Processors

The processor determines how fast your computer is in everything — from opening the browser to frames in games and render times. The choice today is between two camps: AMD Ryzen (socket AM5, plus AM4 for budget systems) and Intel Core (LGA1851 and LGA1700). Here you will find processors from Ryzen 5 and Core i5 for everyday work up to Ryzen 9, Core i9 and Core Ultra for workstations.

How to choose a processor

• For gaming: frames depend more on single-core performance than on the number of cores — Ryzen 7 with 3D V-Cache (X3D models) is the standard, while the Core i5/Ryzen 5 class gives an excellent price/frame ratio.
• For work and rendering: rendering, compilation and virtual machines love cores — here Ryzen 9 and Core i7/i9 with 12+ cores have their say.
• For an office machine: Ryzen 5 or Core i5 from the previous generation does everything, often with integrated graphics without the need for a video card.

Socket and platform — the most important check

The processor must fit the motherboard socket: Ryzen 7000/9000 runs on AM5 with DDR5 memory, Core Ultra — on LGA1851, while AM4 and LGA1700 remain alive for upgrading existing systems. AM5 is AMD's promised long-term platform — a motherboard from today will accept the next generations of Ryzen. Don't forget the cooler: powerful models require a tower or water cooling, and some boxed variants come without a fan in the kit.

Combine with the correct motherboard, RAM memory and cooler, or build your computer online — the configurator itself tracks sockets and compatibility.