At last, you have finally decided to upgrade your processor to a new one that can offer far better performance and run games smoothly without any issues.
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However, the catch over here is that you don’t want to upgrade to a completely new socket, like the LGA 1151 or 1200, as that would require buying a new motherboard based on a similar chipset.
At present, when the market is flooded with the latest 9th and 10th generation Intel processors, it can get quite hard to search for the old one. With passing time, their relevancy is seeing a downward graph, but that doesn’t make it ineligible to have one.
Fortunately, in this post, I have made a list of the 5 best LGA 1150 CPUs in 2022 that you can buy for your system. And I can bet that they will be a better upgrade to your previously owned LGA 1150 CPUs.
Best LGA 1150 CPUs
If you’re looking for a straight to the point answer, here are our top picks for the 5 best LGA 1150 CPUs:
| Best LGA 1150 CPUs | Speed | Cache | Core Count | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel i7-4790K | 4.40 GHz | 8MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i7-4770K | 3.50 GHz | 8MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i7-4790 | 4.00 GHz/td> | 8MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i5-4690K | 3.90 GHz | 6MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i5-4570 | 3.20 GHz | 6MB | 4 Cores |
| Best LGA 1150 CPUs | Speed | Cache | Core Count | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intel i7-4790K | 4.40 GHz | 8MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i7-4770K | 3.50 GHz | 8MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i7-4790 | 4.00 GHz/td> | 8MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i5-4690K | 3.90 GHz | 6MB | 4 Cores | |
| Intel i5-4570 | 3.20 GHz | 6MB | 4 Cores |
To think of it, LGA 1150 CPUs are quite old and inefficient compared to their better counterparts, like the recent 8th or 9th-generation processors. However, it doesn’t mean buying one of them is a waste of money and time. They are still popular today and in demand because of their low cost, efficient performance, and higher clock speeds.
Secondly, if you are using an LGA 1150-based CPU, upgrading to a newer LGA 1200 or LGA 1151 CPU means you will also need to upgrade your motherboard that can support these processors. It can put stress on your budget if you have been saving only for a CPU. In that case, there’s no harm in buying yet another LGA 1150 CPU with improved performance and clock speed.
That’s why, in this post, I have categorized each of the below listed CPUs into — Top Pick, Runner-up, Best Value, Mid-range, and Budget.
Having said that, here are the 5 best LGA 1150 CPUs in 2022.
Top Pick: Intel i7-4790K
The Intel i7-4790K is a 4th generation high-end processor for enthusiasts which is based on Haswell architecture. It is currently the best processor based on LGA 1150 sockets and is popularly known as ‘Devil’s Canyon.’ For gamers who want impressive features, outstanding performance delivery, and higher clock speed can bet on this processor.
The processor comes with 4 Cores and 8 Threads, running at a 4GHz base clock that can be boosted up to 4.4GHz. It has an 8MB Intel smart cache, 88W TDP, supports memory size of up to 32GB, and includes a built-in Intel HD Graphics 4600.
While earlier Haswell chips used to get hot during operations, the i7-4790K comes with a better thermal insulation material and a great heat-spreader that keeps the temperature stable.
Overall, the i7-4790K is one of the preferred LGA 1150 CPUs and is my top pick on this list. Additionally, it is quite affordable and will not hurt your pocket.
Pros
- High-end quad-core processor
- Faster clock speed
- Better thermal cooling than its counterparts
- Low cost
Cons
- GPU needs improvement
- Overclocking headroom is limited
Runner-up: Intel i7-4770K
A 4th generation processor based on a 22nm process, the Intel i7-4770K is the second-best chipset on this list. With improved performance and new capabilities to deliver the enthusiasts what they need, it is a great chip if you are looking for an upgrade to your old LGA 1150 CPU.
The Intel i7-4770K comes with 4 Cores and 8 Threads while running at a 3.5GHz base clock that can be boosted up to 3.9GHz. It has an 8MB Intel smart cache, 84W TDP, supports memory size of up to 32GB, and includes a built-in Intel HD Graphics 4600.
Its efficient power consumption and improved computing system performance make it stand out against most other processors in the similar range.
That said, the Intel i7-4770K is a good CPU with a decent improvement over its predecessor, the i7-3770K, and lower power consumption. Though one thing to say here is that its overclocking capabilities are not far impressive, so it might disappoint gaming enthusiasts.
Pros
- High-end quad-core processor
- Faster clock speed
- Improved performance
- Less power consumption
- Low cost
Cons
- Limited headroom for overclocking
Best Value: Intel i7-4790
The Intel i7-4790 is a locked version of Intel’s i7 4th generation Haswell processors. It is without ‘K’ which means it has a locked clock multiplier and can not be overclocked. However, it is still one of the high-end processors and offers the best value for money in this range.
The Intel i7-4790 comes with 4 Cores and 8 Threads, running at a 3.6GHz base clock that can be boosted up to 4GHz via Turbo Boost. It has an 8MB Intel smart cache, 84W TDP, supports memory size of up to 32GB, and includes a built-in Intel HD Graphics 4600.
Compared to the i7-4770K, it is one step ahead of it because of its faster clock speed so you can enjoy a true gaming experience without any lags or trouble.
That proves that the Intel i7-4790 is a chip capable of gaming and delivers good performance at a reasonable price. Hence, you won’t have to spend a ton of money on expensive processors. Rather, you can bet on this one for top-notch performance.
Pros
- High-end processor
- Faster clock speed
- Improved performance
- Reasonable price
Cons
- No overclocking
- Plastic push pins
Mid-range: Intel i5-4690K
While the Intel i7-4790K is a high-end processor with impressive performance, good overclocking capabilities, and lower thermal temperature, a $250 CPU might be too expensive for you to buy. In that case, Intel i5-4690K, a mid-range processor with similar capabilities (somewhat low though) is available at a much cheaper price than the 4790K.
The Intel i5-4690K is a 4th generation 22nm processor based on Haswell architecture.
It comes with 4 Cores and 4 Threads, running at a 3.5GHz base clock that can be boosted up to 3.9GHz via Turbo Boost. It has a 6MB Intel smart cache, 88W TDP, supports memory size of up to 32GB, and includes a built-in Intel HD Graphics 4600.
Performance-wise, the i5-4690K compares better than its predecessors and should be considered if you are looking for an overclocking CPU at a lower price.
Pros
- Faster clock speed
- Great performance
- Great overclocking capabilities
- Easily Affordable
Cons
- Average multitasking performance
Budget: Intel i5-4570
If you are looking for a budget-level processor with well-balanced features, the Intel i5-4570 can be your best bet. It is not as powerful as the i7 processor but still makes a decent investment for photo or video editing at a lower cost.
The Intel i5-4570 comes with 4 Cores and 4 Threads, running at a 3.2GHz base clock that can be boosted up to 3.6GHz via Turbo Boost. It has a 6MB Intel smart cache, 84W TDP, supports memory size of up to 32GB, and includes a built-in Intel HD Graphics 4600.
This processor performs best while running data-intensive business applications and delivers faster performance.
The bottom line is that the Intel i5-4570 is a decent budget processor with reliable multi-tasking performance, low cost, and ideal for workstations.
Pros
- Faster clock speed
- Decent performance
- Less power consumption
- Cheap price
Cons
- No overclocking capabilities
- Lags behind efficient AMD CPUs
The Takeaway
Surely Intel has some of the best LGA 1150 CPUs under its belt that offer pretty impressive performance at an affordable price. They have significantly lower temperatures that make them ideal for overclocking and gaming. If you are building your PC based on LGA 1150 chips, then the above listed are currently the 5 best ones available that you can buy.
The important aspect of a CPU is to deliver well-balanced performance even under heavy conditions without flinching. Luckily, Intel CPUs have managed to do that for a pretty long time.
Anyways, if I was to upgrade my old rig that has a LGA 1150 socket, I would go with the Intel i7-4790K or the Intel i7-4770K and pair it up with a good CPU that’s overclocking-friendly.
NOTE: If you’re going for a i7 from this list, consider investing in a good power supply as well. These raw power, older gen processors aren’t as efficient as the processors nowadays.
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