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Streaming is a resource-intensive activity, and you need a pretty powerful rig to be able to stream while gaming simultaneously. At the heart of a streaming PC is the CPU, which is responsible for software encoding as well as multitasking. For this reason, you will need one of the best CPUs for streaming in order to make the process easier for you.
Here’s a quick look at the best CPUs for streaming and gaming, alongside a brief comparison of their specs:
Last Updated:
- July 27, 2024: We have changed the formatting to improve the readability.
We have also tested:
Best CPU for Streaming
Here is a selection of the best CPUs for streaming that you can buy right now:
- Best CPU for Gaming and Streaming: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Best AMD CPU for Gaming and Streaming: AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
- Best Intel CPU for Gaming and Streaming: Intel Core i9-13900K
- Best CPU for Streaming 1080p: Intel Core i5-13600K
- Best Budget Streaming CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Best 1440p Streaming CPU: Intel Core i7-13700K
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Best CPU for Gaming and Streaming
Socket: AMD AM5 | Cores: 16 | Threads: 32 | L2 Cache: 16MB | Base Clock: 4.2 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.7 GHz | TDP: 120W | Unlocked: No
Pros
- Best-in-class gaming performance
- Impressive multi-core performance
- Great for CPU encoding as well
- Unique 3D V-Cache technology
Cons
- Very expensive
- Locked multiplier
With 16 cores and 32 threads, AMD has made no compromises regarding the core layout of its new flagship CPU. The 7950X3D can hit a maximum boost clock of a whopping 5.7 GHz, which allows it to really excel in gaming scenarios. What really sets it apart; however, is the extra L3 Cache of 96MB, which improves single-core performance. The 120W default TDP is quite a bit less than the 170W of the regular Ryzen 9 7950X, hinting towards a reduction in the power budget. Despite that, it still runs very hot, so you will need a good-quality CPU cooler to go along with it. I recommend getting a 360mm AIO for the best experience.
The Ryzen 7950X3D ranks among the fastest processors in the market, making it perfect for those looking to future-proof their system. The AM5 platform is also designed to support the next generation of Ryzen CPUs, which is an added benefit. That said, you likely won’t feel the need to upgrade anytime in the near future.
✅You want top-of-the-line performance: The gaming performance of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is second to none, and the streaming performance is among the best in the industry as well.
✅You stream and game with the same PC: If you are a streamer who wants to play the game while streaming from the same computer, then the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the best option for you.
What Makes It The Best CPU For Gaming and Streaming?
The extraordinary gaming performance of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, combined with its superb multitasking capability, makes it the best CPU for gaming and streaming.
- Best CPU Cooler for Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Best RAM for Ryzen 9 7950X3D
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Future Proofing: 9/10 |
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Best AMD CPU for Gaming and Streaming
Socket: AMD AM5 | Cores: 16 | Threads: 32 | L2 Cache: 16MB | Base Clock: 4.5 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.7 GHz | TDP: 170W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Best-in-class productivity performance
- Great for CPU encoding as well
- Overclockable
- Excellent for gaming
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Very high power draw
A big reason why the Ryzen 9 7950X is the ideal streaming CPU is its combination of 16 cores and 32 threads. It doesn’t really get better than 16 full cores on a consumer-grade CPU. Thanks in part to its expanded power budget and ridiculous core count, the 7950X is one of the fastest productivity CPUs in our testing, Much like other top-of-the-line CPUs, cooling the Ryzen 9 7950X can be challenging, especially considering the amount of power it is capable of drawing. I would recommend a powerful 360mm AIO to cool this processor. Naturally, going for a custom loop is recommended for those looking to dabble into overclocking.
The Ryzen 9 7950X provides you with DDR5 memory support, decent overclocking potential, and phenomenal out-of-the-performance, all of which will allow it to last a reasonably long time. Combine that with the AM5 platform’s guaranteed support for newer Ryzen processors, and you get an extremely future-proof offering.
What Makes It The Best AMD CPU For Gaming and Streaming?
While the Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers better gaming performance, it falls behind a bit when it comes to multi-core performance. The extraordinary multi-core prowess of the Ryzen 9 7950X makes it the best AMD CPU for gaming and streaming.
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 10/10 |
Intel Core i9-13900K
Best Intel CPU for Gaming and Streaming
Socket: LGA1700 | Cores: 24 (8P + 16E) | Threads: 32 | L2 Cache: 32MB | Base Clock: 2.2 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.8 GHz | TDP: 125W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Excellent gaming performance
- Impressive overclocking headroom
- Supports both DDR4 and DDR5
- Combines P-Cores and E-Cores
Cons
- Very expensive
- Ridiculous power draw
The i9-13900K boasts 24 cores, with 8 powerful P-Cores and 16 efficient E-Cores, reaching speeds up to 5.8 GHz under ideal circumstances. During our testing, it consistently ranked among the top 3 for gaming performance due to its exceptional single-core performance. The expanded power budget of the Core i9-13900K means it will produce a lot of heat. The power draw can get as high as 253W during load. Therefore, you will need a 360mm AIO to keep the CPU under control.
While the Core i9-13900K is capable of providing top-charting performance, future upgrades with the LGA 1700 socket will be limited to Intel’s 14th gen offerings. That said, overclocking is an option if you wish to squeeze out a bit more performance without upgrading.
✅You demand uncompromised gaming and streaming performance: The Core i9-13900K delivers the best of both worlds by combining loads of cores with a super-high boost clock. Overclocking the 13900K is a joy as well, though a little unnecessary.
✅You are upgrading from 12th Gen: If you are already on Intel’s 12th Gen platform, or if you plan to stick to DDR4 memory, then the i9-13900K makes a lot of sense from a streaming perspective.
What Makes It The Best Intel CPU For Gaming and Streaming?
No other Intel CPU can provide the perfect balance of gaming and productivity performance that the i9-13900K provides. Sitting alone at the top of the Blue pyramid, the i9-13900K is the best Intel CPU for gaming and streaming right now.
- Best Cooler for Intel Core i9-13900K
- Best Motherboard for Intel Core i9-13900K
- Best RAM for Intel Core i9-13900K
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Future Proofing: 10/10 |
Intel Core i5-13600K
Best CPU for Streaming 1080p
Socket: LGA1700 | Cores: 14 (6P + 8E) | Threads: 20 | L2 Cache: 20MB | Base Clock: 2.6 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.1 GHz | TDP: 125W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Solid 1080p encoding performance
- High single-core performance
- Support for both DDR4 and DDR5
Cons
- May struggle with high bitrate encoding
- Relatively power hungry
The Intel Core i5-13600K features 14 cores, including 8 “E-Cores” for multitasking. It boasts a boost clock of 5.1 GHz and utilizes Intel’s variable turbo boost technology to prioritize gaming performance on its 6 P-Cores. In testing, it outperformed the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X and the Core i7 12700K in gaming scenarios. During my testing, the Core i5-13600K reached a maximum temperature of 76C with a custom loop, making it a fairly challenging CPU to cool, especially if you want extra thermal headroom for overclocking. Of course, a capable 240mm or 280mm AIO should also work fine with the i5-13600K.
The Core i5-13600K is not necessarily the most future-proof processor out there. You may occasionally run into frame drops or stuttering when trying to encode a high bitrate file at 1440p or higher resolution. Its limited performance might necessitate an upgrade in the future.
Our hardware reviewer, Nauman Siddique, was especially amazed by the value the Core i5-13600K offers, commenting:
“The Intel Core i5-13600K stands out as the best value gaming CPU in the market.”
Check out this shot of the Core i5-13600K we captured prior to testing:
✅You want the best value for money: While it does not hold the very top position in some areas, according to my testing, it still punches way above its weight and delivers an ideal 1080p streaming experience on a budget.
What Makes It The Best CPU for Streaming 1080p?
The exceptional value for money offered by the i5-13600K, coupled with its top-notch Full HD streaming performance, makes this processor the best CPU for streaming 1080p to your favorite platforms.
- Read Our Intel Core i5-13600K Review
- Best Cooler for Intel Core i5-13600K
- Best Motherboard for Intel Core i5-13600K
- Best RAM for Intel Core i5-13600K
- Best Budget CPU Coolers
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 8/10 |
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Best Budget Streaming CPU
Socket: AMD AM4 | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | L2 Cache: 3MB | Base Clock: 3.7 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 4.6 GHz | TDP: 65W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Very affordable price
- Decent multi-core performance
- Quite efficient
Cons
- Older platform
- Mid-range gaming performance
- Struggles with high bitrate encoding
The 6 cores and 12 threads of the Ryzen 5 5600X make it adequate for most modern games. Its cores can boost all the way up to 4.6 GHz, which is ideal for a Twitch streaming CPU. Given the value-oriented position of this CPU on the market, it might just be the recommended CPU for streaming at 1080p resolution. The Ryzen 5 5600X comes with a rated TDP of 65W, making it one of the easier processors to cool on this list. The included stock cooler is more than capable of handling the processor at stock speeds; however, those looking for a boost in performance can get a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm AIO liquid cooler.
No support for DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5.0 slots combined with the limited upgrade path offered by the AM4 chipset limits future upgradability with the Ryzen 5 5600X. While the processor won’t keep up with modern technologies due to the aging platform, you can still overclock it for a performance uplift.
✅You have a limited budget: The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is quite possibly the best budget streaming CPU on the market, so that makes it ideal for anyone who is looking to stream their gameplay without spending a fortune.
✅You want excellent value: The value for money that you get with the Ryzen 5 5600X is unparalleled. It is quite an affordable CPU that can hold its own against most current-gen processors when it comes to gaming and streaming.
✅You are upgrading from an older Ryzen CPU: It also makes a lot of sense if you are already on an older Ryzen CPU or have an X570 motherboard.
What Makes It The Best Budget Streaming CPU?
The gaming and streaming performance offered by the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is quite impressive for the price, and that makes it an ideal candidate for the title of best budget streaming CPU.
| Performance: 7/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 7/10 |
Intel Core i7-13700K
Best 1440p Streaming CPU
Socket: LGA1700 | Cores: 16 (8P + 8E) | Threads: 24 | L2 Cache: 24MB | Base Clock: 2.5 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.4 GHz | TDP: 125W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Superb multi-core performance
- Impressive gaming performance
- Supports DDR4 and DDR5
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Quite power hungry
- May run hot
The Intel Core i7-13700K combines 8 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores for a total of 16 cores and 24 threads, providing a balance between performance and efficiency. With a boost clock of 5.4 GHz, it excels in gaming and streaming. During testing, it outperformed the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X in x264 and x265 HD encoding benchmarks. Ideally, the Core i7-13700K should be paired with a 360mm AIO liquid cooler since it managed to reach a peak temperature of 76C during my testing with a custom cooler.
Considering the balanced performance of the Core i7-13700K, you likely won’t need to worry about upgrading your processor for the next 2-3 years. As far as upgrade paths are concerned, the LGA 1700 leaves higher-end 14th-generation offerings as the only options.
Here’s how Nauman Siddique, our CPU expert, summarized the i7-13700K after testing it:
The Core i7-13700K delivers remarkable performance, outperforming its predecessors and rivaling CPUs like the Ryzen 7 7900X, thanks to its new architecture. Positioned between the i9-13900K and i5-13600K, it offers a compelling balance of gaming prowess and overall power. If you seek both gaming excellence and extra performance, the Core i7-13700K is the choice to make.
Here’s a shot of the Core i7-13700K we took before the testing phase:
✅You want a balanced streaming processor: The gaming and streaming performance of the i7-13700K is extremely strong, especially if you plan to game at 1440p and stream it simultaneously. It can handle CPU encoding admirably and is great for general productivity as well.
What Makes It The Best 1440p Streaming CPU?
The level of multi-core performance offered by the i7-13700K in both software encoding and hardware encoding scenarios, combined with its impressive gaming performance, makes it the best 1440p streaming CPU on the market.
- Read Our Intel Core i7-13700K Review
- Best Cooler for Intel Core i7-13700K
- Best Motherboard for Intel Core i7-13700K
- Best RAM for Intel Core i7-13700K
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 8/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 8/10 |
Benchmarks Of The Best CPU For Streaming
In order to judge the streaming capabilities of various CPUs, our team of hardware specialists ran a gauntlet of tests on our target processors. These tests were designed to objectively judge both the gaming and streaming performance of the CPUs at different resolutions and different bitrates. We also ran the x264 and x265 HD software encoding benchmarks to judge the native encoding capabilities of our CPUs.
Important CPU Key Terms
Here are some key CPU terms you should know when shopping for a streaming CPU.
- Cores: A CPU die is divided into parts known as cores which help execute various functions.
- Threads: Cores make use of data strings known as threads to improve multitasking.
- Cache: A small amount of super-fast memory known as cache is stored directly onto the CPU.
- Clock Speed: The clock speed of a processor ranges from base clock to boost clock, and it is the number of data cycles it completes in one second.
- TDP: An estimation of the amount of heat emitted by a processor is known as TDP.
- CPU encoding: When uncompressed frames are packaged into a target file format by the CPU, it is known as CPU encoding. It is also called software encoding.
- Overclocking: Running a CPU faster than its pre-determined frequency is known as overclocking.
How We Picked The Best CPU For Streaming
Here is what we considered when choosing the best CPU for streaming.
- Multi-core Performance: Gaming prioritizes single-threaded performance while streaming demands numerous cores with strong multi-core performance. Therefore, when compiling this list, we placed significant emphasis on both the number of cores and their speed to ensure an optimal streaming experience.
- Gaming Performance: While dedicated streaming rigs are a good idea if you’re a professional streamer, they are not really feasible for most people. Therefore, a good streaming CPU should also be a good gaming CPU if you want to do both simultaneously. You can’t expect to have a good stream if your own game is running poorly in the first place.
- CPU Encoding: CPU encoding, or software encoding, is also linked somewhat to multi-core performance. You can use the CPU directly for streaming as well, but that puts a lot of load on the CPU. The CPU uses an x264 or x265 encoder to package the gameplay footage into a streamable format. Encoding performance should definitely be considered in this purchase process.
- Value for Money: When selecting CPUs for streaming, considering value is essential. While high-end options exist, mid-range or budget CPUs can suffice with proper stream settings adjustments. We evaluated the price-to-performance ratio across different price brackets to make our selection.
FAQs
Streaming uses CPU if you use software encoding, but it can also use GPU if you use hardware encoding. Still, the CPU is very important for multitasking in both scenarios.
You should get a CPU with at least 6 cores for streaming, but it is recommended to have 8 cores or more for an ideal experience.
A CPU with at least 6-8 cores and decent multi-core performance is ideal for streaming.
You would need at least 8 cores for streaming and gaming simultaneously. You can get away with 6 cores as well, depending on the game and streaming settings.
CPU usage varies a lot, but it is normal to see a CPU being utilized between 50-80% while streaming. Your CPU is probably struggling if you see CPU usage at 100 while streaming.
Check out other CPU options:
Recent Updates
- February 13, 2024: Few text changes to improve readability.
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[Reviews Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization
Get In Touch: usman@old.tech4gamers.com
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