Depending on your build and budget, there’s a wealth of next-gen processors to consider. The biggest decision is going to be whether you opt for Intel or AMD.

Here are the best next-gen processors available today.

Q: What Is the Latest Generation of Intel Processors?

Intel is currently on its 13th-generation processors. With DDR4 and both PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility, they are a great choice for those wanting to ensure their new computer is future-proof.

With an incredible 64 cores and 128 threads, it’s easily one of the most impressive beasts in the processor market today. But there are some downsides. Thanks to the unique design and size, it requires a bespoke motherboard, which is not only expensive but also lacking in variety.

Due to the high price and build limitations, the AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro 5995WX is primarily a workstation processor. While it does still perform great in gaming, there are much better options out there that won’t cost you anywhere near as much as this beastly processor.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X’s new Zen 4 architecture makes this processor compatible with DDR5 RAM and PCIe Gen 4.0. But, it also means you will need to spend money on upgrading your motherboard to an AM5 motherboard.

As a well-known half-human, half-spider vigilante once said, with great power comes great responsibility. In this case, the responsibility lies with the user buying some pretty beefy cooling, as with all that power, the Ryzen 9 7950X can get seriously hot, seriously quickly. But if you’ve got the time, money, and experience to get the cooling right, it will pay off with an extremely powerful PC.

The Intel Core i5-13600K packs an impressive 14 cores and 20 threads and supports both DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. This makes it a truly great next-gen processor for those looking to make a future-proof desktop for home or office use.

While the Intel Core i5-13600K might be more power-hungry than its AMD counterpart, it tends to be able to stay cooler even with heavier loads. Ultimately, this means you don’t need to worry about cooling as much as you would with a next-gen AMD processor.

Just like many of the latest AMD processors, the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X can get a little hot under heavy loads. Therefore, you might need to invest in some better cooling, such as an all-in-one cooling solution.

With 8 cores and 16 threads, as well as being DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 compatible, the Ryzen 7 7700X is a powerful next-gen processor. It’s a future-proof investment for your gaming or work desktop.

With speeds able to hit up to 5.8GHz max boost, the Intel Core i9-13900K has incredible overclocking capabilities. However, it does tend to get hot during heavy loads, which might require some hefty custom cooling to ensure it continues running efficiently.

The Intel Core i9-13900K might be an expensive processor, but thanks to its DDR4 and DDR5 compatibility, you might get away with using your old RAM. So, if you’re not ready to fully immerse yourself in the next generation of PC building, it can help save you some money.

Performance-wise, the Intel Core i7-13700K is actually better value than the Ryzen 9 7900X, especially with single applications and gaming. And, when you push it further with its overclocking ability, you’re getting more bang for your buck than you could with Ryzen alternatives.

So, if you’re looking to upgrade your PC to be more future-proof for the next generation of technology, the Intel Core i7-13700K is a CPU you won’t regret investing in.

Q: What Is the Latest Generation of AMD Processors?

The AMD Ryzen 7000 series is the latest generation of processors from AMD. With a massive performance increase over their last generation, while using less power, they are a great choice for next-gen processors.