Best CPU for CS:GO
Make the most of your CS:GO performance with the best choice of CPU
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CS:GO is a highly popular and competitive first-person shooter game that has been around for quite a bit now. It’s not necessarily hard to run, as the minimum requirements are pretty low. However, if you’re building a new gaming PC, you might be wondering about the best CPU for CSGO.
We’ll be covering two of the best value gaming processors for this guide. CS:GO can run on nearly any machine out there, so it doesn’t make sense to go with a typically high-end processor like a Core i9.
With that said, here are our picks for the best CPU for CSGO.
Best CPU for CSGO – Intel Core i5 13600K
Intel Core i5-13600K
Cores
14
Threads
20
Base speed
P-cores 3.5 GHz / E-cores 2.6 GHz
Boost speed
P-cores 5.1 GHz / E-cores 3.9 GHz
Cache
20MB
TDP
125 W / 181 W boost.
Specs:
- Speed: 5.1GHz (Boost Clock)
- Cores/Threads: 14/20
- Socket: LGA1700
- TDP: 125W
The Intel Core i5 13600K is the best bang for your buck processor on the market. Thanks to its high core count, excellent single-threaded performance, and boost clock of up to 5.1 GHz, it delivers excellent performance for both gaming and productivity.
For CSGO, it’s hard to find a better processor at this price. Admittedly, it’s a bit much just for running the game, as any processor could handle that with ease. However, it is a good long-term investment considering the CPU performs incredibly well in other modern titles too.
If your budget allows, pair with a good Z690 or Z790 motherboard and DDR5 memory. On top of that, if you can pair it with a PCIe Gen 4 drive, you’ll have a very capable gaming PC that can run modern games at high settings for the next couple of years.
Best Budget CPU for CSGO- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Speed
3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz
Core (Threads)
6/12
Socket
AM4
TDP
65W
Specs:
- Speed: 4.6GHz (Boost Clock)
- Cores/Threads: 6/12
- Socket: AM4
- TDP: 65W
The Ryzen 5 5600X is another excellent choice for running CSGO. It is much cheaper than the Core i5 13600K, and has dropped in price considerably since its launch. While the 13600K is the better all-around processor, the 5600X is still quite capable and will continue to be that way for the next couple of years.
Considering it also supports PCIe Gen 4 and provides an upgrade path to processors like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, it’s an excellent choice for CSGO players. It can also do much more than just gaming, as it’s also a great productivity workhorse.
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Final Word
So, while you don’t need a relatively powerful processor to run a game like CS:GO, you’re much better off going with the Ryzen 5 5600X or the Intel Core i5 13600K. Both of these are great processors for gaming, and will handle modern titles with ease.
