Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3

The Intel Xeon E3-1245 V3 brings 4 cores and 8 threads. 16MB of L3 cache helps in cache-sensitive games and workloads. Integrated Intel HD Graphics P4600 graphics let it run headless-GPU builds and troubleshooting. It drops into the LGA1150 socket with a 84W TDP — about 21W per core. Clocks span 3.4GHz base to 3.8GHz boost.

Confirm motherboard socket compatibility before anything else, then size the cooler to the TDP. Its $96.99 price tag places it squarely in budget territory. Use the PlanMyPC system builder to verify it works alongside your other components and to watch live retailer pricing. Support and warranty service run through Intel, with terms that vary by region.