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PS5 Sales In Japan Continue To Climb Following The Launch Of A Cheaper Model

Story Highlight
  • The PS5 variants sold over 46k units in Japan during the last two weeks, only ending up behind Switch 2.
  • A big reason for this sales surge was the cheaper digital edition of the console specific to Japan.
  • After a dip last month, the $330 PS5 has boosted the console’s sales once again in the country.

Despite some failures across this generation, the PS5 has been a commercial success with over 84 million consoles sold worldwide. However, the Sony console has struggled to put on a strong foothold in its home base of Japan.

To combat this issue, new PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino launched a cheaper model of the console in 2025, and as it turns out, PS5 sales have seen another resurgence on the charts, thanks to this variant.

Why It Matters: Despite dips in December, PS5 sales have been boosted once again, thanks to the cheaper variant showcasing once again how putting consumers first leads to good results.

PS5 Japan sales
Source: Famitsu

Famitsu recently published its first sales charts of 2026, and the PS5 is so far the second-most sold console in Japan this year, shipping 46.7k units. The cheaper new digital edition of the console was largely responsible for this performance, accounting for 36.8k of the overall sales between December 29 and January 11.

On the other hand, the base PlayStation 5 was bought by 6k players on retail, while the PS5 Pro also contributed 3.8k sales. The Nintendo Switch variants were only a few hundred units behind the console, with the Switch family selling a combined 46.3k units across this period.

Unsurprisingly, the PS5 ended up behind Nintendo Switch 2 on the charts, with the handheld selling 313k units. But, considering how the Sony console saw a dip in sales last month despite its $330 digital edition being fresh on the market, this resurgence is a good sign.

PS5 Japan
Sony’s $330 Digital PS5 continues to be successful in Japan.

Japanese fans have expressed their happiness with PlayStation for releasing the price-cut digital edition. Furthermore, if sales are any indication, this was a fantastic business decision from Sony, as the cheaper PS5 continues to boost the brand’s performance in Japan.

Latest Updates

Do you think PlayStation is making a good choice by losing money on the cheaper PS5 just to have a user base in Japan? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Insider Says Valve Didn’t Reveal Half-Life 3 At TGA 2025 Due To Steam Machine Memory Prices Issue

Story Highlight
  • Insider has claimed that Half-Life 3 was originally planned to be revealed at TGA.
  • The plan was canceled due to Steam Machine memory pricing issues.
  • Geoff Keighley instead showcased Highguard in its place, which was a controversial move.

Half-Life 3 has now been a part of rumors for a very long time. In fact, it is reportedly being positioned as the Steam Machine’s launch title. New rumors also point out that it was planned to be revealed at The Game Awards, but Valve decided against it. 

A reliable insider claims that Highguard wasn’t supposed to be shown at the TGA finale spot, as they didn’t pay for it. But the show pushed it there because another game dropped out from there, which was reportedly Half-Life 3.

Why it matters: This does make sense considering the finale spots are usually reserved for titles that can create massive hype amongst the audiences, and Highguard wasn’t something capable of doing that. 

Highguard TGA
Highguard Studio didn’t pay for the game’s finale spot at TGA

Paul Tassi took to X to highlight that the Game Awards pushed Highguard at the finale spot despite the studio not paying for it. Another insider, Alexxortv, claims that the position belonged to none other than Half-Life 3. 

Valve originally planned to reveal the game at the show. However, considering the uncertainty in the market with high RAM prices, it is currently unclear what the Steam Machine’s pricing will be; therefore, Valve canceled the reveal. 

Half-Life 3
Half-Life 3 was supposed to be revealed, but Valve backed out of it

Unfortunately, Highguard had to take all the heat for that. By putting it in the finale spot, it garnered a lot of attention, and the game is entering a saturated market; fans didn’t consider it that important to be there. 

For now, this is just a rumor, so take this with a grain of salt. But this scenario, based on the memory crisis and Valve being unsure of Half-Life 3’s reveal do make sense. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think Half-Life 3 was indeed planned for TGA? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

After The SSD Crisis, Average Price Of HDDs Have Shot Up By 46% In The Last 4 Months

Story Highlight
  • The average price of HDDs has grown by 46% just in the last 4 months, as per research.
  • This price change is more of a supply chain issue than any shortages for now.
  • The average price of SSDs also saw an increase of 76% in the same time period.

The PC market has been troubled with price increases in every sector, thanks to the ongoing memory shortages. SSDs are one of the primary victims of these price hikes due to the ongoing NAND famine, fueled by the AI boom.

As it turns out, HDDs are now also being affected by this crisis through a far-reaching ripple effect. New research shows that the average price of mechanical hard drives has shot up by a whopping 46%.

Why it matters: HDDs have become more popular in the last few months, so the ripple effects of the memory apocalypse are also impacting their pricing. The current trajectory suggests the most premium HDDs will get more expensive over time.

The analysis from ComputerBase takes into account the 12 most popular hard drives on the PC market. They have seen a 46% surge in price on average during the last four months based on their EUR listings.

Some models, like the Toshiba Cloud-Scale Capacity MG10F AFA 22 TB, have gone up by 66%. The least impacted model was the 16 TB Seagate IronWolf Pro NAS HDD, which experienced a 23% price increase over the last four months. 

To clarify, HDDs use nearly no silicon for storage purposes. The exorbitant price increase is primarily a supply chain issue, mostly driven by the format’s recent surge in popularity. The high demand will likely keep the price of HDDs inflated for the foreseeable future.

The analysis also provides a deeper insight into SSD price hikes, with the cost of high-capacity optical drives increasing by a whopping 74.12% on average over the same four-month period. 

Rising Memory Prices
Rising memory prices are also impacting consoles, along with PCs.

Some high-end SSD variants even cost twice as much as before, with costs showing no signs of stabilizing this year as the crisis continues evolving out of control.

Therefore, building a PC is harder than ever due to this predicament, and PC selling prices are expected to rise by 8% to 9% this year.

Latest Updates

Do you think the price of HDDs will continue to get worse in the future as the storage shortage becomes a bigger problem over time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.

EGS Free Games Are A Great Advertisement For Steam Sales, Says Indie Developer

Story Highlight
  • Blood West saw a 200% sales surge on Steam after EGS offered it for free, according to Dave Oshry
  • The CEO of indie developer New Blood Interactive said that the store is a great advertisement for Steam sales.
  • Hence, even when Epic is offering titles for free, players prefer to buy the game on Steam.

Arguably, the biggest threat to Steam’s dominance in the PC gaming market has been the Epic Games Store. However, despite giving out free games worth thousands of Dollars, the platform has failed to capture Steam’s audience, with the Epic CEO even admitting that the launcher is clunky.

While Steam has been hitting revenue milestones year after year, Epic Games Store has failed to see a substantial increase in revenue. As it turns out, even the free games offered by the storefront find a bigger audience on Steam, according to the developer of the indie title Blood West.

Why It Matters: Players preferring to pay for games on Steam that are available for free on EGS showcases that no storefront can take away Steam’s audience by just giving freebies instead of making an accessible launcher.

Dave Oshry Steam Epic
Source: X

Dave Oshry, the CEO of Blood West developer New Blood Interactive, revealed that the game sold 200% more on Steam after it went free on the Epic Games Store. Oshry stated that the studio did not get any compensation for the free giveaway either, as all the money went to publisher Hyperstrange.

However, the Epic Games Store freebie turned out to be a great advertisement for players on Steam, as Blood West saw a massive sales spike during the holiday season.

According to Oshry, the storefront seemed like a marketing black hole beforehand, but this made him realize that it has a knockoff effect on Steam sales.

Epic Games Store
Epic Games Store has given out free games worth thousands of Dollars since its inception.

It’s no secret that players prefer Valve’s platform over the Epic Games Store thanks to the accessibility and customer-service Steam gives to players. But this is certainly a new low for EGS as users decided to spend money to play Blood West instead of getting it for free on the launcher.

Story Highlight

Do you think any future launcher will be able to take away the PC market share of Steam, or is it a lost cause? Tell us in the comments below or head to the Tech4Gamers forum for discussion.

Three More Ryzen 9800X3D Failures Reported On Asus Motherboards In The Past 24hrs

Story Highlight
  • 3 more Ryzen 9800X3D failures reported today, as the overall deaths of Ryzen 9000 CPUs keep on increasing.
  • All of these cases were reported on ASUS motherboards.
  • AMD has yet to address these issues as concerns among Ryzen 9800X3D users keep on increasing.

While CPU failures are rare, such cases aren’t uncommon for the Ryzen 9000 lineup. Previously, the unusually high number of deaths was attributed to faulty ASRock motherboards, but now it appears to be an AMD-side issue, as death cases are still being reported on motherboards from other manufacturers, mainly ASUS.

Just today, 3 cases of the Ryzen 9800X3D processors dying were reported, all on ASUS motherboards. The Ryzen 9800X3D especially has the highest death count among all Ryzen 9000 CPUs, mainly because it sells the most.

Why it matters: The number of Ryzen 9000 CPUs dying is increasing day by day, yet AMD has yet to address these concerns, leading users to wonder if they might be the next victims.

amd ryzen 9000
Nearly 100 Ryzen 9000 CPUs Have Died Due To Various Reasons

The first case reported by Redditor TransitionEffective9 used the Ryzen 9800X3D on a ROG Crosshair X870 Hero. While diagnosing his PC, which wasn’t turning on, he found burn marks on the CPU. Even after replacing it, the PC still didn’t boot, which means both his CPU and motherboard died.

Another Redditor who goes by LexiSQ killed his Ryzen 9800X3D just by rebooting his PC. It’s unknown what may have caused the CPU to die in this case, since the user reported his setup working just fine for the last 6 months.

Ryzen 7 9800x3d damaged processor
One User Burnt His Ryzen 9800X3D Just By Watching A TV Show

The third case by JGDraco is also mysterious, since his Ryzen 9800X3D didn’t boot on an ASUS TUF B850M-Plus WiFi. Then again, it’s unknown what may have caused these issues.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on this story? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

DLSS 4.5 Defies Expectations on the 6-Year-Old RTX 3080 with a Minimal Performance Hit

Story Highlight
  • DLSS 4.5 delivers excellent image quality but comes with a performance trade-off, leading many to believe it won’t be feasible on older cards.
  • However, when tested on the RTX 3080, it delivers satisfying results with a minimal FPS drop compared to DLSS 3 and 4.
  • We recommend using a low base resolution when enabling DLSS 4.5 on older GPUs to minimize performance loss.

While the new DLSS 4.5 tech may look enticing and all, it doesn’t come free, that’s for sure. Although it delivers image quality better than native when upscaled, the 20-30% performance hit is still pretty noticeable even on the newer RTX 5070.

As such, it was thought that DLSS 4.5 might not be viable on older cards, such as the RTX 20/30 Series. However, that may not be true, since DLSS 4.5 delivers surprisingly good results on the RTX 3080 when running Cyberpunk 2077.

Why it matters: DLSS has come a long way, and it’s no longer meant to increase FPS but to enable high-refresh-rate and 4k gaming. It’s great that newer versions are still supported on older hardware, helping gamers still keep up with modern tech.

YouTuber MxBenchmarkPC tested Cyberpunk 2077 on the RTX 3080 at Ultra settings across 1080p, 1440p, and 4K with Ray Tracing enabled and compared performance with DLSS 3, 4, and 4.5.

The results were surprisingly good, and the FPS drops were around 8-12 when compared to DLSS 4 and 3, respectively.

That said, on older models such as the RTX 20/30 Series GPUs, a 24% performance drop was noted due to high Vram usage. Furthermore, the lack of FP8 support and older Tensor core designs also make it a relatively poor application on these GPUs.

Resident Evil Requiem
The 2nd Transformer Model Practically Disables Ghosting And Makes The Image As Stable As It Can Get

For those still wanting to enable DLSS 4.5 on older models, we recommend using a low base resolution to still enjoy great image quality. Nvidia has listed DLSS 4.5 presets, and only Preset J/K suits cards dating earlier than the RTX 4000 GPUs; the default for DLAA, Quality, and Balanced outputs.

DLSS 4.5 isn’t available at full capacity yet, as the new MFG feature will be released in the coming months. The 6x MFG will produce 5 additional AI-generated frames for every frame rendered by the system, delivering a substantial FPS gain, exclusive to RTX 5000 cards.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on the DLSS 4.5 tech so far? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

ASRock Launches Rock Series Motherboards for Practical PC Builds

[Press Release] ASRock has announced its new Rock Series motherboard lineup, designed for PC builders who want reliable performance, modern features, and a clean design at an accessible price. The series includes ATX models like the B850 Rock WiFi 7 and B860 Rock WiFi 7, as well as mATX options such as the B850M Rock WiFi and B860M Rock WiFi, covering a wide range of build needs.

The Rock Series focuses on everyday usability. All models ship with built-in Wi-Fi, 2.5GbE LAN, PCIe 5.0 support, and a pre-installed I/O shield to make installation easier. The ATX variants go a step further with Wi-Fi 7, offering faster and more stable wireless connectivity for modern networks.

ASRock has also prioritized long-term support. The B850 Rock series features a larger 64MB BIOS ROM, allowing better firmware expansion and future compatibility with upcoming AM5 processors. This makes the platform more sustainable for users planning upgrades down the line.

In terms of design, the Rock Series adopts a clean and modern look that blends easily with different PC components and case styles. It avoids flashy elements in favor of a balanced aesthetic suitable for both gaming and professional builds.

Stability remains a core strength of the lineup. Built using ASRock’s automated manufacturing process and strict quality control, the Rock Series delivers dependable performance comparable to higher-end boards, while maintaining strong value across both ATX and mATX form factors.

AMD Says Its Working With Board Partners To Prevent GPU Price Hikes

Story Highlight
  • AMD says it is closely working with AIB partners to try and prevent GPU price hikes.
  • The company is worried about more memory price hikes, which could lead to issues. 
  • Nonetheless, keeping prices stable is a core part of what they are doing right now.

GPU prices are slated to be the next in line to get price hikes due to the memory shortage. If you were in the market for a good value for a gaming GPU, AMD had the best options, and despite the shortages, it aims to keep it that way. 

At CES 2026, AMD was asked about the GPU prices, to which the company stated that it is closely working with its board partners to try to prevent the GPU price hikes. Previously, they stated that prices will indeed be going up. 

Why it matters: Whether prices will remain normal or not will be seen, but it’s refreshing to see a company actually care about the consumers and at least try to prevent the inevitable. 

AMD 9070 XT
AMD is trying to prevent GPU price hikes

Speaking to Gizmodo, Ryzen VP Dave McAfee stated that AMD has a strategic partnership with all the DRAM manufacturers to make sure that the supply and prices are kept in a way that they can easily support the graphics card business. 

We have very strategic partnerships with manufacturers to make sure that both the amount of supply that we need and the economics from them are what we can support in our graphics business.

However, McAfee did show concern about the rising memory prices. He confessed that with the memory situation, building GPUs with their AIB partners that hit the right prices will be tough, in case of even more unforeseen circumstances. 

DRAM manufacturers
DRAM prices are still skyrocketing

Despite this, he reassured that managing the memory situation is a core part of what AMD is currently doing. Nonetheless, most people think that if DRAM prices get even more ridiculous, AMD won’t be able to contain the price hikes. 

Sadly, a similar promise hasn’t been made by Nvidia, but already for most budget gamers out there, AMD has better offerings. And if somehow, they can still maintain the MSRPs, it would provide them with a huge advantage.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on AMD working with AIB partners to manage GPU prices? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

VPN and Ping Times: What Every Online Gamer Needs to Know

Story Highlight
  • Usually, a VPN increases ping because data has to travel through an extra server.
  • A VPN can lower ping if your ISP uses poor data routing or intentionally slows down gaming traffic (throttling).
  • To get the best results, connect to a VPN server that is physically close to the game’s host server, not your own house.

Many gamers wonder if VPNs can help reduce their ping while gaming. Players generally aim for ping times under 100 milliseconds to maintain smooth gameplay. High ping can make gaming sessions frustrating because of lag and delayed responses.

Your gaming experience becomes substantially smoother with low ping latency, as your commands and inputs reach the server faster.

The relationship between VPNs and ping reduction isn’t simple, but VPNs can help in certain situations. A VPN can alleviate ping issues by routing your traffic through servers closer to the game host. On top of that, it can help you avoid server downtimes and reduce unexpected latency spikes.

This piece will get into the impact of ping on your gaming experience, the real benefits of VPNs for gaming ping, and what to look for in a gaming VPN.

Why High Ping Happens and How It Affects Gamers

VPN
To get the best results, connect to a VPN server that is physically close to the game’s host server, not your own house.

Your gaming experience depends heavily on ping issues. The distance between you and the game server plays a crucial role in ping rates. Players closer to the server have lower ping – someone 10 miles away will see better performance than someone 100 miles away. The server’s location determines how quickly data moves between you and the game.

Network traffic can slow things down a lot. Your ping suffers when other users compete for bandwidth on your network. This happens when roommates stream videos or family members download files. Response times get worse when too many devices connect to the same router.

Players notice significant lag when ping exceeds 150ms, affecting both gameplay and graphics. Games become almost impossible to play with ping rates above 200ms. The best gaming experience requires the ping to be under 50ms; 20ms or less is ideal.

High ping creates these frustrating effects:

  • Your actions take longer to register in-game
  • Shots don’t register correctly
  • Characters teleport or jump around unexpectedly
  • You face disadvantages in ever-changing games

Internet speed matters, but your connection type is just as important. Many ISPs use throttling to control bandwidth, especially during peak hours. This slows down your online gaming performance.

Do VPNs Help with Ping? A Realistic Look

VPNs typically increase ping rather than reduce it, contrary to what many believe. Your data must travel through an additional server, adding an extra hop to your connection path. Most tests show that gaming with a VPN doesn’t reduce ping or improve lag.

A VPN can help in specific situations:

    • Your ISP’s inefficient traffic routing might make a VPN create a more direct path to game servers
    • A VPN can mask your activities and bypass restrictions if your provider throttles gaming traffic
    • Players in regions with poor internet infrastructure might get stronger connections through a nearby VPN server

Most players, especially those in areas with good connectivity, will find that a VPN adds unnecessary steps between them and the game server. The connection must first reach the VPN server before reaching the game server. This creates more opportunities for latency and packet loss.

Server selection becomes important when using a VPN. Latency impact reduces when you connect to a server close to your location. The best gaming VPNs will still add some lag to your connection.

Players should pause their VPN during gameplay for the best experience, unless they face specific connection problems or need DDoS attack protection.

Choosing and Using a VPN to Improve Ping

Multiple VPN connections
Connecting to a VPN service on multiple devices.

A good VPN can help lower lag for online gamers who deal with connection issues. The type of VPN protocol you use matters a lot. WireGuard is often the best choice for gaming because it offers fast speeds while still keeping your connection secure.

Its efficient design uses only 4,000 lines of code, compared to OpenVPN’s 100,000+, resulting in less computational overhead.

Mobile gamers should consider IKEv2/IPSec because it keeps connections stable across network switches. The protocol quickly reconnects after disruptions, making it perfect for gaming on the move.

Smart server selection is a vital part of ping optimization. You should pick VPN servers that are geographically close to your game’s server location rather than your own position. This approach can cut down network hops and lower ping by 60ms or more in some cases.

Running ping tests without a VPN active helps establish your baseline performance. You can then test different VPN servers to measure the overhead by subtracting your baseline ping from the VPN ping. This helps you find the best setup for your needs.

Split tunneling lets you route only gaming traffic through the VPN while other apps use your regular connection. This cuts down unnecessary encryption overhead for non-gaming activities.

Note that even the best VPN setup cannot overcome fundamental limitations, such as extreme geographic distance. Despite that, careful configuration can help minimize the latency increase associated with encrypted connections.

Conclusion

The connection between VPNs and ping is not as simple as it sounds. A VPN usually adds extra steps to your connection, which can increase lag rather than reduce it. Still, in certain cases, a VPN can actually make gaming feel smoother.

High ping usually comes from three things: distance from game servers, heavy network traffic, or your internet provider slowing your connection. If you deal with these issues, a well-chosen VPN may help.

WireGuard is a solid option because it runs fast without putting extra strain on your system. For mobile gamers, IKEv2 works well since it keeps the connection steady when switching networks.

To get the best results, choosing the right server matters more than anything else. Rather than picking a server close to you, it often helps to connect to one near the game’s servers. Split tunneling can also help by limiting which traffic goes through the VPN, reducing the extra load.

Latest Updates

Before using a VPN for gaming, it is smart to test your connection. Try different servers and settings to see what works best for each game. A VPN cannot fix issues like being very far from the game servers, but it can still help in some situations.

Whether a VPN helps or hurts your gaming depends on your setup. If your internet provider slows your traffic or uses poor routing, you may notice better performance. If your connection is already strong, a VPN might only add lag. Consider your needs and set up carefully to decide whether a VPN is worth using for your gaming sessions.

AMD Patents L2 Cache Stacking Technology Could Arrive with Zen 7 3D V-Cache CPUs

Story Highlight
  • AMD has patented an L2 cache stacking technology following the L3.
  • The tech aims to deliver even better performance and improved latency, which could be ideal for gaming.
  • It is expected to debut with AMD Zen 7 3D v-cache CPUs, scheduled for release in 2028.

AMD debuted its 3D V-cache technology back in 2022 with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. What it essentially did was vertically stack the L3 cache memory directly on top of the CPU cores. It resulted in big performance gains, especially in gaming. 

The company is now looking to further evolve its technology, having patented L2 cache stacking technology that could debut with Zen 7 3D V-cache processors. With this, AMD could further strengthen its position in the gaming department.

Why it matters: Stacking L3 cache already gave a significant performance boost; if AMD does the same with L2 cache, it could deliver even greater performance and lower latency. 

AMD L2 Stacking
AMD has filed a patent for L2 cache stacking after stacked L3.

According to the patent, the L2 cache comprises a cache module with 4 512KB regions, equipped with a Cache Control Circuitry. The cache module has a capacity of 2MB, which can be increased to 4MB if required. 

A typical non-stacked L2 cache has 1MB capacity and a latency of 14 cycles; with the new stacked tech, the latency will drop to 12 cycles. This is due to a shorter data movement path resulting from a more packed arrangement.

The patent also shows another stacking method: a dedicated cache die featuring both L2 and L3 segments, bonded to a core-only base die to expand the capacity of both memory levels simultaneously.

AMD 3D V-cache
The tech can expand the capacity of both L2 and L3 cache

AMD further says that with this, the 3D V-cache technology could finally come to GPUs as well. For now, it is just restricted to the X3D processors. With the proposed improvements, this tech could be a game-changer. 

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on AMD patenting its next L2 stacking technology for 3D V-cache CPUs? Let us know your opinions in the comments or join the discussion at the official Tech4Gamers Forum.

Best CPU For Streaming In 2026 [Picked After Testing]

Whether you’re a professional streamer or someone who streams just for fun, there is no denying that a streaming-focused PC must have a solid processor that is not only good for gaming but can also handle its fair share of multitasking. With that in mind, we went ahead and did thorough testing of all the recent releases from both Intel and AMD. For streaming, our primary focus was productivity tests, but we also ran several gaming benchmarks to make sure the CPUs we recommend can handle it all. With test results finally in hand, we narrowed down the top six processors currently available that we think are the best for streaming.

We have also included some latest-gen, budget-friendly options, so you don’t necessarily have to pay top-dollar to get started with your stream build. 

Why Trust Tech4Gamers
  • Usman Saleem is our hardware tester who loves to put all the latest GPUs, CPUs, RAM, and motherboards for a spin.
  • 50+ CPUs tested and reviewed by our team of hardware experts (Tech4Gamers Team).
  • 800+ hours spent testing different CPUs for our reviews.
  • Objective testing criteria (See how we test processors).

At Tech4Gamers, ensuring you get reliable information is our priority. That’s why every hardware round-up undergoes a meticulous review process by our team of experts and editors. Each review is carefully examined against our strict editorial guidelines, guaranteeing you trustworthy insights you can depend on.

Here’s a quick look at all six of our recommended processors that we think are ideal for streaming:

CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
Looks
AMD RYZEN 7 9800X3D 8-Core, 16-Thread Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X 16-Core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Intel Core Ultra 9 Desktop Processor 285K - 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 24 threads - Up to 5.7 GHz unlocked - 40 MB Cache - Compatible with Intel 800 series chipset-based motherboards - Inte
Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 Desktop Processor 245K 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) up to 5.2 GHz
AMD Ryzen™ 5 9600X 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
AMD Ryzen™ 7 9700X 8-Core, 16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Award
Best Overall CPU for Gaming and Streaming
Best AMD CPU for Gaming and Streaming
Best Intel CPU for Gaming and Streaming
Best CPU for Gaming and Streaming 1080p
Best Budget Gaming and Streaming CPU
Best 1440p Gaming and Streaming CPU
What We Liked
Gaming and Encoding performance, Efficiency, Platform costs, Future-proofing
Multi-core and Encoding performance, Gaming performance, Power efficiency, Platform cost, Future-proofing
Encoding and Multi-core performance, Improved thermal efficiency, Thunderbolt 5 support, NPU,
Encoding and Multi-core performance, Power and thermal efficiency, Thunderbolt 5 support, NPU,
Value, Efficiency, Platform cost, Future-proofing
Gaming and Encoding performance, Efficiency, Platform cost, Future-proofing
What We Disliked
Cost
Cost
Cost
Price, New motherboard required
No stock cooler
245K faster in multi-core performance
Socket
AM5 (LGA 1718)
AM5 (LGA 1718)
LGA 1851
LGA 1851
AM5 (LGA 1718)
AM5 (LGA 1718)
Cores
8
16
24 (8+16)
14 (6+8)
6
8
Threads
16
32
24
14
12
16
Base Clock
4.7 GHz
4.3 GHz
3.7 GHz (P), 3.2 GHz (E)
4.2 GHz (P), 3.6 GHz (E)
3.9 GHz
3.8 GHz
Boost Clock
Up to 5.2 GHz
5.7 GHz
5.7 GHz (P), 4.6 GHz (E)
5.2 GHz (P), 4.6 GHz (E)
Up to 4.5 GHz
Up to 5.5 GHz
L2 Cache
20MB
16MB
40MB
26 MB
6MB
8MB
L3 Cache
96MB
64MB
36MB
24 MB
32MB
32MB
TDP
120W
170W
125W (Base), 250W (Turbo)
125W (Base), 159W (Turbo)
65W (Extended cTDP: 105W)
65W (Extended cTDP: 105W)
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Review
Read Our Review
Read Our Review
Read Our Review
Read Our Review
Read Our Review
CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Looks
AMD RYZEN 7 9800X3D 8-Core, 16-Thread Desktop Processor
Award
Best Overall CPU for Gaming and Streaming
What We Liked
Gaming and Encoding performance, Efficiency, Platform costs, Future-proofing
What We Disliked
Cost
Socket
AM5 (LGA 1718)
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base Clock
4.7 GHz
Boost Clock
Up to 5.2 GHz
L2 Cache
20MB
L3 Cache
96MB
TDP
120W
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Review
CPU
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
Looks
AMD Ryzen™ 9 9950X 16-Core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Award
Best AMD CPU for Gaming and Streaming
What We Liked
Multi-core and Encoding performance, Gaming performance, Power efficiency, Platform cost, Future-proofing
What We Disliked
Cost
Socket
AM5 (LGA 1718)
Cores
16
Threads
32
Base Clock
4.3 GHz
Boost Clock
5.7 GHz
L2 Cache
16MB
L3 Cache
64MB
TDP
170W
Amazon
Buy on Amazon
Newegg
Buy on Newegg
Read Review
Read Our Review
CPU
Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Looks
Intel Core Ultra 9 Desktop Processor 285K - 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 24 threads - Up to 5.7 GHz unlocked - 40 MB Cache - Compatible with Intel 800 series chipset-based motherboards - Inte
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Best Intel CPU for Gaming and Streaming
What We Liked
Encoding and Multi-core performance, Improved thermal efficiency, Thunderbolt 5 support, NPU,
What We Disliked
Cost
Socket
LGA 1851
Cores
24 (8+16)
Threads
24
Base Clock
3.7 GHz (P), 3.2 GHz (E)
Boost Clock
5.7 GHz (P), 4.6 GHz (E)
L2 Cache
40MB
L3 Cache
36MB
TDP
125W (Base), 250W (Turbo)
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CPU
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
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Intel® Core™ Ultra 5 Desktop Processor 245K 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) up to 5.2 GHz
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Best CPU for Gaming and Streaming 1080p
What We Liked
Encoding and Multi-core performance, Power and thermal efficiency, Thunderbolt 5 support, NPU,
What We Disliked
Price, New motherboard required
Socket
LGA 1851
Cores
14 (6+8)
Threads
14
Base Clock
4.2 GHz (P), 3.6 GHz (E)
Boost Clock
5.2 GHz (P), 4.6 GHz (E)
L2 Cache
26 MB
L3 Cache
24 MB
TDP
125W (Base), 159W (Turbo)
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CPU
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
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AMD Ryzen™ 5 9600X 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
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Best Budget Gaming and Streaming CPU
What We Liked
Value, Efficiency, Platform cost, Future-proofing
What We Disliked
No stock cooler
Socket
AM5 (LGA 1718)
Cores
6
Threads
12
Base Clock
3.9 GHz
Boost Clock
Up to 4.5 GHz
L2 Cache
6MB
L3 Cache
32MB
TDP
65W (Extended cTDP: 105W)
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CPU
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
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AMD Ryzen™ 7 9700X 8-Core, 16-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Award
Best 1440p Gaming and Streaming CPU
What We Liked
Gaming and Encoding performance, Efficiency, Platform cost, Future-proofing
What We Disliked
245K faster in multi-core performance
Socket
AM5 (LGA 1718)
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base Clock
3.8 GHz
Boost Clock
Up to 5.5 GHz
L2 Cache
8MB
L3 Cache
32MB
TDP
65W (Extended cTDP: 105W)
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Last Updated:

  • February 16, 2025: After testing the latest generation of Intel and AMD CPUs, we have updated our recommendations.
[toc]

We have also tested:

Best CPU For Streaming

Here are our recommendations: 

  1. Best Overall: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
  2. Best AMD: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
  3. Best Intel: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
  4. Best For Streaming 1080P: Intel Core Ultra 5 245K 
  5. Best Budget: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
  6. Best For 1440P Streaming: AMD Ryzen 7 9700X 

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Best Overall CPU For Gaming and Streaming 

Socket: LGA 1718 (AM5) | Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 4.7 GHz | Boost Clock: 5.2 GHz | L2 Cache: 20 MB | L3 Cache: 96 MB | TDP: 120W | MSRP: $479

Pros

  • Beats all other CPUs in gaming performance
  • Great encoding performance
  • Power consumption is low
  • Excellent thermal efficiency
  • Compatible with 600-series chipset boards
  • Future-proof 
  • AVX-512 support

Cons

  • Costly
Check Price

Read Our AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D Review

The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is AMD’s new gaming king, showing killer performance owing to the Zen 5 architecture and an improved 3D V-cache design. It features eight cores and 16 threads, with an impressive 4.7 GHz base clock speed! We put it to the test in gaming across all resolutions, and it remained the top performer, with an average of 239 FPS at 1080P ultra, for example. The eight cores mean you will have enough room to stream and won’t face a major drop in FPS, and even a 10% FPS drop (at 1080P) means you’ll still be averaging well over 60 FPS. 

With the 9800X3D, you can also breathe easy for years to come. Overclocking support is one reason for this: you can push your CPU a bit further if you think it’s falling behind. When it’s time to upgrade, the AM5 socket will let you upgrade to future-generation CPUs until at least 2024. It supports fast DDR5 memory, USB4, PCIe Gen 5, and WiFi 7. 

Read hardware reviewer Usman Saleem‘s praise for the CPU:  

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the new gaming champ, outclassing AMD’s own Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU in our gaming charts. With its improved 3D V-cache design, combined with the Zen 5 architecture, the CPU improves gaming and productivity performance while becoming more efficient than its predecessor.

✅Buy It If

You want an easy-to-cool CPU: The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D can be cooled with affordable coolers thanks to its 120W rating and improved 3D V-cache design. 

You prefer a solid upgrading path: With the AM5 socket promised until 2027 or longer, upgrading to future CPUs will be a breeze. 

You need AVX-512 support: The CPU has full support for the AVX-512 instructions set if you have workloads that use it. 

❌Don't Buy It If
Affordability is an issue: The CPU costs $479, which is not the friendliest price tag, especially when you compare it to the 7800X3D.

What Makes It The Best Overall CPU For Gaming And Streaming? 

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU out there. It has enough cores to allow you to stream comfortably without any major performance hits. Overclocking support means you can squeeze even more performance out of it, and thanks to AMD’s extended support for AM5, upgrading to next-generation CPUs will be possible. All this comes at a fairly staggering tag of $479. 

Editor`s Note
Image

The Ryzen 7 9800X3D improves on the 7800X3D not only through the Zen 5 architecture, but an improved 3D V-cache design, becoming the first X3D CPU to support overclocking. Thus, you can push its chart-topping gaming performance even further!

– Dr. Usman Saleem

Performance: 10/10 Value: 8.5/10
Features: 9.5/10 Future-proofing: 10/10

AMD Ryzen 9 9950X

Best AMD CPU For Gaming and Streaming 

Socket: LGA 1718 (AM5) | Cores: 16 | Threads: 32 | Base Clock: 4.3 GHz | Boost Clock: 5.7 GHz | L2 Cache: 16 MB | L3 Cache: 64 MB | TDP: 170W | MSRP: $579

Pros

  • Class-leading multi-core performance
  • Top-notch encoding performance
  • Great gaming performance
  • Improved power efficiency
  • Compatible with 600-series chipset boards
  • Future-proof 
  • AVX-512 support

Cons

  • Costly
Check Price

Read Our AMD Ryzen 9 9950X Review

The Ryzen 9 9950X is currently the most expensive consumer gaming CPU on AMD’s side, and it uses the new Zen 5 architecture. It involves changes to all areas of the CPU core and carries the 16C/32T configuration of the 7950X. Thus, it brings impressive gaming and top-notch multi-core performance while being more thermally efficient than its predecessor. Its encoding performance across different encoding formats, including H.264, was only beaten by the 9950X in our testing. So streaming performance will be completely seamless, whether at 1080P or 4K.

The 9950X’s top-of-the-line performance numbers mean it will last you a long time. When the time comes to upgrade, you’ll have a great upgrade path with AM5 supporting at least three more generations of CPUs. The latest I/O is supported by the board, and you’ll have support for memory speeds exceeding 8000 MT/s with the 800-series chipset boards. 

Not only did the multi-core performance impress us, we also praised the 9950X’s thermal efficiency in our review:

It is the only CPU to retain its predecessor’s TDP rating (170W) and can consume around 200 watts or more, but its thermal efficiency is superb. We had no problems taming the CPU with our DeepCool Mystique 360mm cooler, as it peaked at 72C during a full 30-minute Cinebench load.

✅Buy It If

You want a comfortable streaming experience at top resolutions: Even if you’re shooting for 4K streaming, the 9950X will handle it comfortably. 

You need excellent future-proofing: With its 16 cores and 32 threads, the CPU will last you a long time, and you can easily swap it out for an upcoming generation CPU in the future.

❌Don't Buy It If
Budget is limited: With a $579 price tag, the CPU is a significant investment.

What Makes It The Best AMD CPU For Gaming And Streaming? 

The Ryzen 9 9950X is AMD’s flagship CPU for the Ryzen 9000 series, packing 16 cores with 32 threads. It shows the fastest application performance we’ve seen in a consumer gaming CPU, and streaming while gaming is no struggle for it, even at 4K. Furthermore, thanks to long-term platform support, you can easily upgrade in the future if the need arises. 

Performance: 10/10 Value: 8.5/10
Features: 9.5/10 Future-proofing: 10/10

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Best Intel CPU For Gaming and Streaming 

Socket: LGA 1851 | Cores: 24 (8P+16E) | Threads: 24 | Base Clock: 3.7 GHz (P), 3.2 GHz (E) | Boost Clock: 5.7 GHz (P), 4.6 GHz (E) | L2 Cache: 40 MB | L3 Cache: 36 MB | TDP: 125W (Max. @ Turbo: 250W) | MSRP: $589

Pros

  • Top-notch encoding and multi-core performance
  • Improved thermal efficiency
  • Thunderbolt 5 support
  • Included NPU 
  • Faster iGPU than previous generation
  • Supports fast DDR5 (>8000 MT/s)

Cons

  • Costly
  • Requires new motherboard
Check Price

Read Our Core Ultra 9 285K Review

On Intel’s side, the Core Ultra 9 285K is the flagship, sporting 8 full-power cores and 16 E-cores. The extra E-cores free the P-cores from handling smaller background tasks and allow them to be fully dedicated to gaming and streaming. In our gaming tests at 1080P resolution, the CPU scored 205 FPS on average. Meanwhile, the CPU tops all our encoding benchmarks, followed closely by the Ryzen 9 9950X.

Intel will support the LGA 1851 platform until 2026, which is two more generations of CPUs. It’s not as future-proof as AMD, but it’s enough, especially considering that the 285K flagship will likely last you years to come. The CPU provides an integrated NPU, Thunderbolt 4, and 20 PCIe Gen 5 lanes. It also supports DDR5 speeds exceeding 8000 MT/s and discrete Thunderbolt 5, too. 

Discussing the CPU’s pros and cons, here’s what we had to say: 

Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K is a powerful flagship processor built on the advanced 3nm node, featuring 24 cores (8 Performance and 16 Efficiency cores) that does good in multi-threaded tasks like rendering and encoding. Priced at $589, it’s more costly than some of its competitors, and its requirement for a new LGA1851 motherboard may put off those looking to upgrade from recent Intel models.

✅Buy It If

You want to stream at high-end resolutions: If you want to stream your games at high resolutions (up to 4K), the 285K can do it while maintaining playable FPS.

You need Thunderbolt 5 support: The Core Ultra 9 285K provides discrete support for Thunderbolt 5, providing up to 120 Gbps of bandwidth. 

❌Don't Buy It If
You’re on a budget: Like AMD’s Ryzen 9000 flagship, the Core Ultra 9 285K is costly at $589. Moreover, you’ll need a new motherboard for it.

What Makes It The Best Intel CPU For Gaming And Streaming? 

The Core Ultra 9 285K provides 24 cores in an architecture designed to handle both your heavy (gaming and streaming) and light tasks efficiently. Thus, it is more than enough to handle high-resolution streaming even in graphically intensive games, as validated in our testing.  

Performance: 9.5/10 Value: 8/10
Features: 10/10 Future-proofing: 9/10

Intel Core Ultra 5 245K

Best CPU for Gaming and Streaming 1080P 

Socket: LGA 1851 | Cores: 14 (6P + 8E) | Threads: 14 | Base Clock: 4.2 GHz (P), 3.6 GHz (E) | Boost Clock: 5.2 GHz (P), 4.6 GHz (E) | L2 Cache: 26 MB | L3 Cache: 24 MB | TDP: 125W (Max. @ Turbo: 159W) | MSRP: $319

Pros

  • Great encoding and multi-core performance
  • Improved power and thermal efficiency
  • Thunderbolt 5 support
  • Includes an NPU
  • iGPU is much faster than previous generation

Cons

  • Price is unattractive 
  • Requires new motherboard
Check Price

Read Our Core Ultra 5 245K Review

The Core Ultra 5 245K is the perfect option for 1080P streaming, as 6 full-power cores leave enough room for streaming at this resolution. Moreover, like with the 285K, you have E-cores to handle the background tasks, lightening the load on the P-cores. Adding to that decent L2 and L3 cache chunks, the CPU handles 1080P gaming like a champ, averaging 205 FPS at 1080P ultra across various titles. The CPU’s encoding performance is excellent in all formats, including AV1.

The Core Ultra 5 245K should last you at least a couple of years, after which you can upgrade to a newer CPU. It supports Gen 5 expansion and NVMe, fast DDR5 speeds (over 8000 MT/s), native Thunderbolt 4 and WiFi 6E, and more. 

Read what our expert reviewer Usman Saleem said about the 245K:

The Intel Core Ultra 5 245K offers decent performance at a considerable price range. It is equipped with the latest architecture and has great power efficiency.

✅Buy It If

You’re prioritizing good multi-core performance: The Core Ultra 5 245K is not only great for 1080P gaming and streaming but also shows excellent performance in heavily multi-threaded workloads. 

You want improved power efficiency: The Core Ultra 5 245K provides much better power efficiency than its predecessors. 

❌Don't Buy It If
You want a cheaper alternative: AMD’s competing Ryzen 5 9600X and Ryzen 7 9700X are available at a lower price.

What Makes It The Best CPU For 1080P Gaming And Streaming? 

If you’re fine streaming at good ol’ 1080P, the Core Ultra 5 245K is an excellent option with its 6 P and 8 E cores. The new architecture also brings better power and thermal efficiency, so the CPU won’t require as premium cooling as its predecessors. 

Performance: 8.5/10 Value: 7.5/10
Features: 10/10 Future-proofing: 9/10

AMD Ryzen 5 9600X

Best Budget CPU For Gaming and Streaming 

Socket: LGA 1718 (AM5) | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Base Clock: 3.9 GHz | Boost Clock: 5.4 GHz | L2 Cache: 6 MB | L3 Cache: 32 MB | TDP: 65W (Extended cTDP: 105W) | MSRP: $239

Pros

  • Good value
  • Low power consumption
  • Excellent thermal efficiency
  • Future-proof
  • AVX-512 support

Cons

  • No stock cooler included
  • Not great for streaming beyond 1080P
Check Price

Read Our AMD Ryzen 5 9600X Review

The Ryzen 5 9600X rocks six cores and 12 threads on the new Zen 5 architecture, with 32 MB of L3 cache. It can also run at a 105W TDP with the new AGESA Pi firmware update, providing up to 10% performance uplift. In our 1080P gaming tests, the CPU clocked 197 FPS at Ultra preset. Performance across different compression formats has improved (compared to its predecessor), with a massive uplift in AV1 performance numbers. That said, 1080P streaming should be your goal, while more dated titles can be streamed at 1440P. 

If you don’t hit resolutions beyond 1080P, the Ryzen 5 9600X should last you a good few years. When it’s time to upgrade, you can swap it for a next-gen CPU, as AM5 will continue to support CPUs up to 2027. You also get the latest I/O with the 9600X: PCIe Gen 5, fast DDR5, USB4 (depending on the motherboard), and more. 

PRO TIP: Update your AGESA firmware to 1.2.0.2 to run the CPU at 105W for a potential performance boost. Ensure your CPU cooler can handle the extra wattage, though.

The Ryzen 5 9600X evoked mixed feelings; here’s what we said: 

While there are decent gains in multi-core performance over the previous generation, the 9600X simply can’t compete with similarly-priced CPUs with higher core counts. Even Intel’s modestly priced 13600K is far better for multi-threaded workloads than our AM5 CPU.

✅Buy It If

You’re looking for the best value: The 9600X is probably the best-value CPU among the latest crop of AMD and Intel CPUs. It costs $239 after a recent price cut.

You want excellent future-proofing: As this is a budget option, you’ll probably want to upgrade within a few years. The 9600X is great for that, as it will likely support three or more upcoming generations of AMD CPUs. 

❌Don't Buy It If
You want to stream at higher resolutions: While you’ll be able to stream 1440P in less graphically intensive games, it’ll be difficult to push beyond 1080P in more demanding titles.

What Makes It The Best Budget CPU For Gaming And Streaming? 

At $239, the AMD Ryzen 5 9600X offers great value. It has six cores 12 threads, and great 1080P gaming numbers. Pair that with good encoding performance, easy upgradability, and all the modern I/O you need, and it covers everything at a decent price.

Performance: 8.5/10 Value: 8.5/10
Features: 9.5/10 Future-proofing: 10/10

AMD Ryzen 7 9700X

Best CPU For Gaming and Streaming 1440P

Socket: LGA 1718 (AM5) | Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | Base Clock: 3.8 GHz | Boost Clock: 5.5 GHz | L2 Cache: 8 MB | L3 Cache: 32 MB | TDP: 65W (Extended cTDP: 105W) | MSRP: $329

Pros

  • Shows great numbers in gaming 
  • Improved encoding performance
  • 65W TDP
  • Thermal efficiency even better than 9600X
  • Compatible with previous-gen motherboards
  • Future-proof
  • AVX-512 support

Cons

  • Intel’s 245K faster in multi-core performance
  • No stock cooler
Check Price

Read Our AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Review

The Ryzen 7 9700X rocks eight cores and 16 threads with a base clock speed of 3.8 GHz. Shared by the CPU cores is 32 MB of L3 cache, and the CPU can run at 105W with the AGESA 1.2.0.2 firmware update. In our 1440P gaming benchmarks, the CPU scored an average of 166 FPS, while the encoding performance in all the tests is better than the 7700X. What’s more, the CPU is extremely efficient, maxing out at 89W under full load and hitting only 57°C. There’s plenty of overclocking room if you have a decent cooler. 

The Ryzen 7 9700X offers great future-proofing, with potential upgrades to the 9900X/9950X or future CPUs up to 2027. You get 20 usable lanes of PCIe Gen 5, USB4, WiFi 7, and DDR5 speed support over 8000 MT/s. Also, with its 65W/105W rating, you can even run it with cheap B650 boards without issues. 

Read our thoughts about the CPU from our dedicated review:

The Ryzen 7 9700X is ideal if you want top-class single-core performance and power efficiency and/or heavily use AVX-512 instructions.

✅Buy It If

You want excellent efficiency: The CPU is very power-efficient and easy to cool.

You don’t want to spend heavily on other components: The Ryzen 7 9700X can be run on a cheap previous-gen B650 motherboard and can be cooled with an affordable air cooler.

Future-proofing is important: The CPU offers an excellent upgrade path, as the AM5 platform is set to receive support until 2027. 

❌Don't Buy It If

You need better multi-core performance: The Core Ultra 5 245K outperforms this CPU in multi-threaded benchmarks. 

What Makes It The Best CPU For 1440P Streaming?

The Ryzen 7 9700X’s impressive encoding performance and eight cores make it a great option for smooth 1440P streaming. It’s also highly efficient, priced fairly, supports the latest I/O, and provides a convenient upgrade path. 

Performance: 9/10 Value: 9/10
Features: 9.5/10 Future-proofing: 10/10

CPU Comparison

Here’s how our selected CPUs differ in key specifications: 

CPUNo. of coresNo. of threadsBase frequency (GHz)(Full-power cores)Boost frequency (Full-power cores)Total L2 cache (MB)Total L3 cache (MB)Base TDP (W)
9800X3D8164.75.22096120
9950X16324.35.71664170
Ultra 9 285K24243.75.74036125
Ultra 5 245K14144.25.22624125
6123.95.463265
9700X8163.85.583265

Benchmarks Of The Best CPU For Streaming

In order to judge the streaming capabilities of various CPUs, our team of hardware specialists ran a gauntlet of tests on our target processors. These tests were designed to objectively judge both the gaming and streaming performance of the CPUs at different resolutions and different bitrates. 

Important CPU Key Terms

Here are some key CPU terms you should know when shopping for a streaming CPU.

  1. Cores: A CPU die is divided into parts known as cores which help execute various functions.
  2. Threads: Cores make use of data strings known as threads to improve multitasking.
  3. Cache: A small amount of super-fast memory known as cache is stored directly onto the CPU.
  4. Clock Speed: The clock speed of a processor ranges from base clock to boost clock, and it is the number of data cycles it completes in one second.
  5. TDP: An estimation of the amount of heat emitted by a processor is known as TDP.
  6. CPU encoding: When uncompressed frames are packaged into a target file format by the CPU, it is known as CPU encoding. It is also called software encoding.
  7. Overclocking: Running a CPU faster than its pre-determined frequency is known as overclocking.

How We Picked The Best CPU For Streaming

Here is what we considered when choosing the best CPU for streaming.

  • Multi-core Performance: Gaming prioritizes single-threaded performance while streaming demands numerous cores with strong multi-core performance. Therefore, when compiling this list, we placed significant emphasis on both the number of cores and their speed to ensure an optimal streaming experience.
  • Gaming Performance: While dedicated streaming rigs are a good idea if you’re a professional streamer, they are not really feasible for most people. Therefore, a good streaming CPU should also be a good gaming CPU if you want to do both simultaneously. You can’t expect to have a good stream if your own game is running poorly in the first place.
  • CPU Encoding: CPU encoding, or software encoding, is also linked somewhat to multi-core performance. You can use the CPU directly for streaming as well, but that puts a lot of load on the CPU. The CPU uses an x264 or x265 encoder to package the gameplay footage into a streamable format. Encoding performance should definitely be considered in this purchase process.
  • Value for Money: When selecting CPUs for streaming, considering value is essential. While high-end options exist, mid-range or budget CPUs can suffice with proper stream settings adjustments. We evaluated the price-to-performance ratio across different price brackets to make our selection.

FAQs

Does streaming use CPU or GPU?

Streaming uses CPU if you use software encoding, but it can also use GPU if you use hardware encoding. Still, the CPU is very important for multitasking in both scenarios.

How many CPU cores are required for streaming?

You should get a CPU with at least 6 cores for streaming, but it is recommended to have 8 cores or more for an ideal experience.

What kind of CPU do I need for streaming?

A CPU with at least 6-8 cores and decent multi-core performance is ideal for streaming.

How many CPU cores do I need for gaming and streaming simultaneously?

You would need at least 8 cores for streaming and gaming simultaneously. You can get away with 6 cores as well, depending on the game and streaming settings.

What should CPU usage be while streaming?

CPU usage varies a lot, but it is normal to see a CPU being utilized between 50-80% while streaming. Your CPU is probably struggling if you see CPU usage at 100 while streaming.

Recent Updates

  • July 27, 2024: We have changed the formatting to improve the readability.
  • February 13, 2024: Few text changes to improve readability.
 

Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus Hits Geekbench, Goes Head-to-Head with Ryzen 9 9950X3D

Story Highlight
  • Benchmark results show that the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX nearly rivals the desktop Ryzen 9950X3D. 
  • Part of the Arrow Lake Refresh lineup, the mobile CPU is expected to arrive in Spring 2026.
  • The configuration is pretty much the same as the Core Ultra 9 285HX, but only with a higher frequency. 

The Arrow Lake-S Refresh arrives in the next few months during the Spring season, and Intel is aiming squarely at AMD’s latest moves. While these CPUs were not mentioned in Team Blue’s CES presentation, they did say ‘stay tuned,’ and now Core Ultra 200K Plus and 200HX have started appearing in benchmarks and at retailers. 

Specifically, the new Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX will be the company’s new flagship processor for laptops, and it is packing some heat. When tested on Geekbench 6, the laptop CPU was seen to be as powerful as the desktop Ryzen 9 9950X3D.

Why it matters: Intel’s HX series is known to prioritize raw performance over efficiency, and it’s surprising to see that the new Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX, despite being a laptop processor, can rival AMD’s flagship desktop CPU.

Core Ultra 9 285HX benchmark
Benchmark Scores For The Core Ultra 9 285HX On Geekbench 6

On Geekbench, a benchmark for the Acer Predator PHN18-I71 featuring the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX has been listed, scoring 3198 points in a single-core test and 21581 points in multi-core performance.

ryzen 9950x3d benchmark
Ryzen 9950X3D Benchmark Scores For Geekbench 6

In contrast, the desktop Ryzen 9 9950X3D scores 3397 in single-core and 22156 in multi-core tests.

This gap is quite minimal, and, for reference, the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX features eight performance cores and 16 efficiency cores. Overall, the configuration remains pretty much the same as the Core Ultra 9 285HX, but with slightly higher clock speeds.

AMD Ryzen 9950XD Up To 64% Faster Than Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
The Ryzen 9950X3D Offered Up To 64% More Performance Than The Intel Core 9 Ultra 285K

Expect a release date in the coming months, and it’s also worth noting that this processor may deliver even greater performance in laptops with higher power capacity.

Latest Updates

What are your thoughts on these results? Let us know in the comments below, or at the official Tech4Gamers Forums.

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