Arguably the most important component in any computer (along with the graphics card if you're a gamer), your CPU has the most impact on performance. If you’re planning a new PC Build, perhaps one of the best PC builds , anytime soon, the upcoming year should yield some good processor discounts, all of which we will be tracking below.
So far, we've seen solid deals on current-gen chips from Intel, as well as AMD’s 2nd and 3rd Gen Ryzen chips. The brand-new Ryzen 5000 remained nearly impossible to find in stock at all. And here at the tail end of the deals week before the holidays, many of AMD's previous-gen 3000 and even many 2000-series Ryzen CPUs have sold out. The Pricier Rzyen 3000 XT parts are still available, some at discounts. But if this stock issue remains for AMD for any length of time, the new year will be even more complicated for PC builders, who may have to effectively go with Intel or wait.
Below, we’re rounding up the best CPU deals, from sales on low-end chips to high-end, multi-core productivity beasts like those you’ll find on our best CPUs page or high atop or CPU benchmark hierarchy .
For savings on other PC-related components and gear, check out our lists of best tech deals overall , best SSD deals , best monitor deals , best laptop deals and best gaming PC deals .
Intel Core i9-10850K: was $539, now $399 at B&H
The Core i9-10850K gives you the same gaming performance as the Core i9-10900K, but at a lower price point, making it a great choice for performance fanatics. It also overclocks like a banshee. Amazon also has this for $389 but it doesn't ship until January. View Deal
Intel Core i5-9600KF: was $279, now $199 at Amazon
This processor has 6 cores and a total of 6 threads. It has a base operating speed of 3.7 GHz and can reach 4.6GHz when boosted. The i5-9600KF is ideal for mid-grade processing needs. View Deal
Intel Core i7-9700K: was $409, now $299 at Amazon
The Intel Core i7-9700K has 8 cores and 8 threads. Its base operating speed is 3.6GHz but it can get up to 4.9GHz. View Deal
AMD Zen 3 Ryzen 5000 Series CPUs
AMD's brand new Ryzen 5000 series CPUs, which range from the Ryzen 5 5600X on the low end to the Ryzen 9 5950X on the high end are slowly rolling out to stores. As we write this, most if not all are out of stock, but check the dynamic widgets below for up-to-date information on each.