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Black Friday is undoubtedly the best time throughout the year to buy new parts for a gaming PC.
I think the part most people still get wrong, though, is the processor.
This is particularly the case for upgraders who haven’t been keeping up to date on thebest gaming PCs.
All the while, motherboard sockets, RAM generations, and product names can make things confusing.
AMD or Intel?
There’s Team Blue, known as Intel, who are perhaps better known.
Then there’s AMD, who we can call Team Red.
Intel’s CPUs tend to feature more cores and threads, but usually cost a little more thanAMD’s.
That’s great, because it means I get to try and explain it now.
I’ll use the example of theIntel Core i5-13600K, which is our current pick for the best CPU.
They also tend to be easier to cool down, but that may depend on your individual setup.
AMD’s naming convention works in a similar way to Intel’s, but still takes some explaining.
I’ll use the example of anAMD Ryzen 5 8600Gprocessor to walk you through it.
What will you use a gaming PC for?
The next thing to consider before choosing a specific CPU is what you’ll actually use it for.
If you’re in this camp, check out theIntel Core i7-13700K, orIntel Core i9-13900Kthis Black Friday.
When it comes to processors, that means DDR5-compatible options only.
However, that also means you’re gonna wanna check that you get the right motherboard.
you’re free to see why knowing this stuff before you buy can be really useful.
To avoid any weird incompatibilities, head for the options below.
Intel:12th, 13th, and 14th generations.
AMD:Ryzen 7000, 8000G, and 9000 processors are all DDR5 compatible.
Annoyingly, the Ryzen 5000 generation is brilliant, and can be found so, so cheaply these days.
AMD is still supporting it with new models too, so they can be especially tempting for budget buyers.
The good news is that the DDR5 generations are so much more affordable than they used to be.
As long as you find a motherboard with an AM5 Socket, you’ll be absolutely fine here.
If you aren’t up for buying new PC parts this Black Friday, that’s alright.
