Best Under $100 Processors 2026
12 under $100 processors — $50–$99 — solid entry-level options with good features
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
This 6-core, 12-thread AM4 processor with a 4.2 GHz max boost is for budget PC builders needing 100+ FPS in 1080p games and basic multitasking.
AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Processor with Wraith Spire Cooler (YD1600BBAEBOX)
A 6-core, 12-thread AM4 CPU with a 3.6 GHz boost, ideal for budget gaming and multitasking on older platforms.
AMD Ryzen 3 3200G 4-core unlocked desktop processor with Radeon Graphics
A 4-core, 4-thread Zen+ processor with Radeon Vega 8 graphics, it's for budget builds needing basic computing and light gaming without a discrete GPU.
Intel® Core™ 12th Gen i3-12100F desktop processor, featuring PCIe Gen 5.0 & 4.0 support, DDR5 and DDR4 support. Discrete graphics required.
A 4-core, 8-thread LGA 1700 CPU with a 4.3 GHz turbo frequency, requiring discrete graphics, for budget-focused gaming builds.
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
This 6-core, 12-thread AM4 processor with a 4.2 GHz max boost is for budget builders needing 100+ FPS in 1080p games with a discrete GPU.
AMD Ryzen 5 4500 6-Core, 12-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
This 6-core, 12-thread Zen 2 processor with 8MB L3 cache is for budget builders needing an AM4 CPU for basic gaming or productivity with a discrete GPU.
AMD Ryzen 3 4100 4-Core, 8-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
This 4-core, 8-thread Zen 2 processor with 6MB cache and 4.0 GHz max boost is for budget AM4 builds that already have a discrete graphics card.
AMD Ryzen 3 3100 4-Core, 8-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler
A 4-core, 8-thread 3.9 GHz Zen 2 processor with PCIe 4.0 support, ideal for budget 1080p gaming and productivity with a discrete GPU.
Intel Core i7-7700 Desktop Processor 4 Cores up to 4.2 GHz LGA 1151 100/200 Series 65W (Renewed)
This 4-core, 8-thread LGA 1151 CPU with a 4.2 GHz max turbo frequency is for upgrading older 100/200 series chipset systems, not new builds.
intel Core i7-3770 Quad-Core Processor 3.4 GHz 4 Core LGA 1155 - BX80637I73770 (Renewed)
This 3.4 GHz 4-core LGA 1155 processor with 8 MB Smart Cache is for basic computing or reviving an old system.
intel Core i7-4790 Processor - BX80646I74790 (Renewed)
This renewed Intel Core i7-4790 with 4 cores and a 3.2 GHz speed is for budget-conscious users looking to extend the life of an existing LGA 1150 system for basic tasks and 1080p gaming.
![Intel Core i7 6700K 4.00 GHz Unlocked Quad Core Skylake Desktop Processor, Socket LGA 1151 [BX80662I76700K] (Renewed)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81grWqOTnDL._AC_SL1500_.jpg)
Intel Core i7 6700K 4.00 GHz Unlocked Quad Core Skylake Desktop Processor, Socket LGA 1151 [BX80662I76700K] (Renewed)
This is a 4.00 GHz, quad-core, unlocked LGA 1151 Skylake i7, best for budget builds or upgrading existing LGA 1151 systems.