CPU Tier List 2026
Every popular gaming CPU ranked S to D. Average FPS is our model's estimate over CPU-heavy games at 1080p with the same RTX 4090 behind every chip. Pairing it with a graphics card? Try the Bottleneck Calculator or the GPU Tier List.
| CPU | Index | Avg FPS (CPU-heavy games, RTX 4090) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 9850X3D | 106 | 246 | Check price |
| Ryzen 7 9800X3D | 100 | 246 | Check price |
| Ryzen 9 9950X3D | 98 | 246 | Check price |
| Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 96 | 246 | Check price |
| Core i9-13900K | 95 | 246 | Check price |
| Ryzen 9 9950X | 90 | 235 | Check price |
| Core Ultra 9 285K | 90 | 235 | Check price |
| CPU | Index | Avg FPS (CPU-heavy games, RTX 4090) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i7-13700K | 89 | 232 | Check price |
| Ryzen 9 7950X | 87 | 227 | Check price |
| Core Ultra 7 265K | 87 | 227 | Check price |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | 86 | 224 | Check price |
| Ryzen 7 9700X | 84 | 219 | Check price |
| Ryzen 9 7900X | 83 | 217 | Check price |
| Core i5-13600K | 82 | 214 | Check price |
| Ryzen 7 7700X | 80 | 209 | Check price |
| Ryzen 5 9600X | 79 | 206 | Check price |
| CPU | Index | Avg FPS (CPU-heavy games, RTX 4090) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 7600 | 74 | 193 | Check price |
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D | 74 | 193 | Check price |
| Ryzen 7 5700X3D | 73 | 190 | Check price |
| Ryzen 9 5900X | 65 | 169 | Check price |
| Ryzen 7 5700X | 62 | 162 | Check price |
| Ryzen 5 5600 | 58 | 151 | Check price |
| Core i5-12400 | 58 | 151 | Check price |
| CPU | Index | Avg FPS (CPU-heavy games, RTX 4090) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i7-10700K | 53 | 138 | Check price |
| Ryzen 5 5500 | 52 | 136 | Check price |
| Core i5-11400F | 50 | 131 | Check price |
| Core i9-9900K | 50 | 131 | Check price |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | 48 | 125 | Check price |
| Core i3-12100F | 47 | 123 | Check price |
| Core i5-10400F | 45 | 118 | Check price |
| Core i7-8700K | 44 | 115 | Check price |
| CPU | Index | Avg FPS (CPU-heavy games, RTX 4090) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core i5-8400 | 38 | 99 | Check price |
| Ryzen 5 2600 | 37 | 97 | Check price |
| Core i7-7700K | 36 | 94 | Check price |
| Core i7-6700 | 33 | 86 | Check price |
| Ryzen 5 1600 | 31 | 81 | Check price |
| Core i5-6600 | 30 | 78 | Check price |
| Core i7-4770K | 27 | 71 | Check price |
| Core i7-2600K | 22 | 57 | Check price |
| Core i5-2500K | 20 | 52 | Check price |
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FAQ
What is the best gaming CPU in 2026?
The Ryzen 7 9850X3D and 9800X3D sit at the top of our list, with the older 7800X3D close behind. For most people the better question is which tier matches your graphics card, because a mid-range CPU rarely holds a mid-range GPU back.
How is this CPU tier list made?
Each chip has a performance index calibrated against reference gaming results. The FPS shown is our model's average over the CPU-heavy games in our database at 1080p with the same RTX 4090 behind every chip, so differences come from the CPU alone. It ranks chips against each other and is not a lab benchmark.
Will my CPU bottleneck my graphics card?
It depends on both. Use the Bottleneck Calculator to check your exact pair at your resolution. Higher resolutions lean on the graphics card, so CPUs matter most at 1080p.
Is a Ryzen 5 5600 still good in 2026?
Yes for 1080p with a mid-range card. It sits in tier B on our list. If you plan to pair it with a top-tier card, the upgrade path advisor shows the best CPU step.
Method: modelled performance index per chip, then the average FPS in the CPU-heavy games in our database at 1080p High with an RTX 4090. See how our numbers are made.