Processor Rankings

Following our previous post that showed graphics cards rankings from best to worst, here’s the same treatment for processor rankings.

Your PC’s processor – a source of endless joy or deep frustration?

Not sure how your processor compares to those currently on sale? Are you king of the hill, or languishing at the bottom?

Core 2 Extreme QX9650
Core 2 Extreme QX6850
Core 2 Extreme QX6800
Core 2 Duo E6850
Core 2 Extreme X6800
Core 2 Extreme QX6700
Core 2 Quad Q6700
Core 2 Duo E6750
Core 2 Duo E6700
Core 2 Quad Q6600
Core 2 Duo E6600
Athlon 64 X2 6400+
Core 2 Duo E6550
Athlon 64 X2 6000+
Phenom 9600+
Phenom 9500+
Athlon 64 X2 5800+
Core 2 Duo E6420
Core 2 Duo E6400
Athlon 64 X2 5600+
Athlon 64 X2 5400+
Athlon 64 X2 5200+
Athlon 64 FX-74
Athlon 64 FX-72
Pentium D EE 965
Pentium D 960
Athlon 64 FX-70
Core 2 Duo E6300
Athlon 64 FX-62
Athlon 64 X2 5000+
Athlon 64 FX-60
Pentium D EE 955
Pentium D 950
Core 2 Duo E4600
Athlon 64 X2 4800+
Core 2 Duo E4500
Core 2 Duo E4400
Core 2 Duo E4300
Athlon 64 X2 4600+
Pentium D EE 840
Athlon 64 X2 4400+
Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Athlon 64 X2 4000+
Athlon 64 X2 3800+
Athlon 64 X2 3600+
Athlon 64 4000+
Athlon 64 FX-55
Athlon 64 3800+
Pentium D 945
Pentium D 840
Pentium D 820
Pentium 4 3.8GHz
Athlon 64 3700+
Athlon 64 FX-57
Pentium 4 3.6GHz
Pentium D 940
Athlon 64 FX-53
Athlon 64 FX-51
Pentium D 930
Athlon 64 3600+
Athlon 64 3500+
Athlon 64 3400+
Pentium D 830
Pentium 4 3.4GHz
Pentium 4 3.2GHz
Pentium D 805
Pentium D 925
Athlon 64 3200+
Pentium 4 3.06GHz
Pentium D 920
Pentium D 915
Pentium 4 3.0GHz
Athlon 64 3000+
Athlon 64 2800+
Athlon XP 3200+
Pentium 4 2.8GHz
Pentium 4 2.6GHz
Athlon XP 2800+
Pentium 4 2.4GHz

The list is taken from the March 2008 issue of PC Gamer and was part of an article discussing the hardware requirements of modern games. It is a list of processor rankings mainly by performance and features, but also taking into account value for money.

15 Comments

Mayank Singhania on August 21, 2009 at 7:21 am

Please supply some more information about every processor that why they are placed above or below

Mayank Singhania on August 21, 2009 at 7:22 am

And the cost also..

Chris on August 21, 2009 at 8:04 am

Hi Mayank,

The list is actually over a year and a half old now (March ’08), so the top of the list would be looking quite different now. I was tempted to add some prices to the list, but quickly realised why PC Gamer didn’t bother in the first place – no sooner have you put a price on than it’s out of date, CPU prices are changing so frequently.

jamie lee b on September 15, 2009 at 10:26 pm

so where does Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 Stand in the list ?

Chris on September 20, 2009 at 9:11 pm

Bearing in mind this list is over a year old now, the Q8300 would be close to the top. There’s a lot of performance on offer and it’s at a good price now. Sure, there are faster chips but the Q8300 offers a lot of bang for your buck right now.

jamie lee b on September 21, 2009 at 4:59 pm

can you tell me where

AMD Phenom X4 9750

stands in the list and if its good for gaming please? 🙂

Chris on September 22, 2009 at 10:14 am

Hi Jamie, the Phenom X4 9750 would definitely be near the top and is easily good enough for gaming. It’s not quite as powerful as Intel’s Core 2 Extremes, but it’s cheaper and represents great value for money. Check out this group test to see how it performs in various tests.

Manny on December 9, 2009 at 4:53 am

Hey I looked at this list hoping it would help me pick a good processors but it doesn’t have many of them on it. So how would a: AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-82 Dual-Core Mobile Processor rank on this list (It comes in the Laptop i wish to buy, i heard it is a amazing processor but I want a second opinion)

Also how does a: Intel Celeron CPU E1400 rate on this list? It is the processor that is in my desktop computer and i am wondering how good it is or isn’t.

Nabi on December 28, 2009 at 10:28 am

i want total list of processors used on a computer till now…….
thanku

Thracks on January 5, 2010 at 4:51 pm

So wheres the I7?

Chris on January 12, 2010 at 9:20 am

Just like the graphics card rankings, I’m planning to release an updated processor list.

Shaun on January 14, 2010 at 7:16 pm

As someone who is computer literate but just doesn’t have enough time to sort through all the BS to get the right hardware these days, this is invaluable. I really appreciate the time it takes to put a list like this together.

Looking forward to the revised list now that I’m looking on assembling a new rig this month.

Cheers man!

SDO

Carla on February 12, 2010 at 11:15 pm

I am eagerly awaiting your updated processor list! Please email me when available…. I am barely holding on with my old Pentium 4 in my old dell…

Carla

trtr on September 20, 2010 at 10:50 am

wers the updated list 2010???

Chris on September 20, 2010 at 2:48 pm

As the article states, the original list game from an article in PC Gamer. Sadly they’ve not released another list since then.

Mayank Singhania on August 21, 2009 at 7:21 am
Please supply some more information about every processor that why they are placed above or below
Mayank Singhania on August 21, 2009 at 7:22 am
And the cost also..
Chris on August 21, 2009 at 8:04 am
Hi Mayank,
The list is actually over a year and a half old now (March ’08), so the top of the list would be looking quite different now. I was tempted to add some prices to the list, but quickly realised why PC Gamer didn’t bother in the first place – no sooner have you put a price on than it’s out of date, CPU prices are changing so frequently.
jamie lee b on September 15, 2009 at 10:26 pm
so where does Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 Stand in the list ?
Chris on September 20, 2009 at 9:11 pm
Bearing in mind this list is over a year old now, the Q8300 would be close to the top. There’s a lot of performance on offer and it’s at a good price now. Sure, there are faster chips but the Q8300 offers a lot of bang for your buck right now.
jamie lee b on September 21, 2009 at 4:59 pm
can you tell me where
AMD Phenom X4 9750
stands in the list and if its good for gaming please? 🙂
Chris on September 22, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hi Jamie, the Phenom X4 9750 would definitely be near the top and is easily good enough for gaming. It’s not quite as powerful as Intel’s Core 2 Extremes, but it’s cheaper and represents great value for money. Check out this group test to see how it performs in various tests.
Manny on December 9, 2009 at 4:53 am
Hey I looked at this list hoping it would help me pick a good processors but it doesn’t have many of them on it. So how would a: AMD Turion X2 Ultra ZM-82 Dual-Core Mobile Processor rank on this list (It comes in the Laptop i wish to buy, i heard it is a amazing processor but I want a second opinion)
Also how does a: Intel Celeron CPU E1400 rate on this list? It is the processor that is in my desktop computer and i am wondering how good it is or isn’t.
Nabi on December 28, 2009 at 10:28 am
i want total list of processors used on a computer till now…….
thanku
Thracks on January 5, 2010 at 4:51 pm
So wheres the I7?
Chris on January 12, 2010 at 9:20 am
Just like the graphics card rankings, I’m planning to release an updated processor list.
Shaun on January 14, 2010 at 7:16 pm
As someone who is computer literate but just doesn’t have enough time to sort through all the BS to get the right hardware these days, this is invaluable. I really appreciate the time it takes to put a list like this together.
Looking forward to the revised list now that I’m looking on assembling a new rig this month.
Cheers man!
SDO
Carla on February 12, 2010 at 11:15 pm
I am eagerly awaiting your updated processor list! Please email me when available…. I am barely holding on with my old Pentium 4 in my old dell…
Carla
trtr on September 20, 2010 at 10:50 am
wers the updated list 2010???
Chris on September 20, 2010 at 2:48 pm
As the article states, the original list game from an article in PC Gamer. Sadly they’ve not released another list since then.

Processor Rankings – 79 Processors From Best To Worst