CPU Selection Guide

Basics of Processors

What is a CPU?

The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the "brain" of your computer. It executes instructions from programs and coordinates all system operations.

Key Terms

Core: Individual processing unit within a CPU
Thread: Virtual core that can handle separate instruction streams
IPC: Instructions Per Clock - efficiency of each core
Architecture: The design and manufacturing process (e.g., Zen 4, Raptor Lake)

Intel vs AMD

Intel Processors

Strengths: - Leading single-core performance with Raptor Lake Refresh - Strong integrated graphics (Arc iGPU) - Excellent gaming performance - Advanced overclocking capabilities - Intel AI Boost: Dedicated neural processing units for local AI inference - AVX-512 support: Accelerated AI/ML computations - Thread Director: Intelligent core scheduling for hybrid workloads

Current Generations (August 2025): - 15th Gen (Arrow Lake) - Late 2024-2025 (Latest) - Socket LGA 1851, DDR5-only, PCIe 5.0 - 3nm Intel 20A process, up to 24 cores - Examples: i5-15600K, i7-15700K, i9-15900K - 14th Gen (Raptor Lake Refresh) - 2023-2024 (Current) - Socket LGA 1700, DDR4/DDR5 support - Examples: i5-14600K, i7-14700K, i9-14900K - 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) - 2022-2023 (Mainstream)

AMD Processors

Strengths: - Exceptional multi-core performance for AI/ML workloads - Superior price-to-performance ratio - Excellent power efficiency (important for long AI training) - Long-term socket support (AM4/AM5) - Strong integrated graphics with RDNA architecture - Ryzen AI: NPU units for on-device AI acceleration (Ryzen 9000 series) - Advanced Vector Extensions: Optimized for machine learning frameworks - High core counts: Up to 16 cores ideal for parallel AI workloads

Current Generations (August 2025): - Ryzen 9000 Series (Zen 5) - 2024-2025 (Latest) - Socket AM5, DDR5-only, PCIe 5.0 - 4nm TSMC process, improved IPC - Examples: Ryzen 5 9600X, Ryzen 7 9700X, Ryzen 9 9900X, 9950X - Ryzen 8000 Series (Phoenix/Hawk Point) - 2024 (APU Focus) - Enhanced iGPU with RDNA 3 architecture - Examples: Ryzen 7 8700G, Ryzen 5 8600G - Ryzen 7000 Series (Zen 4) - 2022-2024 (Mainstream) - Ryzen 5000 Series (Zen 3) - 2020-2022 (Budget/AM4)

Naming Conventions

Intel Naming Scheme

Example: Intel Core i7-15700K - i7: Performance tier (i3 < i5 < i7 < i9) - 15: Generation number (15th Gen Arrow Lake) - 700: SKU number - K: Suffix indicating features

Intel Suffixes: - K: Unlocked for overclocking - KF: Unlocked, no integrated graphics - F: No integrated graphics - T: Low power variant (35W TDP) - S: Special edition (65W TDP)

AMD Naming Scheme

Example: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X - Ryzen 7: Performance tier (3 < 5 < 7 < 9) - 9700: Model number (first digit = generation, 9000 series) - X: High-performance variant

AMD Suffixes: - X: High performance (105W TDP) - G: Integrated graphics (APU) with RDNA 3 - GE: Low power APU (35W TDP) - T: Low power (35W TDP) - 3D: 3D V-Cache technology (gaming optimized)

Core Count and Threading

Understanding Cores vs Threads

Physical Cores: Actual processing units
Logical Cores (Threads): Virtual cores created by hyperthreading/SMT

Common Configurations

Segment	Cores/Threads	Use Cases
Budget	4C/8T - 6C/12T	Office, light gaming
Mid-range	8C/16T - 12C/20T	Gaming, content creation
High-end	16C/32T+	Professional workloads

Clock Speeds

Base vs Boost Clocks

Base Clock: Guaranteed minimum frequency
Boost Clock: Maximum single-core frequency
All-Core Boost: Maximum frequency across all cores

Performance Impact

Higher clocks = better single-threaded performance
Important for gaming and responsive desktop use
Less critical for well-threaded workloads

Cache Memory

Cache Hierarchy

L1 Cache: Fastest, smallest (32-64KB per core)
L2 Cache: Medium speed (256KB-1MB per core)
L3 Cache: Shared cache (8-96MB total)

Cache Impact

Larger cache = better performance in memory-intensive tasks
Particularly important for gaming and professional applications

Socket Types

Current Intel Sockets

LGA 1851: 15th Gen (Arrow Lake) processors - Latest 2025
LGA 1700: 12th/13th/14th Gen processors - Current mainstream
LGA 1200: 10th/11th Gen (discontinued, legacy)

Current AMD Sockets

AM5: Ryzen 7000/8000/9000+ series (DDR5 only) - Current
AM4: Ryzen 1000-5000 series (DDR4) - Legacy but active

TDP and Power Consumption

What is TDP?

Thermal Design Power - the amount of heat a CPU generates under load.

TDP Categories

Low Power: 35-65W (efficient, cooler running)
Standard: 65-105W (balanced performance)
High Performance: 125W+ (maximum performance)

Indian Climate Considerations

Higher TDP requires better cooling
Summer temperatures can affect performance
Consider ambient temperature in cooling solutions

Integrated Graphics

Intel Integrated Graphics

UHD Graphics: Basic display output
Iris Xe: Capable of light gaming
Arc Graphics: Discrete-level performance

AMD Integrated Graphics

Radeon Graphics: Based on Vega/RDNA architecture
Generally superior to Intel for gaming
Good for 1080p esports titles

Performance Benchmarks

Gaming Performance Factors

Single-core performance (most important)
Core count (for newer games)
Cache size
Memory speed support

Productivity Performance Factors

Core count (most important)
Multi-threading support
Cache size
Memory bandwidth

Price-to-Performance Analysis

Budget Segment (₹8,000 - ₹15,000)

Best Options: - AMD Ryzen 5 5600 - Intel Core i5-12400F - AMD Ryzen 5 4600G (with iGPU)

Mid-Range (₹15,000 - ₹30,000)

Best Options: - AMD Ryzen 7 5700X - Intel Core i5-13600K - AMD Ryzen 5 7600X

High-End (₹30,000+)

Best Options: - AMD Ryzen 9 5900X - Intel Core i7-13700K - AMD Ryzen 7 7700X

Recommendations by Budget (August 2025)

Budget Gaming Build (₹12,000-15,000)

AMD Ryzen 5 5600 - 6 cores, 12 threads, AM4 platform - Excellent 1080p gaming performance - Mature platform with affordable motherboards - Good upgrade path to 5800X3D

Value Gaming (₹18,000-22,000)

Intel Core i5-14400F - 10 cores (6P + 4E), 16 threads - Strong gaming and productivity balance - DDR4/DDR5 flexibility - Excellent price-to-performance

High-Performance Gaming (₹25,000-30,000)

AMD Ryzen 7 9700X - 8 cores, 16 threads, Zen 5 architecture - Latest AM5 platform with DDR5 - Excellent for 1440p gaming - Future-proof with PCIe 5.0

Enthusiast Gaming (₹35,000-45,000)

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D - 8 cores, 16 threads with 3D V-Cache - Best gaming CPU available (August 2025) - Unmatched performance in CPU-limited scenarios - Worth the premium for high-refresh gaming

Content Creation (₹30,000-40,000)

AMD Ryzen 9 9900X - 12 cores, 24 threads, Zen 5 - Excellent multi-threaded performance - Great for streaming, video editing - Strong gaming performance as bonus

Professional Workstation (₹50,000+)

Intel Core i9-15900K - 24 cores (8P + 16E), 32 threads - Latest Arrow Lake architecture - Maximum single and multi-threaded performance - Advanced AI acceleration features

Indian Market Considerations

Availability

Intel generally has better availability
AMD can have stock issues during launches
Check multiple retailers for best prices

Warranty

Both offer 3-year warranty in India
Intel through authorized dealers
AMD through distributors

Pricing Trends

Prices fluctuate based on demand
Festival seasons may have discounts
Consider price drops when new generations launch

Where to Buy

Online: Amazon, Flipkart, MDComputers
Offline: Nehru Place (Delhi), SP Road (Bangalore), Lamington Road (Mumbai)
Authorized Dealers: Check manufacturer websites

Upgrade Considerations

Socket Longevity

AM4 supported multiple generations
AM5 promises long-term support
Intel changes sockets more frequently

Future-Proofing

6+ cores recommended for new builds
DDR5 support for longevity
PCIe 4.0/5.0 for future graphics cards

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Bottlenecking: Pairing high-end GPU with budget CPU
Overspending: Buying more performance than needed
Socket Confusion: Ensuring motherboard compatibility
Cooling Neglect: Inadequate cooling for chosen CPU
Future Planning: Not considering upgrade paths

Tools and Resources

Benchmarking Tools

Cinebench R23
3DMark CPU Profile
PassMark CPU Mark
UserBenchmark

Comparison Websites

CPU-Z
TechPowerUp Database
AnandTech Bench
Hardware Unboxed Reviews

Conclusion

Choosing the right CPU depends on your specific needs, budget, and future plans. Consider your primary use cases, available budget, and compatibility with other components. The Indian market offers good availability for both Intel and AMD processors, with competitive pricing across all segments.

Remember that a balanced build is more important than having the fastest CPU - ensure your choice works well with your graphics card, memory, and cooling solution.