Those building their own gaming computers, or updating a pre-built one to provide more performance, are undoubtedly familiar with two of the most important components. The processor, also known as the central processing unit or CPU, and the graphics card or graphics processing unit (GPU), are of the utmost importance when considering a gaming computer build. The former does general calculations and makes sure the computer is running smoothly, and the latter does graphics processing, which makes it so important in graphics-intensive games.

There are a lot of options, though, on all sides of the competing platforms. Intel and AMD compete against each other on the CPU side of things while Nvidia and AMD battle for the best gaming GPUs. However, this article doesn't discriminate and has a collection of some of the best deals on all of the above at different price points, no matter the user preference or system requirements.

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The AMD Ryzen 7 5700G is a mid-range gaming processor with an 8-core and 16-thread design. The more there are cores and threads, the better the multitasking capabilities, which means that this one is a solid performer. The clock speed reaches up to 4.6 GHz, which is, according to AMD, enough to provide 1080p gameplay on the most popular games without even a GPU. This CPU comes with an AMD Stealth cooler and is compatible with the Socket AM4 motherboard platform.聽The chip is unlocked for overclocking, although that might require a better cooling solution.

Intel Core i5-12400 is the latest-generation mid-range processor. The mid-range Core i5 is often considered great for gaming setups, since it performs well enough for most purposes but doesn't break the bank. This specific model features a 2.5 GHz clock speed with turbo boost and hyper-threading for better performance when demanded. The built-in Intel UHG Graphics 7300 controller provides improved graphics when used without a GPU. There's also support for up to four monitors. The chip is compatible with the Socket LGA-1700 platform on the motherboard.

This GeForce RTX 3060 from MSI Gaming features 12 gigabytes of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit memory interface and a max clock speed of 1837 MHz. As it is an RTX 30 Series CPU, it also has the updated, 2nd generation RT cores, which provide better ray-tracing performance. The graphics card comes with three DisplayPort 1.4a ports and one HDMI 2.1 for up to four simultaneous monitors. The maximum resolution supported is 8K at聽7680 x 4320.

This Gigabyte Radeon RX 6700 XT Eagle graphics card is based on the AMD RDNA2 architecture. It is right in the middle of the聽Radeon RX 6000 series in terms of pricing and performance. It has 12 GB integrated 192-bit聽GDDR6 memory and a comprehensive Windforce 3X cooling system with three fans. The聽Gigabyte Radeon RX 6700 XT has two DisplayPort 1.4a ports, which allows two high-resolution and high-frame rate monitors simultaneously.

The Asus TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition is a mid-tier gaming GPU with Nvidia Ampere Streaming processors that deliver twice the FP32 throughput and improved efficiency. The GPU features updated 2nd generation RT cores with better ray-tracing performance and 3rd generation Tensor cores for an increase in in-game performance and AI capabilities.

With OC mode, the GPU has a boost clock of 1875 MHz, and with Gaming Mode 1845 MHz. The

ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 3050 OC Edition supports up to four displays with a maximum resolution of 8K.

This XFX Speedster Radeon RX 6700 is based on the mid-tier gaming GPU from AMD. It features the AMD RDNA 2 architecture with 8 gigabytes of GDDR6 memory. The graphics card comes with one HDMI and three DisplayPort connectors, which allows a maximum of four displays. The maximum resolution is 8K.

The GPU has a maximum boost clock of 2694 MHz and to keep the chips cool while gaming, it features an XFX Merc 308 cooling system with a triple fan setup.

The Intel Core i7-13700K absolutely dominates the top-tier sector for value. In fact, with the right cooling and overclocking, this top-tier CPU can beat out even the ultra-tier AMD competition. Plus, if you have a 600 series motherboard from your previous CPU, this one will fit into it.

The processor has 16 cores divided into 8 P-cores and 8 E-cores, and 24 processing threads. The processor comes with an integrated Intel UHD Graphics 770, maximum clock speed is 5.2 GHz.

The Intel Core i9-10980XE is Intel's super high-end processor that has a total of 18 cores and 36 processing threads. It has a regular clock speed of 3 GHz and a boost clock speed of 4.6 GHz. The CPU is also unlocked for overclocking. The Core i9-1980XE is part of the Extreme family of products and was developed with the 14聽nm process.聽

This CPU is compatible with the聽LGA 1151 motherboard platform and doesn't come with a cooler.

This聽AISURIX Radeon RX 580 graphics card has eight gigabytes of GDDR5 memory with a 1750 MHz clock speed. The AMD Radeon RX 580 is based on the 14 nm process and supports DirectX 12. The card has three monitor support with the included two DisplayPort 1.4a and one HDMI 2.0b connectors. Maximum resolution is 8K.

The card is constructed with composite heat pipes that quickly export the heat from the cores in combination with a semi-automatic intelligent fan system.

The XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 is an entry-to-mid-level GPU with eight gigabytes of GDDR6 memory with speeds of up to 14 Gbps. This GPU is based on the AMD RX 6600 chipset and AMD's RDNA 2 architecture with聽32 compute units. The boost clock speed of the graphics card is up to 2491 MHz.

The GPU has XFX Speedster SWFT210 Dual Fan cooling system. The minimum power supply requirement for the card is 550 watts.

The MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1650 is a graphics card featuring the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 chipset. It operates with a boost clock speed of 1620 MHz and is equipped with 4GB GDDR6 video memory. The memory speed of this card is 12 Gbps, and it has a 128-bit memory interface. The card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, providing high-quality visuals for gaming and other multimedia applications.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600G 6-Core 12-Thread Processor is an excellent entry from AMD into the budget CPU bracket. This CPU boasts integrated Radeon graphics which can rival lower-end dedicated graphics cards. Precision Boost Overdrive and Precision Boost 2 make overclocking possible for supercharged performance.聽

The top-of-the-line AMD CPU, the Ryzen 9 7950X features 16 cores and 32 threads to handle both single-threaded and multithreaded applications better than ever. While the 7950X might not be able to meet up to the 13th generation Intel CPUs, AMD still completely demolished their previous Ryzen 5000 series, showing they're still heading in the right direction.

The Ryzen 9 5900X desktop processor from AMD is one of the high-end CPUs that the company offers. It has a staggering 12 cores and 24聽processing threads, which provide excellent multitasking capabilities. The maximum clock speed offered by the chip is 4.8 GHz, and there is 70 MB of cache and support for DDR-3200 memory. The processor is also unlocked for overclocking, and according to AMD, it can deliver over 100 fps in the most popular games. This processor doesn't come with a cooler and is compatible with the Socket AM4 motherboards.

The PNY GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is a graphics card built on the NVIDIA Ampere architecture. It features a core clock speed of 1552MHz and a boost clock speed of 1777MHz, enabling it to handle demanding games. This card is equipped with 8GB GDDR6 (128-bit) on-board memory, 2560 CUDA processing cores, and up to 224 GB/sec memory bandwidth.

The card utilizes a PCI Express 4.0 interface for compatibility with various systems and includes DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.1 outputs for enhanced connectivity options.

Q: Are all GPUs compatible with all CPUs

Typically, AMD CPUs support all graphics cards, whether it is from AMD or Nvidia. Also, all CPUs, whether from Intel or AMD, also support both AMD and Nvidia graphics cards. However, features such as AMD Smart Access Memory might enhance the experience on a dual AMD setup.

Q: What is RTX or ray tracing?

RTX is Nvidia's branding for a line of products with hardware support for a feature called ray-tracing. While the lighting effect can be used with non-RTX graphics cards, the RTX cards are generally better suited for it and offer better performance.

Q: What do cores and GHz mean in processors?

Cores refer to separate units within the processor that are working together to calculate results. Usually the higher the core count, and the thread count, the better the multitasking performance. GHz or gigahertz refers to the clock speed of the processor. This usually gives a general idea of how good the performance of the processor is, although it shouldn't be taken as gospel or the only factor.

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