Best CPUs for Escape From Tarkov in 2025 – top performance picks
A couple of top CPUs to get for Escape from Tarkov
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Escape from Tarkov is a popular multiplayer tactical first-person shooter game that continues to grow in popularity, with more players eager to join the action. Among beginners, a common question is which CPU to choose for the best gaming performance. Since the game is quite demanding on both the CPU and GPU due to its realistic visuals, selecting the right components is crucial for surviving its intense raids and firefights.
To help you pick the perfect processor for Escape from Tarkov, we’ve gathered a list of top recommendations to ensure a smooth gaming experience. As mentioned, the game requires a fast processor, so you’ll want something with strong single-core performance and a large cache. The options included in our list cater to a wide range of players, whether you’re ready to invest in the best gaming processor on the market or prefer a more budget-friendly option. No matter your needs or requirements, by the end of this guide, you should find at least one choice that fits perfectly into your system.
Products at a Glance
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Best CPU for Escape From Tarkov
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Core configuration: 8
- Threads: 16
- Base core speed: 4.7 GHz
- Boost core speed: up to 5.2 GHz
- DDR5 support: Yes @ 5600 MT/s
- TDP / PPT: 120 W / 162 W
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Best Intel CPU for Escape From Tarkov
Intel Core i5-13600K
- Core configuration: 14
- Threads: 20
- Base core speed: 3.5 GHz (P-core) / 2.6 GHz (E-core)
- Boost core speed: 5.1 GHz (P-core) / 3.9 GHz (E-core)
- DDR5 support: 5600 MT/s
- TDP / PPT: 125 W / 181 W
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Best budget X3D CPU for Escape From Tarkov
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Max boost speed: 4.5GHz
- L3 Cache: 96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
- TDP: 105W
How we picked
Picking a fast gaming processor for games like Escape from Tarkov means testing various CPUs and selecting the ones that perform best during benchmarks. And that’s exactly what we did. The WePC professionals conducted thorough tests on each processor to evaluate its real-world performance. Since a gaming CPU needs a decent number of cores, high clock speeds, and a large cache, we ensured all our recommendations meet these standards. We also made sure our picks handle demanding tasks without overheating, ensuring reliable performance for intense gaming sessions.
That said, we only recommend products that have been tested by us or reviewed by trusted and reputable third-party sources that highlight both the positives and negatives. In addition to performance testing, we thoroughly examined the specifications and technical details of these CPUs, along with user reviews, to get an honest perspective on how these processors perform in everyday use. If you’re interested in learning more about our testing process, check out our dedicated page on how we test CPUs.
- Core configuration: 8
- Threads: 16
- Base core speed: 4.7 GHz
- Boost core speed: up to 5.2 GHz
- DDR5 support: Yes @ 5600 MT/s
- TDP / PPT: 120 W / 162 W
- Offers unmatched gaming performance
- Can be overclocked
- Features a massive L3 cache
- Difficult to find in stock
- Not best for productivity enthusiasts
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D has been the talk of the town ever since it hit shelves just two months ago and for good reason. This CPU has once again lived up to the X3D moniker with groundbreaking gaming performance. It’s no surprise that we dubbed the 9800X3D, the best CPU for Escape From Tarkov, as this 8-core, 16-thread processor offers everything needed to achieve the highest frame rates. Its massive 96 MB of L3 cache, enabled by AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, easily meets the taxing demands of CPU-intensive games. And this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the gaming capabilities of this beast of a processor.
When we had the chance to review the 9800X3D, we were in awe of its gaming performance, as it obliterated every title we tested. For example, in the demanding world of Night City in Cyberpunk 2077, the 9800X3D maintained a stable average FPS of 331.83, with impressive temperature levels averaging 54°C and a maximum of 70°C. While this shouldn’t come as a surprise, the 9800X3D showed Intel’s latest flagship Core Ultra 9 285K just how powerful its 3D V-Cache architecture can be. But hold your horses—despite the impressive gaming benchmarks, in all synthetic benchmarks, the Core Ultra 9 295K came out on top.
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D dominates gaming workloads, is very efficient, and improves vastly over its predecessor in core speed and, more importantly, performance.
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Judging from the numbers, it’s pretty safe to say that the 9800X3D is quite possibly the best gaming processor you can currently get your hands on. And the emphasis on “gaming” is quite literal. Anyone who thinks its powerful gaming performance would also translate into productivity performance would be mistaken. That said, the 9800X3D is so popular that it runs against its own favor, as finding it in stock is still a challenge.
What users say
On Amazon, the 9800X3D has a stellar 4.7-star rating, a #1 top seller badge, and has sold over 5,000 units in the past month. The reviews are filled with praise for its performance, with one buyer calling it “The best gaming CPU money can buy!”
- 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.
- One of the best value for money processors
- High core count for an entry level CPU
- Efficient and backwards compatible with 12th gen motherboards
- Requires a powerful CPU cooler
The Intel Core i5 13600K is a fantastic processor for the price. Thanks to its high core count, excellent single-threaded performance, and a boost clock of up to 5.1 GHz, it delivers a perfect balance of gaming and productivity performance. For Escape From Tarkov, it’s hard to find a better processor than the 13600K due to its incredible value for money. It’s not just great for Escape From Tarkov as it can handle every modern AAA title with ease, making it a solid long-term investment that will keep you in the gaming loop for years to come.
In our review of the 13600K, it delivered impressive performance in both gaming and synthetic benchmarks, especially considering it’s at the bottom end of the 13th-generation Intel CPUs. During our CPU-Z testing, the 13600K scored an impressive 830 points in the single-core benchmarks and 9,846 points in multi-core. For gaming performance, we tested the 13600K in four different titles, Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, CSGO, and GTA V, and it returned over 150 FPS on average in all of them.
The 13900K is incredibly cost-effective, costing between the 7600X and the 7700X on team red’s side, but pretty well outperforming the former and just getting the latter.
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The 13600K’s cost-effectiveness extends further, as you can pair it with a 600-series motherboard, and the optional DDR5 memory upgrade is always there if you want to push performance even higher. Additionally, pairing this CPU with a PCIe Gen 4 drive and a GPU like the RTX 3060 will give you a powerful rig that can handle AAA games at high settings for the next couple of years.
What users say
Amazon reviewers are on the same boat as us as they also believe the 13600K is one of the best-value CPUs for gaming and its excellent value for performance is evident from its 4.7-star rating and right now you can grab it for 40% less.
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Max boost speed: 4.5GHz
- L3 Cache: 96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
- TDP: 105W
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Base clock speed: 3.4GHz
- Max boost speed: 4.5GHz
- Total L3 cache: 96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
- Default TDP: 105W
- TSMC: 7nm FinFET
- Socket: AM4
- Memory type: DDR4
- Surpasses the 5700X and 12900K in gaming performance
- No motherboard upgrade required
- Leverages the power of X3D V-cache
- Poor multi-core performance
- Not great for productivity
Yet again, we can’t help but recommend another X3D CPU, but this time it’s a more budget-friendly option, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. For anyone on the AM4 platform who wants a CPU that meets the demanding requirements of Escape From Tarkov, going with the first-ever X3D CPU is a great choice. With 8 cores, excellent gaming performance, high clock speeds, and reduced voltages, the 5800X3D proves to be a great gaming processor, rivaling the likes of Intel’s i5 12900K and the Ryzen 7 5800X.
A closer look at the specifications of the 5800X3D shows that, on paper, it is less powerful than the 5800X, with a lower 3.4GHz base and 4.5GHz boost clock compared to the latter’s 3.8GHz base and 4.7GHz boost clock. But don’t let this fool you, as the advanced 3D V-Cache of the 5800X3D helps it outpace its predecessor. We tested the 5800X3D on the unforgiving title of Cyberpunk 2077, at 4K max settings, and the 5800X3D came out victorious, beating both the 5800X and the 12900K with an average of 42 FPS. In 1080p, the performance is just as impressive, surpassing the 12900K in pretty much every game.
Although the synthetic performance of this CPU may fall short, it is an excellent option for handling heavy gaming workloads and demanding titles like Escape From Tarkov with ease. Part of this is due to its X3D-enabled massive L3 cache, which Reddit users have pointed out is something that this shooter game loves to utilize. Since the 5800X3D is on the AM4 platform, you’ll be working with DDR4 memory and other outdated specifications. However, for anyone on a budget, AM4 is still more than capable in 2025 and beyond.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, people are calling the 5800X3D the “Best value CPU for gaming,” and it has left a lasting impression on those who have purchased it. In fact, the official Amazon listing for this CPU boasts a 4.8-star rating, with an impressive 91% of reviews being 5 stars.
Things to consider
When choosing the perfect CPU for games that are heavy on CPU usage, it’s important to consider a few key factors. Firstly, as mentioned before, opting for a CPU with a higher core count and clock speeds is essential, as these factors play a crucial role in delivering better performance and a smoother gaming experience. Other factors to keep in mind include cache size and hyper-threading. A larger cache reduces the time it takes for the CPU to access critical game files and data, while hyper-threading allows for faster processing and optimized game performance. Lastly, make sure to assess your budget clearly so that you avoid selecting options that are far beyond your price range.
Final word
To sum it up, the best CPUs for Escape from Tarkov are generally those that offer strong single-core performance, high clock speeds, and efficiency. We’ve highlighted the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, i5-13600K, and Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with two of our choices coming from the X3D family. These processors stand out due to their large cache sizes and some of the best gaming performance on the market, as we mentioned in our “things to consider” section. While the 9800X3D might be an expensive option, we’ve also provided mid-range and budget alternatives. Whether you go with the Blue Team or the Red Team, you can expect excellent performance.
