Top Budget Processors for Gaming

When it comes to gaming processors and computing as a whole, Intel have led the field for many years now. It would be easy to forget that there are other processor manufacturers out there! Each Intel generation since 1989 has brought new and exciting advancements in gaming, with higher CPU capabilities and features that can power bigger, better games.

AMD is Intel’s biggest rival – but until recently, that hasn’t meant much. Intel has stood far above the crowd for a long time, and its processors have powered the majority of pre-built and homemade computers for more than a decade. Figures show that Intel made an average of $15 billion per quarter (about £11 billion) last year, which is a vast amount more than AMD’s $1.3 billion (around £1 billion) turnover in the same period.

What has changed with AMD and Intel?

There is suddenly a big buzz around AMD and its latest processor – and it certainly has the Intel team shook up. The smaller company has revealed its pet project for 2017, the Ryzen 7 1800X, and it looks like it could give Intel a real run for their money. AMD already have something of a cult fan following among British PC builders, and especially those in the home video gaming sector. Intel is more of an all-rounder, aiming to please everyone from executives in the office to students doing their homework. AMD on the other hand has put a great deal of its focus on the gaming and entertainment sector – and that effort is now paying off.

The new processor series is causing so much of a stir, it has caused Intel to take a panicked swing at their own prices. The cost of all generations of Intel CPUs has been slashed dramatically, probably in preparation for its first real market competition in decades. Even the latest i7 iterations have been included in the dramatic cost fall, which is thought to be down to the low price point of the AMD Ryzen processor.

Introducing the Ryzen 7 1800X

So what is this processor causing all the disturbance? The Ryzen 7 launched in early March and it is already receiving satisfied reviews from users. Value is the word which stands out the most – at roughly half the cost of a new Intel chip, the Ryzen is definitely the budget choice. But does paying less mean compromising on quality? In the past, this has been the case and AMD has suffered as a result. Today, the cost of production has fallen and the company can give gamers the power and the graphics performance they want, at a price point which gives them the competitive edge over Intel.

The Ryzen CPU matches up against its Intel rivals. At times, its stats even better the bigger company’s figures. It might take a little more effort – field testing shows that there is some serious adjustment required before the computer gets the balance right – but once correctly set up you will barely notice the difference. Of course, there is little reason to go through the hassle of an upgrade if you are already set with i7 – but at the price these AMD chips are selling, there is no reason not to take on a whole new build and create something amazing.

Bargain processors for self-builds

Now is a great time to get into the world of DIY computers. Putting together a self build project is far easier than it used to be; many modern computers are designed in a way that allows pieces to be lifted out and exchanged for others. Almost any computer bought off the shelf can be modified and customised. With this new price war keeping the cost of processors down, it might well be time to give your gaming PC a little boost. Whether you favour the AMD Ryzen or the Intel Core, there are some incredible things possible with this year’s best CPUs. Check out some budget home builds from other gamers and techies for inspiration.

Computer costs expected to drop in 2017

In addition to the driving down of component prices, there is sure to be a knock-on effect in pre-built computer sales. If it costs less to build a computer, that machine can also be sold for less. Studies from the 1960s predicted that the number of processing chips needed to power each generation of computers would double, and that computer chips would “do more and cost less” – an idea known as ‘Moore’s Law’. We are certainly seeing this today. Modern computer processors are extremely complex and carry out a huge number of functions at once – but they have also got smaller, easier to mass produce and far cheaper too.

Not only are these price wars producing vast savings on processors, but computing fans and gamers can grab even more savings when they look for online voucher codes. VoucherBin.co.uk is a great place to start looking, with deal codes for top electronics and computing manufacturers.