Desktop CPU prices, compared
The desktop processors most people are choosing between for a new gaming or all-round PC, with each maker’s own list price beside what the big retailers charge. Each price is for the boxed retail processor sold by the retailer itself, and is dated with the last time we read it on the retailer’s own page.
At a glance
| Model | List price | Lowest now | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D | $499.00 | $484.00 | Newegg |
| AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D | $479.00 | $444.00 | Amazon, Newegg |
| AMD Ryzen 7 9700X | $359.00 | $338.98 | Amazon |
| AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | $279.00 | $172.95 | Amazon |
| Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus | $349.00 | $330.00 | Newegg |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus | $229.00 | $219.99 | Newegg |
Price changes since our previous check
AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
AMD’s newest gaming processor, launched in January 2026: eight cores with 3D V-Cache and a higher boost clock than the 9800X3D.
- 8 cores, 16 threads
- Up to 5.6GHz boost
- AMD 3D V-Cache
- Socket AM5
| Retailer | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| AMD (List price) | $499.00 | — |
| Amazon | $478.44out of stock | |
| Best Buy | $499.00$509.99 | |
| Newegg Lowest | $484.003% under list |
Price history from our weekly checks, since Oct 8, 2026
| Week of | Amazon | Best Buy | Newegg | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | — | $499.00 | $484.00 | $484.00 |
| Oct 12 | $478.44 | $499.00 | $484.00 | $478.44 |
| Oct 5 | $484.00 | $499.00 | $499.00 | $484.00 |
Lowest we've recorded since we started tracking on Oct 8, 2026: $478.44 at Amazon (Oct 16, 2026).
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The eight-core X3D gaming chip from late 2024, and still one of the fastest gaming processors you can buy.
- 8 cores, 16 threads
- Up to 5.2GHz boost
- AMD 3D V-Cache
- Socket AM5
| Retailer | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| AMD (List price) | $479.00 | — |
| Amazon Lowest | $444.00$479.007% under list | |
| Best Buy | $479.00 | |
| Newegg Lowest | $444.00$506.997% under list |
Price history from our weekly checks, since Oct 8, 2026
| Week of | Amazon | Best Buy | Newegg | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | $444.00 | $479.00 | $444.00 | $444.00 |
| Oct 12 | $444.00 | $479.00 | $444.00 | $444.00 |
| Oct 5 | $449.00 | $479.00 | $469.00 | $449.00 |
Lowest we've recorded since we started tracking on Oct 8, 2026: $444.00 at Amazon (Oct 16, 2026).
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
An eight-core Ryzen 9000 chip without 3D V-Cache: a capable all-rounder for well under the X3D prices.
- 8 cores, 16 threads
- Up to 5.5GHz boost
- Socket AM5
| Retailer | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| AMD (List price) | $359.00 | — |
| Amazon Lowest | $338.986% under list | |
| Best Buy | $341.00$359.005% under list | |
| Newegg | $339.006% under list |
Price history from our weekly checks, since Oct 8, 2026
| Week of | Amazon | Best Buy | Newegg | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | $338.98 | $341.00 | $339.00 | $338.98 |
| Oct 12 | $309.99 | $341.00 | $339.00 | $309.99 |
| Oct 5 | $299.00 | $316.99 | $299.00 | $299.00 |
Lowest we've recorded since we started tracking on Oct 8, 2026: $299.00 at Amazon.
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
AMD’s six-core Ryzen 9000 chip, the budget way onto the AM5 platform for gaming.
- 6 cores, 12 threads
- Up to 5.4GHz boost
- Socket AM5
| Retailer | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| AMD (List price) | $279.00 | — |
| Amazon Lowest | $172.95$220.0038% under list | |
| Best Buy | $226.00out of stock | |
| Newegg | $219.00$279.0022% under list |
Price history from our weekly checks, since Oct 8, 2026
| Week of | Amazon | Best Buy | Newegg | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | $172.95 | — | $219.00 | $172.95 |
| Oct 12 | — | $226.00 | $219.00 | $219.00 |
| Oct 5 | $174.95 | $209.99 | $220.00 | $174.95 |
Lowest we've recorded since we started tracking on Oct 8, 2026: $172.95 at Amazon (Oct 26, 2026).
Intel Core Ultra 7 270K Plus
Intel’s 2026 refresh of its desktop line: 24 cores for heavy multi-threaded work as well as gaming.
- 24 cores (8 performance + 16 efficient)
- Up to 5.5GHz
- Socket LGA 1851
| Retailer | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Intel (List price) | $349.00 | — |
| Best Buy | $349.99out of stock | |
| Newegg | $330.00$349.995% under list |
Price history from our weekly checks, since Oct 8, 2026
| Week of | Best Buy | Newegg | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | — | $330.00 | $330.00 |
| Oct 12 | — | $330.00 | $330.00 |
| Oct 5 | $349.99 | $330.00 | $330.00 |
Lowest we've recorded since we started tracking on Oct 8, 2026: $330.00 at Newegg.
Intel Core Ultra 5 250K Plus
The mid-range chip of Intel’s 2026 refresh, with 18 cores, aimed at the same buyers as the Ryzen 5 9600X.
- 18 cores (6 performance + 12 efficient)
- Up to 5.3GHz
- Socket LGA 1851
| Retailer | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Intel (List price) | $229.00 | — |
| Best Buy | $233.49out of stock | |
| Newegg | $219.994% under list |
Price history from our weekly checks, since Oct 8, 2026
| Week of | Best Buy | Newegg | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 26 | — | $219.99 | $219.99 |
| Oct 12 | — | $219.99 | $219.99 |
| Oct 5 | $233.49 | $219.99 | $219.99 |
Lowest we've recorded since we started tracking on Oct 8, 2026: $219.99 at Newegg.
Which Desktop CPU should you buy?
For a gaming PC, the X3D chips are the ones to look at: AMD’s 3D V-Cache gives them their edge in games. The 9850X3D is the same eight-core design as the 9800X3D with a higher boost clock, so it only makes sense when the gap between the two is small.
If you mainly game and want to spend less, the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 5 9600X are the AMD alternatives; both were selling well under AMD’s list price when this page went up.
Intel’s Core Ultra 7 270K Plus has more cores (24) than any AMD chip on this page, which helps in video exports, code builds and other multi-threaded work.
AMD chips use the AM5 socket and Intel’s use LGA 1851; the motherboard has to match. None of these processors includes a cooler.
Latest Desktop CPU deals
Individual deals we have verified on the retailer’s page.
Desktop CPU price questions
What is the cheapest Desktop CPU right now?
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X at $172.95 from Amazon, as of our check on Oct 26, 2026. The tables above have every model and retailer.
Is the Ryzen 7 9850X3D worth it over the 9800X3D?
Both are eight-core X3D chips for gaming; the 9850X3D boosts higher (up to 5.6GHz against 5.2GHz). AMD lists it $20 higher. Check the two tables: if the 9800X3D is much cheaper at a store, it is the better value.
What is the list price of the Core Ultra 7 270K Plus?
Intel’s launch announcement gave a starting price of $299; Intel’s own specification page now lists a recommended customer price of $339–$349. We use $349, the boxed retail price.
Do these CPUs come with a cooler?
No. None of the processors on this page includes a CPU cooler, so budget for one.
How we check these prices
Every price on this page was read from the retailer’s own product page (AMD, Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg, Intel), and every page is re-read once a week. The date beside each price is the day it was last confirmed. List prices come from the manufacturer’s own store; struck-through prices are the retailer’s own “was” price, never one we worked out. Out-of-stock listings stay in the table, marked, and never count as the lowest price. When a page cannot be read reliably, the previous price stays up with its original date rather than being guessed.
We earn a commission through retailer affiliate links. Price and stock are set by the retailer, not by us.