The clear winner for a sub‑€220 CPU in 2026 is the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X – it gives the best performance‑per‑euro ratio, beating every other contender while staying comfortably under the budget. The only reason to look elsewhere is if you need the absolute highest 1080p gaming score (the Ryzen 5 9600X) or a lot more cores for non‑gaming workloads (the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K), but for most Balkan gamers the 7600X is the smartest spend.
Why the 7600X tops the value chart
The 7600X costs just €144.38 and delivers a 1080p gaming score of 67.3 %. That works out to roughly 0.47 % of score per €, about 30 % better than any other CPU under €220. Its six cores and twelve threads (6 / 12) are plenty for modern games, and the 105 W TDP (max 142 W) fits nicely into typical mid‑range builds without demanding exotic cooling.
What the other CPUs offer
Below is a quick side‑by‑side of the five candidates that sit under the €220 ceiling.
| CPU | Price (€) | Cores / Threads | 1080p Gaming Score | TDP / Max Power (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 5 7600X | 144.38 | 6 / 12 | 67.3 % | 105 / 142 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 225 | 178.99 | 10 / 10 (6+4) | 62.5 % | 65 / 121 |
| Intel Core Ultra 5 245K | 184.9 | 14 / 14 (6+8) | 67.1 % | 125 / 159 |
| AMD Ryzen 5 9600X | 189 | 6 / 12 | 72.6 % | 65 / 88 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 7700X | 200.49 | 8 / 16 | 70.6 % | 105 / 142 |
When to pick the Ryzen 5 9600X
If raw 1080p performance is your only concern, the Ryzen 5 9600X wins with a 72.6 % gaming score, the highest of the group. It also sports the lowest power envelope (65 W TDP, 88 W max) among the higher‑end options, which helps keep electricity bills down in the Balkans where rates can be steep. At €189 it stays under the €220 limit (the €220 limit), but you’re paying roughly €45 more than the 7600X for about a 5 % jump in gaming score.
Why the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K isn’t a better deal
The 245K adds eight extra cores (14 / 14) compared with the 7600X’s six, yet its gaming score is only 67.1 %, just 0.2 % shy of the Ryzen. It’s priced at €184.9, roughly €40 more than the 7600X, and its power draw spikes to a 125 W TDP (max 159 W) (those extra cores rarely translate into higher frame rates for gamers). Choose the 245K only if you plan to run heavily threaded workloads (video encoding, 3D rendering) and can tolerate the higher electricity draw.
The Intel Core Ultra 5 225 – a niche pick
At €178.99 the 225 lands between the 7600X and 245K in price. Its ten‑core, ten‑thread layout (10 / 10) looks attractive, but the 62.5 % gaming score shows it falls behind even the older 7600X. Its lower TDP (65 W) is nice for small cases (though the performance loss outweighs the modest power savings for most gamers).
Ryzen 7 7700X – the “just‑under‑€220” premium
Here’s the deal: for €200.49 you get eight cores and sixteen threads (8 / 16) plus a 70.6 % gaming score. It’s a solid step up from the 7600X if you need extra cores for multitasking or future‑proofing, but the price‑to‑performance curve flattens (you pay about €56 more for only a 3 % gaming boost). Got a decent cooler and can handle the 105 W TDP? Then it’s a decent “next‑step” CPU, though the 7600X still offers the best bang for your buck.
Putting the numbers in context
All five CPUs fit comfortably into a typical €500‑€800 gaming build that includes a budget GPU under €350. The 7600X leaves the most room for a stronger graphics card or faster RAM. By contrast, the 9600X squeezes a bit more out of the same GPU at the cost of a higher CPU price. Power‑hungry CPUs (245K, 7700X) will increase your monthly electricity bill by a few euros (especially if you game for many hours).
What the data can’t tell you
The benchmarks are based on synthetic 1080p gaming scores, so real‑world frame rates can vary with driver updates, game engines, and specific settings. (Synthetic 1080p scores.) We also lack information on motherboard compatibility nuances (e.g., BIOS updates needed for newer CPUs on older chipsets) and on the availability of used units, which could shift the effective price dramatically in the Balkan market.
Bottom line
For most gamers in Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and the wider EU who want the most performance per euro, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is the clear pick. If you can stretch to €189 and crave the highest 1080p scores, the Ryzen 5 9600X is a solid upgrade. Skip the Intel Core Ultra 5 245K unless you truly need 14 cores for non‑gaming work, and only consider the 7700X if extra cores are a priority and you’re okay with the extra cost and power draw.
