Intel Xeon E5-2683 V4

The Intel Xeon E5-2683 V4 offers 16 cores and 16 threads. It drops into the LGA2011-3 socket with a 120W TDP — about 7.5W per core. 16MB of L3 cache helps in cache-sensitive games and workloads. Clocks span 2.1GHz base to 3GHz boost. Match the socket to your motherboard first; cooler TDP rating second.

Its $135.36 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. Scroll down for the complete spec table; the builder's compatibility checker will warn you about any conflicts with components you have already picked.