It has been a long time since the standardization of quad-core processors occurred in the general consumer market, but the stagnation that the sector has experienced in recent years around them tends to confuse us and can lead us to believe that they are something relatively new. .

The quad-core processors have maintained an unquestionable reign from the end of 2006 until the beginning of 2017, the date on which the arrival of AMD's first-generation Ryzen processors with configurations of up to 8 cores and 16 threads.

Intel had previously launched processors with more than four cores, but they were limited to the HEDT market and the professional sector. AMD was the first to break that reality by fully betting on the general consumer market with Ryzen.

The success of Ryzen processors was so great that it forced Intel to move token. The Core 8000 series made the leap to a maximum of six cores and twelve threads, and completely eliminated the configurations of two cores and four threads present, until then, on the Core i3 chips.

AMD currently offers general-purpose CPUs with a count of up to 16 cores and 32 threads (Ryzen 9 3950X), while Intel has hit a ceiling in all 8 cores and 16 threads (Core i9 9900K).

If you are considering carrying out an expansion of your computer equipment or looking for a second-hand processor to give new life to your equipment with minimal expense, we leave you a list of some models that you can consider to choose.

The minimum standard for moving complex applications and games with a minimum of guarantees is in CPUs that add up to four physical cores. The CPI determines the gross yield of those cores.

1.-AMD FX 8350

It is a processor that was completely discontinued some time ago, but that remains an excellent option to give a second life to a computer with AM3 / AM3 + socket, thanks to its four modules and eight integer cores.

In terms of IPC, it is slightly below Sandy Bridge, but it compensates for it with its good overclock margin and its ability to handle eight threads.

• Based on AMD's Piledriver architecture.
• Manufactured in 32 nm process.
• Four modules and eight cores at 4 GHz-4.2 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
• 8 MB of L3 cache.
• 125 watt TDP.

2.-Core i5 2500

One of the longest processors in history. It was launched in 2011, but thanks to its four physical cores and its good IPC it remains a chip capable of moving any current game with guarantees.

If you have a team with a Core i3 2000 series and want to give it a new life without having to change the platform, do not hesitate, the Core i5 2500 is a safe bet.

• Based on Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture.
• Manufactured in 32 nm process.
• Four cores and four wires at 3.3 GHz-3.7 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
• 6 MB smart cache.
• 95 watt TDP.

3.-Core i7 2600

As the previous one was launched in 2011, but it has endured the type even better than in the previous one, thanks to its four physical cores and eight threads. This processor has the same base as the Core i5 2500, but HyperThreading technology provides you with greater multi-threaded capability and improves your performance in current games considerably.

• Based on Intel's Sandy Bridge architecture.
• Manufactured in 32 nm process.
• Four cores and eight wires at 3.4 GHz-3.8 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
• 8 MB smart cache.
• 95 watt TDP.

4.-Core i7 4770

This processor hit the market in mid-2013 and marked the leap to Intel's Haswell architecture. It has four cores and eight threads, and brings improvements at the IPC level that together with its higher working frequencies translate into a significant increase in performance.

It can be a good update if you have a Core i3 4000 processor, since it doubles the number of cores and threads of that one, and it will allow you to enjoy an important leap in terms of gross performance.

• Based on Intel's Haswell architecture.
• Manufactured in 22 nm process.
• Four cores and eight wires at 3.4 GHz-3.8 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
• 8 MB smart cache.
• 84 watt TDP.

5.-Ryzen 5 1600

The Ryzen 5 1600 is undoubtedly the best "old" processor that exists in price-performance. Its six cores and twelve threads, together with its high IPC and the possibility of overclocking it effortlessly, make it a very powerful chip that can withstand even the first transition that will mark PS5 and Xbox Scarlett.

• Based on AMD's Zen architecture
• Manufactured in 14 nm process.
• Six-core and twelve-wire CPU at 3.2 GHz-3.6 GHz, normal and turbo mode.
• Supports overclock with X370-X470 and B350-B450 chipsets.
• 16 MB of L3 cache.
• 65 watt TDP.