Tom's Hardware, a trusted source for PC hardware reviews, has published a list of the top 12 CPUs to buy in April 2025 across different price categories:
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Best Gaming CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Offers unmatched gaming performance, even beating significantly more expensive models. Ideal pairing with GeForce RTX 5090 or Radeon RX 9070 XT. -
Great Gaming Alternatives –
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AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
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Intel Core i7-14700K
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Best Mid-Range All-Rounder – AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
A modern, cool, and energy-efficient chip great for both gaming and productivity. -
Intel Mid-Range Alternative – Core Ultra i5-14600K
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Best for AM4 Platform Holders – AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D
Features 3D V-Cache and performance close to the legendary Ryzen 7 5800X3D. -
Top Performance for Gaming + Productivity – AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
Matches Ryzen 7 9800X3D in games but far exceeds it in heavy workloads. Great for designers and video professionals. -
Alternative Productivity Powerhouse – Intel Core i9-14900K
Still delivers excellent performance in both single-threaded and multi-threaded tasks, despite being hot and power-hungry. -
Best Budget CPUs –
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Intel Core i5-12400
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600
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Budget-Friendly Gaming APUs –
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AMD Ryzen 5 8600G
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
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Source: tomshardware.com
