CPU
Ongoing coverage on CPU.
Latest coverage
AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D review - peak frame rates for under $300
The AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D offers peak frame rates for gaming on the AM5 platform at an affordable price point under $300. While it excels in most games, its performance is weaker in non-gaming applications.
ARM announces AGI CPU, its first company-made chip
ARM has announced its first company-made chip, an AGI CPU designed specifically for AI data centers. This marks a significant development in ARM's strategy to provide hardware solutions for the growing artificial intelligence market.
Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus review - the new sub-$200 gaming CPU go-to
The Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is a new sub-$200 CPU that offers significant performance improvements over its predecessor, the 245K. It outperforms AMD's price competitors, making it a strong choice for budget gaming setups.
Oops, ASRock says motherboards will support 'newly launched' AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 CPU that has definitely not…
ASRock briefly announced support for the unreleased AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 CPU on its AM5 motherboards via a press release, which was later deleted. The chip has not officially surfaced, leading to speculation about its release and potential benefits, especially for gaming.
Intel Core Ultra 270K Plus Reviews
Reviews for Intel's new Core Ultra 270K Plus processors, including the Ultra 5 250K Plus, are now available. These CPUs are part of Intel's Arrow Lake lineup, aiming to improve performance in gaming and other applications.
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus review: another skippable CPU series
Intel's Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus processors offer improved multitasking and efficiency over previous generations but fail to surpass AMD's current offerings or even Intel's own 14th Gen chips in gaming performance. While they run cooler and are more affordably priced, their gaming benchmarks are not compelling enough for an upgrade, suggesting potential buyers might consider waiting for Intel's next generation or opting for AMD's Ryzen processors.
I've put Intel's new Core Ultra 7 270K Plus to the test and it's good news all round
Intel's Core Ultra 7 270K Plus processor, part of the Arrow Lake Refresh, offers superb performance and a competitive price point, making it Intel's best desktop processor and a strong all-round chip. While it excels in content creation and offers excellent gaming performance, it consumes more power than other Arrow Lake chips and is likely the last processor for the LGA 1851 socket.
Intel's new Core Ultra 5 250K Plus is the best $199 processor I've tested
Intel's new Core Ultra 5 250K Plus processor offers exceptional value at $199, delivering performance comparable to higher-tier chips in gaming and content creation. While it consumes more power than its predecessor and sits on a dead-end platform, its strong performance-per-dollar makes it a compelling option for budget-conscious builders.
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus review - a surprise new mid-range gaming CPU king
The Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus is a new mid-range gaming CPU that features 24 cores and a significant inter-die clock speed boost. This processor is positioned to challenge existing offerings and re-establish Intel's presence in the gaming CPU market.
Nvidia's new Vera CPU has been designed for 'extremely high' single-core performance, but it's not…
Nvidia has unveiled its new Vera CPU, featuring Olympus cores designed for extremely high single-core performance and efficiency, primarily for AI servers. While currently not intended for PCs, rumors suggest these cores could power future Nvidia PC processors, potentially codenamed N2. The company also revealed its roadmap includes a follow-up CPU codenamed 'Rosa'.
Intel announces Arrow Lake 'Plus' desktop chips with more cores and clocks for less cash—and…
Intel has announced two new desktop CPUs, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, as part of its refreshed Arrow Lake lineup. These chips offer increased core counts and clock speeds at attractive price points, alongside a new software tool called the Intel Binary Optimization Tool (BOT) designed to improve gaming performance.
Morning Tech Bits
Intel has announced new processors, the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus for $299 and the Core Ultra 5 250K Plus for $199. Additionally, an article from TechSpot discusses eight tools designed to improve the performance and cleanliness of Windows 11.
Intel’s new, "fastest ever" desktop CPUs put their focus back on game performance
Intel has announced its new Core Ultra 200S Plus series of desktop CPUs, set to release on March 26th, with models like the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus and Core Ultra 5 250K Plus. These processors are specifically tuned for enhanced gaming performance, aiming to reclaim the gaming advantage from competitors like AMD's Ryzen 7 9800X3D. The new chips feature improved die-to-die frequency for reduced latency and are priced competitively at $299 and $199 respectively.
Nvidia will announce an x86 CPU in collaboration with Intel at its GTC event, according to one report, though Intel…
A report suggests Nvidia may announce an x86 CPU developed in collaboration with Intel at its upcoming GTC event. While some analysts expect this announcement, Intel's CFO indicated that such products are likely a couple of years away from market. The focus may be on data center CPUs rather than PC-oriented SoCs.
Best Gaming CPUs 2026: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X vs 7800X3D vs 9700X vs 9800X3D vs 9850X3D
This article ranks the best gaming CPUs for 2026, focusing on AMD's Ryzen 7000X3D and 9000X3D processors. It highlights their affordability, power efficiency, and performance, with specific testing of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, 9700X, 9800X3D, and 9850X3D.
Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X2 Arm CPU pops up in Geekbench and wallops the x86 laptop competition by over 30% in…
Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme CPU has shown impressive benchmark results, significantly outperforming current x86 laptop processors in single-core performance. However, its real-world gaming capabilities are limited due to reliance on emulation for most games and the use of integrated Adreno GPUs, which lag behind Intel's integrated graphics.
AMD's new gaming CPUs don't require a graphics card and are rumored to be arriving sooner than expected
New AMD CPUs with integrated graphics, potentially based on the Ryzen AI 400 series, are rumored to launch for the AM5 platform in the first half of 2026, possibly in Q1. These processors are expected to feature integrated GPUs capable of playing modern games and include NPU capabilities for AI workloads, making them suitable for compact PCs and workstations.
Best gaming PC 2026
This guide recommends the best gaming PCs for 2026, catering to various budgets and needs. It highlights top picks like the iBUYPOWER RDY Y70 R17 for overall performance, the Alienware Aurora for mid-range options, and the Corsair One i500 for small form factor builds. The article also provides detailed component breakdowns, performance benchmarks, and advice on choosing the right PC.
AMD Zen 6 guide - all the latest on the next generation of Ryzen gaming CPUs
The AMD Zen 6 architecture, expected to power the Ryzen 10000 series CPUs, is anticipated to launch in late 2026 or early 2027. Rumors suggest significant clock speed and instruction per clock improvements, with potential core counts ranging from 10 to 36. These new chips will support existing AM5 motherboards and will compete with Intel's upcoming Nova Lake architecture.
