In recent years, the rivalry between Intel and AMD has shaken up the entire CPU landscape. Starting right from the budget segment to high-tier CPUs, we have seen a lot of improvements, and enhancements that were hard to imagine in the early 2010s. Gone are the days when the mid-tier processors were limited to 4 core/ 4 threads, as, these days mid-tier CPUs not only offer you more cores and threads but are also capable of performing heavy multitasking as well. Furthermore, APUs like RYZEN 3 3200G and RYZEN 5 3400G offer you a powerful enough iGPU that is capable of providing you a decent enough gaming experience even at 1080p resolution. With that being said, choosing the right processor for your needs could be a confusing and daunting task, given the variety that is available in the market right now. That’s why we have rounded up the 5 best budget CPUs under ₹ 20,000 that you could consider for your next purchase.
NOTE: The Processors that are mentioned here are just our recommendations, and are arranged in accordance with the features that they offer at their specific price range. Also, the prices that have been listed here are based on the offline market prices, which are subject to changes, so please keep them under consideration.
Also Read: AMD Ryzen 7 5700G – Release Date, Price & Specifications
WHAT YOU NEED TO CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING A PROCESSOR
BUDGET: The amount of money you are willing to spend on your new processor.
YOUR REQUIREMENTS: Another major point to consider is the type of work that you are going to perform. Do you plan to stream online? Or are you just a casual gamer? Or do you want to become a content creator? In short, you need to choose your processor based on your requirements.
APU or CPU: APUs (Accelerated Processing Unit) are referred to those that feature integrated graphics onboard. If you do not own a discrete graphics card or plan to buy it later, then APU is your best option. Otherwise, you might go for a CPU.
THE MOTHERBOARD: Once you have chosen your processor, it is now important to know whether your motherboard supports it or not. Both AMD and Intel have different supported sockets. Currently, AMD processors use AM4 sockets, whereas Intel processors use LGA sockets. You also need to check what generations of processors your motherboard supports.
OVERCLOCKING: Overclocking refers to increasing the clock speed of your processor to its maximum limit. It escalates the performance to a certain extent, however, it is not available in every processor. So if overclocking is one of your priorities, you need to choose your processor accordingly.
#1. AMD RYZEN 5 3600
| Architecture: | Zen 2 |
| Number of Cores: | 6 |
| Number of Threads: | 12 |
| Base Clock: | 3.6Ghz |
| Max Boost Clock: | Upto 4.2Ghz |
| Supported Socket: | AM4 |
| TDP: | 65W |
| Integrated Graphics: | None |
| Cache: | 35Mb |
| Cooler Included | Yes (Wraith Stealth) |
| Overclocking: | Possible |
Arguably the most recognized processor on our list, AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a beast under the ₹ 20,000 segment. This processor from team red comes with 6 cores and 12 threads with a base clock of 3.6Ghz and a maximum boost clock of 4.2Ghz.
This processor also supports Simultaneous multi-threading, which makes it a great option for both gaming as well as productivity. Apart from it, this CPU is overclockable as well, and in our opinion, it offers the best performance to price ratio in this segment.
Price- ₹18,199 – ₹18,999
#2. INTEL CORE i5 10600
| Architecture: | Comet Lake |
| Number of Cores: | 6 |
| Number of Threads: | 12 |
| Base Frequency: | 3.3 GHz |
| Max Turbo Frequency: | 4.8 GHz |
| Supported Socket: | LGA 1200 |
| TDP: | 65 W |
| Integrated Graphics: | Intel UHD Graphics 630 |
| Cache: | 12 MB |
| Cooler Included | Yes |
| Overclocking: | No |
Intel i5 10600 is another great processor under this price segment, that offers superb performance both in terms of gaming and productivity. It is a 6 core / 12 thread processor with a base clock of 3.3 GHz and the maximum boost clock of 4.8 GHz.
This processor supports Hyper-Threading technology as well, and what gives it the edge over its competitors is its wider availability in the market right now.
Also Read: Best 5 Gaming Laptops In India: 2021 Edition
PRICE- ₹19600 – ₹19999
#3. INTEL i5 10400F
| Architecture: | Comet Lake |
| Number of Cores: | 6 |
| Number of Threads: | 12 |
| Base Frequency: | 2.9 GHz |
| Max Turbo Frequency: | 4.3 GHz |
| Supported Socket: | LGA 1200 |
| TDP: | 65 W |
| Integrated Graphics: | None |
| Cache: | 12 MB |
| Cooler Included | Yes |
| Overclocking: | No |
Intel i5 10400f is a great choice if you are looking for a CPU below ₹ 15,000. It is a 6 core/ 12 thread processor that supports Hyper-threading and has a maximum turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz. It offers similar or even better gaming performance as compared to the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 and is a great choice for productivity and multitasking as well. In our opinion, this processor provides one of the best performance to price ratios in this segment.
Price- ₹14,800 – ₹14999
#4. AMD RYZEN 5 3400G
| Architecture: | Zen 2 |
| Number of Cores: | 4 |
| Number of Threads: | 8 |
| Base Clock: | 3.7 GHz |
| Max Boost Clock: | 4.2 GHz |
| Supported Socket: | AM4 |
| TDP: | 65 W |
| Integrated Graphics: | Radeon RX Vega 11 |
| Cache: | 4 MB |
| Cooler Included | Yes (Wraith Spire) |
AMD Ryzen 5 3400G is the only APU on our list, due to its excellent graphical performance, all thanks to its Radeon RX Vega 11 iGPU. This APU is perfect for you if you are a casual gamer or you do not intend to buy a discrete graphics card in the near future. As far as the base performance of the processor is concerned, then it has a great gaming performance as well. This APU comes with 4 cores/ 8 threads with a base clock of 3.7 GHz and a max boost clock of 4.2 GHz.
PRICE- ₹15,499 – ₹15,999
#5. AMD RYZEN 3 3300X
| Architecture: | Zen 2 |
| Number of Cores: | 4 |
| Number of Threads: | 8 |
| Base Frequency: | 3.8 GHz |
| Max Turbo Frequency: | 4.3 GHz |
| Supported Socket: | AM4 |
| TDP: | 65 W |
| Integrated Graphics: | None |
| Cache: | 16 MB |
| Cooler Included | Yes (wraith stealth) |
| Overclocking: | yes |
AMD Ryzen 3 3300x is a great budget gaming processor. This processor is a beast at its price point that offers superb gaming performance, giving tough competition to the likes of Intel i5 9400f and i7 7700k. It comes with 4 cores and 8 threads and has a max turbo frequency of 4.3 GHz. The Ryzen 3 3300x supports simultaneous multi-threading as well.
Price- ₹12,999 – ₹13,399
Also Read: TOP 5 GAMING KEYBOARDS: 2021 EDITION
That’s our list for the top 5 processors under ₹20000. Which other processor would you include in this list? Let us know in the comment section below. And for more such awesome content, make sure to follow us only on redjacket.gg.
