Tom's Hardware has released an article outlining the best gaming processors (herein referred to as CPU's) depending on your budget. The biggest surprise was AMD's domination of the lower value market. Take a look for yourself, might give you some clues when next building a machine:
Best gaming CPU for $60: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+
Best gaming CPU for $75: AMD Athlon II X2 250 or Intel Pentium E6300 (Tie)
Best gaming CPU for $90: AMD Phenom II X2 545
Best gaming CPU for $100: AMD Athlon II X4 620 or AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition (Tie)
Best gaming CPU for $120: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition or Intel Core 2 Duo E7500
Best gaming CPU for $170: AMD Phenom II X4 945
Best gaming CPU for $190: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition or Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 or Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
Best gaming CPU for $200: Intel Core i5-750
Best gaming CPU for $280: Intel Core i7-920
Best gaming CPU for $1,000: Intel Core i7-975 Extreme
CPU's at some budget levels were found to reap no tangible benefit over those in the tier below them. See source for more information on this and to read the entire article.
Best gaming CPU for $60: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+
Best gaming CPU for $75: AMD Athlon II X2 250 or Intel Pentium E6300 (Tie)
Best gaming CPU for $90: AMD Phenom II X2 545
Best gaming CPU for $100: AMD Athlon II X4 620 or AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition (Tie)
Best gaming CPU for $120: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition or Intel Core 2 Duo E7500
Best gaming CPU for $170: AMD Phenom II X4 945
Best gaming CPU for $190: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition or Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 or Intel Core 2 Duo E8500
Best gaming CPU for $200: Intel Core i5-750
Best gaming CPU for $280: Intel Core i7-920
Best gaming CPU for $1,000: Intel Core i7-975 Extreme
CPU's at some budget levels were found to reap no tangible benefit over those in the tier below them. See source for more information on this and to read the entire article.

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