We update our guide with the best processors on the market that we can buy right now for less than 120 euros, and this time we are going to limit ourselves to the first-hand market, that is, to new products because, with the prices that we can find right now, it is possible to buy a CPU with good performance at a price really affordable.
In this guide I am not going to limit myself to choosing the best processors to play within that price range, but I am also going to include those that can be a good option to build other types of PCs, including from basic office equipment to configurations for multimedia and eSports.
Along with each one of those chosen as the best processors for less than 120 euros, you will find their key specifications, and also a summary of your strengths and weaknesses. This will help you to be a little clearer about what you can expect from each of them and which one would best suit your needs. As always, if you have any questions you can leave them in the comments.
Best processors for less than 120 euros
1.-Intel Celeron G5905 for 48.99 euros
This processor is ideal for mounting a PC for office automation, web browsing and multimedia for very little money. It falls within the Comet Lake-S generation, which means that it uses the same architecture as the Core Gen10, which means that its IPC borders on a good level, and it has an integrated GPU Intel UHD Graphics 610.
Also comes with a house sinkso with this chip we will not have to invest money in the graphics card or in the cooling system. We will have CPU, GPU and cooling resolved for only 48.99 euros. In general, it is a fairly competent chip, as long as we are aware of its limitations, since in the end, although it has a good IPC, it only adds two cores and two threads.
Specifications
- Comet Lake-S generation (14 nm++).
- Socket LGA1200.
- Two cores and two threads at 3.5 GHz.
- 4MB L3 cache.
- Integrated Intel UHD 610 GPU.
- fan included.
- 58 watt TDP.
Positive points
- Very economical.
- Single thread performance.
- Integrated GPU and fan included.
- Proficient with undemanding tasks.
Bad points
- Just two cores and two threads.
- No turbo mode.
2.-AMD Ryzen 5 4500 for 63.95 euros
With the Ryzen 5 4500 we raised the bar quite a bit, and we found a processor that will allow us to build a fairly powerful PC for very little money. Now that it has dropped so much in price it is an excellent optionsince we are talking about a chip that has 6 cores and 12 threadsand therefore reaches the optimal level for current games.
This processor is based on the Zen 2 architecture and comes with an AMD Wraith Stealth fan, which gives it an even more interesting value when it comes to building a gaming PC on a very tight budget, but one that is capable of offering a good level of performance. Its work frequencies are not very high, and it only has 8 MB of L3 cache, but For the price it has right now it is the best in its range. You have it reduced to 63.95 euros.
Specifications
- Zen 2 generation (7nm).
- Socket AM4.
- Six cores and twelve threads at 3.6 GHz-4.1 GHz.
- 8MB L3 cache.
- No integrated GPU.
- fan included.
- 65 watt TDP.
Positive points
- Very economical.
- 6 cores and 12 threads for only 64 euros.
- fan included.
- Able to move current games.
- Price-performance ratio.
Bad points
- Lower performance than Ryzen 5 3600.
- Little L3 cache.
- Limited to PCIe Gen3.
3.-AMD Ryzen 5 3600 for 82.99 euros
This processor was one of the best AMD has ever released, and it still holds up as a very capable chip thanks to its good CPI and your configuration 6 cores and 12 threads. Without a doubt, it is an all-terrain solution that will withstand any current game without problems, and that can even offer a fairly reasonable experience in relatively intensive multithreaded applications.
Now that we can get it for only 82.99 euros, it’s a really interesting option, because it costs less than the Ryzen 5 5500, it surpasses it in some cases and on top of that it allows us to access the PCIe Gen4 standard, something essential to mount cheap graphics cards that are limited to PCIe Gen4 x8 or x4. It comes without a fan, but we can get one ARTIC Alpine 23 from only 11.99 euros.
It is one of the best processors we have on the market for less than 100 euros for socket AM4, and don’t worry, that said fan He is able to withstand the type perfectlyAfter all, we are talking about a 65-watt processor.
Specifications
- Zen 2 generation (7nm).
- Socket AM4.
- Six cores and twelve threads at 3.6 GHz-4.2 GHz.
- 32MB L3 cache.
- No integrated GPU.
- Fan not included.
- 65 watt TDP.
Positive points
- Good price.
- 6 cores and 12 threads.
- Good CPI.
- Good performance for the price it has.
- It can with games and professional applications.
- PCIe Gen4 x16 (with a compatible motherboard).
Bad points
4.-Intel Core i3-12100F for 101.99 euros
This is one of the best quad-core, eight-thread processors out there, and one of the most powerful that exist right now in the market, since it is only surpassed by the Intel Core i3-13100F and its derivatives. It is a very good option for games because of its high CPIsince it uses the Golden Cove architecture, and in addition it is manufactured on the Intel 7 (10 nm) SuperFin node.
A general level it is less versatile than the Ryzen 5 3600 because it has fewer cores and threads, but if our goal is to build a gaming PC on a tight budget and have the chance to jump to the DDR5 memory and PCIe Gen5 standard It is, without a doubt, an excellent option, especially now that it has dropped in price.
With this chip we will be able to access a state-of-the-art platform for little money, and we will have the door open to future updates, since the LGA1700 socket is compatible with the Core Gen13, and will be compatible with the Raptor Lake Refresh, known as Core Gen14. It is reduced to 101.99 euros.
Specifications
- Alder Lake-S generation (Intel 7, 10nm SuperFin).
- Socket LGA1700.
- Four cores and eight threads at 3.3GHz-4.3GHz.
- 12MB L3 cache.
- No integrated GPU.
- fan included.
- 65 watt TDP.
Positive points
- CPI very high.
- Single thread performance.
- fan included.
- Technically advanced.
- Next-generation platform, with DDR5 and PCIe Gen5.
Bad points
- It does not reach the optimal level of 6 cores and 12 threads already required in some games.
5.-Intel Core i5-10400F for 104.99 euros
One of the best processors to update a PC based on the LGA1200 socket, and also to build a new computer at low cost but with a good level of performance. It has a setting of 6 cores and 12 threads, and its IPC is pretty goodso in general terms it is a more versatile and balanced chip than the Intel Core i3-12100F, although it loses to it in those cases in which more than four cores and eight threads are not used.
Can seamlessly move current gamesit reaches the recommended minimum level of 6 cores and 12 threads, and it comes with a fan that complies without problems, as long as we are not going to have the processor at 100% load constantly and for long periods of time, since in these cases it will move in the range of 83 degrees C, and therefore it would be advisable to buy a more powerful fan, although not essential since it is still a safe value.
If we are going to use it for gaming and other tasks where the workload never reaches 100%, the reference fan will give us values of between 60 and 70 degrees, that is, fully acceptable values. We can buy it for 104.95 euros.
Specifications
- Comet Lake-S generation (14 nm++).
- Socket LGA1200.
- Six cores and twelve threads at 2.9 GHz-4.3 GHz.
- 12MB L3 cache.
- No integrated GPU.
- fan included.
- 65 watt TDP.
Positive points
- Good CPI.
- Single thread performance.
- Multithreaded performance.
- fan included.
- Good price.
Bad points
- Limited to PCIe Gen3.
- Outdated platform with little room for upgrade.
6.-Ryzen 5 4600G for 104.99 euros
This chip is an interesting option to build a PC for undemanding games and eSport titles (electronic sport)since it comes with an integrated GPU that is quite competent, and that will allow us to play many things without having to mount a dedicated graphics card, with the obvious savings that this entails.
In this sense, it should be noted that, for comparative purposes, its integrated GPU can reach a level of performance similar to what we would have with a GeForce GT 1030, so that you have a reference to help you estimate the final performance. Games like Valorant, League of Legends and DOTA 2 will work perfectly with the integrated GPU that the Ryzen 5 4600G brings.
It also includes a fan, so we won’t need to buy anything else. With this APU we could build a PC for basic games and electronic sports for only 200 euros. It offers very good value for money, although if you can spend a little more the Ryzen 5 5600G APU is an interesting option too. We can buy the Ryzen 5 4600G for 104.99 euros, and it is one of the best processors with an integrated GPU in its price range.
Specifications
- Zen 2 generation (7nm).
- Socket AM4.
- Six cores and twelve threads at 3.7GHz-4.2GHz.
- 8MB L3 cache.
- Integrated Radeon 7 GPU with 448 shaders (Vega II, GCN 5.1).
- fan included.
- 65 watt TDP.
Positive points
- Good price.
- 6 cores and 12 threads.
- Price-performance value.
- Integrated GPU quite competent in undemanding games, and in titles of the previous generation.
- fan included.
Bad points
- Lower performance than Ryzen 5 3600 in CPU.
- Little L3 cache.
- Limited to PCIe Gen3.
Final notes: is it worth buying such cheap processors to play?
The truth is that yes, in fact in this list of the best processors for less than 120 euros we have three models that are an excellent option to build a gaming PC for very little money, and without having to give up a good level of performance. . I’m talking about the Ryzen 5 3600, Core i3-12100F and Core i5-10400F.
Of three, the one that will give the best results in games is the Intel Core i3-12100F, thanks to its high IPC and DDR5 memory support. With the latest price drop that it has received, I think it is the best option of all that we have right now in the range of less than 120 euros if our goal is to play, not only because of its performance, but also because, as I said, It opens the doors to a state-of-the-art platform and allows us to configure a PC with a longer useful life that we can update with a fairly small investment.
The Ryzen 5 3600 would be an excellent option especially for give a second life to a PC based on the AM4 platform running, for example, a 1st or 2nd generation Ryzen (Ryzen 5 2600 or below), and the Intel Core i5-10400F is also a great choice for upgrading a PC based on an Intel Celeron, an Intel Pentium or an Intel Core i3-10105 or lower.
I remind you that the Intel Core i3-12100F is only slightly slower than the Intel Core i3-13100F because the latter runs at a slightly higher frequency, but the differences between the two are minimal, and it is not worth paying the 20 euros more than this one costs. With an Intel Core i3-12100F you would have no problem moving mid-range graphics cardsso you can build very competent and well-balanced gaming setups for little money.
