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

PC CPU and Motherboard

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?

Processor Rankings

  1. Core 2 Extreme QX9650
  2. Core 2 Extreme QX6850
  3. Core 2 Extreme QX6800
  4. Core 2 Duo E6850
  5. Core 2 Extreme X6800
  6. Core 2 Extreme QX6700
  7. Core 2 Quad Q6700
  8. Core 2 Duo E6750
  9. Core 2 Duo E6700
  10. Core 2 Quad Q6600
  11. Core 2 Duo E6600
  12. Athlon 64 X2 6400+
  13. Core 2 Duo E6550
  14. Athlon 64 X2 6000+
  15. Phenom 9600+
  16. Phenom 9500+
  17. Athlon 64 X2 5800+
  18. Core 2 Duo E6420
  19. Core 2 Duo E6400
  20. Athlon 64 X2 5600+
  21. Athlon 64 X2 5400+
  22. Athlon 64 X2 5200+
  23. Athlon 64 FX-74
  24. Athlon 64 FX-72
  25. Pentium D EE 965
  26. Pentium D 960
  27. Athlon 64 FX-70
  28. Core 2 Duo E6300
  29. Athlon 64 FX-62
  30. Athlon 64 X2 5000+
  31. Athlon 64 FX-60
  32. Pentium D EE 955
  33. Pentium D 950
  34. Core 2 Duo E4600
  35. Athlon 64 X2 4800+
  36. Core 2 Duo E4500
  37. Core 2 Duo E4400
  38. Core 2 Duo E4300
  39. Athlon 64 X2 4600+
  40. Pentium D EE 840
  41. Athlon 64 X2 4400+
  42. Athlon 64 X2 4200+
  43. Athlon 64 X2 4000+
  44. Athlon 64 X2 3800+
  45. Athlon 64 X2 3600+
  46. Athlon 64 4000+
  47. Athlon 64 FX-55
  48. Athlon 64 3800+
  49. Pentium D 945
  50. Pentium D 840
  51. Pentium D 820
  52. Pentium 4 3.8GHz
  53. Athlon 64 3700+
  54. Athlon 64 FX-57
  55. Pentium 4 3.6GHz
  56. Pentium D 940
  57. Athlon 64 FX-53
  58. Athlon 64 FX-51
  59. Pentium D 930
  60. Athlon 64 3600+
  61. Athlon 64 3500+
  62. Athlon 64 3400+
  63. Pentium D 830
  64. Pentium 4 3.4GHz
  65. Pentium 4 3.2GHz
  66. Pentium D 805
  67. Pentium D 925
  68. Athlon 64 3200+
  69. Pentium 4 3.06GHz
  70. Pentium D 920
  71. Pentium D 915
  72. Pentium 4 3.0GHz
  73. Athlon 64 3000+
  74. Athlon 64 2800+
  75. Athlon XP 3200+
  76. Pentium 4 2.8GHz
  77. Pentium 4 2.6GHz
  78. Athlon XP 2800+
  79. 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.