Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 series graphics cards are here ... well, some of them are. They're positioned to go up against AMD's upcoming RX 90 series, offering the latest in frame generation, upscaling, and neural tech to deliver impressive performance. A drawback of these new GPUs is the reliance on AI over raw computing power and those asking prices. Thankfully, you don't need to spend thousands on a CPU to match with these new GPUs. Here's what you'll need for the best in-game performance.

3 AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Impressive value from AMD

I have a soft spot for the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X. This is one superb processor, packing enough performance inside a package that costs less than $250, making it one of the best-value AMD chips to buy for gaming. You'll find 6 cores and 12 threads inside the 9600X, which is ample for most games, especially those that can't use more than a few. The 5.4 GHz boost is also pretty good for a low-end processor and I still can't believe a 6-core CPU is now considered entry-level.

Another great advantage of the Ryzen 5 9600X is the upgrade paths. AMD is still supporting the AM5 socket and should continue doing so for a few more years, which should see new generations of processors released. There's a high chance the motherboard you use this CPU with will support newer chips, providing more ways to boost performance without completely changing your system.

2 Intel Core i5-14600K

One of the last great gaming Intel CPUs

Intel has the Core Ultra 200 series out but I'd still recommend the 12th, 13th, and 14th Gen processors due to platform issues with the newer-gen chips. They're also less exciting. Sure, Intel managed to make them more energy efficient, but the 14600K is still one of the best mid-range gaming CPUs you can buy, especially with its relatively solid discount. The follow-up to this chip, the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K isn't even that great at gaming, so the Core i5-14600K it is!

What makes the 14600K that good for gaming? Although it's not quite on the same level as the X3D chips from AMD, this is a monster when paired with a powerful GPU. Inside the processor are 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores that can be automatically adjusted through boosting and scheduling to ensure the PC is using the right cores for the right job. The P-cores are great for smashing through intensive workloads such as gaming, while the E-cores handle all the background tasks.

1 AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

King of gaming CPUs

If you want the very best processor to use with any graphics card, not just Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 series, look no further than the mighty AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This thing absolutely shines in games, especially modern titles that scale with cores and threads. Its impressive 3D V-Cache technology offers an impressive amount of RAM for games to work with, allowing the GPU to dominate its designed resolution outright. The RTX 5090 would even struggle to keep up with this chip and it's a Ryzen 7!

In our in-depth review, we found the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D to perform extremely well in tests, paired with the latest technologies AMD and Nvidia had to offer. Being a Zen 5-based processor, you get to enjoy all the luxuries that come with the Ryzen 9000 series CPUs as well as that beefy cache and improved thermal performance over previous-gen X3D chips. If you want the best of the best, you'll want to consider this CPU — or hold out for the upcoming Ryzne 9 9950X3D.

It depends on which RTX 50 series GPU you buy

Not all CPUs are created equal, like Nvidia's GeForce RTX 50 series of GPUs. You've got more "affordable" graphics cards for lower-end systems and lower resolutions and the mighty RTX 5090 that's in a class of its own for 8K gaming. You'll get much more out of the higher-end graphics cards with an AMD Ryzen 6 9800X3D than you would an Intel Core i5-14600K, though you could save considerably with Intel's chip with a less capable GPU. If in doubt, the 9800X3D is your best bet for the best performance.