How to Compare CPUs Using Benchmarks

Learning how to compare CPUs using benchmarks is the skill that turns a confusing pile of scores into a clear buying decision — and it comes down to comparing the right numbers, in the right way, for the right job. Get the method right and the answer is usually obvious; get it wrong and you will buy the wrong chip.

Step 1: pick the tests that match your work

Start with what you actually do. A gamer should look at game frame rates and single-core scores; a video editor should look at render times and multi-core scores; a programmer should look at compile times. Our CPU benchmarks explained guide and our single-core vs multi-core benchmarks guide will help you pick the right tests, and our best CPU benchmark software guide will show you which tools to run.

Step 2: compare like with like

Only compare scores from the same test, the same version and the same kind of system. A Cinebench score cannot be compared with a Geekbench score, and a Cinebench R23 score cannot be compared with a Cinebench 2024 score. Our Cinebench vs Geekbench guide explains why, and our how to read CPU benchmark charts guide shows you how to check that a comparison is fair before you believe it.

Step 3: look at the percentage difference

Do not be impressed by a big number — look at the gap. A chip that scores 10% higher than another is only 10% faster in that test, which is a difference you will barely notice. A chip that scores 50% higher is a real upgrade. Our good CPU benchmark score guide uses the same rule: a 20% higher score is worth paying for, a 5% higher score is not. And always look at several tests, because the winner changes between them — our 14900K vs 9950X comparison shows the two flagships trading places depending on the test.

Step 4: bring in the price

A benchmark score means nothing without a price. Divide the score by the cost and you get the real comparison: performance per dollar. A chip that is 10% faster but 50% more expensive is a worse buy than a chip that is 10% slower and half the price. Our 9600X vs 14600K comparison is a good example of this: the two mid-range chips score similarly, so the deciding factor is price, platform and power use — not the benchmark. Our guide to how much to spend on a CPU will help you set a budget before you start comparing.

Step 5: check the real world

Finally, check real-world tests. A synthetic score is a useful shorthand, but the time it takes to render your video or the frame rate in your game is the number that matters — and it is free to measure. Our how to benchmark your CPU guide shows you how to test your own machine, and our why benchmark scores do not tell the whole story guide explains what the numbers leave out.

A worked example

Take our 9800X3D vs 285K comparison: the 9800X3D wins the gaming tests, the 285K wins some of the multi-core tests, and the price and platform decide the rest. Neither chip wins everything — which is why comparing across several tests, and bringing in the price, gives you a better answer than any single score.

The bottom line

Comparing CPUs with benchmarks is a five-step job: pick the tests that match your work, compare like with like, look at the percentage difference, bring in the price, and check the real world. Do that, and the right chip will usually pick itself. Browse our CPU benchmark guides and CPU comparisons to compare the latest chips side by side.