Rating of budget processors 2016: TOP 7
Rating of the best budget processors 2016 main element gaming computer is a video card, however CPU- also has NOT the last meaning. And in the case of office, multimedia, educational and other not the most resource-intensive tasks, it affects performance even to a greater extent than graphics. The TOP of inexpensive processors in 2016 includes models that deserve a place in the assembly of a budget PC.
selection criteria
Price. The amount of 3000 UAH was chosen as the upper limit of cost to be included in the rating of budget processors for PCs in 2016. With a more expensive CPU it will not be possible to assemble an inexpensive and powerful computer, not even gaming-oriented.
Relevance. The rating of PC processors 2016 includes only those central banks that remain relevant at the time of writing. Outdated platforms, such as socket 1150 from Intel or FM1 from AMD, were not considered.
Value for money. To get to the TOP best processors 2016 is not enough for the Central Bank to be inexpensive and relevant. It is important that in its class it stands out from its competitors, and in its line it looks the most interesting.
Taking these parameters into account, 7 models were selected for the rating of budget processors 2016, the best in their class, or in general on the market. Each of the processors is optimal for a particular type of use, and is capable of delivering sufficient performance in the conditions of 2016 and early 2017.
TOP best processors for a budget PC
7th place: AMD Athlon 5150 x4, from 949 UAH
AMD Athlon 5150 x4
The 2016 budget processor rating opens with the cheap quad-core AMD Athlon 5150 CPU. This is the processor entry level, designed for silent multimedia and office PCs in compact cases. AMD Athlon 5150 is equipped with four cores operating at 1.6 GHz. The capacity of the second level cache is 2 MB. The processor is produced using a not very recent 28 nm process technology, but nevertheless the heat dissipation level is only 25 W. The central bank is designed for installation in boards with socket AM1 that work with DDR3 memory.
Based on the AMD Athlon 5150, you can build a cheap computer for simple tasks, such as working with documents and web surfing, as well as watching movies, within a budget of 5 thousand hryvnia for everything together. It is equipped with integrated Radeon R3 graphics, which is enough for multimedia and office tasks, although not enough for games. However, the same WoT on low graphics settings this processor able to pull.
6th place: AMD Athlon X4 860K, from 1914 UAH
AMD Athlon X4 860K
The next hero in the TOP budget processors for inexpensive PCs in 2016 is the AMD Athlon X4 860K. This is a more productive solution for those who need a computer that can handle games. It has 4 cores operating at frequencies up to 3.7 GHz, and thanks to the unlocked multiplier, it easily accelerates to approximately 4.5 GHz. There is a 4 MB cache on board the processor, and the chip is manufactured using a 28 nm process technology. The chip's power consumption is limited to 95 W. It is designed to work in motherboards for FM2+ socket and DDR3 memory.
The AMD Athlon X4 860K is a low-cost quad-core processor that's suitable for gaming systems entry-level, and also copes well with simple tasks. 4 physical cores give it an advantage over Intel Celeron and Pentium of a similar price category (up to 2000 UAH), but in terms of specific performance per core it
is significantly behind. Therefore this budget processor got into the TOP in 6th place.
5th place: Intel Celeron G3900, from 965 UAH
The first representative of Intel in the ranking of inexpensive processors for home PCs in 2016 is the Celeron G3900. It is positioned as an office solution, and although it is equipped with only two cores, their performance is quite good. They operate at a frequency of 2.8 GHz, the cache capacity is 2 MB. The chip is produced using a thin 14 nm process technology, so its consumption in reality never reaches the declared 51 W. In practice, it consumes from 10 to 30 W of energy. The Celeron G3900 is installed in socket 1151 boards that support DDR3L and DDR4 memory.
The processor more than copes with its office purpose. It is also suitable for games, but NOT the most demanding ones. To play normally, the built-in capabilities Intel video cards The HD 510 is clearly not enough (although it can handle WoT at minimum settings). But if you install something like a Radeon RX 460 into the system, this is even normal gameplay in GTA 5 or The Witcher 3 - a reality.
4th place: AMD FX-6300, from 2595 UAH
AMD FX-6300 made it to the TOP of inexpensive processors for PCs 2016 due to the fact that it is a “people’s” six-core processor and has long been popular. It cannot be considered an Ideal gaming solution, however, this processor is worth the money. Its 6 cores operate at a frequency of 3.5 GHz, and the cache size is 6 MB for the second level memory and 8 MB for the third. The chip is produced using a 32 nm process technology, so it is not very cold and emits 95 W of heat. The processor is designed for installation in motherboards with socket AM3 +, but is also supported by many motherboards with AM3.
Due to good compatibility with older boards, a large number cores (albeit not very powerful), as well as a spacious cache, the processor is quite good for its price. With Intel solutions (like the i3-6100), it lags behind in tasks that require fast cores, but where multi-threading is important, it holds the lead. In combination with a GeForce GTX1050 Ti-level video card, the processor is capable of running all modern games at medium and high (and sometimes even more) settings.
3rd place: AMD A10-7850K, from 2632 UAH
The AMD A10-7850K is in the TOP of the best processors for a budget PC in 2016 due to the combination of a good CPU and integrated graphics. In terms of the CPU, this is the same Athlon 860K, with four cores at 3.7 GHz, 4 MB of second-level cache and overclocking support. It is also made using a 28 nm process technology and consumes up to 95 W of energy. The processor is designed for boards with FM2+ connector and works with DDR3 RAM at frequencies up to 2133 MHz.
The advantage of the AMD A10-7850K compared to the Athlon 860K is the presence of a decent built-in video card. Its integrated core can even claim to be a gaming core, while this CPU costs only 700 UAH more than its counterpart without graphics. If you buy fast DDR3 memory in a set of 2 sticks, you can even play new games without buying a discrete video card. This is the main advantage of the AMD A10-7850K for those who rarely play, but sometimes can play tanks or ships. Some GTA5 will also work, but only on degraded graphics settings.
2nd place: Intel Pentium G4400, from 1480 UAH
Intel Pentium G4400
The Intel Pentium G4400 is not a processor, but a godsend for those who are looking for a cheap central bank to build a universal budget PC. With a price of only about 1.5 thousand hryvnia, it lags behind the younger Core i3 SkyLake (which costs about 3 thousand) by only 20-30%. The processor has 2 cores with a frequency of 3.3 GHz and 3 MB of cache memory. The chip is produced according to 14 nanometer process standards, and consumes up to 54 W of energy in theory, but in practice - only 20-30 W. It is installed in boards with socket 1151 and works with DDR3L and DDR4 memory.
In combination with a video card of the Radeon RX 460 or GeForce GTX 1050 level, the processor is capable of running all modern games at medium, high, and sometimes maximum settings. Only sometimes does the absence of HyperThreading have an effect, and in multi-threaded tasks performance degradation is possible. It is because of this that the Intel Pentium G4400 cannot be considered a full-fledged budget analogue of the Core i3. For an office or multimedia PC, the processor is good because it has Intel HD 510 graphics. Its capabilities are not enough for new games, but the integrated core is quite good for simple tasks.
1 place: Intel Core i3-6100, from 2999 UAH
Intel Core i3-6100
The TOP of inexpensive processors for PCs in 2016 is headed by the Intel Core i3-6100. This is a powerful dual-core processor, superior to all quad-core processors from AMD, and at the same time, characterized by low consumption. It operates at 3.2 GHz and is equipped with 3 MB of cache. HyperThreading technology turns 4 physical cores into 4 virtual ones, increasing performance in multi-threaded tasks. The chip is produced using a 14 nm process technology, and it consumes 51 W in theory (in practice - up to 30
Gaming is one of the most resource-intensive tasks on a modern PC, and there's nothing you can do about it. Despite the fact that the main component responsible for processing graphics is the video card, the CPU also significantly affects the FPS in games. If it is not productive enough, it will become a “bottleneck”, not allowing the graphics chip to develop to its full potential. Which processor is best for gaming in 2016 will help you find out the TOP gaming CPUs.
Processor rating: requirements and selection criteria
To be considered a gaming processor, the processor must meet a single criterion: be able to run games (your Cap). However, how well it should do this depends on the price category and positioning. After all, it is already clear that the capabilities of models for 100 and 1000 dollars will be “slightly” different. It is difficult to make a rating of processors by performance in 2016, since in different tasks the models exhibit different price-to-potential ratios. This is especially true in comparison different manufacturers(Intel and AMD). Therefore, our rating of processors is limited to models in the price range up to 15 thousand rubles.
The TOP gaming processors 2016 included only current models that meet the following criteria:
- Connector type. The list contains processors for games that are intended for installation in motherboards on the latest sockets that are current. “Antiquity” under 1155 or FM2 was not taken into account, since such CPUs are incompatible with new boards. It only makes sense to buy them in 2016 for an upgrade, if there is no need or finances to completely change the platform.
- Possibilities. Only processors that are well suited for gaming were taken into account. No matter how good the eight-core AMD FX-8300 is in multi-threaded tasks, in games it is sometimes inferior even to the older dual-core Intel Core i3, which is why it is uninteresting in its class. Although, in general, such processors are not bad, but compared to their competitors, they do not deserve to be in the TOP.
- Price/performance ratio. More powerful does not always mean better. It often happens that for a minimal increase in productivity you have to pay a substantial amount. If the difference in performance between two CPUs reaches 5%, and in price - 20%, it is clear that the weaker option will be more effective in terms of cost-to-feature ratio.
- Related costs. Saving on a processor does not necessarily mean saving on building a PC in general. Having reduced costs in one place, you may need to overpay in another. So, when buying an AMD FX-9590, it may seem that for 15 thousand you are getting a Core i7-level processor. But don’t forget that to use this chip, you still need to buy an expensive board (while the i7 works on any compatible motherboard for 4 thousand), a more powerful power supply and a high-quality cooler. Such CPUs also have no place in the TOP gaming processors of 2016.
TOP gaming processors for different budgets
The 2016 gaming processor rating includes chips that meet the above requirements and are optimal in their class. All models are selected taking into account the most attractive ratio of price, capabilities, and costs for assembling a gaming system.
5th place: AMD A10-7850K, from 6469 rubles
The AMD A10-7850K took 5th place in the TOP gaming processors 2016. This is a quad-core processor with integrated graphics, aimed at budget gaming PCs. It is designed for boards with FM2+ socket. Processor Equipped with a quartet of Kaveri cores operating at a frequency of 3.7-4 GHz, thanks to the unlocked multiplier it can be raised (4.5 GHz is not a problem if the PC case is not stuffy, but has ventilation). The cache memory size is 4 MB. The chip also includes an integrated Radeon R7 video core.
The AMD A10-7850K is a minimal gaming solution for 2016 that deserves attention thanks to its integrated graphics. Its four cores provide normal, but not very high performance. The built-in video core, in itself, is capable of running modern games only at low and minimum settings, but in Dual Graphics mode with a discrete video card Radeon R7 240 or R7 250 it shows much more interesting results.
The main advantage of the processor, which ensured its inclusion in the rating, was the built-in graphics. Thanks to it, you can build an entry-level PC when you are short of money, and later you can also buy an inexpensive video card. However, the processor potential is not very high. If the average settings are not satisfactory and you want more, the practical ceiling of a powerful video card for it is the Radeon RX 460.
4th place: AMD FX-6300, from 5250 rubles
The AMD FX-6300 took fourth place in the 2016 ranking of gaming processors for inexpensive PCs. This six-core processor has been known for a long time; several successors were prepared for it, but none of them became significantly better. AMD FX-6300 is designed for installation in AM3+ boards that support processor TDP up to 95, so it is very good for an upgrade relative to old system on AM3/AM3+. Although the processor cores operate at a frequency of 3500 GHz, it does not have integrated graphics. The volume of cache memory is 4 MB of the second level, and another 6 MB of the third. The chip also supports overclocking, the latest revisions are good at frequencies above 4 GHz, but this requires a good cooler and a normal power supply.
The number of processor cores is a compromise among AMD processors. If 4 is not enough, and 8 is already too much (and this is too much, since a Core i5 for the same money will be best choice), then 6 is the golden mean. With such a processor, you can use a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or Radeon RX 460 class video card to play new games at medium and high settings. It will only be able to handle anything more powerful in certain multi-core games, since the performance per core leaves much to be desired.
3rd place: Intel Pentium G4400, from 3550 rubles
The Intel Pentium G4400, like the AMD A10-7850K, is a minimal processor with enough capabilities for new toys. However, if the AMD chip takes the number of cores and integrated graphics as a bonus, then the strength of Intel’s brainchild is quality. It has only 2 SkyLake cores, moreover, without HyperThreading support. They operate at a frequency of 3.3 GHz; there is no Turbo mode that automatically overclocks the CPU. The cache size is 3 MB. The processor is installed in boards on socket 1151, with DDR3L or DDR4 memory. There is an integrated Intel graphics HD 510, but it’s not suitable for games, so you can’t do without a video card.
It is impossible to measure absolute computing power in games in practice, but if you believe synthetic tests, one thing is true Intel core The Pentium G4400 is stronger than AMD's two cores. Due to this, the processor almost never loses to quad-core (and even six-core) rivals from a competing company. For World of Tanks or World of Warships, this processor is absolutely ideal as part of a budget gaming PC. After all, these games are not very friendly with multi-cores, so the Intel Pentium G4400 is superior to six- and eight-core AMD, and even fully competes with the Core i5.
The strength of the Intel Pentium G4400 is its price. For that kind of money, you won't find anything better among new components. And if you consider that motherboards based on socket 1151 with the H110 chipset are also cheap, and DDR4 memory is almost equal in price to the outdated DDR3, this CPU becomes simply a godsend for the budget-conscious player. In tandem with the processor, you can install a video card of the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti level or
On this moment The following disadvantages of AMD in comparison with Intel can be cited:
- An older technical process, as a result, increased heat generation.
- Excessive number of cores that are not always used.
- Lack of support for new DDR4 RAM
For cooling eight-core AMD processors require heat pipe cooler
Other points can be considered insignificant and accusations of other “sins” are nothing more than nit-picking. And in the budget (up to 10 thousand) segment, even these 3 accusations cannot be called significant. Problems with cooling processors with a power of up to 100 W are a thing of the past back in the days of the Pentium 4; not a single best budget processor of 2016 is equipped with eight cores, and DDR4 RAM is still a bit expensive.
After brief overview All comments towards AMD, you can go straight to the point. The AMD FX-6300 review is intended to prove that the best budget processor for gaming in 2016 may well be a representative of the AMD brand. Of course, the newer FX-6330 could be considered instead, but there is no significant difference between them. At the same time, the “old man” is supported by a much larger number of motherboards, so preference was given to it.
AMD FX-6300 Review
AMD FX-6300 Key Features
AMD FX-6300 packaging
The AMD FX-6300 comes in the Tray package, that is, without coolers, in a regular box. It costs from 8 thousand rubles. There are also boxed modifications with a cooler, but they are about a thousand rubles more expensive. The characteristics of the AMD FX-6300 are as follows:
- 3 dual-core units with 2 cores each (6 cores in total), operating at a frequency of 3.5 to 4.1 GHz;
- 3 L1 cache blocks, 96 KB each;
- 3 L2 cache blocks of 2 MB each;
- Shared 8 MB L3 cache;
- Up to 128 GB of supported DDR3 RAM, frequency up to 1866 MHz;
- Bus with an effective frequency of 5200 MHz;
- Process technology 32 nm;
- Heat dissipation at 95 W.
Characteristics of AMD FX-6300 in the CPU-Z program
The AMD FX-6300 is installed in the long-known AM3+ socket, which may please owners of PCs purchased up to 5 years ago. Many motherboards AMD AM3 after BIOS updates“bulldozers” and “piledrivers” begin to support the latest version. And replacing 2 cores of some Athlon II X2 270 with 6 new ones is not a bad idea.
The processor case is traditional, with 942 legs and a cover that protects the crystal from chipping and improves heat dissipation. It contains the marking of the chip, the year the production of cores on this architecture began, data on the country of origin and a QR code.
Photo AMD covers FX-6300
AMD FX-6300 Features
The capabilities of the AMD FX-6300 are more than enough for operation. But since the chip is nominated for the title of “best budget gaming processor“—then games should become the measure of his abilities. For measurements we used gaming video card high level GeForce GTX 680 2 GB (a little outdated, but not inferior to modern mid-range solutions). Random access memory it was 8 GB, it worked at a frequency of 1866 MHz. Screen resolution is 1680x1050 pixels, graphics settings in games are the highest. Windows 7 x64 system and games were installed on a Kingston SSD. The already slightly outdated Core i3 -3240, which costs a little more (in comparison with it, the successors of the 4th or 6th series have become more economical, but their performance has hardly increased), and the quad-core AMD FX-4300 were also selected for the test.
Intel Core i3-3240 is the main rival of the FX-6300 in the test
Let's start with the mega-popular online RPG World of Tanks. The brainchild of Wargaming is distinguished by the fact that it was developed on the ancient BigWorld engine, which cannot work properly with big amount cores. The platform was created back in 2006, when dual-core chips were just spreading their wings, and quad-core chips were a novelty.
At maximum graphics settings, at a resolution of 1680x1050, the FX-6300 demonstrates from 31 to 61 FPS. For comparison, the Core i3 3240 produces from 37 to 60 frames per second (due to the powerful two cores), and the AMD FX-4300 from 27 to 45 FPS. That is, even taking into account the far from modern engine, the performance in World of Tanks is good and does not fall below the conventional comfort limit of 30 fps.
IN popular game Elder Scrolls series, Skyrim, everything is also good. With the same high settings and monitor resolution, the processor allows you to develop from 50 to 80 FPS. The FX-4300 shows from 41 to 72 frames per second, but the Intel Core i3 is noticeably ahead, showing a maximum of 106 FPS (minimum 70).
But in Prototype 2, the FX-6300 fully justifies the title of “best budget processor for games.” It demonstrates from 54 to 80 FPS, which is 5% more than the Core i3-3240 (older and costing around 10 thousand). The junior model of the FX series, number 4300, produces from 40 to 66 frames per second.
In Hitman Absolution, the best budget processor for games in 2016, the FX-6300, is also good. It produces from 45 to 56 FPS, versus 39-48 for the mentioned i3 and 33-41 for the FX-4300 model.
In Far Cry 3, the hero of the review once again had the last word. It allowed you to squeeze out from 64 to 80 FPS from the game. The competitor from Intel showed 60-75 frames, and the quad-core “little brother” - from 50 to 65.
The last game in the test was the notorious GTA V. This game is often considered the standard of a heavy application, in addition, it is a cross-platform project. The fifth part of the Grand Theft Auto series gains from 30 to 42 FPS, which is quite good. The Core i3 3240 shows parity, delivering between 32 and 41 frames per second. But the quad-core FX-4300 is not far behind: the minimum 25 frames per second is not particularly attractive, but tolerable, and the maximum is 36 FPS.
Minimum FPS values in games
Average maximum value FPS
Conclusion
The best budget processor for gaming in 2016, represented by the AMD FX-6300, fully justifies this honorary title. It demonstrates results that slightly exceed the average capabilities of the slightly more expensive and aging Intel Core i3 3240. The junior model in the line, called FX-4300, in principle also shows acceptable results, but in FullHD resolution the potential of this CPU will seem small. However, all 3 models are great for a budget gaming PC.