Intel
Intel Core i5-14600
Higher core count Intel desktop CPU for more services
LGA170014 cores65W TDP
14 cores total, 65W, a strong homelab performance-per-watt pick
$279
CPUs
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Intel
Intel Core i7-14700
High-core desktop CPU for local virtualisation and media
LGA170020 cores65W TDP
20 cores total, 65W, solid upper-mid Intel homelab option
$369
Intel
Intel Xeon E-2456
Higher-end entry Xeon for 24/7 server use
LGA17006 cores80W TDP
6 cores, 80W, better headroom for services and VMs
$349
Intel
Intel Xeon E-2468
Upper entry Xeon for dense service hosts
LGA17008 cores65W TDP
8 cores, 65W, one of the best small-server fits
$399
AMD
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Zen 5 entry-mid AM5 CPU for modern homelab boards
AM56 cores65W TDP
6 cores, 65W, current-gen efficiency leader
$279
AMD
AMD Ryzen 7 9700X
Zen 5 mid-tier CPU with strong performance per watt
AM58 cores65W TDP
8 cores, 65W, excellent balance for a small rack box
$359
AMD
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
High-efficiency 12-core AM5 workstation-class chip
AM512 cores120W TDP
12 cores, 24 threads, 120W, great for VM density
$499
AMD
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
Best AM5 APU pick for small homelab nodes
AM58 cores65W TDP
8 cores, 65W, integrated graphics and strong efficiency
$329
AMD
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Latest X3D chip for blistering cache-heavy workloads
AM58 cores120W TDP
8 cores, 3D V-Cache, strong for latency-sensitive services
$479
AMD
AMD Ryzen 9 9850X3D
New 2026 X3D flagship-class AM5 CPU
AM516 cores170W TDP
16 cores, 3D V-Cache, high-end mixed workload fit
$599
AMD
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D
High-core X3D AM5 CPU for demanding homelabs
AM512 cores120W TDP
12 cores, 3D V-Cache, strong for cache-heavy consolidation
$549
AMD
AMD EPYC 4344P
Entry server CPU with stronger all-around throughput
AM58 cores65W TDP
8 cores, 65W, modern AM5 server fit
$329
AMD
AMD EPYC 4464P
High-core AM5 server CPU for VM density
AM512 cores65W TDP
12 cores, 65W, excellent server/workstation balance
$529
AMD
AMD EPYC 4564P
Top-end AM5 server CPU for compact homelab racks
AM516 cores170W TDP
16 cores, 170W, maximum entry-server headroom in this set
$699
Intel
Intel Core i9-12900K
High-core consumer Intel CPU for mainstream desktop and homelab use
LGA170016 cores125W TDP
16 cores total, high turbo headroom, strong general-purpose fit
$399
AMD
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9960X
24-core Threadripper CPU for workstation-class homelabs
STR524 cores350W TDP
24 cores, 48 threads, 350W, sTR5 platform
$1,499
AMD
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9970X
32-core Threadripper CPU for dense work and virtualization
STR532 cores350W TDP
32 cores, 64 threads, 350W, sTR5 platform
$2,499
AMD
AMD Ryzen Threadripper 9980X
64-core Threadripper CPU for maximum workstation density
STR564 cores350W TDP
64 cores, 128 threads, 350W, sTR5 platform
$4,999
AMD
AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9955WX
16-core PRO Threadripper for workstation builds
STR516 cores350W TDP
16 cores, 32 threads, 350W, ECC RDIMM platform
$1,649
AMD
AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 9975WX
32-core PRO Threadripper for dense workstation racks
STR532 cores350W TDP
32 cores, 64 threads, 350W, ECC RDIMM platform
$4,099
Intel
Intel Core i5-14500
Efficient mixed-use CPU with Quick Sync
LGA170014 cores65W TDP
14 cores total, strong media support, modest power draw
$249
AMD
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Balanced CPU for Proxmox and general services
AM48 cores65W TDP
8 cores, low cost, good efficiency for AM4 builds
$179
Intel
Intel Xeon W-1250E
ECC-friendly 6-core option for lower-profile builds
LGA17006 cores80W TDP
6 cores, ECC support, lower power envelope
$299
Intel
Intel Core i3-14100
Entry Intel chip for light homelab and desktop workloads
LGA17004 cores60W TDP
4 cores, 8 threads, 65W, strong low-cost platform fit
$134
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