That said, for The First Descendant, the recommended processors are the Intel i7-7700K and AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, released in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Technology has come a long way since then, and this title runs on Unreal Engine 5, which means it has high graphical fidelity.

So, to adequately run it, you’ll need a powerful processor, but we understand that the number of options available can be very confusing. To that end, we took the liberty of doing the research for you and put together this in-depth guide that lists different CPU options, their review, details, and pros and cons so you can make an informed decision.

How we picked

There are various aspects you need to consider while pairing any CPU with a GPU. To find the best CPU to run The First Descendant, we looked at various factors like the brand, architecture, cores, threads, base and boost frequencies, and other important factors into account. This helps us filter our options and also gives us an idea of which CPU and GPU pairing would be the closest to ideal.

However, other than specifications that anyone can read, we take a more hands-on approach by thoroughly testing the CPUs for synthetic and real-world performance. If you’re interested in learning more about that, we recommend you head to our PC Guide Testing Lab, which will show the process in detail.

Our top picks

For the best performance, we recommend opting for the Intel Core i7-13700K, as the “700K” processors have a long-standing history of being excellent gaming chips. That said, during our Intel Core i7-13700K review, we were pleased to see this CPU delivering excellent gaming and productive performance. 

To begin with, this processor packs impressive hardware under the hood. It features 16 cores, split between eight performance and efficient cores, 24 threads, a base clock of 2.5 GHz, and a boost clock of 5.4 GHz. What these specifications mean is that its processing prowess should be more than enough to handle the requirements of The First Descendant or any other games or productive tasks. 

Intel uses the big.LITTLE design, which tackles varying workloads with different cores. The efficient cores (E-cores) handle minor tasks and don’t consume much energy, whereas the performance cores (P-cores) are larger and are called in when resource-intensive tasks need to be handled. Once taken care of, the E-cores take the reigns back while the P-cores fall in the background. 

What does this mean in terms of gaming? Since games don’t utilize a lot of cores and threads, which is why we look at single-core performance to gauge a chip’s gaming prowess, this dynamic should ensure that you’re getting every bit of juice to power your in-game adventure without running into bottleneck issues. 

The Core i7-13700K is certainly a strong and capable CPU if you have gaming in mind, but where it truly excels is multi-core workloads.

It also has 30 MB of Intel Smart Cache. How this works is that all the cores are able to access the data present on the last level. This also includes the game elements, so the cores don’t have to utilize resources to fetch specific data as it is already present. This reduces access times, which leads to faster and more efficient processing. 

During our testing, we checked for its synthetic and gaming performance. In CPU-Z single- and multi-core tests, it managed 869 and 12,498 points, respectively. On the other hand, its gaming performance was also impressive, as it delivered 292 and 325 FPS in Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p low resolution paired with an RTX 4070 Ti Super.  

So, there is no doubt about the i7-13700K’s performance across the board, and this is one of the best CPUs you can get for The First Descendant. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this CPU is a “gaming beast with brawn and bandwidth.” It has excellent performance, the hybrid architecture delivers just the right amount of power, and can handle gaming across all resolutions. One reviewer said: “The Intel Core i7-13700K is a top-tier processor for serious gamers, demanding content creators, and overclocking enthusiasts.” 

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the best gaming processors out there, and it is capable of handling anything you throw at it. We can attest to that as we thoroughly tested it for our 7800X3D review, and the results were incredible. 

This gaming behemoth features eight cores, 16 threads, a base clock of 4.2 GHz, a boost clock of 5 GHz, and a whopping 96 MB of L3 cache. What this translates to is that regardless of the type of game, new or old release, this CPU has everything it needs in its arsenal to make quick work of it, and The First Descendant shouldn’t be an exception. 

This processor is massively more powerful than the recommended 7700K and 2600X. On top of that, the 3D V-cache technology stacks more cache on top of the L3 cache, meaning you can store more in-game or other frequently accessed data, leading to efficient processing and better in-game results. 

That said, despite the hardware it packs, it has a TDP of 120W, which is very manageable compared to Team Blue. However, for optimal performance, we recommend keeping it running cool by using the best CPU cooler for Ryzen 7 7800X3D. If you want the best performance possible, pair it with the best GPU for Ryzen 7 7800X3D. 

his CPU will smash through any gaming workload you throw at it, and be able to handle productivity tasks much better then before

There is what some might call a downside to opting for this CPU. This runs on the AM5 platform, and since that is new, making the shift from LGA1700 or AM4 is going to be expensive as you’ll need an AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM to go with it. 

However, if you have the budget, then you’ll be set for a couple of years, as the AM5 platform has support till 2027, which should give you plenty of room for upgrades. If you’re interested in exploring some options, we recommend you check out our best AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM guides for the best picks. 

Overall, this 7800X3D is a solid option for all types of games, whether looter shooters like The First Descendant or story-based games like RDR2. However, moving to the new platform can be expensive but a worthwhile investment. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this is a gaming powerhouse and has excellent value. One reviewer said: “Decided to move from an i5-13600K over to a 7800X3D since I mostly use my PC for gaming and not productivity work. This CPU is a beast for performance and runs rather cool for what you get out of it, and it's power efficient as well!”

For the best mid-range CPU, we recommend the Intel Core i5-12600K. While it might be two generations old now, it still packs a powerful punch, as we witnessed during the testing for the 12600K review.

For starters, this processor has ten cores divided between 6 performance and five efficient cores, 16 threads, a base frequency of 2.8 GHz, and a boost frequency of 4.9 GHz. On top of that, it has a 20 MB L3 Intel Smart Cache which should only boost its overall productive and gaming performance. 

That said, this CPU is bestowed with the “K” moniker, meaning it comes unlocked by the manufacturer for overclocking. What this means is that you can increase its base and boost frequencies for faster processing but at the cost of high power draw and thermal output. 

According to Intel, it has a maximum TDP of 150W, but it can be more than that if it is overclocked. In that care, we recommend using the best AIO water cooler to keep its temperature under control and performance optimal.  

During our testing, we checked for its synthetic performance, which shows how it deals with productive workloads and its gaming performance. For the synthetic testing, we used CPU-Z, and in its single- and multi-core tests, it scored 764 and 7,120 points, respectively. 

The single-core score is impressive; to put things into perspective, the 7800X3D scored 643 points, and this is what those two extra cores get you. 

It effortlessly combines power efficiency with single-core performance to make for one fierce competitor in the budget CPU space.

As for its gaming performance, we tested it in Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p low resolution so that it is pulling most of the weight, and it didn’t disappoint. It delivered 222 and 301 FPS, respectively. 

Shooter games are generally less demanding than story-based games, but The First Descendant is built on UE5, meaning its graphical fidelity is high. As the trend with the latest releases goes, we wouldn’t be surprised if it is not adequately optimized right now. 

However, the developers should streamline it with future patches, making running on budget and mid-tier builds easier. 

This CPU's neat feature is that it is compatible with DDR4 and DDR5 memories, which can be stacked up to 128 GB. So, if you feel like your rig’s performance is lacking, you can always swap out the old RAM for new ones or install more if your motherboard allows for it. If you’re interested in exploring some options, check out our guide for the best DDR4 RAM.  

Overall, this is an excellent CPU that is still a very viable option in 2024 to run various applications and play games like The First Descendant and more. However, the downside is that it uses the LGA1700 socket, meaning your upgrade path will likely end with Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this CPU performs well, runs fast, and can handle heavy workloads. One reviewer said: “The CPU comfortably reaches 5.1 GHz without any stability issues, and it seems there's still plenty of room for further overclocking if needed. If you're looking for a CPU that offers solid performance, low heat, and great value, the 12600K is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended for both gaming and general productivity!”

Not everyone has hundreds of dollars to spend on a processor, and for those operating on a budget, we recommend giving the Ryzen 5 7600X a shot. Not only is it light on the pocket, but during our 7600X review, it performed stellarly for an entry-level processor.  

To begin with, this processor has six cores, 12 threads, a base clock of 4.7 GHz, a boost clock of 5.3 GHz, and a 32 MB L3 cache. What this means is that it has more than decent hardware backing its real-world and productive performance. You should be able to run The First Descendant at various graphical settings without worrying about whether this CPU will be able to keep up or not. 

This processor is three generations newer than the recommended 2600X, so it isn’t surprising that it has next-gen-level performance, especially since it runs on the Zen 4 architecture and requires the AM5 socket. However, as we mentioned before, the move to the AM5 platform is expensive but worth it in the long run, as AMD plans on supporting it till 2027. 

The 7600X also had excellent synthetic performance. We used Geekbench, among many others, and it scored 2,955 and 13,236 points in single- and multi-core, respectively. So, we can see that it can handle gaming and multi-threaded workloads, and its performance is comparable to the 13600K. However, it runs on the latest platform and should have better longevity than the 13600K. 

The Ryzen 5 7600X brings big value for a small price – it performs well in gaming workloads and can hold it’s own in more productive tasks, it seems 6 cores go a long way these days.

As for its in-game performance, as always, we turned the gaming resolution to low and at 1080p resolution. This processor managed 236 and 295 FPS in Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077, respectively, which were notoriously difficult to run when they came out. 

Overall, this Ryzen 5 7600X is a solid CPU for gaming and productivity tasks. With this processor powering your system, you should be able to enjoy The First Descendant with maxed-out graphics. However, its low core count will make itself known if workstation-level tasks are thrown its way, as it could have better performance if it had a few more cores. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this processor is a “gaming powerhouse” with exceptional performance. One reviewer stated: “The AMD Ryzen™ 5 7600X stands out as an excellent choice for gamers seeking a powerful and cost-effective desktop processor.” 

How to select the best CPU for The First Descendant 

There are a handful of factors that you need to consider before choosing a CPU. We’ve listed some of those factors below so you can make an informed decision on your next CPU, regardless of application.

Budget

The budget is the most important factor to consider. This will help you avoid overspending on a CPU you might not completely use and also reduce the number of options available, making it easier to choose.

For example, if you get your hands on an i9-13900K but don’t have any plans of overclocking it, which is where it truly shines as an enthusiast chip, then a mid-range or even budget CPU, like the 5800X3D or 5600X, both of which we’ve reviewed, would be better suited for you.

Performance

The list of processors will increase or decrease depending on your rig and the type of workloads you work with. For example, if you’ve got a gaming rig and have no professional tasks, then a processor like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D would work best, as it is one of the best gaming processors currently available. 

However, if you also have workloads like 3D modeling, video editing, or rendering, then a processor with better synthetic benchmarks would be better, like the “X” CPUs from AMD or “K” CPUs from Intel. 

System requirements 

It's always recommended to check the system requirements, as they give you a baseline to work with. The minimum and recommended CPUs to run this title are the Intel i5-3570/AMD FX-8350 and Intel i7-7700K/AMD Ryzen 5 2600X, respectively. 

These processors are years old, and technology has made massive leaps forward, meaning that the processors available today will blow these options out of the water. So, you should have plenty of options to choose from; it’ll all boil down to the level of performance you’re expecting from your rig and your budget. 

This could be more of the case if you’re playing at lower resolutions, as the CPU has to churn out instructions more quickly. No one wants to experience lag or stuttering while exploring the land or fighting a boss, and if you’re of the same opinion, it’s understandable. 

However, the recommended CPU options for this game are the i7-8700K or the Ryzen 5 3600X, which are old processors and may not be the best choice for pairing with modern GPUs. We also understand that selecting a single processor is challenging as there are numerous options from Intel and AMD available.  

So, to help you kick off your buying journey in the best possible manner, we’ve put together this in-depth guide that lists multiple CPU options ranging from the best to budget options, along with their details, reviews, and pros and cons.

How we picked

There are various aspects you need to consider while pairing any CPU with a GPU. For a game like Elden Ring, which has almost iconic in-game graphics and tons of elements to process, we need to look at various factors like the brand, architecture, cores, threads, base and boost frequencies, motherboard compatibility, and other important factors into account. This helps us filter our options and also gives us an idea of which CPU and GPU pairing would be the closest to ideal.

However, other than specifications that anyone can read, we take a more hands-on approach by thoroughly testing the CPUs for synthetic and real-world performance. If you’re interested in learning more about that, we recommend you head to our PC Guide Testing Lab, which will show the process in detail.

The first processor on our list for Elden Ring is the Intel Core i5-13600K. We went for this pick due to the amazing performance it showcased in our i5-13600K review. 

Games don’t use a lot of cores and threads for their processing, which is why a CPU’s single-core performance is looked at to gauge how it’ll perform in gaming. That said, Elden Ring isn’t any different, although it does require a fast processor with good single-core and thread utilization. 

During our testing, the 13600K managed to score 830 and 1,992 in CPU-Z and Cinebench single-core tests, respectively. For reference, these scores are solid, and this CPU’s overall performance is just as good as the 14600K, which says something. 

In addition to that, it has a 24MB Intel Smart Cache, which allows all the cores to access the last cache level. What this does is allow for more efficient and faster processing, as the cores don’t have to call and wait for the data to be fetched. 

The LGA 1700 and DDR4 + DDR5 compatibility makes it a fantastic choice no matter what rig you have.

In terms of gaming, it means that game elements can be worked on faster, as whichever core is being used can access the data whenever it wants. This should result in a streamlined gaming experience without running into stuttering issues in populated areas where the CPU and GPU have to process the terrain texture, 3D models, and other aspects. 

This processor also makes use of Intel’s big.LITTLE core architecture, which divides the cores into performance and efficient cores for maximum performance and power efficiency. So, this CPU has 14 cores divided between 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores. 

The E-cores are responsible for handling minor tasks and don’t consume a lot of power. On the other hand, P-cores kick in when heavy processing is required as they have Hyper-Threading and are physically larger. When the task is dealt with, the E-cores take over. This dynamic ensures stable performance while prioritizing power efficiency.

So, no matter how much processing power Elden Ring requires, this processor has enough hardware under the hood to handle it across all resolutions, delivering a seamless gaming experience. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this processor is a “true powerhouse.” One reviewer stated: “his processor has far exceeded my expectations, providing seamless multitasking and blazing-fast performance for all my computing needs,” which perfectly sums up this CPU.

If you want to experience everything Elden Ring and its DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, has to offer in pristine quality without any issues, we recommend giving one of the best gaming processors, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, a shot. 

AMD’s “X3D” chips are known for having excellent gaming performance, but our Ryzen 7 7800X3D review showcased that performance in our suite of synthetic benchmarks. In CPU-Z and Geekbench single-core tests, it scored 634 and 2,624 points, respectively.

For reference, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D scored 461 and 1,655 points in the same tests. So, the difference in performance is clearly visible, but what's surprising is that the 5800X3D is still being used to run modern games without facing any difficulty. 

So, the 7800X3D’s performance should be more than enough to handle any amount of complexities Elden Ring can throw its way. On top of that, the 8700K and 3600X can’t even hold a candle to its prowess, so gaming in various resolutions without stuttering shouldn’t be an issue. 

he 7800X3D is a fantastic chip and much improved over the previous generation. This CPU will smash through any gaming workload you throw at it.

The secret behind this processor's amazing in-game performance is the 3D V-cache technology. What this does is stack additional cache on top of the L3 cache, increasing its capacity. So, this CPU has 96MB of L3 cache, meaning more game data and elements can be stored on board for faster and more efficient processing. 

However, the drawback is that its productive performance takes a hit. This is visible when we compare the multi-core results on the 7900X and this CPU. The 7900X wipes the floor with it, and if productivity is important to you, we recommend opting for the Ryzen 9 7900X as it has better results overall. 

That said, this CPU from Team Red isn’t a bad option, and you won’t be disappointed with its in-game performance whether you’re running Elden Ring or Cyberpunk 2077. The AM5 platform should also future-proof your setup, as it is supported till 2027.

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this CPU is being praised for its gaming performance, efficiency, and stability. One user stated: “Decided to move from an i5-13600K over to a 7800X3D since I mostly use my PC for gaming and not productivity work. This CPU is a beast for performance and runs rather cool for what you get out of it, and it's power efficient as well!” Another reviewer said: “One of the best cpu if not the best for gaming.”

If you’re looking for the best CPU for Elden Ring that strikes a good balance between performance and value, the Intel Core i5-12600K might be right up your alley. In our Intel Core i5-12600K review it showed great in-game and synthetic performance.

As we’ve discussed before, we look at the processor’s single-core results to determine how it’ll perform in gaming. That said, in CPU-Z single-core, it scored 764 points, 130 points more than the 7800X3D. However, it does have two more cores than the latter, so it makes sense that it scored more. 

Either way, this processor shouldn’t have any difficulty running Elden Ring. We also tested it in Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080 low resolution to really grind its gear, but it fought back and churned out 222 and 301 FPS, respectively. This should tell you everything you need to know about this CPU, and despite its “mid-range” title, it is capable of punching way above its weight class. 

It effortlessly combines power efficiency with single-core performance to make for one fierce competitor in the budget CPU space.

It has ten cores, 16 threads, a 2.8 GHz base clock, and a 4.9 GHz boost clock. These impressive specifications are what helped this CPU score such high numbers. However, this level of performance also comes with a high TDP, as according to Intel, it has a maximum turbo power of 150W. 

On top of that, the “K” moniker means that it is unlocked by the manufacturer for overclocking. This means that you can increase its base and boost clock for faster processing, but that will also increase its TDP and thermal output. In that case, we recommend using the best thermal paste in combination with the best CPU cooler to keep it running optimally. 

Looking at the system requirements of Elden Ring, you can rest easy knowing this CPU won’t land you in hot water as it is woefully superior to the recommended 8700K and 3600X. It is also reasonably priced, which is another win for this processor. 

What users say

The Amazon reviews of this CPU are praising it for its headroom for overclocking, cool operation, and amazing performance. One reviewer said: “If you're looking for a CPU that offers solid performance, low heat, and great value, the 12600K is a fantastic choice. Highly recommended for both gaming and general productivity!”

Everyone deserves to enjoy the latest releases regardless of their budget. So, if you’re operating on limited funds, we recommend opting for the Ryzen 5 5600X as it is a pocket-friendly option but can also power your rig to play Elden Ring and other titles. 

In our Ryzen 5 5600X review, it didn’t disappoint despite its “budget” title, as we witnessed it churning out 641 points in the CPU-Z single-core benchmark and delivered 177 and 282 FPS in Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077, respectively. 

These games, at one point, were notoriously difficult to run, and the 5600X managed impressive FPS at 1080p with low resolution paired with an RTX 4070 Ti Super. So, this should give you an idea about how powerful this CPU is; it is much better than the 3600X and should be able to run Shadow of the Erdtree without any issues across any resolution you want. 

The Ryzen 5 5600X is a fantastic budget CPU that can bring you a lot of power if you don’t need the cutting edge in your system.

Generally, nowadays, people use 1440p as their default resolution but if you’re someone with a 1080p monitor, this processor shouldn’t be the limiting factor stopping you from thoroughly enjoying the world of Elden Ring. 

That said, despite its performance, it has humble specifications with six cores, 12 threads, a 3.7 GHz base clock, a 4.6 GHz boost clock, and a 32 MB L3 cache. On top of that, it has a low TDP of 65W and comes bundled with a Wraith Stealth cooler, which should be enough to keep its temperature under control. 

However, if you’re living in a hot region, the ambient temperature can increase the base temperature of your components. In that case, we recommend using the best AIO cooler to keep it from thermal throttling, especially when you’re so invested while playing Shadow of the Erdtree that hours have gone by and you haven’t noticed it. 

Overall, this is a solid CPU for productivity and gaming. While it might not be at the level of CPUs like the 13900K, we need to keep in mind its price point. At the time of writing, it will set you back $137.85. It should be able to run this title without any issues as it runs on the Zen 3 architecture compared to 3600X’s Zen 2 architecture. 

What users say

At the time of writing, this processor has a 4.8 out of 5.0 rating and 90% 5-star reviews. People are praising it for its performance, value, efficiency, and thermal design. One reviewer said: “Whether I'm gaming, video editing, or running resource-intensive software, the processor handles it all with ease.”

How we picked the best CPU for Elden Ring

There are a handful of factors that you need to consider before choosing a CPU. We’ve listed some of those factors below so you can make an informed decision on your next CPU, regardless of application.

System requirements 

It's always recommended to look at the game's system requirements. In the case of Elden Ring, the recommended CPUs are the Intel Core i7-8700K and the Ryzen 5 3600X. In comparison to the GPU recommendations, the CPU recommendations are more recent, as they were released in 2017 and 2019, respectively. So, what we can take away from that is Elden Ring is more CPU-dependent and would require a fast CPU to run it. 

That said, you won’t be getting your hands on a new 8700K and 3600X, and the latest processors from Intel and AMD are massively more powerful than them. So, you should be able to run Elden Ring at lower resolutions without facing stuttering issues if you pair your GPU with a processor like the 13600K or the 5900X from AMD. 

In addition, they should also be able to handle UHD resolutions, but the GPU primarily handles that, so you don’t need to worry about it. 

Budget 

Your budget is the most important factor to consider while choosing a CPU. While the appeal of overkill CPUs like the 14900K is understandable, as you won’t have to worry about whether it’ll be enough for a game or not but that performance comes at a premium. 

If you have enough funds for that, you should opt for such powerful processors, as they’ll last you a while and should handle professional workloads as well. However, if there are some budget restraints, it's best to filter the options presented, look at their performance by checking our Reddit threads and reviews, and go for the CPU that offers a good balance between performance and value. 

Performance 

Your CPU options could open up or become limited depending on the level of performance you want out of your system. For example, if you want a system for just gaming, you can get an X3D chip from AMD and call it a day. 

However, their professional performance isn’t as great as that of AMD’s “X” and Intel processors. So, if you also have creative workloads to handle, it would be better to opt for an Intel “K” or AMD “X” processor as they balance productive and gaming performance well. 

To that end, we’ve put together this guide that lists different CPU options for you to choose from, along with their details, reviews, and pros and cons so you can make an informed decision and invest your money wisely.

How we picked

There are various aspects you need to consider while pairing any CPU with a GPU for F1 24. For a game like this, which would have the latest graphics and tons of in-game elements to process, we need to look at various factors like the brand, architecture, cores, threads, base and boost frequencies, motherboard compatibility, and other important factors into account. This helps us filter our options and also gives us an idea of which CPU and GPU pairing would be the closest to ideal.

However, other than specifications that anyone can read, we take a more hands-on approach by thoroughly testing the CPUs for synthetic and real-world performance. If you’re interested in learning more about that, we recommend you head to our PC Guide Testing Lab, which will show the process in detail.

Our top picks

For our top option, we went with the Intel Core i5-13600K, a solid processor for gaming and productivity tasks. In our i5-13600K review, it performed excellently in our gaming and synthetic benchmarks, earning it the top spot. 

This CPU managed 179 and 162 FPS, respectively, in Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring, paired with an RTX 3080. This means that it is more than capable of handling demanding titles with ease, and our gaming tests are done natively,  making it even more impressive. 

As for its synthetic results, it managed 830 and 9,846 points in CPU Z single- and multi-core tests, respectively. These impressive numbers further showcase its ability to handle gaming workloads and multitasking capabilities, meaning it should also be able to run resource-intensive applications in parallel without compromising performance. 

An excellent CPU through and through with fierce single and multi-core performance for the money.

Regarding its specifications, it has six performance (P-cores), eight efficient cores (E-cores), 20 threads, a base clock of 2.6 GHz, a boost clock of 5.1 GHz, and a 24 MB Intel Smart Cache. The P-cores are responsible for handling the tasks that require heavy lifting, while the E-cores handle minor and background tasks. This dynamic ensures efficient resource and power utilization.

In addition, the 24 MB L3 cache is accessible to all cores, which should reduce access times and enhance the CPU's processing speed and efficiency. It also features a 20 MB L2 cache, which is closer to the CPU but still has an impressive capacity. 

A neat aspect of this CPU is that it is compatible with PCIe 4.0 and 5.0, meaning you can use it with a new build or slap it on your previous-generation motherboard, and it’ll work fine without any compatibility or stability issues. So, pair it with the best DDR4 or DDR5 RAM and take the overall performance of your build to the next level. 

One thing to note is that while it delivered impressive results it has a maximum TDP of 181W. So, if the workload is high or if you’ve overclocked it, it’ll generate a good amount of heat. So, we recommend using the best CPU cooler to keep it running at an ideal temperature. 

Overall, the Intel Core i5-13600K is an excellent option with impressive results that make it a worthwhile investment. You should be able to run F1 24, and other games, and work on professional tasks without a hitch with this CPU powering your rig. On top of that, if you want to experience everything F1 24 has to offer, we recommend giving the best racing seat a shot, which should further add to the immersiveness. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, this CPU is a “powerhouse” capable of handling demanding gaming titles and professional workloads. One reviewer stated: “beast for gaming you'll never feel any bottlenecks with 99.9 % of any titles,” followed by, “beast for gaming you'll never feel any bottlenecks with 99.9 % of any titles.”

Now we’ll switch over to Team Red, and we went with one of these best gaming CPUs, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. This processor is better than the 7900X3D and even the 7950X3D in most scenarios, and in our 7800X3D review, it had almost double the performance of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. 

We see a clear difference when we compare its synthetic performance to that of its predecessors in tests like CPU Z. In single-core, the 7800X3D managed 643 points, whereas the 5800X3D managed 461. In multi-core, the results were 7,085 and 4,889 points, respectively. So, the AM5 CPU blows the previous generation out of the water, but compared to the 7900X, its productivity is lacking. 

However, due to the 3D V-cache technology, which stacks an additional L3 cache on top of the CPU, its gaming performance is like nothing else. It features 96MB of L3 cache, meaning more game elements can be directly stored and accessed by the cores. This eliminates the need for the CPU to make calls to fetch data as it is already there and increases efficiency and output. 

The 7800X3D is a fantastic chip and much improved over the previous generation. This CPU will smash through any gaming workload you throw at it. 

On top of that, it has eight cores, 16 threads, a base clock of 4.2 GHz, and a boost clock of 5 GHz. That said, what gives it a boost in gaming is the design that enables all cores to access the cache, whereas, in the 7900X3D, only six cores can access it at a time due to the 6+6 configuration. So, the 7800X3D outperforms the 7900X3D because of this. 

Despite its next-level gaming output, it has a TDP of 120W, making it a powerful yet efficient processor. That said, it only runs on the AM5 socket and requires compatible DDR5 memory. 

So, you’ll have to purchase an AM5 motherboard and DDR5 memory to run this CPU; the shift to the new platform can be expensive but worth it, as it’ll last you a good while and give you plenty of options to upgrade. If you’re interested in exploring some options, check out our best AM5 motherboard and gaming RAM guides, which have the top picks available. 

All in all, this is one of the best CPUs to get your hands on if you’re primarily gaming, and it should be able to run F1 24 with a smile on its face. However, to thoroughly enjoy every second of F1 24, we recommend trying out the best PC racing wheel so you can feel every sharp turn and bump on the road with real-time feedback. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, it has excellent quality, efficiency, value, stability, and thermal output. One user said: “Nothing much to say that hasn't been said before but this chip is easy to cool, easy to run, and performs better than basically everything on the market.” This basically summarizes everything there is to know about this CPU and how the general populace feels about it.

For our best mid-range pick, we’re shifting back to Team Blue with their Intel Core i5-12600K as the main attraction. In our i5-12600K review, it performed stellarly in gaming and synthetic benchmarks.

In our CPU Z single- and multi-core tests, it managed 764 and 7,120 points, respectively. For comparison, it had 121 and 35 more points than the 7800X3D, which should give you an idea about its gaming and multitasking prowess. 

The 12600K is no slouch in gaming, as it delivered 222 and 301 FPS in Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077, respectively. These tests were conducted at 1080p low settings to challenge the CPU and take the load away from the RTX 4070 Ti Super GPU. These results are more than impressive, and it should be able to run F1 24 in various resolutions with ease paired with a GPU that complements its performance. 

This CPU has six performance cores, four efficient cores, and a 20 MB L3 cache. It also has an E-core base clock of 2.8 GHz and a P-core base clock of 3.7 GHz. The E—and P-core boost clocks are 3.6 and 4.9 GHz, respectively. Thus, depending on the task in the queue, you should get the right amount of processing power. 

For example, if it's casual tasks like working on a Word document or browsing, the E-core could handle that, which would keep the power draw and thermal out low, resulting in efficient working. However, if you’re running resource-heavy applications like Adobe Premier, the P-core would take over and handle that with their faster frequencies and larger physical size. 

It effortlessly combines power efficiency with single-core performance to make for one fierce competitor in the budget CPU space. 

Despite being an older CPU, it has a maximum TDP of 150W and a base TDP of 125W. However, since it comes unlocked for overclocking from the manufacturer, doing so might increase the TDP and result in a greater heat output as well. So, if you plan on doing that, we recommend using the best thermal paste combined with the best AIO cooler to keep it running optimally and at comfortable temperatures. If you’re interested in learning how to remove and apply thermal paste properly, we’ve also got you covered there. 

This processor also comes with Intel UHD Graphics 770, which isn’t enough to run games, but having integrated graphics has other uses. For example, suppose your GPU stops working, or you’re waiting for a replacement. In that case, the integrated graphics enable your PC to boot and handle basic tasks like displaying the desktop, working on documents, etc. 

Overall, the Intel Core i5-12600K is a solid CPU for gaming and professional work that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. While it might be two generations old now, its performance speaks for itself, and that is nothing short of impressive.

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, it has stable performance, good thermal design, and provides excellent value for the price point. One reviewer stated: “The 12600K CPU has been an outstanding upgrade from my previous setup, delivering a remarkable boost in performance. I've been particularly impressed by its cool operation, maintaining a stable 64 degrees even during rigorous stress tests and extended gaming sessions.”

For our last pick, we stuck with AMD and decided to go with the Ryzen 5 5600X for the pocket-friendly picks. In our Ryzen 5 5600X review, it had pretty good results in our gaming and synthetic benchmarks. 

In Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077, it managed 177 and 282 FPS at 1080p low settings, respectively. While the Days Gone result looks comparatively less, we need to factor in that this is a budget CPU, and 177 framerates are more than playable. 

As for its synthetic performance, it scores 2,138 and 8,456 FPS in Geekbench single- and multi-core, respectively. This is a decent score and showcases this CPU’s ability to handle gaming and productive tasks alike, but it isn’t the best option for really heavy applications like running a server. 

This CPU has six cores, 12 threads, a base clock of 3.7 GHz, a boost clock of 4.6 GHz, and a 32 MB L3 cache. While its specifications are humble compared to other options on this list, it still delivers excellent results. It also has a low TDP of 65W, which not only makes it pocket-friendly but also an efficient processor option.

The Ryzen 5 5600X is a fantastic budget CPU that can bring you a lot of power if you don’t need the cutting edge in your system. 

A great aspect of this CPU is that it runs on the AM4 socket, which means you won’t have to make the shift to the AM5 platform, and that will also save you cost. So, you can direct those funds toward the best gaming RAM and have a pleasant experience racing against others or the clock in F1 24.  

Overall, the 5600X provides an excellent price-to-performance ratio, and while you might not be able to move to AM5, there are plenty of AM4 CPUs you could upgrade to, like the 5950X or the 5800X3D, which are still viable options in 2024. 

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, its performance is “nothing short of impressive,” and it has excellent power efficiency. One reviewer said: “The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor has revolutionized my PC gaming experience, and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. This little gem packs a powerful punch, significantly boosting my computer's performance.”

How to pick the best CPU for F1 24

There are a handful of factors that you need to consider before choosing a CPU. We’ve listed some of those factors below so you can make an informed decision on your next CPU, regardless of application.

Budget

Your budget is the first thing you need to consider, as it’ll help you filter the options available and give you a list of CPUs that offer the best balance between performance and value. This is important as it’ll also help you avoid overspending on a CPU that you won’t be able to utilize fully. For example, if you want a CPU solely for gaming and don’t have any professional tasks that require a high-end CPU, then a chip like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D would be better suited for you as compared to the Intel Core i9-13900K, both of which we’ve reviewed in-depth. 

However, if you plan on gaming and working on the same rig, AMD’s “X” CPUs, like the Ryzen 9 5900X, would be better suited for you. 

Performance 

The second thing you need to look at is the level of performance you want out of your system. A powerful and fast processor is important if you’re gaming at lower resolutions because the CPU must churn out more instructions per cycle. So, if you have a 1080p gaming monitor, that means you’ll be playing F1 24 in 1080p, and for that, your GPU won’t be under as much load as your CPU because 1080p is easy for the GPU to process.

On the other hand, as you increase the resolution, the GPU starts to take over more, taking the load away from the CPU. So, consider the resolution you want to play in and any tasks other than gaming, and then opt for a CPU that covers these bases. Perhaps our best graphics settings for F1 24 guide can do some further explaining.

Temperature

Modern CPUs are very powerful and efficient, but that performance comes at a cost: a high power draw and thermal output. So, if you’re opting for a chipset with a high TDP, and we recommend you check these specifications from the manufacturer's website, you’ll need to invest in robust cooling solutions as well. 

This is particularly true if you’re located in a hot region because the ambient temperature will increase the base temperature of all your components. So, keep this in mind, as you’ll have to budget accordingly to purchase better case fans or a CPU cooler or risk the processor overheating.

Luckily, we have a guide to the best CPUs for XDefiant right here. We'll also break down how we selected each pick, provide in-depth and hands-on knowledge of each CPU, as well as some additional considerations for playing XDefiant. With the right CPU and GPU combo, the best graphics settings become accessible. Let's jump in.

How we selected the best CPU for XDefiant

In order to select the best CPU for XDefiant, we considered various factors. Firstly, we picked CPUs that had a range of prices and markers, such as entry-level options, as well as premium picks. We also considered CPUs from both the Intel Core and AMD Ryzen ranges as we know how loyal some fans can be. Equally, both CPU ranges have various strengths and weaknesses which make them both appropriate for some users and not appropriate for others.

We also hand-picked CPUs which we have done extensive reviews of in the past. This was done to provide additional insight into each product and for us to let you know how we got on playing similar games with that CPU. Head over to our test lab to find out more about how we test and review each product.

Lastly, each product had to at least meet the official minimum and recommended system requirements provided by the game manufacturer. These are detailed in our Xdefiant minimum and recommended system requirements article.

Gamers looking for a CPU that won't bottleneck their performance should look no further than the Intel Core i5-13600K. This processor packs a serious punch with impressive clock speeds that can hit 5.1 GHz thanks to Intel's Turbo Boost technology. This translates to smooth, stutter-free gameplay on games like XDefiant. Furthermore, the i5-13600K boasts 14 cores, providing a great balance between powerful performance cores and efficient cores that handle background tasks. With 20 threads in total, you can stream, chat, and record your gameplay without sacrificing in-game frame rates. Crucial for those who want it all.

An excellent CPU through and through with fierce single and multi-core performance for the money.

The i5-13600K strikes a compelling balance between power and value While other high-end CPUs might offer slightly more muscle, the i5-13600K delivers exceptional gaming performance at a competitive price point, meaning you can also spend a little more on additional components. Important for those who want the best overall system. This makes it a fantastic choice for gamers who want a CPU that won't break the bank but can still handle the latest games with ease.

What users say

Users on Amazon praise the Intel Core i5-13600K for its impressive value and gaming performance across the board. It boasts a 5-star rating from 86% of users who purchased it. One user even put it quite simply "I've been using this CPU for a couple months now and haven't had any issues. Been able to run games and any application that I use". What more could you want?

Once again, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a compelling option for gamers seeking a balance of power and value in their system. This 6-core, 12-thread CPU boasts impressive single-core performance, making it ideal for games that rely heavily on CPU strength. This translates to smooth gameplay on games such as XDefiant and fast response times in even the most fast-paced titles. Additionally, the 7600X supports the latest PCIe 5.0 standard, allowing you to take advantage of next-generation storage drives for blazing-fast load times.

The Ryzen 5 7600X brings big value for a small price – it performs well in gaming workloads.

While some higher-core-count CPUs might offer more upgradability, the 7600X excels at delivering excellent gaming performance at a mid-range price point. Paired with a powerful GPU, this CPU can handle even the most demanding games at high resolutions and FPS. This makes it a great choice for gamers who want a CPU that won't bottleneck their system.

What users say

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X has an excellent online reputation. User reviews on Amazon have the product performing well in gaming scenarios as well as being a breeze to install and set up. The product has a 5-star rating with 87% of users, which is pretty phenomenal. One user even stated, "Love this processor! It's fast for gaming and smooth daily usage. Easy to install and great value for the money. Definitely recommend for anyone building a PC".

For our choice of the best premium Intel CPU for XDefiant, we’ve chosen the Intel Core i5-12600K. This impressive CPU offers a great performance for gaming. Its 10 cores and 16 threads make it the perfect CPU for multitasking during heavy loads or intense gaming periods. If you’re hoping to play XDefiant on ultra-high settings, or even 4K, then this CPU has got you covered. 

 It (Intel Core i5-12600K) effortlessly combines power efficiency with single-core performance to make for one fierce competitor in the budget CPU space.

The Intel Core i5-12600K offers a high boost speed of 4.9 GHz making it perfectly capable of handling XDefiant at a fast pace. It features 20 MB of L3 cache, so if you’re looking for the absolute fastest response times then opting for something with a higher cache size may be a better option. Unfortunately, the CPU does come with a higher price than the options above. However, when compared to other high-end CPUs on the market it lands on the more affordable side of premium community. Make sure to check out our review for further analysis.

What users say

According to Amazon reviews, the Intel Core i5-12600K offers great performance for gamers and satisfies the majority of those who purchased it. Furthermore, reviews mentioned its power efficiency, performance, shape, and value in a positive light. The products boast a 5-star rating from 91% of buyers, which is outstanding. One user noted it as a "Very good processor and probably best for the price to performance ratio". So, while not always being seen as a value pick, users are able to get their money's worth with this one.

Considerations for the best CPU for XDefiant

Below are some of the major considerations we would have in mind when purchasing a CPU for XDefiant, as well as some extra thoughts you should be having as this new release hits the market.

Game requirements

Research the recommended and minimum system requirements for the games you wish to play. This will give you a baseline for the processing power needed for smooth gameplay. We have a whole article dedicated to the XDefiant minimum and recommended system requirements which can be found here.

Resolution and FPS

Do you prioritize high resolutions like 4K or super smooth frame rates for competitive gaming? High-resolution gaming puts more stress on the GPU, while high frame rates rely more on CPU horsepower. If you want to pick the best GPU for XDefiant we also have that guide available too.

Multitasking needs

Will you be streaming, using voice chat, or running other applications alongside your games? If so, a higher core count CPU will help maintain performance while juggling multiple tasks.

Budget

CPUs range in price significantly. Determine how much you're willing to spend on the CPU, keeping in mind other components like the GPUs, motherboards, and coolers will also impact gaming performance and require a separate fee. To find the best time to purchase your CPU, head over to the price tracking application Camelcamelcamel which will show you a graph of the price history. You can then predict the best time to purchase.

Upgradability

Consider how long you plan to use this PC. Newer CPU generations tend to offer better performance, so if you want your system to last for several years, a CPU with some room to breathe above your current needs might be wise.

Motherboard compatibility

Ensure the CPU you choose is compatible with the motherboard socket type you plan to use. This will limit your options but ensure the two components work together seamlessly.

Power consumption, TDP, and cooling

High-performance CPUs can generate a lot of heat. Factor in the TDP of the CPU and choose a cooler that can adequately dissipate the heat to avoid overheating and performance throttling.

Knowing whether your system will be able to run Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut or not is the first step in getting your hands on the exciting features of this story-based game. This is why we've already laid out the minimum and recommended system requirements in our Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut PC guide. However, if you're looking to get the absolute most out of this game then finding the perfect CPU to play it on is paramount.

This guide will walk you through the various CPU options that will allow you to play Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on PC to the best of your ability. We'll be looking at the best overall, Intel, and high-end to provide you with multiple choices when deciding whether to upgrade your hardware or not.

Products at a glance

How we picked the best CPU for the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on PC

When considering what CPUs would work best for running the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on PC, we look to useful internet guides, public benchmarks, customer reviews, and our own topic knowledge to come up with a comprehensive list suitable for a range of gamers. In addition to this, the CPUs selected for this guide have all been tested and reviewed making our knowledge of their capabilities even more thorough.

The Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut is an expansion of the original game and features additional storylines and characters, and although this isn't the most demanding game, we think using an up-to-date powerful CPU can only benefit the performance of this game on your PC. When upgrading your components it's always important to consider how this hardware will serve the rest of your system, which is why we've chosen a CPU that will not only be able to handle the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut but also a range of other demanding titles and workloads.

Our top picks

The Ryzen 5 5600X is a great CPU that is certainly capable of handling the features of Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut. This AM4 CPU offers a great value overall option for those intending to upgrade their CPU to play this game. Its 6 core and 12 threads make it perfectly able to handle the game even on ultra-high settings. This CPU takes the top spot on this list due to its price-to-performance ratio. It comes in at an attractive price of $134 on Amazon, although this number may vary from store to store.

The high core and thread count of this CPU makes it extremely capable of multitasking, which is perfect for running a game like Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut. On top of this, the 5 5600X has a base speed of 3.7 GHz and a boost speed of 4.6 GHz, making it able to handle Ghost of Tsushima at a fast pace and power. Its 32MB L3 cache ensures quick response times and low latency meaning you'll be able to have a seamless experience when playing.

If you fear playing Ghost of Tsushima among other demanding games will have an impact on the temperature of your components, well you're in luck because the 5 5600X comes with a Wraith Stealth cooler.

To cut this long review short, if you’re looking for an incredible, affordable CPU that can handle most gaming workloads, then the 5600X might just be for you.

What users say

When considering if a CPU upgrade is for you then looking at customer reviews on Amazon is a useful way to tell if you feel this processor could work in your system. The Ryzen 5 5600X has a large number of positive reviews on Amazon making it a reliable product.

The majority of the reviews mention the ease of installation, value, and performance, with one customer expressing their satisfaction, stating "paired with some 3600mhz ram you got yourself a real nice gaming PC. very fast and smooth experience.Best CPU for around £140". Another user mentions the cooling system of the product "She has had no issues at all and coupled with a more efficient cooler it really runs cold."

For our choice of the best Intel CPU for the Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, we've chosen the Intel Core i5-12600K. This impressive CPU offers an overall great performance, perfect for playing demanding games. Its 10 cores and 16 threads make it the perfect CPU for multitasking during heavy loads or intense gaming sessions. If you're hoping to play Ghost of Tsushima on ultra-high settings then this CPU has got you covered.

The intel Core i5-12600K offers a high boost speed of 4.9 GHz making it perfectly capable of handling Ghost of Tsushima at a fast pace. It features 20 MB of L3 cache, which is a little less than the Ryzen option featured above, therefore if you're looking for the absolute fastest response times then opting for something with a higher cache size may be a better option.

Unfortunately, the CPU does come with a higher price than the last option, being sold on Amazon for $217.54. However, when compared to other high-end CPUs on the market it lands on the more affordable side of the spectrum, and when the included cooler is considered it can be deemed quite the affordable purchase.

If you need a relatively cheap CPU that will work across multiple chipsets with both DDR4 and DDR5 memory, then this CPU might be for you.

What users say

The Intel Core i5-12600K has garnered a number of reviews on Amazon, where customers mainly express their satisfaction with the efficiency, value, and overall power of the product.

One customer describes how the CPU handles games that are on a similar power level to Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, stating "She mostly plays fortnight, Minecraft, Hogwarts legacy, etc and she plays on high settings while screen sharing in discord for the fam, and using OBS to record her gameplay no problem." Another customer offers so great advice concerning the CPUs lack of warranty, "If I remember correctly, the CPU does not come with a warranty, which is probably fine as CPUs are known to be very durable. So make sure you test it when you receive it so you know if it's faulty."

If you're looking for a high-end CPU that will not only be able to handle the ultra-settings of Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, but a range of other demanding games, then the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X may just be the option for you. This AM4 CPU offers the best processing capabilities, however, it comes with a premium price. Upon release, the 9 5900X was priced at a whopping $549, however, it is frequently discounted and at the moment it is being sold for $253, making it a much more affordable option.

The 9 5900X offers a huge 12 cores and 24 threads, much larger amounts than any of the other options featured on this list. This means it has great multitasking capabilities making it perfect for playing Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut for long hours on end during demanding gaming stints. In addition to this, the Ryzen 9 5900X offers 63MB of L3 cache, which is the largest of all three CPU options on this list. This means that the response times during while playing Ghost of Tsushima will be super quick and the latency will be low.

Armed with some impressive specs, a competitive price tag, and good overclocking potential, those looking for an AM4 upgrade, or to leap to the red corner over from Intel, could be satisfied with what this hardware can do.

What users say

The impressive Ryzen 5 5900X has received a lot of positive feedback on Amazon reviews, where users mainly mention their satisfaction with the ease of installation, value, and overall performance of the product. One user comments "The AMD Ryzen 9 5900X Processor is an absolute game-changer for enthusiasts and power users. This CPU is a beast, offering incredible processing power and efficiency that will make any PC build shine." Another states "Whether you're a gamer, content creator, or running resource-intensive applications, the Ryzen 9 5900X handles it all with ease", demonstrating the range of ways you can apply this CPU.

Features and considerations

If you're upgrading your CPU to run Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut, then there are a few things to consider first. Firstly, it's important to look at price. In the options outlined in this guide, we've provided 3 varying options with 3 different price points. To play Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on Steam on your PC then you'll have to pay $59.99. Depending on your budget, this could be viewed as quite an expensive addition to your gaming collection. This is why it's important to consider the price of upgrading your CPU in addition to paying for the game itself.

Another aspect to consider is the amount of cores and threads found in your CPU. To run Ghost of Tsusima's Director's Cut you won't need a CPU with many cores, in fact, you can run the game on a minimum of 2 total cores. However, if you're hoping to play the game in high-ultra settings then you'll want something with a bit more powerful. This is why we've opted for the options outlined above.

Do I need to upgrade my CPU for Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut?

If you're hoping to play Ghost of Tsushima Director's Cut on your PC then you may be wondering if it's worth upgrading your CPU. The minimum system requirements to run this game demonstrate that you don't need a very powerful processor. However, if you're looking to play the game on high settings then opting for a CPU, much like one of the ones listed above, is a good option.

We'd had the pleasure of testing some of the best CPUs for gaming to make sure we're well equipped to hand out a list of suggestions. The game isn't exactly the most intensive, but a strong CPU is definitely recommended to ensure smooth and stable performance. We look at some recent options on the most popular platforms today.

What CPU do you need for V Rising?

The easiest way of understanding this is by checking out the V Rising system requirements. Interestingly, they are listed as subject to change, but we think the current CPU recommendations will remain viable for a while. Looking at the recommend specs, you'll find the Intel Core i5-11600K and Ryzen 5 5600X, which does suggest that the game is more CPU-intensive compared to GPU - you can see our best GPU for V Rising guide if you need as well.

So, if you want to have a suitable processor which is up to the task, we'd suggest sticking to recent generations of hardware. These are much easier to find and of course be more relevant for longer. Below, we go through our selection in greater detail and discuss reviews. For reference, the minimum requirements list an i5-6600 or Ryzen 5 1550X, which we wouldn't consider these days.

For gaming, the 7800X3D is a pretty straight-forward recommendation. If you want a strong CPU that will last you for years to come, whether you're playing V Rising or anything else, this is a top pick. As part of the Ryzen 7000 series, it is the first generation to use the AM5 socket, which will remain relevant for a long time, though there is a cost as you'll need a compatible AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM. One reason why this is so good for gaming is the 96MB of L3 cache - thanks to the stacked 3D v-cache design of AMD's X3D models. This can help boost fps and maintain stable performance in CPU-intensive games.

For V Rising alone, this CPU is more than what's necessary but it represents one of the best options for gaming in general. One drawback to some users is the lower number of cores compared to something such as Ryzen 9 models, which are preferred for workstations. However, the 8 core / 16 threads design is easily capable for multitasking and tasks such as editing or streaming. Do keep in note that the 120W TDP does mean you'll want a suitable cooling solution compared to some of the more budget options on this list.

What users say

This CPU holds a high 4.8/5 rating at the time of writing, against well over 2,000 ratings. Reading through the Amazon reviews will tell you that the performance is top-notch and the vast majority of users are happy with their purchase. Unsurprisingly, lots of mention of its gaming prowess as well.

The Intel Core i5-13600K is a fantastic choice of CPU if you want to stick to Team Blue. Intel has pushed their big.LITTLE technology a lot in recent generations to allow for a large amount of cores and threads, split into performance and efficiency cores. This makes for better multi-core scores than AMD Ryzen counterparts (the 7600X in this case), which is ideal for productivity workflows outside of gaming itself such as editing or streaming. We put its performance to the test in our Intel Core i5-13600K review.

"We consider the 13th gen to be the best value right now, as the 14th gen was just a refresh of the existing Raptor Lake architecture and offers a minimal performance increase"

This processor fits the LGA 1700 socket, so you'll have to make sure you have a compatible motherboard in order to upgrade. Now that the 14th gen is out, you can actually score a great deal on the 13600K, making it a great value pick and a real winner given its strong performance. If you want a little extra multitasking power for your workstation without being overkill for gaming, then this Intel chip is a fine choice.

What users say

Again we take to the Amazon reviews of this CPU and find that it scores a high rating. Many users call it great value for money and the large number of cores is a real selling point. If you're long overdue an upgrade for your Intel-based system, this could the one for you - and it supports both DDR4 or DDR5 RAM.

Moving over to another Ryzen processor using the AM5 socket, we have the 7600X. This is one of the cheapest models from the 7000 series and a excellent upgrade if you want a future-proof system for the foreseeable future. It retains the usual Ryzen 5 design we're used to with 6 cores and 12 threads, which is suitable for gaming - while boasting a fan 5.3GHz boost clock speed. As a mid-range option, it has a 105W TDP which isn't too hard to keep cool, despite the impressive power it delivers.

"The Ryzen 5 7600X is a powerful CPU and offers a fantastic price-to-performance ratio. The CPU is more than capable of gaming at the high end, with enough oomph to keep up with the latest GPUs"

Our AMD Ryzen 5 7600 X review has all the finer details if you're interested in this CPU. We'd say this is the equivalent to Intel's 13600K, though it does lose out slightly on multi-core performance due to the lower number of cores. Even still, the friendly TDP and even friendlier price tag makes this an easy choice for anyone that wants to upgrade to the AMD's latest platform/socket. Again, there will be a premium to pay due to the other AM5-compatible hardware required to support it.

What users say

The 7600X is a popular CPU for good reason, and users reviews are a good indicator of this. Unexpectedly, the price to performance is a big topic of discussion, while many users are very happen with the uplift in performance from their previous processor in both productivity and gaming workflows.

Last, but to least, is the 5600X, celebrated as one of the most popular CPUs at the minute. Given the long-lasting support for AM4 (even with a few new releases in 2024), the 5600X still holds up as a strong option to this day - especially if you want to save some cash. If you're putting together a new budget build or want to upgrade from your 1st or 2nd gen Ryzen, the 5000 series is a fine option. In our AMD Ryzen 5 5600X review we note that this CPU is still viable with impressive benchmark scores.

"The Ryzen 5 5600X is a fantastic budget CPU that can bring you a lot of power if you don’t need the cutting edge in your system. The 6 cores and 12 threads make this a good CPU for light productivity work and a bit of gaming, and all for around $140 is a steal"

The price point is the big selling point here, especially if you already have an AM4 board to simply slot it into without added expense, though a BIOS update may be in order. With its six cores and twelve threads, the 5600X is a solid performer for gaming and more lightweight workstation use, even though the clock speed doesn't quite break the 5GHz barrier like the newer 7600X. Since this belongs the last generation that uses the AM4 socket, it doesn't offer too many routes for future upgrades, though we'd consider the 5800X3D if you want to maximize gaming potential on the platform.

What users say

Given its age now - and just the popularity of it - the 5600X boasts over 25,000 user reviews on Amazon, giving you plenty of further reading. We can see that it represents a fan-favorite for budget builders to this day and a solid upgrade from users on older AM4 hardware such as the 1600X.

Things to consider before you buy a CPU for V Rising

There are always certain things you'll want to think about before you buy. We can highlight some of the key factors to research before making a purchase just below.

Clock speed and TDP

To put it simply, the clock speed of a CPU measures the number of cycles executed each second, so obviously the higher the better. Interestingly enough, AMD's Ryzen X3D range usually feature slightly lower speeds to facilitate the unique stacked v-cache design, but this is a worthwhile trade and anything pushing the 5GHz range is more than enough.

Overclocking is another thing to consider if you want to push this, though you'll need to be aware of the TDP and whether you can keep the chip sufficiently cooled. Newer models are pushing 120W and above (170W for the flagship Ryzen 9 7950X), so they can run hot even without the introduction of overclocking.

Price

Pricing is relevant with anything. Luckily, modern processors do an excellent job of handling gaming workloads and V Rising shouldn't struggle with performance if you only have the funds for one of our more budget-friendly picks. Set yourself a budget and make sure you also consider all options in that range. Plus, you can use tools such as Camelcamelcamel to view product price history and strike at the right time.

Compatibility

When it comes to compatibility with your CPU, we're generally talking about the motherboard and supported socket. For example, in this guide we discuss processors which fit AMD's AM4 and AM5 sockets, as well as Intel's LGA 1700. Before you buy, you need to make sure whether your motherboard supports the new CPU, as motherboards will only support a specific socket.

Furthermore, you may want to take the issue of CPU and GPU bottlenecking into account if you have a particularly powerful or extremely outdated graphics card. Picking a CPU which pairs well with your GPU makes for a more valanced system for optimal performance.

Final word

With V Rising demanding a least a solid CPU for gaming, it makes sense that you may need to upgrade your outdated gaming PC. All of the CPUs we've done a hands-on review on have been benchmarked in our testing lab, which helps us pick out the good from the bad. Luckily, both AMD and Intel offer a strong line-up with their most recent generations to suit all kinds of budgets, or particular allegiances.

This new iteration of the game has made the jump to Unreal Engine 5, lifting up the requirements. That being said, the game will still be optimized as a competitive title, so you shouldn't need the very best out there for smooth performance. If you're in need of a CPU upgrade, we recommend hand-picked selection from AMD and Intel within the past couple of generations.

What CPU do you need for Smite 2?

Right now, the system requirements on the Steam page only list the minimum requirements, mentioning the Intel Core i5-9400F and AMD Ryzen 7 3750H, which are pretty outdated and limited compared to today's options. If you're buying a new CPU, you'll want to stick to something from the current or last generation for best value - unless you opt for the used market.

Our suggestions below allow you to future-proof your system as Smite 2 should only get more optimized as the game matures, especially as a MOBA title directed at a more competitive audience. Likewise, our best GPU for Smite 2 page will give you something that will last for years to come while working great for other games you wish to play.

If you're after one of the best CPUs for gaming on the market, you generally don't have to look any further than the 7800X3D. It belongs to AMD's Ryzen 7000 series, the generation that first to made the jump to the AM5 platform. Thanks to that, you benefit from the peace of mind that you won't need to upgrade your motherboard and RAM for a long time. However, the cost of upgrading will be higher, assuming you aren't already on an AM5 motherboard.

The main selling point of the 7800X3D for gamers is the 3D-stacked V-Cache, which allows it to pack in a massive amount (96MB) of L3 Cache. This has been seen to help boost FPS, particularly in CPU-bound games - which the original Smite is. We expect Smite 2 to be a a little more balanced as far as CPU/GPU usage goes, but the faster access to memory is going to be beneficial either way. One thing this processor lacks is the same amount of cores and threads found in the flagship Ryzen 9 models, which does slightly limit its power for high-end workstation use.

What users say

There's no doubt that the 7800X3D is a popular choice for gamers looking to maximize performance, as the Amazon user reviews reveal. Against more than 2,200 ratings, it holds a prestigious 4.8-star rating with most people praising its performance and stability. Some users also saw a large uptick in average FPS for CPU-intensive games.

The Intel Core i5-13600K is comparable to AMD's Ryzen 7600X, while offering a large amount of cores and threads which boosts its proficiency in productivity workflows. This would be our go-to Intel pick for Smite 2, and as you'll see in our i5-13600K review, it offers a suitable amount of power to support some of the best GPUs on the market. So, you aren't going to run into any substantial bottlenecks with this great-value pick from Intel.

"The Intel Core i5-13600K was released back in 2022 and still very much holds up today. This is the little 14-core, 20-thread CPU that could, and has widely become one of the more popular CPUs on the market for those looking to get a great CPU on a reasonable budget"

This CPU fits the LGA 1700 socket, which is well-supported - supporting the 12th gen through 14th gen Intel processors. As such, you can score a great deal on compatible hardware which makes the 13600K a solid choice on a more modest budget, especially since it is no longer the latest-gen option. One downside is that it does run pretty hot, from a base 125W TDP up to 181W based on our internal testing. However, fit in a suitable cooling solution and you can reap the benefits of this speedy Intel CPU.

What users say

Intel fans have voiced their opinion of this chip on the Amazon user reviews, where it holds a generous score. The high amount of cores is of course mentioned, with many calling it excellent value for money and a "sweet spot" for gaming. All in all, a positive response for Intel's 13th gen mid-range pick.

As you'll find in our AMD Ryzen 5 5600X review, this is still a relevant option to this day, despite being based on AMD's older AM4 socket. It is certainly one of our favorite budget CPUs and it will offer more than enough power to play Smite 2 while supporting a wide range of powerful GPUs despite its mid-range tier. It boasts a fast 4.6GHz boost clock speed and 6 cores with 12 threads, which is suitable enough for gaming scenarios. This does mean it does lack a little as far as productivity goes - for example if you're a video editor or professional streamer.

"The 5600X is a strong and very affordable budget CPU despite being released in 2020. It belongs to one of the best platforms ever made that remains in support today despite the release and success of AM5"

Despite some shortcomings, the 5600X won't disappoint if you need a solid CPU upgrade in order to play any modern games. Pair it up with a suitable graphics card, and you're well on your way for smooth performance in Smite 2. One big benefit it has over the newer equivalents is its impressively-efficient power usage. The TDP is just 65W, meaning you can easily keep it cool with a budget air cooler - not that you'll have to, as it comes with AMD's stock Wraith Stealth cooler.

What users say

Needless to say, the 5600X is very popular and the large amount of ratings (over 25,000) on Amazon showcases that. Many people comment on the performance to price ratio, noting that it was a solid upgrade over their older-gen Ryzen hardware. One thing to note is that the Wraith Stealth Cooler is sufficient, users recommend an aftermarket CPU cooler if you wish to overclock.

Like our top pick, the 7800X3D, it's last-gen counterpart also uses the stacked V-Cache design to give it 96MB of L3 Cache. Again, this allows for performance boosts in many games to keep a steady framerate and even help combat stutters or frame drops. It boasts 8 cores and 16 threads which is sufficient for gaming and productivity, though the 4.5GHz boost clock speed is relatively modest given this X3D model can not be overclocked natively.

If you already have an AM4 motherboard, then the 5800X3D is the best option available to you without having to make a complete mobo upgrade. Thanks to its success, AMD has added that Ryzen X3D technology to a number of AM4 models recently, including the 5600X3D and 5700X3D, breathing more life into the platform.

What users say

This is another AM4 CPU which is a highly popular choice if you aren't yet ready to make the leap to AM5. Looking at user reviews for the 5800X3D reveals that many people simply call it the best of AM4, or even the "last AM4 CPU you will ever need". This makes a lot of sense to us and demonstrates what kind of power the previous generation still offers.

Things to consider for the best CPU for Smite 2

Any time you upgrade your CPU, there are a few things you'll want to think about. We've highlighted some of the most important for gaming below, particularly for Smite 2.

Price

Smite 2 is much less demanding than many other modern games, and that reflects its more competitive nature. Generally speaking, games designed with the esports crowd in mind (such as MOBAs) are designed to work well on a much wider range of hardware, as high FPS is important. So, you can easily drop your budget and go for a cheaper option, particularly CPUs of an older (yet still relevant) generation. We use AMD's AM4 platform as a shining example of this.

Cache

The best piece of CPU technology we've witnessed for gamers in recent years is the stacked V-Cache of the Ryzen X3D line-up, which allows for faster access to memory and generally more stable gaming performance, as well as higher FPS, in many titles. While not essential, thinking about the level of L3 Cache is nice if you want to maximize your performance in Smite 2.

Platform / socket

CPU and motherboard compatibility is something you always need to think about before you buy a new processor. For example, in this guide we've featured Intel's LGA 1700 socket, and AMD's AM5 and AM4 sockets. You'll need to make sure that your motherboard (or the one you plan to buy) uses the same socket as your new CPU. If you're upgrading from much older hardware, the chances are you'll need to change your motherboard too.

Final word

Now that we've come to the end the guide, hopefully you can walk away with the best CPU for the job. Whether you have a laser focus on Smite 2, or want to unlock a new library of modern games to play, the whole selection above is up for the task. Furthermore, we try to test as many products as we can to conduct our CPU reviews, all of which takes place in our very own testing lab.

We've already covered the best GPU for Hades 2, and you can find an equally budget-friendly selection from our CPU suggestions, as the game will hardly be taxing on your system. With this in mind, we'd even venture out into the world of APUs if you want to save big while building a gaming PC on a very limited budget, or perhaps a small form factor build.

What CPU do you need for Hades 2?

Looking at the Hades 2 system requirements tells us that you don't really need a powerful CPU to run the game. The minimum and recommended specs simply suggest either a Dual Core or Quad Core 2.4Ghz processor respectively, without any specific mention of particular models. Pretty much any relatively modern CPU will be able to achieve this milestone, so being able to run the game isn't much of a problem.

So if you don't need the best CPU for gaming on the market, what is a good option? Well, our selection below all meet those requirements while being modern solutions which will remain relevant for time to come, especially if you want to play more demanding games alongside Hades II. Furthermore, we'd even suggest an AMD Ryzen APU with sufficient integrated graphics if you want to skip buying a discrete graphics card altogether.

The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a great value option from the Ryzen 7000 series, AMD's Zen 4 line-up and the first to fit the AM5 socket. If you're putting together a new PC or want to do a substantial upgrade without going all-out, then this is a excellent choice that will remain relevant for a long time. Given the lax requirements of Hades II, this is more than enough to play, but is what we'd recommend as a future-proof upgrade right now.

"Thanks to the AM5 platform, we have an increased PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth to work with as the main source of future-proofing, and increased storage speed thanks to Gen 5 storage compatibility. You can speed up your system in more than one way with the Ryzen 5 7600X"

Looking at our Ryzen 5 7600X review, we can see that this processor provided support for even powerful graphics cards, such as the 4070 Ti Super in our test rig at the time. This would be overkill for Hades II, but it proves that this CPU offers plenty of headroom if you plan on upgrading your system in the future. Do keep in mind that AM5 hardware will be required if you wish to use the 7600X, such as a compatible AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM, which is more expensive than last-gen counterparts.

What users say

The 7600X is one of the most popular CPUs on the market right now, boasting an impressive 4.7 stars against over 1,500 ratings on Amazon. Users praise the stunning performance to price ratio, noticing a sizeable uplift compared to older Ryzen hardware. The 105W TDP also makes it fairly easy to cool, though this is more power draw than the 5600X we feature down below.

The Intel Core i5-13600K would be our go-to processor at the moment if you prefer going with Intel over AMD right now. It is comparable to the 7600X, while offering more potent multi-core performance thanks to the big.LITTLE technology which allows for a higher number of cores and threads overall. Even with the introduction of the 14th gen, it provides very little performance boost while being more expensive due to 13th gen price drops. Our efforts with benchmarking this CPU can be found in our Intel Core i5-13600K review.

"The very real performance means it excels in both gaming and workstation tasks such as editing and rendering. We saw this when we explained the high Multi-core scores. The fact that you can pick up this CPU for as little as $275, or less if you’re lucky, makes this CPU an absolute score"

Based on the LGA 1700 socket, it offers compatibility with both DDR5 and DDR5 RAM, which will be a money saver if you don't mind working with slower memory speeds to help save cash. Like the 7600X, the 13600K offers high performance to help support a higher-end GPU, not that you need it for Hades II. Be wary that this Intel CPU will run pretty hot though, as we measured a 181W power draw that will require a suitable cooling solution.

What users say

Taking to the Amazon reviews of the i5-13600K, we can see that it offers a high 4.8 rating with nearly 1,000 reviews (at the time of writing) under its belt. Generally speaking, many users look to benefit from the additional cores in this CPU compared to its Ryzen equivalent, so this is something that is a big selling point. Many reviewers also comment on the great value.

Even though AMD has since moved on to the AM5 platform, AM4 is still widely used as a budget-friendly option these days. Plus, it has even seem support in 2024 thanks to the introduction of some new CPUs. Regardless, we're going to stick with the tried and test Ryzen 5 5600X, easily the most popular processor for gaming in recent years. Despite it's age, it still holds up to this day and is plenty powerful enough for the likes of Hades 2. It is a versatile option for those on a limited budget that can drive a high level of performance, and efficiently so with a modest 65W TDP that makes it easy to keep cool.

We think it's the ideal budget CPU for gaming, especially since compatible AM4 hardware is much cheaper these days compared to their newer AM5 counterparts. Plus, those of you wishing to upgrade from something like a 1st gen Ryzen CPU will benefit from impressive performance boosts without having to swap out your motherboard (a BIOS update should do the trick).

What users say

Like we said, this CPU is massively popular - with over 25,000 ratings on Amazon to its name. It claims a very impressive 4.8 star rating as we write this and many reviewers agree that it still represents the best choice for a budget gamer. Additionally, one user reports it to be a fantastic upgrade to their 1600X with a sharp performance uplift.

The Ryzen 7 8700G is an outsider in this list, but it's something we had to include. Since Hades II is not an intensive game at all, you can easily run it on a CPU with capable integrated graphics and the best ones for this are part of AMD's Ryzen APU line-up. The latest on offer is the 8000 series, a sizeable upgrade that makes use of AMD's latest AM5 socket. The 8700G uses the Radeon 780M iGPU (integrated GPU) which boasts great 1080p performance, even on much more demanding titles than Hades.

APUs are great if you only plan on playing lightweight or competitive games which are well optimized. It's cost effective too since you won't have to buy a dedicated graphics card separately either. Additionally, if you're putting together a small form factor build, it's a great space saver as a discrete graphics card is the largest component in most builds. The 8700G also boasts a low 65W TDP, so its easy to keep cool, plus the lack of a beefy GPU will allow your system to run cooler overall.

What users say

It's newer to the market and more niche, so there's not as many user reviews as our other choices here, but well worth reading through nonetheless. One buyer calls it a 'gaming computer in one CPU' which achieves solid 1080p performance for most games. You'll also find some useful benchmarks for popular games to help gauge framerates.

Things to consider before you buy a CPU for Hades 2

Upgrading your CPU for Hades 2 comes with a few things to consider, which we've put together just below.

Price

Like we've mentioned plenty of times by now, Hades 2 is far from a demanding game that doesn't require a top-notch CPU to run smoothly. As such, you can afford to shop around for a more entry-level CPU. That being said, we'd still recommend going for a processor within the last couple of generations if you're buying new, as older models will be harder to source at a great price unless you look into the used market.

Additionally, the fact you can run Hades 2 nicely on a Ryzen APU means you may want to consider this is a budget option if you don't fancy buying a GPU as well.

Cores & Threads

Core and thread count is an integral part to any processor. More cores generally allows for better multi-core performance, ideal for multitasking or taking on heavy productivity workloads such as rendering, video editing, and graphic design. The latest Intel CPUs are best for this due to the Performance and Efficiency core split. However, for gaming, we'd consider 6 cores plenty enough, especially since Hades II only recommends at least four (Quad-Core).

Integrated graphics

As mentioned above, a strong CPU with good integrated graphics can also be suitable for Hades 2, especially if you don't want to spend a ton of cash on a graphics card as well. Many CPUs come with integrated graphics, but not all are built for gaming, which is why we'd recommend one of AMD's Ryzen APUs for solid gaming performance.

Final word

There's a lot of excitement around the sequel to Hades, which proved to be a hit when it launched a few years ago, also into early access. Now that the sequel is here, we're sure than many of you have been wondering whether it's going to be tougher to run. Luckily, it works just as well on low-end hardware as we found out in our best settings for Hades 2 guide (using a Ryzen APU without need for a dedicated GPU), but if you are due an upgrade, then our picks above will put you on the right track.

As always, we do a ton of CPU benchmarking in our testing lab to help put together our CPU reviews, giving us the knowledge and experience required to hand-pick a strong selection.

Before you get to figuring out the best settings for Gray Zone Warfare, finding the right hardware for the job comes first. Today, we've picked out a selection of CPUs for GZW that are up for the task - from both AMD and Intel. Let's jump straight into our selection just below.

What CPU do you need for Gray Zone Warfare?

The Gray Zone Warfare system requirements are now available for all to see. Technically, the minimum requirements go as far back as the Intel Core i5-8600 and AMD Ryzen 5 2600, but we'd rather focus on the recommend specs instead if you want to run the game much more smoothly. For that, we're looking at the i7-9700K or Ryzen 5 3600. These two also don't belong to the most recent generations of hardware, but our recommendations are newer, easier to find, and sufficiently future-proof.

With ongoing performance issues something to worry about in this early access title, having a powerful CPU is definitely recommended, as is a competent GPU (see our best GPU for Gray Zone Warfare for this). We've noticed users complaining that GZW is quite CPU-intensive, so we've made sure to cater to that in our suggestions.

First up in our list of processors for Gray Zone Warfare has to be the popular 7800X3D. Thanks to its 3D V-Cache design, it's perfect for CPU intensive games with a large amount of Level 3 Cache (96MB). Although we're yet to get some hands-on testing with it, it is definitely good for gaming and up there alongside the best CPUs for gaming. If you're focused on gaming, there isn't much better on the market than this, and the Ryzen 7 CPU is also decent value for money despite being on AMD's latest AM5 platform.

If you do want an extra boost in productivity scenarios such as editing, rendering, or streaming, then maybe a Ryzen 9 option would be better for you. One good example of this would be either the 7900X3D or 7950X3D. Regardless, the 8 cores and 16 threads on the 7800X3D is more than enough for most users and you won't be slowed down by this CPU in GZW.

What users say

We can see from the Amazon user reviews that this CPU is highly regarded. At the time of writing, it holds an impressive 4.8 star (out of 5) rating against over 2,100 ratings. Happy customers comment on the impressive performance for gaming, excellent power efficiency (for such a beast) and stability.

Since the devs recommend a rather outdated i7-9700K for this game, we thought it only makes sense to bring that up to modern standards with the i7-14900K, part of Intel's 14th generation line-up. In our Intel Core i7-14900K review, we had plenty of great things to say about this processor and it is a true powerhouse for both gaming and productivity workflows. If you plan on creating content and/or streaming Gray Zone Warfare, this could be for you thanks to the massive amount of cores (20) and threads (28) to allow for powerful multi-core results.

"If you’re looking for a competitively priced and powerful mid-range CPU for gaming and productivity then the Intel Core i7-14700K impresses across the board"

If you are mostly focused on the gaming aspect, then maybe something cheaper like the i5-13600K we reviewed is a better match; a CPU which is also based on the LGA 1700 socket. As the best Intel choice in this guide, do consider that you'll need a compatible motherboard if you're upgrading from an older generation or indeed an AMD CPU. Our best motherboard for Intel 14th gen guide can help you out.

What users say

User reviews are a great way of gathering customers' opinion on a piece of tech. The Amazon reviews for the i7-14700K note that it is an extremely fast CPU that performs like a beast. However, there are some warnings of it running hot, so make sure you have a sufficient CPU cooler in order to keep it stable.

Dropping down to a more affordable option now, the 7600X, which is AMD's current budget option from the 7000 series. Despite AM4 still getting some support, it is increasingly becoming a good time to upgrade to AM5, especially if you're building a new PC altogether. This processor provides a great entry point to Zen 4 architecture and means you shouldn't have to upgrade your motherboard or memory for some time after. The 7600X offers 6 cores and 12 threads which is suitable for gaming, but it does fall a bit behind for productivity such as heavy rendering or editing compared to some other options here. More detail is to be found in our AMD Ryzen 5 7600X review.

"The Ryzen 5 7600X brings big value for a small price - it performs well in gaming workloads and can hold its own in more productive tasks, it seems 6 cores go a long way these days"

As well as being a great budget pick, usually hanging around the $200 mark these days, the 7600X is a little easier to keep cool compared to the Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 SKUs above it. As such, you can get away with using a more budget-friendly cooling solution if you're working with a limited amount of cash, not to say you should skimp on it entirely. Furthermore, the 7600X boasts clock speeds up to 5.3GHz, an impressive uplift from the previous generation.

If you do instead want to stick to AM4, the equivalent 5600X remains a solid choice to this day and is certainly one of the best budget picks available to you at the moment, running at a cool 65W TDP.

What users say

The 7600X is well regarded, as we can see from its Amazon user reviews - it holds an impress 4.7 star rating with close to 1,500 ratings at the time of writing. Reviews call it one of the best in the mid-range, and a great CPU for the price. The price will only drop further once the next generation launches.

If you're not quite ready to upgrade to AM5, then the best AM4 choice has to go to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, once the fastest gaming processor on the planet. Our friends over at WePC reviewed the 5800X3D, giving it top marks - and for good reason. The introduction of the 3D V-Cache tech (which gives it its name) was new to Ryzen when it came out, offering performance boosts in CPU-intensive games, which Gray Zone Warfare certainly is thanks to its large open world and generally demanding requirements as an early access title. The 5800X3D offers 96MB, the same as the newer 7800X3D.

So, if you're already using a AM4 motherboard and want to make the best upgrade possible without having to switch out both your mobo and memory, then this your best choice for gaming. Alongside the large amount of cache, you also get 8 cores and 16 threads, which is enough for most users that want to do some intensive tasks such as rendering, editing, or streaming.

What users say

It comes as no surprise to see the 5800X3D still getting applauded by customers on Amazon. One person calls it the best value CPU for gaming (of its generation), which we fully agree with. You'll also find a few benchmarks to demonstrate performance boosts in games to help you understand the kind of difference it could make.

Things to consider for the best CPU for Gray Zone Warfare

Below we lay out some important things you'll need to think about before you buy a new CPU for GZW.

Key specs

When looking at a CPU, we would highlight the key specs to be the clock speeds, amount of cores/threads, amount of cache, and TDP. Any modern CPU these days will offer fast clock speeds, of course the higher the better for single-core performance. More cores and threads allow for greater multitasking and multi-core performance which is necessary for heavy workloads.

More cache means quicker access to memory, which definitely helps a lot for certain games. This is why we recommend AMD's Ryzen X3D models due to the 3D-stacked V-Cache design that packs in as much as possible. As for TDP, this is the Thermal Design Power - in other words, how much power is drawn. The lower it is, the easier it is to keep cool and remain stable.

Price

Price is a determining factor for just about anything, and there's a lot to think about here. Going with an older generation (not too old) CPU will certainly save you cash, and is often the best option for budget builders. Likewise, you may need to upgrade other hardware such as your motherboard and memory with a latest-gen CPU, so this cost also has to be taken into account.

Platform / socket

CPU generations and compatibility changes, with one fairly recent example being AMD's move from AM4 to AM5. For example, the 7800X3D only fits the AM5 socket, whereas the 5800X3D only fits the AM4 socket. This compatibility depends on your motherboard. On the Intel side of things, the LGA 1700 socket is the most recent as of the 14th gen, but it's also compatible with the 12th and 13th - so we'd recommend going with any of these at the moment.

Final word

That wraps up our guide for anyone looking to upgrade their CPU to enjoy Gray Zone Warfare a little more smoothly. Like we've said, the early access nature of the game should only bring further optimizations as time goes by, allowing budget picks to thrive even more. We do a ton of testing here at PCGuide to make sure only the best CPUs are recommended.

There are some great processors on the market from both Intel and AMD these days, so any of our selection will set you well on your way to enjoy GZW. Just be sure to understand the compatibility and have a budget in mind for you build.

Manor Lords system requirements

This upcoming medieval open-world strategy game is finally hitting stores on April 26, 2024. However, like always, we want you to be prepared before this game drops, and part of that process is dissecting the system requirements. These minimum system requirements are provided by game manufacturer Slavic Magic and Steam. Firstly, Manor Lords requires a 64-bit processor and operating system, 8GB VRAM memory, 16GB of storage, and a graphics card in the vein of a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 (2GB) or the AMD Radeon RX-460 (4GB). These GPUs certainly provide a baseline of gameplay for Manor Lords but it's not what we would recommend in today's market for wider use. For more on GPUs for Manor Lords, check out our additional guide.

It is a similar case when it comes to CPUs. The minimum requirements / suggested CPUs are the Intel Core i5-4670 (quad-core) or the AMD FX-Series FX-4350 (quad-core). Now some of you may be shocked to see an AMD bulldozer chip in the suggested CPU section, especially for such a modern game. But it seems to bode well for those who may not have the need, budget, or desire to purchase a top-of-the-range CPU. We agree that this was certainly a surprise, but we do have some alternatives waiting which are a little bit more...current, available, and well-suited to a modern setup.

Best CPUs for Manor Lords

Our top pick for the best CPU for Manor Lords is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. A strong contender in most categories, this CPU delivers an excellent gameplay standard for most modern games and titles. The card sports an impressive 96 MB of L3 Cache and 5 GHz boost speed which makes gameplay smooth and more effective. While other features such as cores and threads may appear lower than some other CPUs on the market, it does not diminish its overall charm. Additionally, for a game that is less graphically demanding, like Manor Lords, you needn't worry too much about it. This is important as buying a CPU just for Manor Lords isn't the best way to go here. We advise buying a CPU that can handle this game and beyond; Buying a versatile CPU that can handle a wide variety of games is important because it is more cost-effective in the long run.

The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a powerful and versatile CPU that offers excellent performance for gaming and content creation.

What users say

According to user reviews on Amazon, the processor is praised for its stability, value, and contribution to overall productivity and efficiency. In one review, a user stated "Simply put this is the best CPU for gaming. The uplift in performance is enormous". Reviewers also highlight its excellent gaming performance and exceptional value, making it a great choice for budget-minded users, but some raise concerns about quality control.

Another top pick is the Intel Core i7-1400K. In a similar vein to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, this CPU is an all-rounder. Intel is known for providing performance processing for high FPS and smooth gameplay, crucial for all modern games. Similarly, its improvement in cores and threads, 20 and 28 respectively, over the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is impressive, to say the least. It too can be incredibly versatile, with the brand often favoured for creative tasks like Photoshop or video editing. However, for Manor Lords, this CPU will do more than enough. While this may appear as overkill given the low minimum system requirements of Manor Lords, it would be a disservice to omit it from this list if you're looking to build a system to last. Make sure to check out more from this CPU with our Intel Core i7-14700K review.

The Core i7-14700K, a prominent member of Intel’s 14th generation, carries a promise of exceptional performance, especially when stacked against its predecessor, the i9-12900K. 

What user say

Customer reviews praise this processor's value, performance, and gaming prowess, citing its affordability, smooth operation, and ability to handle tough games. On the other hand, opinions are divided on its temperature control, stability, and overall build quality. In a positive review, one user noted "From the moment I installed the i7-14700K, it was clear that my apprehension was unfounded". It's pretty impressive if you ask us.

We now move on to our options which provide a little more cost-effectiveness. Our top mid-range choice is the Ryzen 5 7600X. Providing high clock speeds of up to 5.3 GHz boost and strong single-threaded performance, you won't notice that this product is a generation behind today's top AMD lineup. You will notice it in price because it is much cheaper than our previous Ryzen 7 suggestion. Its support of DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 is also well appreciated by most users. However, this CPU has been reported to struggle with running multiple applications at once. Furthermore, this CPU needs an AM5 motherboard solid cooling, all of which require additional purchases - perhaps knocking a little of the value of the CPU overall. Still, an able and solid choice for many looking for an affordable current-gen option.

The Ryzen 5 7600X is the first of the brand’s mainstream processors to push well beyond the 5 GHz mark.

What users say

Users on Amazon have praised the value, easy installation, gaming capabilities, and overall performance of the Ryzen 7600X. Reviews highlight its power, mentioning it tackles any individual computer task effortlessly and crushes demanding games with ease. For example, a user noted, "...the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X stands out as an excellent choice for gamers seeking a powerful and cost-effective desktop processor". With that being said, some users have mixed feelings about its temperature control and build quality.

Our final option is the Ryzen 5 5600X, an entry-level CPU perfect for you if you're just starting with PC builds, or if you are content with moderate performance. As the oldest gen CPU on this list, the processor has proven reliability - many still consider the AM4 platform not worth upgrading from. It is also the best-priced CPU on this list, meaning it is excellent value for money. As part of the cost-performance analysis, it is also worth pointing out that this option is the closest (in our list) to resembling the very modest minimum system requirements provided for Manor Lords. So, if you want to cover the minimum and aren't looking to play the latest triple-A games at big frame rates then the 5600X makes sense.

However, this CPU certainly has its problems. Its limited core and thread count do diminish its overall performance, while newer Ryzen products outshine and out-perform in nearly every major category. Lastly, its availability on the market is sparse given its dip in popularity compared to other processors, even of the same generation - like the higher-spec Ryzen 7 5800X, 5800X3D and 5900X. While it may be a struggle to find, it's still build-worthy if you're not keen on top-of-the-range CPUs.

What users say

Amazon reviewers praise the Ryzen 5 5600X's performance, value, and gaming abilities. They highlight its impressive speed, smooth handling of multiple tasks, and affordability, all while excelling at games. Users also appreciate the processor's build quality, stability, and ease of installation. In a more negative light, some customers received theirs in less-than-ideal condition, and opinions are divided on its cooling capabilities - though these opinions were few and far between.

Considerations for the best CPUs for Manor Lords

There are a couple of major things to consider when buying a CPU for Manor Lords. Let's dive into a few of them and go through the best way to manage them:

Price

When buying a CPU for your desktop PC, you should consider the asking price and the performance offered. Typically speaking, if you’re someone who wants to push games to their limit, then an Intel or AMD Ryzen 7 CPU would be a smarter choice than the weaker alternatives. Additionally, to achieve the best price for your chosen CPU, make sure to purchase during seasonal sale periods. These times will provide the best overall prices. Lastly, use price tracker applications like Camelcamelcamel to find the best times and prices for your product. It could be the key you need. Check out our best budget CPUs for more cost-effective models and low prices.

Clock speed and TDP

Clock speeds are important, too, so if you want to overclock, shop for those processors that are pushing the 5.0 GHz rate. What’s more, TDP is an essential consideration as well, as Intel currently goes up to 125W, and AMD’s upcoming line will have a power draw of up to 170W base TDP. All considerations for the PSU required and overall system requirements.

Socket type and Motherboard

Don't forget about the CPU socket. This determines which motherboards are compatible. Currently, Intel CPUs use LGA 1700 sockets, while AMD uses AM4 and AM5. Remember, some motherboard features, like DDR5 support, can significantly inflate the price. If you aim for a high-performance system, factor in the motherboard cost and related components when choosing your CPU.

How much storage is needed for Manor Lords?

Fortunately for most fans, Manor Lords won't take up a huge chunk of storage space on your PC. At only 16 GB of storage required, it's a manageable download in today's landscape. Even after installation, the game itself is surprisingly light, clocking in at around 12 GB. Certainly a win-win for everyone.

The best CPU for the RTX 3060 Ti will have to be a CPU that can endure the processing power of 4864 CUDA cores, 1,410 MHz of base clock speed, 1,665 boost clock speed, and 8GB of GDDR6 memory. This is not a super strong GPU, but the GA104 processor and the Samsung 8nm node found on the GPU have given this Ampere unit enough power to run any game you need, and it's stood the test of time, too, still standing as a reliable unit despite being on the older side.

If that's enough information for you and you just want to dive straight into our recommended products, we've outlined our products at a glance below - top of that list is the Core i5-13600K because of the value it brings to a system equipped with a 3060 Ti, but you should find any of these processors to be more than capable pairings.

Products at a glance

How do we select the best CPU for RTX 3060 Ti?

When choosing the best CPU for the RTX 3060 Ti, several factors must be considered. First, you need to make sure that the CPU is compatible with your motherboard and other components. Then, consider the processor brand and architecture. Intel and AMD are the only two brands to choose from, but they each have a plethora of different motherboard generations associated with them.

One of the main considerations to keep in mind is that the processor speed, measured in GHz, will also impact performance, with a higher speed generally leading to better performance. The number of cores a CPU has is important as well, as more cores allow for better multitasking. Additionally, the cache size, a high-speed memory used by the CPU, is another imperative factor, with a larger cache size improving performance.

Of course, more importantly than specs, we value hands-on experience and have prioritized CPUs that we've reviewed in-house to give you a bit more of a guarantee that you know exactly what you're getting - and that it's been approved by our expertise. You can read in more detail about precisely how we test our CPUs in the PC Guide Testing Lab.

If you’re looking for more RTX 3060 Ti recommendations, you can check out our opinions on the best GeForce RTX 3060 Ti unit overall, then head over to our Best Motherboard for RTX 3060 Ti guide for more hardware recommendations. For the time being, strap in for the journey across our top processors cherry-picked for the 3060 Ti.

You need the power to match the 3060 Ti's speeds, and the Core i5 13600K comes up as hands down the best option. With this CPU, your rig will be ready to take on 1080p gaming easily. In reality, you'd probably be able to handle some older games in 1440p, so you'd be on your way to climbing into the big leagues.

The Intel Core i5-13600K boasts an impressive 14 cores and 20 threads, making it a top contender in the CPU market. Its MSRP of $320 is incredibly affordable, given the level of performance it offers. It's also important to note that this CPU can now be found cheaper, given its age, and even better deals can be found in the second-hand market. What's more, our Intel Core i5-13600K review saw us award the processor 4.5 stars, so it's got our seal of approval as one of our favorite CPUs from Team Blue.

Compared to its Alder Lake predecessor, the Core i5-12600K, the i5-13600K doubles the number of E-cores and comes equipped with a total of 8 efficient cores (E-cores) and 6 performance cores (P-cores). The P-cores also support Hyper-threading, which contributes to the total number of threads reaching 20. All this processing power is contained on a chip with a TDP of only 181W; it's not too demanding, but you might want to invest in solid cooling, nonetheless, as the last thing you want is overheating.

The LGA 1700 and DDR4 + DDR5 compatibility makes it a fantastic choice no matter what rig you have.

In layman’s terms, this design results in excellent performance for lightly threaded tasks such as gaming and competitive performance for multi-thread workloads. The improvement is due to the increased number of cores and better clock speeds. The single-core performance is superior to AMD alternatives and is not far behind the Core i9-13900K, with a higher base clock but a lower boost.

For gaming purposes, the performance is nearly comparable to the Intel Core i9 with only a slight drop in frames per second, but with a lower cost and power consumption that makes it perfect for an RTX 3060 Ti setup. It's worth noting though, that the Intel Core i5-13600KF is a similar CPU without an integrated GPU and is priced at $30 cheaper. If you already have a graphics card in your setup, this is a cost-effective way to achieve the same performance.

What users say

Just like us, users on Amazon have highly praised the Intel Core i5-13600K, leading it to an average rating of 4.8 stars. As you'd expect, some favorite features include its value and performance, but also how easy it is to install, which is always an extra benefit.

One user in particular described it as having the "Best price-to-performance ratio in a CPU you would find today", and another similarly commented that " the price to performance boost is outstanding". However, there are a few mentions of the CPU running hot under load, so as mentioned previously, cooling is an important consideration.

With its 7000-series CPUs, AMD introduces to the world one of the best mid-range processors for gaming. Like in Intel’s case, you will be able to perform great at any 1080p and 1440p resolution when gaming and you should be able to find it priced close to $200 when on offer.

The Ryzen 5 7600X is considered one of the best processors from AMD. However, if you’re upgrading from an older system, keep in mind that the Ryzen 7000 processors from AMD only support DDR5 RAM and require a new motherboard with the AM5 socket and DDR5 RAM.

With 32MB of total cache, the Ryzen 5 7600X excels at handling heavy loads, and this was an element that we praised in our Ryzen 5 7600X review - it seems 6 cores go a long way these days!

With 32MB of total cache, the Ryzen 5 7600X excels at handling heavy loads.

It boasts 6 cores and 12 threads, that can reach a boost frequency of 5.3GHz, which is a remarkable performance compared to previous generations where overclocking was necessary to achieve such speeds. This processor is capable of reaching these speeds on its own, as long as you have a sufficient CPU cooler as it tends to run hot. On the whole though, it's a lot less power-hungry than the i5-13600K, with a TPD of only 105W compared to 181W.

The Ryzen 5 7600X is still one of the best options in AMD’s current lineup despite being over a year old. Unless you have specific needs for a high number of threads, such as for streaming or creative work, the Ryzen 5 7600X is the ideal choice. Additionally, the AM5 socket is expected to be supported for a considerable amount of time, so although there may be an added expense now, you can be assured that your setup will be compatible with future generations of processors.

What users say

As another one of our top picks, it's no surprise that the Ryzen 5 7600X is also highly reviewed on Amazon, getting an average rating of 4.7 stars.

In terms of what users like about this CPU in particular, its performance is definitely up there, as well as how versatile it is: "There is simply no CPU with as much performance, versatility, and general range of use in terms of its cost." However, there are similar concerns of overheating, with a few buyers mentioning how this processor "can run a little hot when running under full load".

There’s always that one person who loves putting a high-end component to the budget rig. Let’s say that one person is each one of us, and the minimum chance we have to build a Ryzen 9 7900X into our rig will be taken.

With this processor, you can forget about any possibility of any bottlenecking; the CPU is so strong that, at some point, it’ll carry out the GPU! In big sandbox games, you’ll have no regret about having purchased this processor. If you do content creation tasks, you’ll no doubt be feeling the boost, too.

The Ryzen 9 7900X by AMD is a top-of-the-line CPU with a price point of $549, which falls between Intel’s premium Core i9 and Core i7 chips. But it can be found for cheaper now, especially as it's getting a bit older and there's a potential of new Ryzen chips on the horizon.

However, despite its upper mid-range placement in terms of price, the Ryzen 9 7900X boasts performance that surpasses the competition with its 12 cores and 24 threads, delivering powerful gaming performance that matches or exceeds that of Intel’s best CPUs. What's more, it's still more power efficient than the i5-13600K with a TDP of 170W - no stock cooler, though.

This CPU can work hard, and play hard too. It is just as comfortable gaming as it is in workstation and productivity scenarios.

In addition, it has strong performance in desktop PC applications. With its combination of affordability, gaming performance, and powerful desktop application capabilities, the Ryzen 9 7900X is a strong contender for our list of the best CPUs and our CPU benchmark hierarchy.

There is much more to consider than just the price when it comes to choosing the best CPU. Of course, we weighed in on all these things and more in our Ryzen 9 7900X review, so it can be worth checking that out for the full ins and outs of this processor - and why we awarded it 4.5 stars.

The Ryzen 9 7900X boasts impressive specifications with its 12 cores and Zen 4 architecture, which results in a ~13% improvement in IPC manufactured on the advanced 5nm process. This allows for remarkable peak clock speeds of 5.6 GHz, nearly reaching the 5.7 GHz of the top-of-the-line Ryzen 9 7950X. The high clock speed is even ahead of Intel’s current fastest offerings and sets the bar for future releases.

What users say

As you'd expect from AMD's top-end CPUs, the performance and gaming capabilities of the Ryzen 9 7900X were highly commended in its reviews on Amazon.

One user in particular commented that the "core clocks scale to system demands instantly and running multiple programs and monitor windows is effortless", and another highly praised this processor as "an absolute BEAST at gaming and anything else you can throw at it". If you can, it might be worth holding out to get this CPU at a discounted price just to make sure you're getting the most value for your money.

You can always find a better price, and if you need the best budget for the 3060 Ti, then you can choose the Ryzen 5 5600X. This CPU from the previous Gen has ensured great gaming capabilities into rigs for a long time and has never disappointed. You’ll have the power of running 1080p games but if you want to go for the 1440p resolution, you’ll find a bit of a struggle.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is the best budget option for those who want to save money. Despite having a larger bottleneck of around 12%, the price of this CPU is significantly lower, especially if you can find it on sale under $150 due to the release of the 5000 series CPUs.

Overall, the Ryzen 5 5600X is a formidable force in the mid-range market, boasting six cores and twelve threads powered by the advanced Zen 3 architecture and manufactured using 7nm process technology. This combination leads to a significant improvement of ~19% in instruction per cycle (IPC) throughput, making the 5600X a top pick for the best budget CPUs list.

This CPU from the previous Gen has ensured great gaming capabilities into rigs for a long time and has never disappointed.

The 5600X still offers impressive core speeds of up to 4.6 GHz max. However, it may limit the performance of your GPU at lower resolutions. Surprisingly, it's actually recommended to use this CPU and GPU combination for 1440p resolution for optimal performance.

Further optimizations such as an improved boosting algorithm, better memory overclocking, and revised cache topology eliminate any remaining performance advantages held by Intel and deliver a new level of power efficiency. In fact, it could even perhaps be said that the Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the most energy-efficient desktop PC chips tested to date.

What users say

In its Amazon user reviews, the Ryzen 5 5600X is praised for being a stellar CPU that "strikes an excellent balance between price and performance", and is described as a "powerful and affordable CPU" for pairing with the RTX 3060 Ti. What's more, this is one of the only CPUs included in this list that has been praised on Amazon for running cool and consuming less power, and it comes with a decent stock cooler too to further keep temps down.

Features and considerations

Here are a few things to consider before you get a new processor to match the RTX 3060 Ti -

Type of workload

The first thing you will need to consider is the type of workload you’re going to be asking of your PC. This type of build is mainly for budgeted gamers. However, you can still apply plenty of day-to-day productivity tasks to it. If that’s the case, you would need to consider which type of games you play.

Keep in mind that big sandbox games are more CPU-heavy than other AAA games. In that case, specifically, you will need a stronger unit, perhaps one of the best CPUs for gaming.

Cores and performance

So among all the things to check on a CPU, the first one would be the number of cores. The more cores, the better the CPU’s ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. This should be paired with core speed to determine the effectiveness of the CPU.

Something else to consider is the architecture of those cores and the whole GPU. For example, at this level, AMD has a better architecture to perform on AAA games, thanks to its great rasterization power, while Intel is more capable of enduring sandbox games due to its multi-threading abilities. However, these factors obviously change when considering the CPUs and price.

Budget

This takes us to the next point. The 3060 Ti is an entry-level GPU, so the build will be based on a budget that can always allow the fanciest stuff. Keeping that in mind, you must consider price-to-performance balance. One of the best sensations when building a budget rig is knowing that you have the best piece for the best price.

Is it worth buying AM4 in 2024?

An interesting question from this guide arises: is it worth buying AM4 in 2024? Given that AMD is pushing toward AM5, they assured us that AM4 wouldn't die immediately. To our surprise, 2024 brought us the last known AM4 CPU to release, the 5700X3D, showing us that even in 2024, AMD isn't done supporting AM4.

It might be lagging a little behind in terms of technology, but it's safe to say that immense value can be found in an AM4 system today. I still use AM4 in my personal gaming rig, and it's not once felt like I needed to upgrade. You just have to decide whether PCIe Gen 5 storage and DDR5 memory speeds are more important to you than saving money.

What is the best Intel CPU for the RTX 3060 Ti?

Our top pick for the best Intel CPU  this time around is the Intel Core i5-13600K. This CPU is a great budget option that offers a high base clock speed – perfect for your gaming needs while not reaching massive price points.

Is the RTX 3060 Ti still good?

That’s a subjective question and depends on what games you play. The 3060 Ti does great in older titles at 1080 / 1440p, but it’ll struggle on newer AAA titles. If you’re someone who enjoys these older games, then yes, the 3060 Ti is still great. If you’re someone who’s into the latest games, then you might need to manage your expectations a little.

That said, to kick off your buying journey in the best possible way, we’ve put together this in-depth guide that lists different options, their details, and pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

If you don't have time to read the full article, we have handily outlined our products at a glance so you don't have to comb through everything to get our best recommendations. With that being said, let's get into it.

Products at a glance

How we picked

After considering multiple factors, such as price, compatibility, threads and cores, and unlocked multiplier, and comparing various processors based on these factors, we came up with a list of CPUs that we think are the best to be paired with an LGA 1151 socket when building or upgrading a PC.

Best LGA1151 CPU

If you’re looking for the best CPU that is compatible with an LGA 1151 socket, consider checking out the Intel i9-9900K processor.

First off, this processor has eight cores and 16 threads, a base frequency of 3.60 GHz, and a turbo frequency of 5.00 GHz. What this means is that this CPU should deliver top-notch general and in-game performance. The 16 threads should enable it to handle running tasks in parallel without sacrificing performance, and you can turn up the clock speed if you feel like your setup could use more power.

That said, Intel processors with the “K” moniker come unlocked from the manufacturer. This means that if you have the right tools and expertise, you can increase the clock speed beyond 5.00 GHz, but that comes with its share of risks. The heat produced could damage the internal workings, so we recommend investing in an adequate cooler before overlocking this powerhouse.

Regarding compatible memory, this CPU supports up to 128 GB of DDR4 2666 MHz RAM. What this means is that you can stack multiple memory sticks, as long as your motherboard can support it, and increase the overall performance of your build. If you’re looking to get your hands on the best DDR4 RAM available on the market, check out our guide.

Other than that, it features a 16 MB L3 cache. What this translates to in terms of performance is that you should experience quick processing and fast access times. Caches hold frequently accessed data and are located close to the cores. This reduces the distance the data travels from storage to the CPU, resulting in better performance.

It also sports an integrated Intel UHD 630 graphic card, and while that may be enough for basic tasks such as displaying a Word document, for high-definition gaming, you’ll need to pair it with a discrete GPU. You don’t necessarily have to pair it with an over-the-top card, such as an RTX 4090, as that’ll cost way more than an entire budget build.

There are excellent pocket-friendly graphic cards under $400 that could go well with the i9-9900K. Once you’ve sorted that out, you can expect the i9 9900K to perform well at 1080P and even 1440P during demanding games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and God of War.

Overall, this CPU was the reigning king of its time, and while newer and more powerful processors may overshadow it now, it is still a reliable option for gaming, processing, and other tasks, especially if you want a power CPU under a budget.

What users say about the i9-9900K

One owner of the i9-9900k on Amazon stated the CPU was better than they imagined "This processor is not what I thought it would be. It is better than I could have imagined. First the packaging is awesome. Next it installed in my XPS 8930 very easily as I already had updated the bios for support. I enabled overclocking in bios and started it up. Instant first operation was 4700 mghz across all cores with dells basic oc"

Best i7 CPU for LGA 1151

If you’re looking for the best i7 processor compatible with an LGA 1151 socket, check out the i7 – 9700K.

Let’s kick things off with some general specifications. This CPU has eight cores, eight threads, a 3.60 GHz clock speed, and a turbo clock speed of 4.90 GHz. You might notice that it has eight fewer threads than our top pick, but that doesn’t mean the performance difference is leagues apart. That said, there will be some differences when handling parallel tasks, but a faster SSD, RAM, and overclocking should make up for the difference.

Another thing to note is that its base clock speed is the same, and the turbo clock speed is only 0.1 GHz slower. This difference is negligible and should deliver top-notch performance across various processes. So, the question is, why would you opt for this processor and not go for the top pick if the performance difference isn’t a lot? It all boils down to the costs. At the time of writing, our top pick is going for $458, while the i7-9700K will set you back by around $293. The difference comes down to $165, which is a good amount of money you can redirect towards a better SSD or RAM.

Like the i9-9900K, the i7-9700K can also support a maximum of 128 GB of RAM with a maximum frequency of 2,666 MHz. This should be more than enough for multitasking and single-core tasks such as gaming. That said, you can also boost the performance by pairing it with the best RAM for i7-9700K and leaving nothing on the table.

According to this processor’s specification page, it is capable of supporting 4K (3840 x 2160) at 60 Hz. What this means is that if you have a 4K monitor, this CPU should be able to handle and work at that resolution. However, suppose you plan on gaming at 4K resolution with high settings. In that case, you most likely will experience performance degradation and a possible bottleneck depending on what GPU you pair this with.

All in all, this CPU brings good features and functionalities to the table, and the price bracket it comes in makes it one of the best CPUs compatible with the LGA 1151 socket.

What users say about the Core i7-9700K

One 9700K owner on Amazon wrote: "I built two with this CPU processor last year about this time. Very happy with the speed this has starting up and shutting down, and running programs like nobody business. I'm not a gamer, but I could play games with the video cards I put in on both of them - EVGA GeForce 1660 Super 6GB"

Best i5 CPU for LGA 1151

If you’re looking for an LGA 1151 compatible CPU that is light on the pocket but is still efficient for most tasks, the i5 9600K might be the option for you.

For starters, the i5 9600K has six cores, six threads, and a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz. While these specifications might not seem a lot, its base clock speed is 0.1 GHz faster than the i7-9700K, and let’s not forget that it can be overclocked. On top of that, the 6-threaded architecture should be able to handle general tasks and some medium-level intensive tasks; running heavy applications and playing games in parallel might bring it to a stop despite its boost clock of 4.6 GHz.

Regarding gaming performance, it has a decent single-core rating, which is just slightly less than that of the i7-9700. This means that if you pair it with a decent GPU—and there are plenty of options, like the best GTX 1660 graphics card—you’ll be gaming at high framerates in no time.

If you have the right gear, you can overclock this CPU to hell and back. It’ll take an advanced board like the MSI MEG Z390 Godlike, but if you’ve got it, you can reach stable frequencies as high as 5GHz. Even before any overclocking, this i5’s clock speed specs are pretty impressive. In fact, it has a 0.1GHz faster base frequency than both the i7 9700K and our LGA 1151 CPU champion, the i9 9900K.

One thing to note is that while this processor offers decent gaming performance when it comes to general functionality, it might be a bit slow for some due to the absence of hyperthreading. However, if you’re planning on running multiple heavy apps at the same time, this CPU should be able to handle light processing tasks without a hitch.

So, to review, we’ve got good gaming performance, low price, and decent light processing capabilities. This checks off plenty of boxes in our books and makes it one of the best LGA 1151 CPUs you can buy.

What users say about the i5-9600K

One verified purchaser of the 9600K on Amazon had this to say: "I built my current system with the Core i5 9600K, using a 1TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen3x4 ssd as the main drive and a Samsung 1TB evo ssd for secondary. This is the fastest pc I have ever owned, with remarkably fast boot up and loading speeds. The M.2 ssd makes boot time from the appearance of the bios screen to Windows between 4.2 seconds the fastest and 4.8 seconds being the slowest...remarkable.

The gameplay is fantastic. I mostly play FPS & 3rd person shooters, and a few other types of games like the Tomb Raider series. It may of course be my imagination, but everything appears to be faster, sharper, and extremely fluid. I'm sold on this cpu!"

Best Mid-range LGA 1151 CPU

If you’re looking for a CPU that performs in the same league but doesn’t cost the same, the Intel Core i5 – 9400F might be your option.

For starters, this is a stripped-down version of our previous i5 K-Series pick, but the good thing is that the stuff that Intel has chosen to omit in this design doesn’t affect gaming performance. For instance, the integrated Intel UHD 630 graphics card is gone, bringing the price down, but you’ll be pairing it with a discrete GPU anyway, so no harm, no foul, right?

That said, you do lose out on a chunk of clock speed from one i5 to the next, leaving you with a base frequency of 2.9Hz, a little below the desirable rate for gaming. However, simply flick on Turbo Boost in the BIOS, and your max frequency hits highs of 4.1GHz. This should enable it to handle gaming at 1080p and 1440p, but you might have to tweak some settings at 1440p, especially if you’re running the game on high presets. However, you can pair this CPU with the best gaming RAM and give a boost to your overall setup.

One more minor downside to the entire F-Series is that they’re not unlocked, which means that they can’t be manually overclocked. So, if you’re a PC enthusiast looking to overclock their components and push their build to the extreme, this CPU will hold you back from doing so.

However, considering its performance and the price tag it comes with, it’s one of the best LGA 1151 CPUs to get your hands on if you’re putting together a budget PC.

What users had to say about the i5-9400F

Another verified purchaser of the 9400F had this to say on Amazon: "This is probably the cheapest processor on the market that won't bottleneck your graphics card. I did some early testing with an RX 5700 to see if there was any sign of bottlenecks caused by the CPU. What I found is that I was getting the same performance as tech sites were with the RX 5700 where they were using the i9-9900k processors. It's possible that perhaps an RTX 2080 might be too much for it, but even that I doubt, and if it were, the bottleneck would probably be minimal"

Best Budget LGA 1151 CPU

Our final CPU for LGA 1151 socket types is one of the best i3 units you can buy. It is not exactly stacked with hardware, containing only four single-threaded cores, but it has all it needs to supplant your old processor and keep you gaming on that LGA 1151 motherboard for at least a few more years.

What still impresses us about the i3 9100F is its clock speeds. It bottoms out at 3.6GHz, which is beyond the minimum requirement for some snappy gaming, and it can be boosted to an admirable 4.2GHz when you need some extra juice.

Burdened by that ‘F’ suffix, you won’t be able to tweak performance with any manual overclocking, so it’s by no means an enthusiast unit. However, if all you’re worried about is the capacity to run games, the i3 9100F is a fantastic budget option.

Much like our second-last pick, this i3 unit doesn’t include any integrated graphics facilities, but it does come with a cooling fan, so if you like to keep a chill, quiet case, it won’t disappoint.

What users say about the i3-9100F

One person who purchased this CPU back in 2020 had this to say on Amazon about the 9100F: "This processor is amazing. I did a lot of research on my son's computer. He is an avid Fortnite player, and likes, more like, loves performance!But, gee whiz, I can't afford to pop $1000 every time new games come out? Well, the current gaming computer wasn't horrible, but it's been like 8 years since it was majorly upgraded, and it makes a whirlwind of a difference!"

Is the LGA 1151 platform still good in 2024?

It's all well and good picking up a CPU to suit the socket, but how well does the LGA 1151 Socket fit into modern-day computing?

Although LGA 1151 was at the pinnacle of technology at the time, it has fallen behind the advancements of the modern day. While the 1151 socket does support DDR4, the official support speed is pretty slow, at 4000MHz max. You're also coupled with the lower-end PCIe GEN 3 version, meaning slower M.2 speeds and less support for higher-end modern GPUs. While these issues aren't too glaring right now, technology is advancing rapidly - it might become a much bigger issue shortly.

We advise not to build a brand new rig on the LGA 1151 socket, but if you already have a system and are looking to spend a minimal amount on the upgrade, a new LGA 1151 CPU might be your best bet. Here's how to pick the best LGA 1151 CPU.

How to pick the best LGA 1151 CPU

While the LGA 1151 socket supports CPUs that are from 2018, that doesn’t mean they don’t provide value, and simply throwing away your money on any CPU isn’t recommended. There are some factors you need to consider before choosing a CPU and to make things easier for you; we’ve listed some of them below.

Compatibility

The first thing you need to ensure is that the CPU you choose is compatible with the LGA 1151 socket. This is important as there are two LGA 1151 sockets: the first and the second. The first version is compatible with Skylake and Kaby Lake CPUs like Intel i5-7287U, while the second version (revision) supports Coffee Lake CPUs like Intel i7-9700T. So, make sure you’re choosing the correct CPU for the correct socket, and mismatching could damage the processor or the motherboard.

Overclocking

While most people won’t generally go for overclocking because it requires setting the fan curve, adjusting the voltage, and other technicalities that can damage the CPU, it is almost a given for hardcore gamers and creators who want to squeeze out every last bit of performance from their CPUs. That said, Intel processors denoted with “K” come unlocked from the manufacturer, making them easier to overclock. So, if you plan on overclocking to make the most of your system, you should go for a "K" version.

Cores and Threads

Another important aspect to consider is the cores and threads. The cores are responsible for all the processing, and each core could have multiple threads, which is called hyperthreading. This enables your setup to effortlessly handle various processes running in parallel. So, if you plan on running tasks requiring multi-core recruitment, go for a CPU with more cores and threads.

Other than physical differences, new architecture means a CPU is more energy-efficient, able to accommodate a greater number of cores, may have an enhanced thermal treatment, and even feature entirely new processes.

Multitasking

When they talk about multitasking in a computational context, people mean the CPU’s ability to run different software in parallel with full functionality in each application without the risk of crashing. For example, if you’ve got a handful of tabs open, you’re listening to music, live streaming, and playing games simultaneously; that’s multitasking.

As we mentioned earlier, hyperthreaded cores are fantastic at multitasking. They’re the jugglers of the tech world. The more threads you have, the more they can handle. Rudimentary multitasking is essential to everyone these days, but it is never as important as it is for content creators.

FCLGA 1151 and LGA 1151: What's the difference?

Although it sounds complicated, they're the same thing. FC just stands for Flip-chip, which is the sort of architecture for the socket. So don't be put off if you see the two different abbreviations floating around, they both mean the same thing.

FAQs

Our Verdict

The Core i9-9900K is the best LGA 1151 CPU in our book, thanks to its fantastic performance apart from it's age limitations, you're on for a winner if you can snag it at a lower price.

Technology is progressing at a rapid pace, but it doesn’t mean the older tech is out of commission as soon as new technology is introduced, and the LGA 1151 motherboards aren’t quite out of the race just yet, though they aren't far off. That said, the best CPU for LGA 1151 is the king of old, the Intel i9-9900K, and there are a handful of reasons for that. First, it has 8 cores and 16 threads which should make it a beast at handling parallel workloads as well as delivering top-notch in-game results.

On top of that, it has a turbo frequency of 5.00 GHZ, and it can be overclocked to go beyond that, which should ramp up its processing capabilities. To wrap things up, it has a large 16 MB L3 cache, which, combined with a fast SSD and good gaming RAM, should help it quickly work any task you put in front of it.

So, we've established that the 7600 XT's impressive specs and price make it a fierce competitor amongst the best budget graphics cards – but which CPU is most compatible with it? Well, we've done the hard work for you here and cherry-picked a lineup of processors that should make the most out of the money you've invested in the RX 7600 XT for your rig.

Products at a glance

How we picked the best CPU for the RX 7600 XT

Choosing the perfect CPU to pair with your RX 7700 XT needs careful thought. Here at PC Guide, we're well-equipped to help. Our team has a deep understanding of CPUs and PC building, and we back that up with in-depth reviews. This hands-on experience lets us recommend CPUs that excel in both gaming and everyday tasks.

To pick the ideal CPU, we consider several factors. We analyze public benchmarks, alongside our own in-house testing, to see how CPUs perform with mid-range GPUs like the RX 7600 XT. We also factor in user reviews and expert opinions to get a well-rounded picture of real-world performance, cooling needs, and reliability. Ultimately, our goal is to suggest CPUs that offer the best blend of gaming power, affordability, and future-proofing for your new system.

In the budget, entry-level market, balance is one of the most important aspects to check in a system – enter the Intel Core i5-13600K. This CPU exemplifies the blend of power and efficiency, thanks to its innovative P-cores and E-cores architecture. The 13600K offers  14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, plus it’s up to 5.1 GHz unlocked, making the CPU the strongest option for mid-range, entry-level users.

An excellent CPU through and through with fierce single and multi-core performance for the money.

The Core i5-13600K is particularly well-suited for users who want a strong-performing CPU for gaming and productivity without the high cost typically associated with top-tier processors. It’s capable of handling the latest games at high settings and also excels in multitasking and creative workloads - and that's certainly what we found in our i5-13600K review, too.

Even in demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, the Core i5 managed an average FPS of 179FPS, with smooth frames and no stuttering to speak of. It certainly makes you question the title of 'mid-range', and when paired with the 7600 XT you should have a setup that can perform well above its status.

All in all, this CPU is a solid choice for those who are building a PC for the first time or upgrading an older system, offering a significant performance boost without a hefty price tag.

What users say

On Amazon, the Intel Core i5-13600K has an average rating of 4.8 stars, and over 900 people have reviewed the product. Most customer reviews spoke positively about the CPU’s performance, quality, and speed. One of the customer reviews says, “In conclusion, the Intel Core i5-13600K (Latest Gen) Desktop Processor with its 14 cores is a performance beast, capable of handling the most demanding computing tasks with ease. Its balanced combination of P-cores and E-cores, unlocked multiplier, integrated graphics, and energy efficiency make it an ideal choice for power users and gamers alike.” However, a few users were not happy with the power consumption and also mentioned that the CPU heated up a little.

Moving on to the gaming segment of the market, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D needs no introduction. This CPU began the 3D V-cache fashion and opened the path to future solid gaming-focused CPUs. The 5800X3D, with its unique 3D V-Cache technology, offers exceptional gaming performance, particularly in CPU-intensive titles.

It’s equipped with 8 cores and 16 threads, making it a powerhouse for both gaming and heavy multitasking. The large cache size is a game-changer, with a total of 96 MB at your disposal providing a significant boost in gaming performance, especially at higher resolutions.

This CPU began the 3D V-cache fashion and opened the path to future solid gaming-focused CPUs.

For dedicated gamers seeking peak performance, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is an unrivaled choice. Its proficiency in pushing frame rates higher and ensuring smoother gameplay in the most challenging games sets it apart in the competitive gaming CPU landscape. This achievement is a testament to AMD’s pioneering 3D V-cache technology, which has significantly elevated the standard for gaming CPUs and gaming setups overall.

What users say

On Amazon, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D Desktop Processor has a rating of 4.8 stars, and over 5,000 people have reviewed it. Most reviews mentioned that customers were happy with the processor’s quality, performance, and value. “I saw HUGE fps increases across numerous games such as CS2 and COD. 100fps increase on CS2, unbelievable performance and now feels very smooth playing. Previously would get stutters,” one of the customers wrote in a review. However, opinions were mixed on the temperature, as a few customers complained that the CPU heated up a bit.

Owning an RX 7600 XT is not just about excelling in 1080p gaming; it also unlocks the potential for higher resolutions. To effectively bridge the gap to 1440p gaming, a robust CPU is essential, and the Intel Core i7-13700K is an exemplary match. Belonging to Intel’s 13th generation and featuring a hybrid architecture that combines performance cores and efficient cores, this CPU is engineered to adeptly handle the demands of high-resolution gaming alongside a range of demanding applications.

To effectively bridge the gap to 1440p gaming, a robust CPU is essential, and the Intel Core i7-13700K is an exemplary match.

The i7-13700K’s technical strengths lie in its impressive array of cores and threads, of which you have 16 and 24, respectively, which guarantee smooth multitasking and seamless gaming experiences. This makes it an ideal processor for users who not only aim for superior gaming performance at resolutions surpassing 1080p but also for those engaged in content creation and other intensive computational tasks. Furthermore, its compatibility with the latest DDR5 memory and PCIe standards solidifies its position as a future-proof powerhouse, ensuring that it remains a top performer in the face of forthcoming hardware innovations.

What users say

On Amazon, the Intel Core i7-13700K has a rating of 4.8 stars, and over 1,500 people have reviewed and rated the CPU. Most customer reviews mentioned that the processor delivered good performance, was of great quality, and provided value for money. “The Intel Core i7-13700K is a top-tier processor for serious gamers, demanding content creators, and overclocking enthusiasts. Its blistering performance, PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 support, and overclocking headroom make it a future-proof powerhouse,” one of the customers wrote in a review. However, a few reviewers found the CPU pricey and heated up a little.

The Ryzen 5 7600X is the face of the budget market in the world of AM5 technology. So if you’re looking for the best out of the new-gen without spending too much, then this one is the go-to option. This CPU offers a fine balance between performance and affordability, which makes it an excellent choice for gamers and general users alike.

The Ryzen 5 7600X is configured with 6 cores and 12 threads; this allows you to get great results in a wide spectrum of tasks, from immersive gaming experiences to diverse productivity demands. It also features a base clock speed of 4.7 GHz, with the capability to boost up to 5.3 GHz, thus ensuring quick and efficient processing.

The Ryzen 5 7600X brings big value for a small price – it performs well in gaming workloads and can hold it’s own in more productive tasks, it seems 6 cores go a long way these days.

The price-to-performance ratio is raved about not just in Amazon reviews, but our own 7600X review too, where we found it more than capable of gaming at the high end. Not only does this mean you'll get excellent performance out of your 7600 XT, but you should be future-proofed for future upgrades too - especially with DDR5 under your belt.

With a TDP of 105W, it’s relatively power-efficient, and being an unlocked CPU, it offers the potential for overclocking. The processor’s support for DDR5 memory means faster data processing, although it necessitates the use of compatible and often more expensive motherboards: always something to keep in mind when upgrading your rig.

What users say

On Amazon, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X processor has a rating of 4.7 stars, and it has been reviewed by over 1,625 people. Most reviewers wrote positively about the CPU and said it delivered great gaming performance, comes with a quality build, and offers good value for the price point. “For gamers, the Ryzen™ 5 7600X is a dream come true. Its six cores ensure that modern games, many of which are optimized for multi-core processors, run seamlessly. The high clock speeds and efficient architecture contribute to low-latency gaming, reducing stutter and lag,” one of the reviewers said. On the flipside, a few reviewers said that the chip ran hot. 

Considerations for picking the best CPU for RX 7600 XT

When pairing a CPU with the RX 7600 XT, it’s crucial to choose a processor that complements the GPU’s performance. Here are a few things that you should consider.

Performance

This ensures the gaming experience is smooth and the graphics card is utilized to its full potential. The ideal CPU should have enough cores and threads to handle modern games, which increasingly rely on multi-threaded performance. While a quad-core CPU might work in a pinch, for a balanced and future-proof build, aim for at least a 6-core processor with hyperthreading (or SMT for AMD). This provides headroom for demanding titles and multitasking.

Compatibility

Ensure your chosen CPU is compatible with your motherboard's socket type. The AM4 socket is common for AMD Ryzen processors, while Intel CPUs utilize the LGA-series sockets (e.g., LGA 1700). Double-check compatibility before purchasing to avoid any headaches down the line.

Cooling

Now, the GPU in question is not a top-of-the-line card, but it will still generate heat. The CPU you choose also contributes to the overall system's thermal load. Consider the TDP (Thermal Design Power) of the CPU. A lower TDP CPU might allow for a less powerful cooler, saving on cost and noise. However, if you plan to overclock or prioritize silent operation, a more robust cooling solution might be necessary.

How much power does the Radeon 7600 XT use?

The Radeon RX 7600 XT has a power consumption of 165 Watts. For a system incorporating this GPU, it is recommended to have a power supply unit (PSU) of at least 550 Watts. This ensures that there is enough power headroom not only for the GPU but also for other components in the system, maintaining stability and reliability under various usage conditions.

Is the Intel Core i5-13600K good for future-proofing with the RX 7600 XT?

The Intel Core i5-13600K is a solid choice for future-proofing when paired with the RX 7600 XT. Its hybrid architecture, combining Performance-cores and Efficient-cores, provides a strong foundation for both current and upcoming games. The CPU’s support for PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory means it’s ready to handle future technological advancements.

In this guide, we've made this process extremely simple - to make your choice easy, we've done the background research for you and outlined four CPUs that would make a great addition alongside the RTX 4070 Super. Whether you want a gaming-focused set-up or something for productivity or content creation, these picks ensure you achieve the best performance at the best prices.

How we selected the best CPU for RTX 4070 Super

It has to be said that picking the best CPU for the RTX 4070 Super is not a task we brush off lightly. Our selection process involves an in-depth analysis of publicly available benchmarks and a thorough understanding of the current market options, supported by our extensive CPU topic knowledge. We take the extra time to examine performance tests from various reputable sources, assessing how different CPUs perform in gaming, creative workloads, and everyday tasks to present the most well-rounded choices. 

Additionally, we make sure to take into account user reviews and the potential longevity of each CPU: it's crucial to recommend processors that are not only powerful now but will also continue to deliver robust performance in the future, as you're bound to hold onto your CPU for a good few years before your next upgrade. This method guarantees that our recommendations for the best CPU to pair with the RTX 4070 Super meet the diverse needs of our audience, encompassing gamers, content creators, and general users who seek a strong and dependable computing experience.

Off the back of Nvidia's recent launches, we've been checking out everything 4070 Super related, including the best motherboard for the RTX 4070 Super for those upgrading MOBO over CPU. However, we've also looked at the best CPU for the RTX 4080 Super, so read into that if you're considering opting for the next step up to the 4070.

The good part about the RTX 4070 Super is that Nvidia amped the processing capabilities, so with the perfect CPU, it can go even beyond the standards of its predecessor. If you're looking for a content creation PC, then you should consider pairing it with the Ryzen 9 7900X. Our premium pick will allow you to handle demanding tasks without the risk of bottlenecking, and in order to avoid losing its power, you shouldn't go too much higher than this.

The Ryzen 9 7900X boasts 12 cores and 24 threads which provides substantial multitasking and processing power. Regarding speed, the base clock frequency starts at a brisk 4.7 GHz, with a maximum boost clock of up to 5.6 GHz. Moreover, with a 64 MB L3 cache and a TDP of 170 watts, this CPU is designed for performance. 

This CPU can work hard, and play hard too. It is just as comfortable gaming as it is in workstation and productivity scenarios, a real jack of all trades, if you will.

This processor is ideal for users who demand the utmost in performance, particularly for their content creation, high-end gaming, and other demanding applications. When paired with the RTX 4070 Super, it ensures that your system operates without any hiccups, even under heavy loads. However, it's worth considering that its high power consumption leaves you with the need for an effective cooling solution, which could be an extra cost you need to invest in. 

What users say

User reviews indicate that the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X is a powerful CPU that delivers impressive performance gains over its predecessor, even beating Intel's Alder Lake in most workloads, including gaming. It's praised for its efficiency and power per watt, although it can run quite hot. It currently holds an 87% of 5 star reviews on Amazon.

As a mid-range GPU, the RTX 4070 Super appeals most to gamers, making it fitting to pair it with a top-tier gaming CPU. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D, despite the advent of newer generations, still holds its ground as one of the best gaming CPUs available, offering excellent value for its price.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with its 8 cores and 16 threads, emerges as a formidable option for both gaming and multitasking. It boasts a base clock speed of 3.4 GHz, capable of boosting up to 4.4 GHz, thus ensuring it meets the demands of intense games and applications. The standout feature of this CPU is its massive 96MB L3 cache, which significantly elevates gaming performance. With a TDP of 105W, it balances power efficiency with strong performance, an ideal mix for gamers who are also energy-conscious.

Overall, this CPU is a prime choice for users looking to build a gaming-focused PC - while it's capable of handling various tasks, gaming stands as its forte. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D excels in providing smooth, high-frame-rate gaming experiences, especially in the latest titles, making it a top pick for gaming aficionados, and an excellent choice to perform alongside your RTX 4070 Super.

What users say

Reviewers laud its impressive gaming performance, often matching or even exceeding pricier Ryzen 9 processors. This is thanks to its innovative 3D V-Cache technology that packs a huge amount of cache, ideal for game data. One user noted "The extra cache and self clock boost provides a great kick in gaming, has done wonders for X4 Foundations and other similar CPU heavy games as well".

The Intel Core i5-13600K is what we mean when we talk about balance, as this CPU offers you the best of both worlds. Whether you want to game, use AI tools, do content creation, stream, or perform any other professional task, you can with this processor. Paired up with the RTX 4070 Super, your PC will run smoothly through most situations.

In terms of specifications, the Core i5-13600K is a part of Intel’s 13th generation and features a hybrid architecture. It has 10 cores (6 Performance-cores and 4 Efficient-cores) and 20 threads. The performance cores have a base clock of 3.5 GHz and can boost up to 5.1 GHz, offering excellent speed for demanding applications. It supports DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0, ensuring compatibility with the latest hardware. The TDP of 125W implies that it’s geared towards delivering high performance, though it also calls for effective cooling solutions.

An excellent CPU through and through with fierce single and multi-core performance for the money. 

On the whole, this CPU is perfect for users who need a versatile system that excels in both gaming and productivity. Whether you’re into intense gaming sessions, content creation, or using demanding applications, the i5-13600K handles tasks with ease. Its balance between performance and power efficiency makes it a great match for the RTX 4070 Super, ensuring that users get the most out of their system in a variety of use cases.

What users say

As one user on Amazon reviews stated "Very nice CPU and easy to install. Always feels awkward holding this tiny piece of metal and mounting it to the motherboard. Handles the tasks I need and never had issues", it is clear that the Intel i5-13600K CPU delivers excellent performance. In fact, this CPU has an incredible 91% of 5 star reviews on Amazon.

When it comes to our budget choice, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X offers a great price-to-performance ratio. If you're looking for a decent PC with solid benchmarks but aren't willing to spend a fortune, then this stands as a reasonable choice. The 5600X is a solid CPU with a lot of room for demanding tasks, demonstrating how AM4 still has a lot to offer.

The Ryzen 5 5600X, runs under AMD's Zen 3 architecture and features 6 cores and 12 threads, a setup that's more than enough for the majority of gaming and general computing demands. With a base clock of 3.7 GHz and a boost potential of up to 4.6 GHz, it strikes a fine balance between efficiency and performance. Furthermore, its 32 MB L3 cache and 65-watt TDP are designed for power efficiency while still providing robust performance.

The 5600X is a strong and very affordable budget CPU despite being released in 2020. It belongs to one of the best platforms ever made that remains in support today despite the release and success of AM5.

When combined with the RTX 4070 Super, the 5600X delivers admirable performance, particularly at 1440p and even 4K in certain use cases. Considering its price, making some minor adjustments is a reasonable compromise. The Ryzen 5 5600X is an outstanding option for budget-minded users seeking a capable and efficient CPU that meets most gaming and general computing needs without stretching your finances.

What users say

Customers on Amazon were impressed by the value, ease of installation, and overall performance given by the Ryzen 5 5600X. One user noted "the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a stellar performer that strikes an excellent balance between price and performance. Whether you're a gamer, content creator, or a multitasking enthusiast, this 6-core processor delivers a compelling mix of power and efficiency". What is not to like?

Considerations for the best CPU for RTX 4070 Super

When choosing the optimal CPU to pair with the RTX 4070 Super, a balanced combination of power, efficiency, and compatibility is crucial. The perfect CPU for this graphics card should shine in both gaming and productivity tasks, enabling a fluid switch between both work and leisure. Key attributes like high clock speeds and a substantial core count are essential for smooth gaming experiences and effective handling of creative applications, without worries of bottlenecking or similar issues. 

Considering the future-proofing of the CPU is also crucial. In an era of rapid technological advancement, selecting a processor that supports the latest innovations such as PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 memory is a prudent choice. This approach ensures that your system remains up-to-date and capable of accommodating future advancements and requirements.

What's the best CPU for the RTX 4070 Super at 1440p?

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the best CPU for RTX 4070 Super at 1440p. Its impressive balance of high clock speeds and a large cache size makes it an ideal choice for gaming at this resolution. The CPU ensures that you can play the latest games at high frame rates without any bottlenecking issues.

New World has captured the attention and interest of countless gamers with its expansive and intricate open-world design. Developed and published by Amazon Games, it swiftly rose to prominence in 2022’s MMO scene shortly after its release. As is typical with many open-world games, New World is notably CPU-intensive, placing significant demand on your system’s processor.

If you've been finding your gameplay falling short of your expectations, it's worth taking into account that MMOs in general tend to be more CPU-heavy than single-player games as there's a lot more computations and network packets to synchronise. So, in this article, we've cherry-picked a lineup of the best CPUs that should significantly enhance your gaming experience, allowing you to experience New World as it was intended to be enjoyed.

Products at a glance

How we picked

As dedicated gamers, we understand the kind of dedication required to build your PC specifically for your favorite title, so selecting the best processors for New World isn't a task we take lightly. First off, we thoroughly examined the New World system requirements to get a feel for what the developers themselves recommend, and use this as a starting point for our own research. For reference, the recommended processors are either an Intel Core i7-10700K or an AMD Ryzen 5 3600X. As well as this, we drew on our in-depth topic knowledge of CPUs to deduce which ones are good for gaming - MMO gaming in particular - and our range of CPU reviews too, as we'd much rather advise you to buy a processor that we've approved first-hand.

In choosing the Best CPU for New World, we’ve thoroughly examined publicly available benchmarks and real-world performance metrics too. This extensive review allows us to ascertain how various processors perform under the specific demands of the New World, providing a clear and detailed perspective to guide our recommendations. Beyond benchmarks, user experience plays an integral role in our selection process. We pay careful attention to feedback from the gaming community across Steam and Reddit, and this helps to ensure our recommendations reflect the real-world demands and expectations of New World players.

Ultimately though, we aimed to provide CPUs from across the performance spectrum, as your requirements might change depending on what kind of content you're looking to play on New World. For example, the game might be more demanding on your CPU if you're into the War sieges and PvP combat where you're playing with up to 50 players online at once. We make sure to take in the broader gaming landscape too, as while New World might be CPU-intensive, a processor upgrade will likely serve all the titles in your library. As such, our selections are not just tailored for this game alone but also ensure a future-proofing aspect, catering to upcoming titles and ensuring longevity. For an overview of other market-favorite CPUs, we’ve got guides on the best CPU for gaming, as well as other popular AAA titles such as CPUs for Cyberpunk 2077.

Our top picks

It has to be said that the land of Aeternum is worthy of being explored in its full glory, and therefore having one of the premium gaming CPUs in your rig just makes sense. With an impressive amount of cores and threads at its disposal, there's very little we can fault the i7-14700K for from a price-to-performance perspective, other than the fact that it's not a huge step-up from its predecessor, the i7-13700K. It might not be the flagship, but it stands as one of the best gaming processors from Team Blue, and as mentioned above it should breeze through the computations needed for large-scale MMO playing in New World.

This CPU has a plethora of cores and threads at its disposal to chew through basically any workload you can throw at it.

Diving into the specifics, this Raptor Lake refresh has been rebuilt on the LGA 1700 socket, and features eight P-cores and 12 E-cores, an increase on the 13700K’s 16 cores (8P+8E), and 24 threads for four extra E-cores and four extra threads. Speed-wise, you can get the boost clock up to 5.6 GHz with Turbo Boost enabled, offering you a stable 0.2 GHz gain over the 13700K - and creeping you gradually closer to the flagship i9-14900K's 6 GHz. What's more, these metrics aren't just impressive on paper, but in our in-house benchmarks too: our i7-14700K review found the processor to reach 297 FPS in Monster Hunter: World, another fantasy multiplayer. This was when paired with the 4070 Ti too, which we consider to be one of the best GPUs for gaming.

What users say

Just as you would expect from one of the best from Intel, the i7-14700K is highly rated on Amazon for its performance, as well as its value proposition. One user even goes as far to say "gaming has been a breeze with crazy high fps that give me 99% GPU usage in every game" after upgrading from their 5800X3D. It's future-proof nature is picked up on too, with one reviewer commenting that they're "planning on keeping this for the next 4-5 years" - so it should take you through a few rig upgrades for sure.

Armed with six cores, 12 threads, and a substantial 32MB of L3 cache, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X stands as a versatile choice for gaming enthusiasts. It operates at a base clock frequency of 4.7 GHz and can effortlessly boost up to 5.3 GHz, and so shouldn't have any problems keeping up with the latest and greatest GPUs for New World.

The 5 nm lithography and a Thermal Design Power (TDP) of 105 watts further reinforce its robust performance credentials: not only is it speedy, it's easy to keep cool which is always an added bonus. Moreover, the integrated AMD Radeon graphics card, with a base clock of 2200 MHz, adds a layer of visual excellence to your gaming experience, further bringing the world of Aeternum to life. You can also slot in a purpose-made graphics card to your motherboard for upgradability purposes. How's that for value?

The Ryzen 5 7600X is a powerful CPU and offers a fantastic price-to-performance ratio. The CPU is more than capable of gaming at the high end, with enough oomph to keep up with the latest GPUs. 

Of course, affordability was one of the main things we raved about in our Ryzen 5 7600X review, and we liked the performance enough to award it with a solid 4.5 star rating. We also found that difficult to run games were a breeze in our benchmarking too, with Cyberpunk 2077 getting a 295 FPS average at 1080p. This is a good indication that other CPU-heavy games such as New World shouldn't present any problems.

This is AMD’s answer to diverse computing needs. It’s a CPU that adapts to high demand, promising you a seamless New World gaming experience when paired with a solid GPU. It’s especially ideal for those who prioritize adaptability and graphical excellence in their gameplay.

What users say

As we mentioned, we rated the Ryzen 5 7600X highly in our review - and so did users on Amazon by the looks of things. It's a solid entry-point for AM5, and in particular people seemed to like its performance and versatility. One user commented that this CPU "delivers smooth and responsive performance", and further described it as a "dream come true" for gamers. However, it's worth keeping in mind that it can "get a little hot under load", so keep your eyes peeled for a decent CPU cooler to keep temps down.

The Intel core I5-13600K with its 14 cores and 20 threads brings robust performance, making it a top contender in the realm of CPUs. The base speed stands at P-cores 3.5 GHz / E-cores 2.6 GHz, but this can be boosted up to P-cores 5.1 GHz / E-cores 3.9 GHz. All in all, it’s designed for those who want stellar performance without breaking the bank, offering a generous core count and decent heat management under stress with a 240mm water cooler.

This is the little 14-core, 20-thread CPU that could, and has widely become one of the more popular CPUs on the market for those looking to get a great CPU on a reasonable budget.

This CPU is a fantastic option for gamers and multitaskers looking for high performance at a moderate price. The Core i5-13600K offers strong performance for New World, ensuring smooth gameplay and excellent in-game details, at least that's the impression we got from our i5-13600K review benchmarks. Demanding games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Elden Ring were seen reaching 179 and 162 FPS averages at 1080p Low respectively. That's not all though, as synthetic benchmarks were equally as strong, further proving the 13600K as an excellent all-rounder. It's competitively priced too, allowing more gamers to experience its power without the hefty price tag of high-end CPUs.

However, it’s not without its flaws, as for one the price is a bit higher than the last-gen equivalent. Furthermore, it is hungrier for power and runs hotter than the Core i5-12600K. Despite these, the i5-13600K stands as a reliable choice for New World gamers, delivering performance where it counts. If you're more Team Blue than Team Red, this CPU is a great little alternative to the 7600X we listed above.

What users say

As we mentioned, the 13600K has become a well-established player in the mid-range market, and user reviews on Amazon are a testament to that. As you'd expect, value is one of its popular features, but people like its speed and performance too: it's described by one as a "true powerhouse, delivering unparalleled performance with its 14 cores". There's a bit more of a mixed reception of its temperatures though, and you might find it running hot under heavy loads - but that's not uncommon for high-performance CPUs.

The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D packs a serious punch with its eight “Zen 3” CPU cores and a colossal 96MB of L3 cache based on AMD’s innovative 3D V-Cache technology. This significant cache reservoir, often an overlooked component, ensures that the CPU’s performance doesn’t bottleneck, allowing the processor to work at its optimal pace. The reason we've highlighted an X3D CPU variant in particular is that floods of users across Reddit claim that "New World LOVES 3D Cache, and it works amazing with it", so clearly there's a bit of CPU wizardry from AMD when it comes to 3D V-Cache on MMO platforms.

Operating with a base clock frequency of 3.4 GHz and a maximum boost clock of 4.5 GHz, it stands as a powerhouse for gamers who seek seamless and uninterrupted gaming sessions. Of course, upgrading to AM5 might take its toll on your bank account, but you should feel the benefit when it comes to in-game performance.

Although the 5800X3D is not unlocked for overclocking, its inherently high minimum capabilities make it a robust contender for handling the extensive and demanding world of New World

This processor, however, is not just about the numbers. Its extensive cache ensures that your New World adventure is buttery smooth, reflecting the importance of a robust cache in bolstering gaming performance. Although the 5800X3D is not unlocked for overclocking, its inherently high minimum capabilities make it a robust contender for handling the extensive and demanding world of New World, ensuring that your gameplay is as immersive and real-time as it gets.

What users say

With 89% of users awarding the Ryzen 7 5800X3D 5 stars on Amazon, it's clear AMD has achieved exactly what it set out to with this gaming processor. Across the board, users have commented on getting good frame rates, smoothness, and value out of their investment. One user mentions that the "increase in its 3rd level cache that can significantly boost the performance of many games", while another commented that "each game I've tried feels insanely smooth now".

Features and considerations

When delving into the world of Aeternum in New World, it’s crucial to prioritize a CPU that can adeptly handle multi-threaded tasks. A high-performing CPU with multiple cores and threads will efficiently manage the game’s extensive and detailed environment, ensuring that your in-game experience is fluid and responsive. We certainly kept this in mind while selecting our CPU lineup, and while the recommended New World specs include an Intel Core i7-10700K or Ryzen 5 3600X, we went for higher-end picks such as a 14700K or a 13600K that we've proved to handle multi-threading excellently in our reviews.

Additionally, compatibility and future-proofing are other vital considerations, as you want to make sure you're spending money on hardware that will last you a good few years. Opt for a CPU that is compatible with your existing setup, ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance. So, you'll want to carefully scan for compatibility blocks when upgrading, and stick to your guns when choosing AM4 or AM5. Look ahead and choose a processor that can withstand the demands of future game updates and new releases.

Is New World CPU or GPU intensive?

Overall, it's a bit intensive on both components, but especially the CPU. Open-world games tend to have a lot of physics and calculations to keep things running smoothly across your maps in the first place, but and open-world MMO has even more to work with. In addition to the graphics card, the CPU is equally critical for managing the bustling activities of other online players, so overall there are a lot more objects, characters, and animations that the CPU needs to process compared to your average single-player games.

The Counter Strike 2 (CS2) represents a significant leap from the previous CS:GO. Despite the game being more GPU-heavy, having a potent CPU is essential to manage the game’s mechanics efficiently, ensuring smooth gameplay and maximizing the graphical output and physics that the game offers.

How we selected the best CPU for CS2

In determining the best CPU for CS2, extensive research into publicly available benchmarks and user reviews is conducted. This approach gives insight into real-world performance, reliability, and potential issues of various processors.

Furthermore, the selection process considers the balance between performance and cost. While high-end CPUs guarantee outstanding performance, not everyone has the budget for top-tier processors. The aim is to find processors that offer excellent performance for CS2 while ensuring good value for money.

If this isn't quite what you're looking for, why not check out one of our other best guides? We've got a great guide to the best CPU for Starfield, or the best CPU for video editing.

The Intel Core i5-12600K offers a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz with the ability to turbo up to 4.9 GHz. It operates with 10 cores and 16 threads, ensuring smooth gameplay and efficient multitasking. While it's a mid-range processor, its performance is nothing short of impressive, making it an excellent choice for CS2 enthusiasts who want reliable performance without breaking the bank.

This processor is perfect for those who love to game and dabble in other creative tasks. The 12600K's hybrid architecture, which combines performance and efficient cores, offers a perfect balance, providing enough power for intense gaming sessions and other demanding tasks. This CPU can hold its own, ensuring that your CS2 gameplay is smooth, responsive, and stunning.

What users say

Stunningly, users on Amazon overwhelmingly praised the i5-12600K, scoring a 5 star rating from 91% of users who reviewed. Reviewers praised the shape, ease of installation, value, and overall performance in gaming capacities. One user even noted "despite of being an older generation it can play any game you put in front of it. Great deal, 100% worth it."

With 16 cores and 32 threads, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is a beast that clocks up to 5.7GHz. It supports PCIe 5.0, and DDR5 RAM, and features a 105W TDP, placing it firmly in the high-performance category. This powerhouse of a processor is perfect for those desiring to game in 4K, offering top-notch performance and the ability to handle the demands of CS2 effortlessly.

The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is far from the cheapest chipset on the market, but with unparalleled performance, it’s also one of the best.

The Ryzen 9 7950X3D stands out for CS2 primarily because of its exclusive 3D V-Cache technology. This feature adds 64MB of L3 cache directly to the cores, substantially decreasing latency and enhancing average frame rates. For gamers dedicated to CS2, this means smoother gameplay, faster responses, and a significant edge in the competitive arena. It's a worthwhile investment for serious players seeking to maximize their in-game performance and experience.

What users say

User reviews on Amazon were mostly positive for the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, with 5 star reviews from 83% of customers. Particular highlights included the quality of the build, performance, and power. One happy used stated it "runs like a dream and temps are being kept low with a thermalright peerless assassin air cooler. No need for water cooling this CPU in my opinion".

Boasting 8 cores, 16 threads, and a base clock of 4.2 GHz (with a max boost clock of 5 GHz), the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a notable contender in the CPU market. It holds a substantial 96 MB of L3 cache and supports PCI Express 5.0, enhancing its performance and ensuring smooth and efficient gaming, particularly in demanding titles like CS2.

Where the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D truly shines is in its capability to handle a diverse range of game genres with ease. From intricate strategy games like those from Paradox Interactive to fast-paced first-person shooters, this CPU can manage it all, providing high FPS and performance levels that gamers crave. Its ability to deliver unimaginable FPS for shooter games sets it apart, making every gaming session an exhilarating experience.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, with its 6 cores and 12 threads, offers a base clock of 3.7 GHz and a turbo boost up to 4.6 GHz. This budget-friendly CPU brings a balanced performance for gaming, making it an excellent choice for gamers who need efficient power without going overboard on cost. It's the go-to option for budget-conscious gamers who still want robust performance in CS2.

This processor stands out for its value-for-money proposition. It’s designed for gamers who don't necessarily focus on ultra-settings but still want smooth, lag-free gameplay in CS2. The Ryzen 5 5600X delivers consistent performance, ensuring that gamers can enjoy their favorite titles without breaking the bank. This makes it an appealing choice for a wide range of users.

What users say

With a 90% 5 star rating, the Ryzen 5 5600X has certainly made a good impact on the customers which choose to purchase it. User reviews on Amazon indicate that the Ryzen 5 5600X is excellent value for money and is sufficient in most modern titles - meaning it is prime for entry-level users or those who are content with a mid-range performance. One user stated "if you are looking for a powerful and affordable CPU for your next PC build, you should definitely consider the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X".

Considerations for the best CPU for CS2

When thinking about the best CPU for CS2, consider not only the clock speed but also the number of cores and threads. A higher number of cores and threads will allow your system to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, providing a smoother gaming experience. Given that CS2 is more intensive than its predecessors, having a CPU that can efficiently handle more processes at the same time is crucial.

Another significant aspect to keep in mind is future-proofing. Opt for a CPU that not only meets the current requirements of CS2 but is also capable of handling upcoming updates and future titles that may be more demanding. Balancing performance, price, and longevity is key to making a well-informed decision.

VR Chat is likewise growing in popularity too, if we take Twitch viewer numbers as a measure of interest. While complete mass adoption may still be a few years away, there’s a sense that we're at a sort of turning point when it comes to VR’s popularity.

If you’re planning on dipping into VR for the first time or plan to upgrade a struggling rig, then you probably have some pressing questions about what hardware is best suited for the best performance when exploring virtual worlds. Today, we’ll be looking specifically at what’s required on the CPU front, and we’ve as such compiled a list of the very best CPUs out there for VR.

Products at a glance

How we picked the best CPUs for VR

There’s certainly some crossover between traditional gaming and VR, which means that many of the criteria we’d assign to CPU for straight gaming factor into the equation of choosing the right CPU for your VR plans. But while this may be the case, VR places slightly different demands on a PC, and our method for choosing the best CPUs for VR took that into account. In particular, considerations such as future-proofing, the varying requirements of the different headsets out there, and the all-important question of single-thread performance, steered our decision-making process.

Of course, it's worth bearing in mind that you might not need the absolute best CPU for gaming for good results in VR, as it's the GPU that does most of the heavy lifting. What's more, in terms of specs, frequency is prioritized over core count, since it is the clock speed that determines how many calculations each core can handle per second: you want to make sure you've got plenty of speed for the few cores that will be utilized. However, if you're not just gaming but developing virtual reality content or 3D graphics, you might benefit from the extra power that comes with having a few extra cores. If that is the case, it might be worth checking out the best workstation GPU too.

So, what we're getting at is that in the two-horse race that is the CPU market, we made sure to include options across the performance spectrum from both AMD and Intel. We also made sure to lean heavily on processors that we've reviewed in-house, as we'd much prefer to recommend options we've approved from our own hands-on experience, as well as ones that are established market favorites.

Perusing everything the CPU market has to offer in relation to VR performance, we settled on four different CPUs that, in our estimation, offer the best VR experience out there. As always, we’ve steered clear of simply recommending the most powerful and pricey options and instead honed in on CPU models that suit different needs, including budget.

Best CPU for VR

So, leading the pack in this buying guide as the premiere CPU pick for VR enthusiasts is the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Engineered by AMD, this CPU represents the pinnacle of the Ryzen 7000 series lineup, and with its Zen 4 architecture, clock speeds, and 3D V-Cache technology, you should soar through the demands of immersive virtual reality experiences.

At the heart of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D lies its formidable processing power, boasting an octa-core architecture capable of executing multiple threads simultaneously - and with impressive efficiency. With a base clock speed of 4.6 GHz and the potential for dynamic overclocking up to 5 GHz, this CPU ensures smooth and responsive gameplay when you're plugged in, or unplugged, from your headset.

Of course, there are a few other benefits to opting for a Zen 4 processor, and an X3D model nonetheless. The Zen 4 architecture, with its large L2 cache, is optimized to minimize latency and maximize throughput for a VR experience free from lag, and it easily out-paces the Zen 3 generation. What's more, its integrated 3D V-Cache technology enhances data access speeds, ensuring swift retrieval of game assets: this is the main role the CPU plays in VR, so it's important the processor can do it well. However, you're also benefitting from the addition of PCIe 5.0 connectivity and DDR5 memory, meaning you're getting even better responsiveness and data transfers between the CPU and peripherals, such as the GPU and the VR headset itself.

While its price may be a drawback, if you can stretch to around $400 to get the Ryzen 7 7800X3D into your VR gaming setup, you'll be future-proofed with a CPU that's more than capable for gaming in this reality and in others.

With a base clock speed of 4.6 GHz and the potential for dynamic overclocking up to 5 GHz, this CPU ensures smooth and responsive gameplay when you're plugged in, or unplugged, from your headset.

Best Intel CPU for VR

Coming in hot on the tails of the 7800X3D, our pick of the best Intel CPU for VR has got to be the Intel Core i9-13900K. Despite AMD’s CPUs edging closer to Intel’s in terms of single-core performance, Intel retains the crown. This gives the i9-13900K an edge in gaming performance that translates to VR performance, and it's still often favored by many over the flagship i9-14900K. For many of these reasons combined, we awarded it with a solid 4 stars in our Core i9-13900K review.

The 13900K employs a second-generation hybrid architecture processor, leveraging a blend of E-cores (efficiency cores) and P-cores (performance cores) to enhance power efficiency. With a total of 24 cores (eight P-cores and 16 E-cores) and 24 threads, it boasts a significant advantage over competing CPUs, ensuring leading-edge performance for demanding tasks. It doesn't end there, as you're getting a CPU capable of 5.8 GHz speeds, and 36MB of L3 cache to aid processor-intensive tasks such as VR gaming and 3D rendering.

Price does stand as a roadblock when it comes to the Intel Core i9-13900K: it doesn’t come cheap, and so might be just out of range for some builders. However, it does have the added benefit of offering top-tier performance for traditional non-VR gaming, making it ideal for those who dabble in both sides of the spectrum.

t’s clear that the Intel Core i9-13900K is still more than competitive when it comes to powering today’s games

Best budget CPU for VR

Next up, we're shifting back over to Team Red for one of the more affordable AM5 processors for gaming and virtual reality - the Ryzen 5 7600X. It brings big value for its small price, and has enough going for it to keep up with the higher-end GPUs you need for VR gaming.

Spec-wise, the entry-level AM5 CPU certainly isn't lacking; you've got 6 cores and 12 threads, 32MB L3 cache, and a nice base clock speed of 4.7 GHz boosting up to 5.3 GHz. What's more, thanks to the smaller 5nm process, AMD can pack more transistors into each core, resulting in the increase of a metric known as IPC (instructions per core). Essentially, that means the processor can compute more information per clock, which should improve your experience using software across the board, but you'll definitely feel the benefit in gaming and VR.

This was proved to be the case in our Ryzen 5 7600X review, in which we put the CPU through its paces. We found that in our Geekbench scores, the Ryzen scored 2,955 points in the single core, and 13,236 points in the multi. This is somewhat comparable to our testing of the 14700K of Intel's 14th Gen, which only scored 3,092 points in the single core. Overall, it's not much of an uplift when you consider the cost. 

So, the 7600X is a good budget match because, as mentioned earlier, it's got a high boost speed of 5.3 GHz but not an overload of cores (only 6!), which is on the whole an important aspect to be looking out for in a processor for VR.

Best high-end CPU for VR

Last up, we've got our wild card: the Intel Core i9 14900K is technically the best processor currently on the market, so while some might consider it overkill, there's no doubt that it will breeze through anything you throw at it. Whether you're a light VR gamer, or a professional VR creator, your rig will be getting an upgrade like no other with the top-of-the-line from Intel.

As you can probably tell, the specs of the 14900K pretty much speak for themselves: you've got a whopping 24 cores and 32 threads, 36MB of L3 cache, and boost speeds of 6 GHz out of the box. Of course, our i9 14900K review goes deeper into exactly what makes Intel's best CPU worth its flagship title. However, while this may make it sound revolutionary, it doesn't really offer anything new over the 13900K/KS, with the same cores, threads, and integrated graphics.

There's no avoiding its 253W TDP, so while it's going to be demanding on your system, we like to imagine you're equipped with the best graphics cards and a setup that can take the heat - otherwise, you'll likely run into bottlenecking or unmatched performance. For any gaming, VR, or professional setup, there's no doubt that the i9 14900K is one of the most future-proofed processors you can invest in, but performance does come at a cost, and you'll need to balance out your upgrade with a suitable GPU to make it truly worth your while.

Features and considerations

If you’re ready to drop a couple of bucks on a new CPU, then there are a few features you need to consider. Before you upgrade your rig, make sure you take into account the requirements of your VR headset, how compatible it is with your GPU, and your budget.

Continue reading as we explore what you should look out for below.

Headset Requirements

Not all headsets require the same CPU requirements, with some more demanding than others. While there’s sense in opting for the best CPU your money can buy, we also recommend checking out manufacturer requirements beforehand. You may be able to save some cash that can then be put towards a better GPU, something we cover below.

For convenience, we’ve included the requirements for the three most popular headsets. In an effort to attract potential customers, manufacturers do tend to produce requirements that flirt with what many would consider sub-par performance. With this in mind, we suggest opting for a CPU that exceeds what’s required to err on the side of caution and weed out potential performance issues when looking for the best CPUs for VR.

Don’t Skimp On a Quality GPU

A suitable CPU is crucial to good VR performance, but the GPU arguably plays a more important role due to the rendering requirements of bringing to life 3D worlds. We, therefore, recommend allocating a decent chunk of the budget to a quality GPU. That additional graphical power will serve you well when it comes to the more demanding VR titles, and overall, a more fluid experience.

As above, you can check headset manufacturer requirements to get a ballpark sense of what’s needed in the GPU department. It’s also worth noting that not all GPUs are compatible with all headsets. For example, NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 1650 and 1060 aren’t compatible with the Oculus Quest 2. Of course, we've also got you covered with our picks of the best GPU for VR too.

Budget and Future-Proofing

Given VR’s relative infancy, the fact there’s still a long path to mass adoption, and the hardware costs, we can’t stress the importance of future-proofing your setup to avoid having to fork out cash in the years ahead simply to keep up. VR tech continues to change and evolve at a rapid pace, and having a CPU capable of navigating those twists and turns is a smart move, as doing so will save you money in the long run.

Naturally, this is limited by your specific budget, so try and stretch it as much as you can, or alternatively, opt for a lower-priced value CPU option with an eye on saving up and replacing it in a couple of years.

In the case of the GPU, it’s arguably a great time to invest with both NVIDIA and AMD launching new flagship lines in recent months, the RDNA 3-based cards and Ada Lovelace 4000-series cards, respectively. It will be a couple of years before a new batch of next-gen GPUs come to market, setting you up for at least a few years.