Computer Hardware
Processors (CPUs)
- Buying guides
- 1
Graphics cards and desktop processors are where specification sheets are hardest to read. VRAM, board power, power connectors and card length decide whether a graphics card suits your monitor and fits your case; cores, cache, socket and cooler decide whether a processor suits your work and your motherboard. Our guides explain each figure and the compatibility checks that stop an upgrade going wrong. We do not run benchmarks ourselves, so any remarks about performance are based on listed specifications — for measured frame rates and render times, use independent benchmark publications.
As retailers are connected, every offer here is ranked by its total landed price — the item price plus standard delivery — with the time each price was checked. Some retailer links are affiliate links; a commission never changes which offer we label as the cheapest.
HOW
How to choose: processors (cpus)
- Computer HardwareChoosing a CPU for gaming or workCores, threads, clock speed, cache, sockets and coolers — how to choose a desktop processor for gaming, creative work or everyday use.Read the guide
- How we compareHow to read a price history and when to buyWhy a “was” price is not enough, how to read a price history chart, common price patterns and how HotWhatHow spots genuine drops.Read the guide
- How we compareDelivery costs, returns and the true landed priceHow delivery charges, free-delivery thresholds and returns costs change the real price — and how HotWhatHow ranks offers by total cost.Read the guide
How to choose
Choosing processors (cpus): what to look for
Three questions to ask yourself, and the specifications that matter for each answer.
1.What are you shopping for?
- A graphics card
- Match the card to your monitor's resolution and refresh rate, then check VRAM headroom.
- A desktop processor
- Check the socket, memory type and cooler before comparing cores and clocks.
2.What is your main workload?
- Gaming
- Fast cores and a large cache help many games; VRAM matters at higher resolutions.
- Video editing or 3D work
- More cores shorten render and encode times; more VRAM helps 3D and video work.
3.Do you have any constraints?
- Small case or limited power supply
- Compare board power and the recommended PSU wattage, and check the card length fits your case.
- No particular constraints
- A newer platform can make future upgrades easier.
Live top-3 recommendations, ranked against these rules, appear here once retailers are connected and processors (cpus) are listed.
Products & prices
Live price comparison is being connected
We are connecting retailer feeds through affiliate networks. When processors (cpus) are listed, every offer here shows its total price including delivery and when it was checked — and the cheapest is always labelled honestly. Until then, the buying guides and checklist on this page explain what to look for.
Processors (CPUs): common questions
Do you benchmark these components?
No. Our guides are based on manufacturer specifications and general product information. For measured performance, consult independent benchmark publications alongside the specification comparisons here.
Will this processor fit my motherboard?
Check the socket in the specifications against your motherboard's CPU support list. Newer processors may need a BIOS update first, and the memory type (DDR4 or DDR5) must match too.
How big a power supply does a graphics card need?
Use the manufacturer's recommended PSU wattage as a minimum, and check that your supply has the right power connectors for the card and that the card fits your case.
Is the cheapest listing always the best deal?
It is the lowest total price listed. Check the seller, whether the item is new or refurbished, and the warranty terms before you buy.