Which integrated CPU

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 12:52

Which is the best integrated CPU these days?

I ask as I am thinking of building myself a small ITX PC (again, after several years) and no idea which to go for.

Only light gaming, but I have no need for a dedicated GPU (yet).

Are AMD the best these days? If so, which one.

I know components have shot up in price but I would still prefer to build my own PC. I did look at Geekom units but what if it goes faulty after a few years?

Build my own seems like the best route......

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 13:36

GTA5, Tomb Raider, JC3...

No idea between mobile CPU and desktop...

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 13:45

Was looking at Geekom...

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 14:41

All the above might aswell have been written in Chinese! Lol.....

I specced up building my own, going on the AMD 8700G plus DDR5 (6200) 16gb, mobo, PSU, Windows and it's just over £1k......I already have a nice ITX case.

I then need a monitor!! No idea where to start!!! Prob 27"....

Like I said above, the Geekom A1 looks interesting but, it's £1,200 plus!! Not a lot of room for upgrading I don't think either. Has great reviews though. Thing is, I have always built my own over the years.

Component prices have shot up so much!!

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 14:55

Tetras said:
The simple summary would be: the 8700G costs a lot and is now outdated and not very fast.

I see...so, what is the alternative?

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 15:28

tamzzy said:
for a diy-build alternative to a mini-pc? there isn't.
also, if you're spending a best part of a grand, then a "normal" pc will give much better performance than a pc with an iGPU (self-build or mini-pc)

I see....I still wouldn't be able to choose the components as I have lost touch.....I would definitely need help there....either ITX or micro ATX

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 15:36

tamzzy said:
we're here to help

what is your budget and what case/parts do you already have?

Budget, £1k......plus a monitor

I do have an Raijintek Metis Mini ITX case but I am open to going to Micro ATX.

I would need everything as I don't have any other components.

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 15:45

What about windows software?

koolpc · 19 Jan 2026 at 15:54

tamzzy said:
that's less than a fiver if you know where to look
(obvs as it's not technically a retail key we cannot mention in the open forums)

I see..

koolpc · 20 Jan 2026 at 03:29

Still drawn to an ITX setup though. Looks like I will go that route and cry when spending the money on highly inflated prices! I would go 2nd hand but that route here is blocked.

koolpc · 20 Jan 2026 at 09:35

AMDPower said:
you should have access to members market section of the forum with that post count? Its a place where long term forum members can buy and sell their used PC equipment.

I got excluded from it many many years ago and try as I may they won't let me back in...my feedback was 100%...but, these things happen...my bad...

koolpc · 20 Jan 2026 at 11:14

sandys said:
If you want to game on the iGPU and have no interest in getting into the PC GPU purchasing mess then you'll want a Ryzen AI Max or the up coming Lunar Lake iGPUs mentioned but they won't be good value, but they neither is an ITX build.

You also need to remember that system RAM and VRAM are the same thing with an iGPU, so speccing a 16Gb machine will be a poor choice, it can work sure, many handheld PCs cope but it leads to a bit more stutter etc.

Out of interest, why are you drawn to an ITX PC?

Alternatives, if you are going to have something that low spec and power, £300 would do it in a handheld PC, or do some cloud streaming

I understand what you are saying. My gaming doesn't warrant a stand alone GPU. But, I guess it all depends on the cost involved too. ITX is expensive I know. I like the format. Have had it before.

I have not kept up with tech as much as I used to.

I was looking at the Geekom range. But still, £1,200 for a decent specced one at that. Thing is, I would prefer to build my own PC.

koolpc · 20 Jan 2026 at 15:37

Would it be worth me going down the DDR4 route given that I am not into must have tech and high gaming needs?

koolpc · 20 Jan 2026 at 16:10

Vestas said:
I built/upgraded a mini-ATX AM4 machine back in November and the prices have gone up a lot since then but there wasn't a lot in it in terms of cost. Decent AM4 CPUs outweighed the cost of (somewhat) cheaper RAM.

So, you think a DDR5 system would be worth the extra cost?

koolpc · 20 Jan 2026 at 19:10

sandys said:
I have goneAs you were looking at the Geekom range it does not sound like you want to really build anything, just has a quiet little box that does a job, if that is the case look at some alternates, getting back to your original post, I had a look at the Geekom range, they seem fine but there are alternate miniPC builders such as beelink, bosgame, minisforum, Aoostar etc, that will offer these boxes that also have an occulink port, this is for external big GPU in future if you decide that actually I want more GPU power, I would go for one of those.

Interms of CPUs/iGPUs in these boxes currently, you want an AMD HX370(890M) or an Intel 285H (140T) both of these you can game on at 1080p low ish settings on new things maybe 1440p on older titles.

You should find these with 32Gb and 1Tb from £800

Obviously there is the Panther lake chips mentioned, no one knows what these will retail for but they may be a drop in

They will be Core Ultra X9 ???H series with the good iGPU.

The better prospect is the system tamzy specced though, a proper desktop with upgradability, not of this limited miniPC/ITX rubbish

I have gone off the idea of the ready built boxes...I want to build my own PC.

koolpc · 21 Jan 2026 at 16:37

Looking at this spec....onboard GPU suits me for the foreseeable....

This combo looks ok?

My basket at OcUK:

1 x Jonsbo RM3-Black/Window Micro-ATX (SKU: CA-00F-JB) = £89.99
1 x AMD Ryzen 5 8600G Six Core 4.3GHz (Socket AM5) APU with Radeon 760M Graphics (SKU: PRO-AMD-01797) = £179.99
1 x Sapphire Nitro+ B850M WiFi (Socket AM5) DDR5 Micro-ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-SPR-05690) = £139.99
1 x Corsair Vengeance 16GB (2x8GB) DDR5 5200MHz CL40 EXPO XMP Kit (SKU: MEM-CRS-06663) = £199.99

Total: £609.96 (includes delivery: £0.00)

What PSU would you recommend? Fully modular, cheaper be best.

Also a decent CPU cooler?

For now, I have an SSD I can use.

Thanks guys

koolpc · 21 Jan 2026 at 16:41

tamzzy said:
realistically you'd want 6000mhz ram tbh. don't forget that the igpu performance scales with the ram speed.
slow ram speeds will gimp both the cpu and the igpu. but as the igpu is already slow, the effect will be more pronounced on the igpu

I did read that 5200 is more than ample but, I will look at that ta.

Otherwise, mobo ok?

koolpc · 21 Jan 2026 at 16:48

tamzzy said:
yeah it'll be fine

What about a PSU? Any brand that is recommended these days? I guess 750watt would be max needed?

koolpc · 21 Jan 2026 at 17:05

tamzzy said:
if you wanted to save a few quid i'd just get this instead: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/giga...ddr5-micro-atx-motherboard-mot-gig-03566.html
the bios should be updated enough to run the 8600g without any further updates, but if it can't then the board has q-flash plus which allows the bios to update without the cpu installed

lol even a 300w psu is overkill for an igpu system
i would just get this: https://www.overclockers.co.uk/msi-...0-plus-bronze-power-supply-pow-msi-03345.html

I want modular and a bit more power in it just in case I decide to get a dedicated GPU in the future..

koolpc · 21 Jan 2026 at 17:22

tamzzy said:
honestly modular is overrated, the psu shroud hides all the cables anyway so it makes not one jot of difference
a 650w will power a 9070 (220w) easily, so unless you are thinking of something more power hungry then a 650w psu is fine (by more power hungry i mean the 5070ti/9070xt and above)

Thank you...