The best processors, according to hackers
16 processors recommended in Hacker News comments over the past year, ranked by how many separate people recommend each one.
- Most recommendedApple M548 people recommend it
- Built to lastAMD Ryzenowners report a median of 1.4 years
- Least regretApple A18 Pro13 recommend, 0 criticize
All processors
- Apple M5Recommended for top single-core speed, fast local AI prompt processing and low power draw; critics note it trails GPUs on large AI workloads.48recommend
- AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395Recommended for unified memory and integrated GPU that run local AI models for less than a comparable Mac. Common caveat: slow token speeds and tight 128GB memory for big models.44recommend
- AMD RyzenPeople recommend AMD Ryzen for strong performance per dollar and efficient integrated graphics on desktops and laptops. Critics point to firmware updates that removed features after sale.25recommend
- Intel N150Cheap, low-power x86 mini PC chip people use for home servers, NAS, and transcoding, with mainline Linux support. Critics say its power rating is optimistic.21recommend
- Apple M4Recommended for strong single-core speed and power efficiency, and many consider Apple's CPU design among the best. Critics say it trails rivals on vector math and AI inference.21recommend
- Intel N100Low-power Intel chip people pick for mini PCs and budget laptops, praised for efficiency and solid performance for its power draw. Caveat: RAM is usually limited to 16GB.18recommend
- Rockchip RK3588People recommend it for desktop-class performance, low power draw and good Linux kernel support on single-board computers. The most common caveat is messy, buggy vendor software.16recommend
- Intel PentiumPeople recommend the Pentium as a big speed-up over the 486, especially for floating point and PCI systems; critics point to the floating-point division bug.15recommend
- Apple A18 ProPeople praise the A18 Pro for strong single-core speed and low power draw, with fanless operation in the MacBook Neo, making it a efficient chip for the price.13recommend
- AMD Athlon processorGave a large speed jump over earlier chips and stayed a good price-performance choice for years. Critics note the exposed die was easy to break during installation.10recommend
- Apple M5 ProPeople recommend the M5 Pro for running large local AI models and for fast, responsive everyday use. Critics say it is slower than a discrete GPU and that its memory bandwidth limits performance.8recommend
- Intel Core UltraPeople recommend Intel Core Ultra laptops for long battery life, cool quiet running and efficiency in video calls, though some find pricing and the NPU disappointing.8recommend
- Apple M6People praise the M6 as very fast for an entry-level chip, with strong single-core performance. Critics say gains over the M5 are small and it is weak for AI work.7recommend
- AMD Ryzen 5Owners find it fast enough to run a Linux home server, router or firewall and to play games at 1080p.5recommend
- Intel Core i9People recommend it for strong 4K gaming performance and reliable daily use. Critics warn of aggressive throttling, power hunger, and voltage problems.5recommend
- AMD Ryzen AIPeople recommend Ryzen AI chips for local LLM inference thanks to unified memory, with critics doubting they can compete with rivals.5recommend