The best from AMD and Intel for programmers
Updated: Feb 16, 2024 2:34 pm
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Looking for the best CPU for coding? We have you covered. According to Statista, the global developer population will reach about 28.7 million by 2024. That’s a lot of developers, and many are still in the learning stages of coding and programming. So, beginners might be asking themselves a lot of questions, which is par for the course for newcomers.
Something you may be asking yourself is: what’s the best CPU for coding? While you may not need as much processing speed as something like the best CPUs for CAD, coding can require plenty of resources. Our top pick for Intel boards would be the i5-13600K, while the Ryzen 5 5600X is the best for AMD.
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Best CPU for Coding
Intel Core i5-13600K
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Best AMD option
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
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High-end CPU for Coding & more
Intel Core i9-14900K
You don’t need an incredibly powerful CPU just for writing code. Something like a high-end Core i7 processor or even a Ryzen 7 processor (or higher) would be overkill. However, some of you might be into game development or software development, which does benefit from extra horsepower. Keeping that in mind, we regularly update this page to include our top picks, based on two factors: value for money and performance.
What is the best CPU for coding in 2024?
The best CPU for coding should only really have one thing, and that’s a strong single-core performance. Most programming languages default to using a single core, but with that being said, a multi-core CPU will help you when creating code and looking at other things like tutorials. If you’re an avid coder, you’re most likely going to be multitasking. That means we want a CPU with a strong single and multi-core setup, so that’s what we went with.
Best CPU for coding – Intel Core i5 13600K
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- Plenty of cores for multitasking
- Supported on both DDR5 and DDR4 motherboards
- On the LGA 1700 socket
The Intel Core i5 13600K is by far one of the best processors you can buy right considering the excellent price-to-performance ratio. Whether you’re a gamer, video editor, freelancer, or programmer, this processor can easily handle it all. It has a high-core count, features good support for cheaper DDR4 motherboards, and decent power efficiency.
The main reason we are dubbing this processor as the best CPU for coding is because of the high core count and excellent single-core performance. Even if your workload benefits from multi-core performance, the 13600K can handle it thanks to the excellent implementation of the P-cores and E-cores. This processor will fare well in environments such as Flutter, Visual Studio, and Android Studio. While you could go ahead and buy the 13700K, you’ll have a harder time cooling that chip. You also have to consider that if you care about gaming performance, the 13600K can easily keep up with its bigger brother.
Finally, the best part about this CPU is that you get DDR5 support, and it’s optional. This means that if you want to save money, you can still go with a DDR4 board, but if you want better performance, you can go with DDR5.
Best budget CPU for coding – Ryzen 5 5600X
Pros
- Incredibly efficient with just 65W TDP
- 6 cores / 12 threads is enough for coding
- Budget choice and top-tier value for money
- Great for gaming too
Cons
- DDR4 only on AM4 platform
Reviewers and hardware enthusiasts just can’t help recommending the Ryzen 5 5600X. As you can see, we’re in that same camp. This is because you can easily find the Ryzen 5 5600X for quite cheap these days. Considering the upgradability, this is the best CPU for coding if you are on a budget.
If you can’t afford to go with a 13600K/B660 combo, then you should get the Ryzen 5 5600X. You will get good single-core performance, superb multi-core performance, and an upgrade path to powerful processors like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. There’s also the fact that B550 motherboards can be found for cheap these days. The 5600X is also an excellent processor if you care about good gaming performance. Finally, the best part is that it only has a TDP of 65W, meaning it is highly power-efficient and easy to cool.
Overkill CPU for coding – Intel Core i9-14900K
Pros
- 24 cores, 32 threads for easy multitasking
- Excellent base and boost clock speeds
- Supports DDR5 at 5600MHz
- Perfect for any CPU-intensive work
Cons
- Very expensive
- Overkill for basic programming
If you want a truly high-end option that is more than enough for coding and unlocks potential for any other intensive workloads you have, then we’d have to suggest the i9-14900K. One of the best CPUs on the market as part of the Intel 14th gen if you want a more up-to-date processor. While this generation doesn’t offer a massive performance boost compared to the previous gen, you do enjoy improved clock speeds to give it the edge.
The 14900K has more than enough cores for just about any workload you throw at it. We’d have to say it’s pretty overkill for coding alone, but compile times will fly by with this speedy processor. We recommend picking this up if you want the best of the best and will be using your desktop for more than just simple programming work. If you want to learn even more about this Intel i9 CPU, feel free to check out our i9-14900K review.
FAQs
Do I need a good CPU for coding?
Generally speaking, coding isn’t a CPU-intensive task if you’re just writing into a text editor. Working in software or game development and compiling code can be more demanding though.
You don’t need the best of the best for coding, but a solid processor is worth getting and we’ve picked out the best value options.
Do I need i9 for coding?
Most of the time, no.
High-end Intel Core i9 (or AMD Ryzen 9) processors are overkill for general programming tasks. If you’ll be doing more CPU-intensive tasks like rendering, machine learning, or some high-end gaming on the side, then you have more of an argument to go for i9.
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Final word
Whether you go with the AMD or Intel processor, you will be happy with your purchase. The 13600K will give you excellent performance out of the box, and you won’t feel the need to upgrade for years to come. However, if you want something with a little more power since you might be gaming or performing simulations with your code, you can always opt for a 14th-generation pick. However, there isn’t too much difference between the 14600k and the 13600k.
On the other hand, the AMD processor costs half the price, and will still deliver performance that will satisfy people that are new to coding and programming. In summary, both the 5600X and 13600K are the best CPUs for coding in our opinion. If you want more power on the AMD platform, you will have to upgrade to AM5, which involves updating CPU, RAM, and motherboard.
