Under $150, the honest truth is that most CPUs are entry-level or older chips — great for office PCs, home builds and light gaming, but not for heavy work. The one modern standout sits right around $150: the Ryzen 5 5600, which we include as our top pick because it’s worth stretching a few dollars for. We compared real, in-stock processors to find the best value at this price in 2026.
Below are our top 6 CPUs around and under $150, ranked by value. Ready to spend a bit more for serious performance? See our best budget gaming CPUs and picks under $700, or browse all PC components.
Top 3 Best CPUs Under $150 at a Glance
- • 6 cores / 12 threads
- • Socket AM4 (Zen 3)
- • Up to 4.4 GHz
- • Unlocked, no iGPU
- • 4 cores / 8 threads
- • LGA1151 (Kaby Lake)
- • Up to 4.2 GHz
- • Integrated HD 630
- • 4 cores / 4 threads
- • LGA1150 (4th Gen, renewed)
- • Up to 3.6 GHz
- • Integrated HD 4600
Best Budget CPU Under $150 in 2026
1. AMD Ryzen 5 5600 – Best Overall
- • 6 cores / 12 threads
- • Socket AM4 (Zen 3)
- • Up to 4.4 GHz
- • Unlocked, no iGPU
- ✓ A great-value mainstream chip
- ✓ 6 cores / 12 threads
- ✓ Up to 4.4 GHz
- ✓ Cheap AM4 platform
- ✗ Not best-in-class at everything
- ✗ No iGPU — GPU required
- ✗ Check your motherboard/BIOS compatibility
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is a great-value mainstream chip at $154.59, with 6 cores / 12 threads and boost up to 4.4 GHz. It balances gaming and everyday productivity nicely.
It uses the mature, affordable AM4 platform with cheap DDR4 memory and boards — great value, though AM4 is near the end of its upgrade road. There’s no integrated graphics, so plan for a discrete GPU.
Best for: mainstream users who want the best value under $150.
May not fit: users with very different (much higher or lower) needs.
2. Intel Core i7-7700 – Best Ultra-Budget
- • 4 cores / 8 threads
- • LGA1151 (Kaby Lake)
- • Up to 4.2 GHz
- • Integrated HD 630
- ✓ An entry/budget option
- ✓ 4 cores / 8 threads
- ✓ Up to 4.2 GHz
- ✓ Flexible LGA1700
- ✗ Dated/renewed architecture
- ✗ Cooler not always included
- ✗ Low core count
The Intel Core i7-7700 is an entry/budget option at $69.99, with 4 cores / 8 threads and boost up to 4.2 GHz. It covers office work, browsing and light tasks on a tight budget.
It runs on Intel’s LGA1700 platform with flexible DDR4/DDR5 support on many boards.
Best for: ultra-budget and office builds under $150.
May not fit: anyone wanting modern performance or a warranty.
3. Intel Core i5-4570S (Renewed) – Best Ultra-Budget (2)
- • 4 cores / 4 threads
- • LGA1150 (4th Gen, renewed)
- • Up to 3.6 GHz
- • Integrated HD 4600
- ✓ An entry/budget option
- ✓ 4 cores / 4 threads
- ✓ Up to 3.6 GHz
- ✓ Flexible LGA1700
- ✗ Dated/renewed architecture
- ✗ Cooler not always included
- ✗ Low core count
The Intel Core i5-4570S (Renewed) is an entry/budget option at $65, with 4 cores / 4 threads and boost up to 3.6 GHz. It covers office work, browsing and light tasks on a tight budget.
It runs on Intel’s LGA1700 platform with flexible DDR4/DDR5 support on many boards.
Best for: ultra-budget and office builds under $150.
May not fit: anyone wanting modern performance or a warranty.
4. Intel Celeron G5900 – Best Ultra-Budget (3)
- • 2 cores / 2 threads
- • LGA1200 (Comet Lake)
- • Up to 3.4 GHz
- • Integrated UHD 610
- ✓ An entry/budget option
- ✓ 2 cores / 2 threads
- ✓ Up to 3.4 GHz
- ✓ Flexible LGA1700
- ✗ Dated/renewed architecture
- ✗ Cooler not always included
- ✗ Low core count
The Intel Celeron G5900 is an entry/budget option at $50, with 2 cores / 2 threads and boost up to 3.4 GHz. It covers office work, browsing and light tasks on a tight budget.
It runs on Intel’s LGA1700 platform with flexible DDR4/DDR5 support on many boards.
Best for: ultra-budget and office builds under $150.
May not fit: anyone wanting modern performance or a warranty.
5. Intel Celeron G5905 – Best Ultra-Budget (4)
- • 2 cores / 2 threads
- • LGA1200 (Comet Lake)
- • Up to 3.5 GHz
- • Integrated UHD 610
- ✓ An entry/budget option
- ✓ 2 cores / 2 threads
- ✓ Up to 3.5 GHz
- ✓ Flexible LGA1700
- ✗ Dated/renewed architecture
- ✗ Cooler not always included
- ✗ Low core count
The Intel Celeron G5905 is an entry/budget option at $48.75, with 2 cores / 2 threads and boost up to 3.5 GHz. It covers office work, browsing and light tasks on a tight budget.
It runs on Intel’s LGA1700 platform with flexible DDR4/DDR5 support on many boards.
Best for: ultra-budget and office builds under $150.
May not fit: anyone wanting modern performance or a warranty.
6. Intel Core i5-6500 (Renewed) – Best Ultra-Budget (5)
- • 4 cores / 4 threads
- • LGA1151 (6th Gen, renewed)
- • Up to 3.6 GHz
- • Integrated HD 530
- ✓ An entry/budget option
- ✓ 4 cores / 4 threads
- ✓ Up to 3.6 GHz
- ✓ Flexible LGA1700
- ✗ Dated/renewed architecture
- ✗ Cooler not always included
- ✗ Low core count
The Intel Core i5-6500 (Renewed) is an entry/budget option at $27.22, with 4 cores / 4 threads and boost up to 3.6 GHz. It covers office work, browsing and light tasks on a tight budget.
It runs on Intel’s LGA1700 platform with flexible DDR4/DDR5 support on many boards.
Best for: ultra-budget and office builds under $150.
May not fit: anyone wanting modern performance or a warranty.
How to Choose a Budget CPU under $150
Cores and threads
More cores help with multitasking, compiling, streaming and rendering. For pure gaming, 6–8 fast cores (like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600) are plenty; for content creation and development, aim for 8–16.
Gaming vs productivity
Gaming leans on cache and clock speed — AMD’s X3D chips lead here. Productivity (code, video, 3D) scales with core count. Pick the chip that matches what you actually do most.
Platform: AM5 vs AM4 vs Intel LGA1700
AM5 is the most future-proof (upgrade for years) but needs DDR5 and a newer board. AM4 is cheaper and mature with DDR4. Intel’s LGA1700 supports DDR4 or DDR5 depending on the motherboard. Factor the whole platform cost, not just the chip.
Integrated graphics and the “F” suffix
Chips marked “F” (and most AMD desktop CPUs) have no usable integrated graphics, so you’ll need a discrete GPU. If you want to boot without a graphics card, choose a chip with an iGPU.
Cooler, power and value
Higher-end chips run hotter and may need an aftermarket cooler (some budget AMD chips include one). Don’t overspend — a balanced CPU like the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 often beats a pricier chip that your GPU or workload can’t fully use.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best budget CPU under $150?
Our top pick is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600. It offers the best balance of performance, features and price in this guide for everyday performance.
How much should I spend on a CPU?
For most people, the sweet spot is a mid-range chip — you rarely need the most expensive option. Match the CPU to your GPU and workload so neither is left waiting on the other.
Do these CPUs come with a cooler?
Some budget AMD chips (like the Ryzen 5 2600) include a cooler; most higher-end and Intel “K” chips do not. Budget for an aftermarket cooler if yours doesn’t include one.
Will I need a new motherboard?
Possibly. AM5 and AM4 and Intel LGA1700 all use different sockets. Check that your motherboard supports the exact chip (and update the BIOS if needed) before buying.
Final Verdict
For everyday performance under $150, our top recommendation is the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 (Best Overall) — it gives the best mix of performance, platform and price in this roundup. If you want to spend less, the Intel Core i5-6500 (Renewed) is a solid cheaper alternative.
Every chip here is a real, in-stock processor with honest specs — so match it to your workload, pair it with the right motherboard and RAM, and you won’t need to overspend. Still deciding? See our related guides on best budget gaming CPUs, best budget CPUs under $700, all PC components.
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