Best AMD Processor / CPU for Gaming 2018
Review of Top AMD Processors
When you are looking to get a new CPU, it can be hard to determine what you need since all of a sudden, words like cores and clock speeds are being thrown at you. We'll skip over the technical talk to help you determine what kind of AMD CPU you need. One of the better features to AMD processors is that they have integrated graphics which give you speeds sometimes double what you get from an Intel processor.
There is some controversy about AMD processors being good or bad for gaming. In my experience, it has boiled down to individual performance of each processor I've used. I will say that both Intel and AMD have processors better for gaming, and processors better for computing. I will say however, that the AMD processors I have experience with, have given me a bit better results over time.
You might want to look for AMD's second generation A-Series processors since they come with new Piledriver cores, faster graphics, better power management and an extended battery life. One thing I will say is that the more cores you have, the more you can multi task, and the faster it runs. One of the most important things you need to remember is how strong is the rest of your computer? If you have a weak hard drive and a not a lot of RAM, then you won't find a processor that will amaze you. Make sure your system is up to par to get the full benefit of the processor you want.
The Plus Side of AMD
Some benefits that AMD processors come with are that they run cooler in your system and are then more quiet and use up less power. They can sometimes be cheaper than their Intel counterparts and they support 64 bit extensions. Another good thing with AMD's is that their chips work on newer and older motherboards.
5 Good Gaming AMD Processors for the Money
AMD FX-8350
If you have your heart set on an AMD processor for gaming, then consider this AMD FX-8350. This processor has very good ratings and seems to be a popular choice among computer enthusiasts and gamers alike. You get up to 24% better frame rates in some of your most high end games and the resolution is amazing. Audio encoding is faster so you don't have to wait as long to listen to your music. It gives you up to 5.0 GHz and features the amazing cooling system that most AMD processors come with.
We play some hefty games in our household, like Battlefield and WoW; this CPU has been able to hold up under long gaming sessions with no lag that I noticed at all. This CPU is quick and actually performs at the level that it was made to. Many people settle for 1600MHz of RAM and this can affect the well the CPU handles large workloads; it was meant to run at 1866MHz of RAM. As long as you have a decent hard drive and decent RAM, this CPU will hold up under your expectations.
As with most AMD processors, this one runs quite cool and that is mainly because it features heatpipes which change the way it cools; even though the fan is very small, it does the job perfectly. For what you get in this piece of machinery, the price is such a good deal that you can't afford to pass it up.
Best AMD APU for the Money
AMD A10-5800K
While it's a few years old The AMD A10-5800K is still a good choice for an APU at its current price point. This machine gives you a multi core CPU and discrete level GPU so you get good computing power and high end graphic performance. The internal architecture has been redone to give you even better performance.
With this CPU, you get Accelerated Video Converter, Eyefinity Technology and HD Media Accelerator which adds more performance to your work and entertainment but does not affect your power usage much at all. It will detect when you are working, or playing, the hardest and adjust the levels accordingly so you get the performance you need, when you need it. This makes a very good processor to build around, mainly because it's so small, and it is more affordable for those on a budget.
The thing I like most about this processor is how fast it transcodes video; it also runs my security scans much quicker. If you want an even better video experience, consider getting an HD6670 video card to run with this CPU. At this point, I've been able to do some mild overclocking and get everything running at a good FPS even if the graphics aren't at their highest.
I have noticed that this chip is a bit slower than other similarly priced Intel chips, but the graphics are better so this isn't too big of an issue. This processor is really dependant on the hardware you place around it so make sure you have a minimum of DDR3 2133 memory, and a good graphics card like any Radeon. Honestly, this chip is very economical and the prices is amazing.
AMD Processor for Multi Tasking, Data Processing or Editing
AMD FX-6300
As another comparable CPU, the AMD FX-6300 6 is highly rated and a good value for the money. Transferring image files, at around 78MG, was done for me in about 15 seconds; I was pleased with the speed. You should be aware that this chip was not as great for gaming as some of the others we've discussed.
I also noticed that this processor ran a bit more warm than the others as well, but not warm enough to be a problem. I put this to the test and ran multiple programs on just the factory settings and the speed was actually pretty impressive. I was also able to clock it easily at 4.2 GHz with extra leftover. The OverDrive Software was easy to use and gave quite a bit of versatility in options. This chip can support up to 8MB L2 cache and 8MB L3 cache.
If you do a lot of multi tasking, data processing, or editing, this would make a very useful piece of machinery to have. This mid grade chip will perform much better if you can invest in, or already have, a good video card. The benchmarks are not too bad, if you are into that kind of comparison. For light gamers, this should be adequate; so if you have any teenagers at home that want to build their own computer, this would be a good item for them to get. This processor is quite stable and performs well; you might find that you never even need it to overclock.
A Great AMD Processor as Companion for Adobe Photoshop
AMD Phenom II X4
Next up is the AMD Phenom II X4 which has astounding ratings. This features four cores that run 3.4 GHz each and holds its own at all the benchmarks. Each core comes with 512K L2 cache and between them they share 6MB L3 smart cache. This processor is actually my favorite since it is so affordable and has performed the best when running multiple programs at once - it is fast!
The kind of results you get for HD media players will please you as well. It has been able to handle all the games I put it through since it was designed specifically to run CPU intensive games. The only downside is that the stock cooler runs a bit warm and loud though, so you may want to consider replacing it. You can spend $50+ more to get a CPU with a quieter fan or you can spend just a little more to replace it. Once that was replaced on my system, the processor performed better than other chips in higher price ranges.
I love how fast boot up is now and getting it installed was no hassle at all. This is a perfect companion for Adobe Photoshop and I've had no issues with it at all. It offers you great overclocking speed, and gets great FPS overall on some of the newest games. I would advise you to make sure that your motherboard can handle 45nm and 125W CPU before you order this though.
AMD Athlon 64
A Great Basic AMD Processor
The AMD Athlon 64 has been a good option for my multitasking needs. It features two cores with one on the chip. Dual core processors are pretty good when your system needs a boost. For our digital media needs, it works quite well and I can run all my photo editing software at the same time without a hitch. You get full compatibility with existing software while having a seamless transition to 64 bit applications; it can handle both 32 and 64 bit apps that run simultaneously on the same platform.
This processor does not come with any cooling system; you will need to get your own. This chip runs pretty cool anyway, so you won't need to spend a lot to get a decent cooling solution. I did notice that I got a 15% performance gain when I run it at 3GHz. If you get the black edition then that is intended for overclockers use. If you don't intend to overclock, check out another model. This processor is the basic of the basic for those not needing a lot of extras.