Streaming games and other activities have become increasingly popular. It, therefore, comes as no surprise then, that streamers, gamers, and content creators are constantly keeping an eye out for new and improved streaming devices such as CPUs. But, selecting the best CPU for streaming goes beyond which processor has the most superior clock speed or raw power.

For high-end streaming at 1080p, a good CPU is one of the key factors in maintaining a lag-free and consistent gaming performance or stream. Luckily, you’re in the right place to get started because we’ve rounded up the top 6 CPUs. They’ll ensure you squeeze every last drop of performance out of your computer. Read on!

 

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1. Intel Core i9-9900K: The Fastest Mainstream CPU

If you’re on the quest for a product that’ll stream games, but you’re not picky on high-quality graphics, then the i9-9900K is your best bet. Furthermore, due to its efficient performance, this CPU has garnered the title as the fastest mainstream product. So, it delivers quick running without hindering your gaming or streaming experience.

The i9-9900K boasts unmatched per-core performance and is thereby renowned for having the most superior clock speed compared to its competitors. For instance, with an excellent motherboard in tow, this machine can soar to 5.0GHz for small workloads. Nevertheless, the i9-9900K has its weaknesses like overheating as a result of its numerous pores. So, you’ll need to shell out a few extra bucks for a decent liquid cooler.

2. Intel Core i7-8700K: Unrivaled Gaming Performance at a Fair Price

Providing topnotch gaming performance is a necessity for streamers that revel in data-heavy games with complex physics and AI. Fortunately, the i7-8700K does this and more. While it has four fewer threads and two fewer cores compared to its rivals, this machine punches well above its weight.

Remember, compromising on streaming performance for enhanced gaming performance can be a good thing. After all, it’s nearly impossible to be at the lead in data-heavy games without a lag-free gameplay experience and sufficient load times.

While the i7-8700K provides excellent overclocking, you’ll need to purchase the top cooling equipment, after which it can shoot up to 4.7GHz. You should note that this machine’s focus on gaming performance over streaming performance doesn’t indicate the lack of high-quality streaming. Thus, it has the uncanny ability to stream in 4K and up to 60FPS.

3. AMD Ryzen 5 3600: A Great Mid-Price Choice for Gaming Setups

Are you a gamer, streamer, or creative on the quest for a powerful yet fairly-priced product? Your search ends here with the Ryzen 5 3600. With a base clock of 3.6GHz, this machine is upgradable to a turbo speed of 4.2GHz. Armed with six cores and a 12-thread configuration that’s bundled with the quiet AMD Wraith Stealth, users can expect fairly good performance.

Designed with Fin-FET TSMC 7nm, the Ryzen 5 3600 provides unrivaled efficiency. And, it supports 3200 MHz dual-channel memory while delivering lightning-fast (more than 100 FPS) performance in the world’s most popular games.

4. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X: One of the Top AMD Options For Your Gaming Rig

Bursting out of the crop of AMD’s greatest processors is the 3900X that’s a fan favorite and with good reason. Right off the bat, it’s not blisteringly fast compared to other gaming-focused machines but, it’s right up there with them when optimized with the ideal settings.

The 3900X commands a robust price tag but is worth every buck because you get 24 processing threads and 12 cores along with a Wraith Prism topnotch cooler. This translates to an impressive performance boost on 3D gaming and busy workloads like video editing. Nonetheless, if you’re only concern is gaming, you’ll be pleased to learn that this machine supports 70MB of game cache that delivers unmatched performance.

As a cool and quiet machine courtesy of the top of the range 7-nanometer technology, it supports a maximum frequency of 4.6 GHz.

5. Intel Core i5-9400F: A Pocket-Friendly Machine for Intel-centered Builds

While the i5-9400F is faster compared to previous models like the i5-8400, it entirely sheds itself on the Intel integrated graphics, which doesn’t negatively impact gaming. While this processor doesn’t facilitate over-clocking, it’s a great choice that won’t dent your wallet.

So, you can channel your money towards a beefier motherboard such as the H370. However, a myriad of motherboards will happily run the 9400F at a turbo frequency of 2.9 GHz to a maximum of 4.10 GHz, which grants you no reason for concern with the low base clock.

What makes this CPU stand out from the crowd is that it comes with a cooler, which is a rarity in a barrage of its rivals. With six cores and six threads coupled with a memory bandwidth of 41.6 GB/s, the i5-9400F gives users value for their money.

6. AMD Ryzen 7 3700X: An Incredible Choice for Mid-range Gaming

While the 3700X slightly lacks on the powerhouse, it still has its perks. For starters, it has eight cores coupled with 16 processing threads blanketed with the AMZ Wraith Prism cooler. The 36MB of cache ushers in elite gaming performance, content creation, and unmatched multitasking in a remarkably balanced design for PC enthusiasts.

With DDR4 3200MHz system memory and a turbo speed of up to 4.4GHZ, the 3700X is a great option to consider if you’re comfortable with mid-range streaming quality. It also uses the cutting-edge nanometer 7 technology that delivers efficient, cool, and quiet operations.

Tips for Choosing the Best CPU for Your Gaming PC

It’s no secret that picking the ideal CPU for your custom gaming computer build can have you engulfed in a web of confusion with the vast assortment of models and specs of each. However, we’ve rounded up a few crucial factors that’ll make the selection process a walk in the park.

1. Overclocking

It entails pushing a CPU to its limit by forcing it to operate at speeds that surpass the normal specs. Overclocking can be an ideal way to squeeze more frames out of a gaming session. However, there are a few downsides to this practice. For instance, you have to know what you’re doing, or you may end up unintentionally crashing your system or worse frying your motherboard after pumping excess voltage through your CPU. Secondly, Overclocking demands an excellent cooling system in your rig to absorb the excess heat produced. If you’re in the market for a new PC, then you have free rein to slap down some extra bucks for a gaming rig that comes with an over-clocked CPU.

2. Cores

These refer to the processors found within CPUs and range from 2 to 32. However, most processors in today’s digital era have 4 to 8. Each core is a beast in handling its tasks as the others do the same. Unless you want to pull your hair out with a PC that’s operating at a snail’s pace, it’s advisable to buy a product that has at least four cores.

3. Clock speed

Measured in Gigahertz (GHz), clock speed refers to the rate at which a CPU’s chip functions. So, higher means faster. Most modern CPUs alter their clock speeds higher or lower depending on the task at hand and their temperature. Therefore, you’ll see speeds of minimum (base) and maximum (turbo). When it comes down to it, clock speed is more essential than the number of cores because greater clock speeds result in superior performance for your gaming computer.

4. Threads

It’s the number of independent processes that a chip can handle simultaneously, which, theoretically, is the number of cores. But, a myriad of processors has multithreading capability, which allows a core to produce two threads. AMD calls this Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT), whereas Intel terms it as Hyper-threading. More threads translates to enhanced multitasking and increased performance on heavily-threaded games and applications like video editors.

5. Intel vs. AMD: Which Is Better?

Intel used to be a no-brainer up until a couple of years ago. Nonetheless, AMD has upped its game, which means you can count on its current batch of CPUs. A multitude of tech pundits will still preach to you on Intel, having the edge over AMD with faster and more robust chips. But the truth is, unless you have unwavering loyalty for a particular brand, you can take your pick from Intel or AMD for your new build.

And, for reference purposes, both brands offer three levels of CPUs that range from the Core i7 and Core i5 to Core i3. I9 core processors are also available for those that don’t mind shelling out extra bucks for superior quality. Keep in mind that AMD typically supports backward compatibility, unlike Intel.

This implies that with a BIOS update in tow, you can put the 1^st generation Ryzen chip into a 2^nd or 3^rd generation motherboard and vice versa. However, while AMD achieves this by adopting one socket for its CPUs, Intel’s chips may vary in power needs and pins. So, ensure you’re getting the best or latest generation of motherboard and CPU that’s within your budget. It’ll make all the difference down the road.

6. TDP

It’s an acronym for Thermal Design Power and refers to the greatest amount of heat that a chip produces as stock speeds. And, it’s computed in watts. For instance, the Intel Core i7-8700K is armed with a TDP of 95 watts. So, you can ensure you have a CPU cooler that can handle this amount of heat dissipation, and your PSU can produce enough ‘juice.’

Nevertheless, keep in mind that CPUs put out notably more heat when overclocking occurs. Knowing what your TDP is, paves the way to purchasing the ideal power equipment to support your processor. Moreover, a higher TDP typically tallies with improved performance.

Closing Remarks

There can never be one CPU for everyone. So, by checking out our reviewed products along with the buying factors to consider, you’ll narrow down your search to a product that’s perfect for you.