, and the 12900k is the machine for you. 8 "P" cores and 9 "E" cores will allow you to run all games and stream them at the same time without any lag. Power user obliges, this range of processor is the first to support DDR5 as well as the PCI-Express of 5th generation. The cost is certainly high but it is a bet on the future. Overclockable to 6.5Ghz while remaining stable and at a controlled temperature.

Which mid-range processors should you choose for your computer?

An attractive performance/price ratio without compromising too much the configuration of the games we run.

2. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

As comfortable in single core as in multi-core, this processor can run most games without the slightest slowdown. 8 cores, 16 threads this processor has become AMD's best seller. The clock speed is 3.8 GHz and can be increased to 4.7 GHz by activating the boost mode. The basic TDP is only 105 Watts, making it an all-purpose processor with low power consumption. Its 36 MB of cache memory (L2+L3) allow to optimize the transactions between the games and the processor.

3. Processeur Intel Core i7-12700K

The 8 "P" cores for gaming and the creative part, and the 4 "E" cores for encoding and streaming make this processor the ideal candidate for demanding gamers who want to stream their games. With a 12700k it is quite possible to make the transition to the new generation in a partial way by keeping your DDR4 (be careful to take a compatible motherboard). This allows you to evolve without having to change your whole configuration and to limit the cost a bit. Excellent on Pubg, Cyberpunk 2077 or the very greedy Battlefield 2022, this processor offers a remarkable quality/price ratio.

Which entry-level processors should you choose for your computer?

4. AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

A processor that can run Fortnite at 92 FPS, League Of Legends at 199 FPS, and Counter-Strike Offensive at 127 FPS, all without even needing a dedicated graphics card? The Ryzen 7 5700G is the ideal solution for playing the most popular titles of the moment in 1080p. An undeniable plus at a time when the shortage of graphics cards is pushing them to show up with a very poor quality/price ratio.

5. Intel Processeur Core i5-12400F

This model, although it only has six "P" cores, offers an unbeatable price/performance ratio. Outperforming AMD's Ryzen 5600X in terms of power, this low-cost processor can run most games in 1080p without overheating. The absence of the "E" cores is painless, unless you want to stream your games, in which case it's best to go for a mid-range or high-end model.