Intel Core i3 13100F 4-core LGA1700

The i3-13100F is the best budget CPU right now. Single-thread speed is top-tier, it sips power, and at $94 it's an absolute steal. Just remember you need a discrete GPU and don't expect miracles in heavy multi-core workloads.

Single-thread performance is a standout, landing in the top 12% of all CPUs in our database. That 3602 single-core PassMark score means snappy app launches and smooth frame pacing in most games. Multi-thread is more middle of the pack at 14665, which makes sense with only 4 cores. For everyday multitasking, browsing, office work, and 1080p gaming with a mid-range GPU, this chip keeps up fine. But throw heavy rendering or streaming workloads at it and you'll feel the core count ceiling pretty quick.

Against the Ryzen 9 7900X, the 13100F obviously loses in raw multi-thread power, but it costs a fraction of the price and sips power at 58W versus the 7900X's much higher draw. The Dell Xeon E5-2637 V2 is older server silicon that can't touch this in single-thread or efficiency. The KOMQI Core i5-4590S is a decade-old Haswell part that gets smoked in every metric. For pure budget gaming, the 13100F is basically the default choice unless you find a Ryzen 5 5600 on a deep sale.

This is where the 13100F absolutely shines. At $94 USD, you're getting single-thread performance that competes with chips costing twice as much. Users in our data repeatedly call it the best budget CPU on the market, especially when it drops to $65 on sale. The included Laminar RH1 cooler saves you another $20-30. If you're building a budget gaming rig or a snappy office PC, this is the no-brainer pick.

The Core i3-13100F is Intel's budget champion for 13th gen, and it punches way above its price class. Four Raptor Lake P-cores, 8 threads, and a 4.5GHz boost clock make this thing feel snappy in everyday use and surprisingly capable in games. No E-cores here, just straightforward performance without the scheduling complexity.

At around $94 USD, this is the chip you grab when you want a solid gaming PC without spending real money. It needs a discrete GPU since there's no integrated graphics, but if you're building a budget rig, you were buying a graphics card anyway.

Skip this if you do heavy video editing, 3D rendering, or stream while gaming. The 4 cores will choke on those workloads. Also skip it if you're planning to pair it with a high-end GPU like an RTX 4080 or 4090, the bottleneck at 1080p will waste that expensive card's potential. And if you need integrated graphics for a no-GPU office build, get the non-F version instead.

If you're building a budget gaming PC or a fast everyday desktop, buy this chip. It's fast where it matters, efficient, and dirt cheap. Pair it with something like an RTX 4060 or RX 7600 and you've got a 1080p machine that handles almost anything. Just don't expect it to crush heavy productivity workloads or stream while gaming without some compromises.