For most of 2022, we recommended the Core i5 12600K as the best gaming CPU and the Core i5 12400 as the best gaming CPU on a budget. Last year, the Core i5 13600K took over the top spot.
Your choice of processor will fundamentally affect your PC’s frame rates, so you want to make sure you buy the very best gaming CPU you can afford when you’re speccing up a new rig.