Comparative characteristics of intel and amd processors. Comparison of performance of different generations of Intel processors

When choosing a processor from Intel, the question arises: which chip from this corporation to choose? Processors have many characteristics and parameters that affect their performance. And in accordance with it and some features of the microarchitecture, the manufacturer gives the appropriate name. Our task is to highlight this issue. In this article, you will learn what exactly the names of Intel processors mean, and also learn about the microarchitecture of chips from this company.

Note

It should be noted in advance that solutions before 2012 will not be considered here, since technology is moving at a fast pace and these chips have too little performance with high power consumption, and are also difficult to buy in new condition. Also, server solutions will not be considered here, since they have a specific scope and are not intended for the consumer market.

Attention, the nomenclature set out below may not be valid for processors older than the period indicated above.

And if you encounter any difficulties, you can visit the website. And read this article, which talks about. And if you want to know about integrated graphics from Intel, then you should.

Tick-Tock

Intel has a special strategy for releasing its “stones”, called Tick-Tock. It consists of annual consistent improvements.

  • A tick means a change in microarchitecture, which leads to a change in socket, improved performance and optimized power consumption.
  • This means that it leads to a reduction in power consumption, the possibility of placing a larger number of transistors on a chip, a possible increase in frequencies and an increase in cost.

This is what this strategy looks like for desktop and laptop models:

“TICK-TOCK” MODEL IN DESKTOP PROCESSORS
MICROARCHITECTURESTAGEEXITTECHNICAL PROCESS
NehalemSo2009 45 nm
WestmereTeak2010 32 nm
Sandy BridgeSo2011 32 nm
Ivy BridgeTeak2012 22 nm
HaswellSo2013 22 nm
BroadwellTeak2014 14 nm
SkylakeSo2015 14 nm
Kaby LakeSo+2016 14 nm

But for low-power solutions (smartphones, tablets, netbooks, nettops), the platforms look like this:

MICROARCHITECTURES OF MOBILE PROCESSORS
CATEGORYPLATFORMCORETECHNICAL PROCESS
Netbooks/Nettops/NotebooksBraswellAirmont14 nm
Bay Trail-D/MSilvermont22 nm
Top tabletsWillow TrailGoldmont14 nm
Cherry TrailAirmont14 nm
Bay Tral-TSilvermont22 nm
Clower TrailSatwell32 nm
Top/mid-range smartphones/tabletsMorganfieldGoldmont14 nm
MoorefieldSilvermont22 nm
MerrifieldSilvermont22 nm
Clower Trail+Satwell32 nm
MedfieldSatwell32 nm
Mid-range/budget smartphones/tabletsBinghamtonAirmont14 nm
RivertonAirmont14 nm
SlaytonSilvermont22 nm

It should be noted that Bay Trail-D is made for desktops: Pentium and Celeron with the index J. And Bay Trail-M for is a mobile solution and will also be designated among Pentium and Celeron by its letter - N.

Judging by the latest trends of the company, performance itself is progressing quite slowly, while energy efficiency (performance per unit of energy consumed) is growing year by year, and soon laptops will have the same powerful processors as large PCs (although such representatives still exists).

This material will compare the processor products of two leading manufacturers of semiconductor chips: Intel vs AMD. Their current computing platforms will also be reviewed, their strengths and weaknesses indicated. Well, in addition to this, possible computer configurations will be given.

The main current x86 processor sockets

Today, each of the leading manufacturers of central processors has 2 current processor sockets. At Intel it is:

    Socket LGA 2011-v3. This combined processor socket is aimed at assembling both high-performance personal computers for computer enthusiasts and servers. The key feature of this platform is the RAM controller, which can operate in 4-channel mode, and it is this important feature that provides unprecedented performance to processor products. It should also be noted that this platform does not use an integrated graphics subsystem. Only discrete graphics can unlock the potential of such high-performance chips, and the LGA 2011 - v3 processor socket is aimed precisely at using this class of computer components.

    Socket LGA 1151. This computing platform allows you to organize both budget-level PCs and high-performance computing systems. In this case, the RAM controller can operate maximally in 2-channel mode. Also, almost every central processor in LGA 1151 is equipped with an integrated video card that will fit perfectly into an office or budget system unit. In terms of performance, this socket is inferior to the previously reviewed LGA 2011-v3, but outperforms any of the AMD solutions. Therefore, if we compare Intel i5 vs AMD FX-8XXX, then the advantage, both in productivity and in energy efficiency, will be with the products of the first company.

In turn, AMD is actively promoting the following processor sockets today:

    The main computing platform for this developer of microprocessor devices is AM3+. The most productive CPUs within its framework are FX chips, which can include from 4 to 8 computing modules. The RAM controller in AM3+, as in LGA 1151, can function at its maximum in only in this case we are talking about support for the outdated RAM standard - DDR3, but LGA 1151 boasts support for the newest and fastest DDR4. Therefore, if we compare the latest Intel i5 vs AMD FX-9XXX, then even the flagship solutions of the latter will significantly lose in performance. Also within this platform there is support for an integrated graphics subsystem. But, unlike the sameLGA 1151The built-in graphics core in this case is part of the motherboard, and is not integrated into the semiconductor chip of the CPU.

    The most recent AMD processor socket to date isFM2+. Its main niche is inexpensive multimedia stations, office or ultra-budget computers. main featureFM2+ -This is a very productive integrated subsystem, which in terms of performance can compete on equal terms with entry-level discrete video cards and is significantly ahead of Intel products of this class. But the limiting factor on the success of this socket is the weak processor part of this semiconductor solution. Therefore, the use of this connector in the context of even an entry-level is entirelyunjustified.

LGA 1151. Main characteristics

This computing platform currently occupies a dominant position in the desktop computer market, and it is it that provides a significant advantage in the comparison of Intel vs AMD on the side of the former. And both in quantitative and qualitative terms. As noted earlier, it boasts the following advantages over its direct competitors AM3+ and FM2+: a built-in DDR4 RAM controller, the mandatory presence of a graphics subsystem and cache memory, which includes three levels without fail. The positioning of chips within LGA 1151, as well as their most important parameters, are shown in Table 1. If we make a direct comparison between Intel Core i5 vs AMD FX-9 XXX series, then in the vast majority of tasks the advantage will be with the first solution. There is nothing special about this: the latest generation of Intel chips was introduced in the summer of 2015, and AMD in 2012. Therefore, it is quite difficult for the latter’s processor products to compete with newer and more productive Intel products.

Positioning of chips within LGA 1151. Their most important characteristics

Name of processors

In which PCs is it best to use such a chip?

Main settings

Celeron. CPU models G3920, G3900 and G3900TE.

Office system units with integrated graphics.

Advanced 14 nm process technology, excellent energy efficiency, three-level cache.

Pentium. Model series processors G44XX and G45XX.

Budget PCs that can handle most common tasks.

Compared to the most affordable Celeron chips Level 3 cache and clock speeds have been increased.

Core i3 models 61ХХ and 63ХХ.

Basic gaming PCs paired with powerful discrete graphics.

HT technology support, which allows you to get at the level With ofta 4 software processing streams. Increased L3 cache and clock speeds.

Core i5 models 64XX, 65XX and 66XX.

An average gaming system or graphics station combined with a powerful graphics card.

Full 4 cores, dynamic CPU frequency control, even larger cache size.

Core i7 models 67XX.

The most productive gaming PCs, video processing and encoding stations, entry-level servers.

4 cores and 8 software processing threads. Maximum cache size. Adjusting the processor frequency.

System units for computer enthusiasts.

An unlocked multiplier allows you to significantly increase the speed of your computing system.

Processor socket LGA 2011-v3. Technical Specifications

Within this platform it is impossible to compare Intel vs AMD for the reason that this socket is unrivaled in performance today.LGA 2011-v3was originally developed as a server socket, but then a range of chipsXeon was supplemented Core i7,aimed at the segment of household PCs with unprecedented high performance.As was previously noted earlier, one cannot expect integrated graphics within such systems, and the RAM controller has 4 channels at once. Also, the undeniable advantages of this socket include the ability to install a CPU with 6 or even 12 cores, which also haveunlockedfactor. As a result, the productivity margin of such computing systems allows their owners will certainly not have to think about hardware requirements for the next 3-4 years. Intel vs AMD processors in context LGA 2011-v3comparison is unacceptable. There is simply a gap between them both in performance and in price. The latter for such PCs starts from several thousand dollars. But there is nothing special about this: such a PC is purchased several years in advance and has excessive performance.

Main parameters and features

It's not entirely correct to compare Intel Core vs AMD processor solutions FX.While the former are constantly updated and improved, the latter were released back in 2012 and since then there have been no changes within the AM3+ platform. As a result, the performance difference is simply huge.between these two platforms. AMD's flagship today can compete on equal terms only with the chips of the model rangeCore i3.All AM3+ processors have an unlocked multiplier, and, as a result, they can and should be overclocked. Under the most favorable circumstances, with such CPUs you can reach the 5 GHz bar. Also, this semiconductor crystal necessarily includes a 3-level cache. The RAM controller in this case is 2-channel, but, unlikeLGA 1151can't work with memoryDDR4 but only with DDR3.When compared with each other Core last generation, then the advantage of the latter in terms of performance will be very large.The approximate positioning of AM3+ chips in niches is given in the table below.

AM3+ chip positioning

Processor family name

Number of cores and modules

Purpose

FX-43XX

4/2

Budget and office PCs. Entry-level gaming systems.

FX-63XX

6/3

Mid-level gaming computers

FX-83XX

8/4

Graphics and workstations. Entry-level servers. The most productive gaming PCs within this platform.

FX-9XXX

8/4

Computers for enthusiasts.

Processor socket FM2+. The main platform for AMD hybrid chips

It is impossible to compare processor parts vs AMD A-series. These processors are aimed at solving completely different problems. The first of them allow you to create high-performance PCs, and the second - multimedia stations. But the situation changes dramatically when comparing graphics subsystems. Core i5, alas, cannot boast of a powerful integrated graphics subsystem, but the AMD hybrid chip is equipped by default with a video card, which even surpasses entry-level discrete accelerators in its capabilities. An important feature of this family of chips is that they are equipped only with a two-level cache memory.

Multimedia stations

Of course, within the niche of multimedia stations, it is possible to compare central processors such as Intel Core i5 vs AMD A10-ХХХХ, but this approach is not economically justified. Such computers place increased demands on the graphics subsystem, and are not so demanding on the processor part of the PC. It is precisely this combination of characteristics that the previously mentioned series of hybrid chips from AMD can boast of. Another important feature is their very low cost, which corresponds to 2-core CPU models from Intel. As a result, AMD occupies a dominant position in this highly specialized niche. The approximate configuration of such a PC is shown in the table below. The parameters of this computer will be quite sufficient for playing videos, listening to music, working in office applications, and even some toys will run on it at minimum settings.

Approximate configuration of a multimedia station

p/p

Name of components

Model

Cost, rubles

CPU

A8-7850 3.6/3.9 GHz, 4 cores, 4 MB L2 cache.

5000 rubles

Motherboard

MSI A78M-E35

3000 rubles

RAM

TEAM 8 GB DDR3 1600 MHz

2000 rubles

power unit

GameMax GM-500B

1200 rubles

Frame

I-BOX FORCE 1807

900 rubles

HDD

HDD 1 Tb 7200

2500 rubles

Total:

14600 rubles

Office computers

In this case, the comparison between AMD FX vs Intel will be on the side of the latter. It has very productive entry-level CPUs at very affordable prices. The Celeron chip will look most optimal within such a computing system. The approximate configuration of such a computer is given in the following table.

Office computer 2016

p/p

PC component

Model

Approximate price, rubles

CPU

Celeron G3900

2100 rubles

Motherboard

ASUS H110M-R/C/SI

2400 rubles

RAM

Silicon Power 4 GB DDR4 2133 MHz

1200 rubles

power unit

Delux 400W FAN 120 mm

700 rubles

Frame

Frime 165B

900 rubles

HDD

WD WD1600AVVS, 160 GB

2200 rubles

Total:

9500 rubles

Entry-level gaming PCs

Theoretically, within the framework of an entry-level gaming PC, you can also compare, for example, AMD FX - 6300 vs Intel Core AI 3. But the difference in performance in this case will be simply fantastic. Moreover, the winner will be the second CPU, which has only 2 real modules for carrying out calculations instead of the one that has 6 paired blocks.

Therefore, in any case, the gaming system should be based on chips from Intel. They are more expensive, but their performance is significantly better. Well, for gaming systems, the number of displayed images per second comes first, and here the difference between AMD FX vs Intel i3 will be simply stunning. The approximate configuration of such a computer is shown in the table below.

Basic gaming system components

p/p

PC component

Model

Price, rubles

CPU

i3-6100

6500 rubles

Motherboard

ASUS H110M

2400 rubles

RAM

2x 4 GB DDR4 2133 MHz

2400 rubles

power unit

GameMax GM-500B

1200 rubles

Frame

I-BOX FORCE 1805

900 rubles

HDD

1Tb 7200

2 7 00 rubles

Solid State Drive

128 GB SATA 3

2500 rubles

Video card

Radeon RX460

7000 rubles

Total:

25,600 rubles

Average gaming systems

Comparing AMD FX-8350 vs Intel "Cor AI 5" even on a mid-level gaming PC in terms of the number of frames per second output, we get a significant difference. In some cases the difference will be 20-30 frames per second. This is unacceptable in dynamic games. Therefore, it is most correct to assemble a mid-level gaming system only on a full-fledged 4-core CPU from Intel. Moreover, it is best to look towards the i5-6600 chip. It is in combination with the GeForce 1060 that it will allow you to get excellent “Gameplay”. It should be noted that the video card must be equipped with 6GB of RAM. Also, installing processors with an unlocked multiplier in such a system is not entirely justified. They are aimed at the premium segment and to work in tandem with a more expensive and powerful video card. Otherwise, the approximate configuration is shown in the table below.

Mid-range gaming system

Component

Parameters, model

Price, rubles

CPU

i5-6600

15 000 rubles

Motherboard

ASUS In 150-M

6000 rubles

RAM

DDR4 3200MHz 16Gb

12000 rubles

power unit

1000W

7000 rubles

Frame

Midi-Tower

2000 rubles

HDD

2GB, 7200

6000 rubles

SSD drive

256GB

5500 rubles

Graphics accelerator

GeForce 1060, 6 GB

20 000 rubles

Total:

73,500 rubles

No Compromise Gaming PCs

If even when comparing Intel Core i5 vs AMD the undeniable advantage is already on the side of the first company, then in this case, in essence, the second company has no analogues. For the last 5 years, the premium CPU segment has been confidently occupied by the products of only one company - Intel, and even a comparison of AMD FX-9590 vs Intel LGA 2011-v3 does not give any chance to the products of the first company. As noted earlier, Core i7 processors for the LGA2011-v3 socket are aimed at this niche. They can include up to 10 computational units, have an increased amount of cache memory and an unlocked multiplier.

But the key difference in this case is the RAM controller, capable of operating in 4-channel mode. As a result, the RAM subsystem in this case is faster, and worthy competition for such computers does not yet exist.

PC for the computer enthusiast

Component

Characteristics

Price, rubles

CPU

Core i7-6950 X

100,000 rubles

Video card

8 GB

50,000 rubles

RAM

32 GB, DDR4

25 000 rubles

Motherboard

X99

45,000 rubles

power unit

1000 W

16,000 rubles

Frame

ATX

2000 rubles

HDD

2Gb, 7200

8,000 rubles

SSD drive

512 GB

10,000 rubles

Total:

256,000 rubles

Graphic stations

Even within this specialized niche, a comparison between AMD FX vs Intel Core i5 indicates that the first company's products are outdated and inferior in all respects. The base chip for such a PC is i5-6400.

The approximate configuration of such a system is given in the following table.

Graphics station equipment

p/p

Component

Model

Cost in rubles

CPU

i5-6400

11 000 rubles

Motherboard

ASUS Z-170DE

5400 rubles

RAM

DDR4 16Gb

10,000 rubles

power unit

Aerocool VX-800

5400 rubles

Frame

Frime 165B

2000 rubles

HDD

1Tb SATA 3, 7200, 64 Mb cache

40 00 rubles

Solid State Drive

256 GB SATA 3

50 00 rubles

Video card

Radeon Pro2DUO

120,000 rubles

Total:

162,800 rubles

What's next?

The next few months will be very busy in the processor market. First, in January, Intel will update its lineup of chips and present the 7th generation of its architecture, codenamed Core. No fundamental changes are expected in this case. We will work on bugs, slightly improve performance and add some new technologies. Then, towards the end of the first quarter, AMD will finally release its new socket, which it will call AM4. In this case, the changes will already be revolutionary in nature. The chips will be produced using a new technical process, have an improved architecture and will feature new technologies. It is these Zen processors that will, in theory, restore parity in the CPU market. Only after this will it be advisable to revise the previously given computer configurations.

Results

Let us summarize the comparison of Intel vs AMD processor products carried out within the framework of this material. The only niche where the second company’s position is still strong is multimedia systems and PCs for budget and office use. Moreover, in the second case, Intel products look even more preferable. Another advantage that AMD can boast of is the lower cost of its products. But is it worth saving the same $100 and getting an outdated system?even by today's standards. This is already obvious: a PC is bought for 3-5 years, so in all other cases, when buying a new computer system, it is more correct to focus on comparisonspecifically for the products of the second company.

Best processor for gaming | Benefit reduction effect

Prices for high-end processors are rising rapidly, but the performance gains in games will be less and less. Therefore, it is hardly worth recommending a processor more expensive than the Core i5-7600K. Moreover, if you have a good cooler, this model can be overclocked to 5 GHz - if higher performance is required.

However, there are a small number of games that take advantage of Core i7 processors with Hyper-Threading technology. We believe the trend of multi-core gaming optimization will continue, which is why we've added the Core i7-5820K to the list. For most games, there won't be much difference between a Core i7 and a Core i5, but if you're the kind of enthusiast who wants future-proofing and strong performance in multi-threaded applications, this CPU may be worth the extra cost.

With the advent of the LGA 2011-v3 interface, there is every reason to build an unsurpassed gaming platform on its basis. Haswell-E-based processors have more available cache and four more cores compared to leading LGA 1150/1155 socket models. In addition, thanks to the four-channel controller, greater memory bandwidth is provided. With 40 Gen 3 PCIe lanes available on Sandy Bridge-E processors, the platform natively supports two x16 slots and one x8 slot, or one x16 slot and three x8 slots, eliminating potential bottlenecks in three- and four-way CrossFire or SLI configurations. video cards.

While all of the above sounds impressive, it doesn't necessarily translate into significant performance improvements in modern games. Our tests show very little difference between the $240 LGA 1150 Core i5-4690K and the $1000 LGA 2011 Core i7-4960X, even with three SLI graphics cards installed. It turns out that memory bandwidth and PCIe do not greatly affect the performance of current Sandy Bridge architecture systems.

Where Haswell-E really shines is in CPU-intensive games like Battlefield 1's multiplayer. If you're running three or four graphics cards, chances are you already have enough performance. An overclocked Core i7-5960X or Core i7-5930K can help the rest of the platform catch up to the extremely powerful video system.

Overall, while we don't recommend buying a processor more expensive than the Core i5-7600K in terms of price/performance (the money saved can be spent on a graphics adapter and motherboard), there will always be those who will spare no expense in the pursuit of achieving the best possible performance .

Best processor for gaming | comparison table

What about other processors that aren't on our list of recommendations? Are they worth buying or not?

These types of questions are entirely appropriate since the availability of different models and their prices change daily. How do you know if the processor you've got your eye on is the best buy in its price range?

We decided to help you in this difficult task by presenting a CPU hierarchy table, where processors of the same gaming performance level are on the same line. The top lines show the most powerful gaming CPUs, and as you move down the lines, performance decreases.

Proposed hierarchical table of various models processors Intel and AMD were initially based on the average performance of each in our benchmark suite. We've since added new game data as part of the evaluation criteria, but keep in mind that different games behave differently due to the unique nature of their code. For example, some of them are extremely dependent on graphics power, but others respond positively to more cores, cache memory, or even a specific architecture.

We don't have the ability to test every CPU on the market, so in some cases rankings will depend on the results of similar models. Essentially, this hierarchical table is useful as a general selection guide, but it is not a universal means of comparing different processors. For more detailed information, please refer to (English) or to the regularly updated section " Best CPU for Gaming: Current Market Analysis ".

You may have noticed that we have divided the flagship section into two levels processors and on one of them they placed several quad-core AMD models. Given that many older platforms can be used with several different generations of graphics subsystems, we wanted to highlight the highest-performance models to maintain a balance between the system and the video accelerator. For example, at the moment, any owner of a Core i7 of the Sandy Bridge generation will feel a significant increase when switching to Kaby Lake or Broadwell-E. And the flagship premises processors AMD's FX series being one step up from several Core i7s and older Core i5s means their status has risen.

Hierarchy of Intel and AMD processors | Table


Intel AMD
Core i7-3770, -3770K, -3820, -3930K, -3960X, -3970X, -4770, -4771, -4790, -4770K, -4790K, -4820K, -4930K, -4960X, -5775C, -5820K, 5930K, -5960X, -6700K, -6700, -7700K, -7700, -6800K, -6850K, -6900K, -6950X
Core i5-7600K, -7600, -7500, -7400, -6600K, -6600, -6500, -5675C, -4690K, 4670K, -4590, -4670, -4570, -4460, -4440, -4430, -3570K, -3570, -3550
Core i7-2600, -2600K, -2700K, -965, -975 Extreme, -980X Extreme, -990X Extreme
Core i5-3470, -3450P, -3450, -3350P, -3330, 2550K, -2500K, -2500, -2450P, -2400, -2380P, -2320, -2310, -2300
FX-9590, 9370, 8370, 8350, 8320, 8300, 8150
Core i7-980, -970, -960
Core i7-870, -875K
Core i3-7350K, -7320, -7300, -7100, -4360, -4350, -4340, -4170, -4160, -4150, -4130, -3250, -3245, -3240, -3225, -3220, -3210 , -2100, -2105, -2120, -2125, -2130
Pentium G4620, G4600, G4560
FX-6350, 4350
Phenom II X6 1100T BE, 1090T BE
Phenom II X4 Black Edition 980, 975
Core i7-860, -920, -930, -940, -950
Core i5-3220T, -750, -760, -2405S, -2400S
Core 2 Extreme QX9775, QX9770, QX9650
Core 2 Quad Q9650
FX-8120, 8320e, 8370e, 6200, 6300, 4170, 4300
Phenom II X6 1075T
Phenom II X4 Black Edition 970, 965, 955
A10-6800K, 6790K, 6700, 5800K, -5700, -7700K, -7800, -7850K, 7870K
A8-3850, -3870K, -5600K, 6600K, -7600, -7650K
Athlon X4 651K, 645, 641, 640, 740, 750K, 860K
Core 2 Extreme QX6850, QX6800
Core 2 Quad Q9550, Q9450, Q9400
Core i5-650, -655K, -660, -661, -670, -680
Core i3-2100T, -2120T
FX-6100, -4100, -4130
Phenom II X6 1055T, 1045T
Phenom II X4 945, 940, 920
Phenom II X3 Black Edition 720, 740
A8-5500, 6500
A6-3650, -3670K, -7400K
Athlon II X4 635, 630
Core 2 Extreme QX6700
Core 2 Quad Q6700, Q9300, Q8400, Q6600, Q8300
Core 2 Duo E8600, E8500, E8400, E7600
Core i3 -530, -540, -550
Pentium G3470, G3460, G3450, G3440, G3430, G3420, G3260, G3258, G3250, G3220, G3420, G3430, G2130, G2120, G2020, G2010, G870, G860, G850, G840, G645, 40, G630
Phenom II X4 910, 910e, 810
Athlon II X 4 620, 631
Athlon II X3 460
Core 2 Extreme X6800
Core 2 Quad Q8200
Core 2 Duo E8300, E8200, E8190, E7500, E7400, E6850, E6750
Pentium G620
Celeron G1630, G1620, G1610, G555, G550, G540, G530
Phenom II X4 905e, 805
Phenom II X3 710, 705e
Phenom II X2 565 BE, 560 BE, 555 BE, 550 BE, 545
Phenom X4 9950
Athlon II X 3 455, 450, 445, 440, 435, 425
Core 2 Duo E7200, E6550, E7300, E6540, E6700
Pentium Dual-Core E5700, E5800, E6300, E6500, E6600, E6700
Pentium G9650
Phenom X4 9850, 9750, 9650, 9600
Phenom X3 8850, 8750
Athlon II X2 265, 260, 255, 370K
A6-5500K
A4-7300, 6400K, 6300, 5400K, 5300, 4400, 4000, 3400, 3300
Athlon 64 X2 6400+
Core 2 Duo E4700, E4600, E6600, E4500, E6420
Pentium Dual-Core E5400, E5300, E5200, G620T
Phenom X4 9500, 9550, 9450e, 9350e
Phenom X3 8650, 8600, 8550, 8450e, 8450, 8400, 8250e
Athlon II X2 240, 245, 250
Athlon X2 7850, 7750
Athlon 64 X2 6000+, 5600+
Core 2 Duo E4400, E4300, E6400, E6320
Celeron E3300
Phenom X4 9150e, 9100e
Athlon X2 7550, 7450, 5050e, 4850e/b
Athlon 64 X2 5400+, 5200+, 5000+, 4800+
Core 2 Duo E5500, E6300
Pentium Dual-Core E2220, E2200, E2210
Celeron E3200
Athlon X2 6550, 6500, 4450e/b,
Athlon X2 4600+, 4400+, 4200+, BE-2400
Pentium Dual-Core E2180
Celeron E1600, G440
Athlon 64X 2 4000+, 3800+
Athlon X2 4050e, BE-2300
Pentium Dual-Core E2160, E2140
Celeron E1500, E1400, E1200

Currently our table consists of 13 levels. The bottom half of the list is mostly no longer relevant: these chips will demonstrate insufficient performance in modern games, regardless of the installed video card. If your CPU belongs to this half of the list, then the upgrade will really increase your enjoyment of the games.

In fact, only chips in the top five tiers can be considered suitable for gaming today. And in this upper part of the table, the meaning of an upgrade only appears if you choose CPU at least two levels higher. Otherwise, the improvements won't be enough to justify the cost of a new CPU, motherboard and memory, not to mention the graphics card and storage drives that you'll also be considering replacing.