Best gaming CPU 2026

What is the best gaming CPU? Your choice of processor will fundamentally affect your PC's frame rates, so you want to make sure you buy the very best gaming CPU you can afford when building a new PC. It's your CPU that sets up the frames for your GPU to render in games, making it the foundation of your gaming PC hardware.  Our current top choice is the AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D. It's the fastest chip for gaming with enough power for other tasks too. Most gamers will probably want to opt for the nearly as fast but cheaper 9800X3D, though. Meanwhile, for a budget-friendly choice, Intel's new 270K Plus and 250K Plus are hard to beat. For more options, see the list below. Also see the "How to choose a CPU" and "CPU FAQ" sections for help learning what to look for in your next CPU, while the "Also tested" section includes chips we've reviewed that didn't quite make the grade.