Best CPUs
20 products ranked across 786 cited reviews, videos and discussions · Updated 13 Sept 2026
On the stierproducts cpus board, AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D ranks #1 in S tier, ahead of AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D (#2, A tier) and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X (#3, A tier). The board ranks 20 cpus from S (best) to F (avoid), last researched 13 Sept 2026, drawing on 786 cited reviews, videos and discussions. Placed in the bottom tiers as ones to avoid: Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, and 4 others.
#7 1 of 8 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
#8 2 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
#9 AMD Ryzen 7 7700X3D
#10 1 of 2 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
#11 1 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
#12 AMD Ryzen 5 7600X3D
#13 1 of 2 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. AMD Ryzen 5 5600
#14 1 of 8 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Moved down from C to D on 13 Sept 2026 #15 1 of 3 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus
Moved down from C to D on 13 Sept 2026 #16 2 of 7 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
#17 1 of 6 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick. AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
What moved on this board
24 tier changes recorded between 22 Jul 2026 and 14 Sept 2026. The 5 most recent are below.
- 13 Sept 2026 AMD Ryzen 5 9600X moved down from C to D. 2 more research games. 2 sources added.
- 13 Sept 2026 Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus moved down from C to D. 1 more research game. 1 source added.
- 13 Sept 2026 AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D moved up from B to A. 2 more research games. 3 sources added.
- 13 Sept 2026 AMD Ryzen 9 9950X moved up from B to A. 2 more research games. 1 source added.
- 25 Jul 2026 Intel Core i9-14900K moved down from D to F. 3 more research games. 2 sources added, 1 removed.
Each line shows what else changed at the same publish. It is not a statement of cause.
Frequently asked questions
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D sits at #1 in the S tier of our consolidated board, ranked across independent research runs over 786 cited reviews, videos and discussions. The best gaming CPU for its price, with massive 3D-V-Cache and low power.
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D ranks #2 (A tier). A 12-core, 24-thread chip with 3D V-Cache that delivers a massive jump in gaming FPS, earning the highest gaming score among 12-core CPUs.
Our research places Intel Core Ultra 9 285K, Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus, AMD Ryzen 5 9600X, AMD Ryzen 5 7600X, Intel Core i9-14900K, AMD Ryzen 5 8600G, AMD Ryzen 9 7900X3D in the bottom tiers (D/F). Intel Core Ultra 9 285K: Excellent for content creation, strong single-threaded performance.
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