Best CPUs of the date

$65

Athlon II X2 245
Codename:	Regor
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	2
Clock Speed:	2.9 GHz
Socket:	AM2+/AM3
L1 Cache:	2 x 64KB
L2 Cache:	2 x 1MB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	65W

With better CPUs encroaching on the Athlon II X2 250's price point, we shed a few dollars and reinstated the 245 as our choice for a gaming CPU on a rock-bottom budget.
This chip allows the flexibility to go one of two different ways: either drop it in as an upgrade for your Socket AM2+-based platform or build a brand new, low-cost Socket AM3 machine based on it. With a high 2.9 GHz clock speed, the Athlon II X2 245 offers excellent gaming performance at the price. Moreover, its 65W thermal design power is great for electricity- and heat-conscious enthusiasts.
$75

Athlon II X3 435 (Check Prices)

Athlon II X3 435
Codename:	Rana
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	3
Clock Speed:	2.9 GHz
Socket:	AM2+/AM3
L1 Cache:	3 x 64KB
L2 Cache:	3 x 512KB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	95W

The Athlon II X3 435 boasts three execution cores. And, compared to a dual-core processor, that extra core will make a notable difference in multi-tasking performance, as well as game play. This model also has good overclocking headroom if you want to push it a little further. On top of everything else, it recently dropped in price now that the new Athlon II X3 440 model has arrived.
$85

Athlon II X3 440 (Check Prices)

Athlon II X3 440
Codename:	Rana
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	3
Clock Speed:	3.0 GHz
Socket:	AM2+/AM3
L1 Cache:	3 x 64KB
L2 Cache:	3 x 512KB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	95W

From a stock performance standpoint, the Athlon II X3 440 only offers a 100 MHz speed bump over the Athlon II X3 435. However, the higher multiplier might help if your ultimate goal is overclocking.
When you consider the big picture, this CPU really offers an attractive combination of multiple CPU cores, high clock speed, low price, and overclockability. It is such a great gaming CPU, in fact, that it almost renders most of the CPUs in the $100 to $130 range redundant. As a result, most of our recommendations in this range are aimed specifically at overclockers and users upgrading an older platform.
$100

Athlon II X4 630
Codename:	Propus
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	4
Clock Speed:	2.8 GHz
Socket:	AM3
L1 Cache:	4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:	4 x 512KB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	95W

Frankly, the high clock rate of the Athlon II X3 440 allows it to perform better than an Athlon II X4 630 at stock frequencies in a great majority of games.
However, there are a few titles out there that will take advantage of a fourth CPU core, making the Athlon II X4 a potentially attractive choice to buyers who want all four CPU cores and are willing to overclock this processor. Moreover, as a general-purpose CPU (during the hours you don't spend gaming, of course), the quad-core solution is going to be superior. Now found as low as $100, true quad-core CPUs are well within the grasp of the budget gamer.

$120
Athlon II X4 635 (Check Prices)

Athlon II X4 635
Codename:	Propus
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	4
Clock Speed:	2.9 GHz
Socket:	AM3
L1 Cache:	4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:	4 x 512KB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	95W

Offering a 100 MHz speed boost over the Athlon II X4 630, the new Athlon II X4 635 cannot be denied as a good option for overclockers who want four true execution cores.
This model isn't unlocked (it's not one of AMD's Black Edition chips), but it does sport a higher multiplier than the Athlon II X4 630, making it a solid quad-core processor with (ideally) a bit of scalability on the cheap. With a $120 asking price, there is a lot of value here.

 

Core i3-530
Codename:	Clarkdale
Process:	32nm
CPU Cores/Threads:	2/4
Clock Speed:	2.93 GHz
Socket:	LGA 1156
L1 Cache:	4 x 32KB
L2 Cache:	2 x 256KB
L3 Cache:	4MB
Thermal Envelope:	73W

The Core i3-530 is a promising gaming CPU, despite its two physical cores. More importantly, it opens up a viable budget alternative to the AM3 platform. At $120, this CPU is a great starting point.
Stock performance is usually quite good from what we've seen, although you can't expect Hyper-Threading to yield the same performance gains as an additional physical core or two.
Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition

Codename:	Heka
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	3
Clock Speed:	2.8 GHz
Socket:	AM3
L1 Cache:	3 x 128KB
L2 Cache:	3 x 512KB
L3 Cache:	6MB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	95W

We try and stick to retail processors when it comes to CPU recommendations because the costs of a cooler introduces a sizable variable. But in the case of the Phenom II X3 720, flagging retail availability forces us to make an exception.
The OEM version of this CPU is now $105. Add a $15 aftermarket cooler (such as the Cooler Master Hyper TX3), and you have a triple-core unlocked CPU on your hands for $120.
We're a bit torn here. On the one hand, we know that overclocking is the surest way to negate your warranty coverage. However, the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition not only has that unlocked multiplier, but we've also had some luck unlocking the fourth core on a handful of samples. The chance may or may not be worth the extra money you drop in this chip. Bear in mind, though, that it's an "expensive" model for AMD to sell, and its starting to disappear fast. The retail version has all but disappeare
$140

Core i3-540 (Check Prices)

Codename:	Clarkdale
Process:	32nm
CPU Cores/Threads:	2/4
Clock Speed:	3.06 GHz
Socket:	LGA 1156
L1 Cache:	4 x 32KB
L2 Cache:	2 x 256KB
L3 Cache:	4MB
Thermal Envelope:	73W

Another one of Intel's new Core i3 processors, the gaming data we have seen for this i3-540 looks promising. While it isn't going to perform all that much better than the -530, its higher multiplier will be a boon for overclockers, and the price might be justified for some.
Bear in mind that, although Intel launched this processor alongside the H55 and H57 chipsets, gamers are likely going to want to stick with P55 when they shop for an LGA 1156-equipped motherboard, even if it means ignoring the integrated graphics core built onto the Core i3-540. When used with Clarkdale-based processors, Intel's H55 and H57 chipsets aren't able to divide on-package PCI Express connectivity between CrossFire and SLI graphics configurations.
$160:

Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition (Check Prices)

Codename:	Deneb
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	4
Clock Speed:	3.2 GHz
Socket:	AM3
L1 Cache:	4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:	4 x 512KB
L3 Cache:	6MB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	125W

A former flagship of AMD's Phenom II family, the Phenom II X4 955 BE has been relegated to second-place status by the newer Phenom II X4 965 BE model. Now at $160, it offers a very compelling price/performance ratio for a true quad-core unlocked processor with gobs of cache. We should also mention that the 955 is now available in the newer C3 stepping like its 965 brother.

$180

Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition  (Check Prices)

Codename:	Deneb
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	4
Clock Speed:	3.4 GHz
Socket:	AM3
L1 Cache:	4 x 128KB
L2 Cache:	4 x 512KB
L3 Cache:	6MB
HyperTransport:	4,000 MHz
Thermal Envelope:	125W

While the Phenom II X4 955 and 965 both share an unlocked multiplier, the new revision 965 model's C3 stepping has been shown to be quite overclock-friendly compared to previous models. If you're looking for an AMD processor with the maximum overclocking headroom, just make sure you're buying the new 125 watt C3 stepping of the processor, not the older 140 watt version.

$200 And Up

$200

Core i5-750 (Check Prices)

Codename:	Lynnfield
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores:	4
Clock Speed:	2.66 GHz
Socket:	LGA 1156
L2 Cache:	4 x 256KB
L3 Cache:	8MB
QuickPath Interconnect (QPI):	-
Thermal Envelope:	95W

$295

Core i7-930

Codename:	Bloomfield
Process:	45nm
CPU Cores/Threads:	4/8
Clock Speed:	2.8 GHz
Socket:	LGA 1366
L2 Cache:	4 x 256KB
L3 Cache:	8MB
QuickPath Interconnect (QPI):	4.8 GT/s
Thermal Envelope:	130W

$1090

Core i7-980X Extreme (Check Prices)

Codename:	Gulftown
Process:	32nm
CPU Cores/Threads:	6/12
Clock Speed:	3.33 GHz
Socket:	LGA 1366
L2 Cache:	6 x 256KB
L3 Cache:	12MB
QPI:	6.4 GT/s
Thermal Envelope:	130W

This six-core monster has stolen the bragging rights for the world's fastest CPU from the Core i7-975 Extreme. Despite the fact that most games don't utilize more than three CPU cores, this is the fastest gaming CPU currently available for purchase as our tests have shown. Is it worth $1,090? If you have money growing on trees, are afraid to try to overclock the Core i7-930, want the ease of overclocking that the Extreme Edition's unlocked multiplier provides, and are willing to pay for the bragging rights of having six CPU cores capable of running 12 threads, then it just might be.
Otherwise, the Core i7-980X Extreme is a hard sell from a value standpoint; you'd be better off investing more in graphics or solid state storage.