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Best CPU for GTA 5

what is the best CPU for GTA 5? Let's find out

Updated: Oct 18, 2023 11:48 am
Best CPU for GTA 5

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GTA 5, one of the most popular titles in modern-day gaming, was released all the way back in 2013. The game remains an all-time favorite among PC gamers today. But what is the best CPU for GTA 5?

Now Read: Best CPU for gaming

If you’ve been wanting to try out GTA 5 for yourself, you may have been wondering what CPU will allow you to experience it at its very best. We’ll share our top pick with you in this article.


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What are GTA 5’s CPU requirements?

Even though GTA 5 was released in 2013, the era of the PS4 and quad-core desktop processors, it’s actually a relatively CPU-intensive game. You may struggle to hit a smooth 60FPS on the game with older hardware. 

Rockstar themselves recommend an i5-3470 processor – a standard quad-core CPU from the early 2010s.

Unfortunately, the 3470 does not feature hyperthreading and only has 4 threads. GTA 5, on the other hand, has received several updates since its release that has led to it using up even more processor resources. 

The i5-3470 is inadequate for GTA 5 today, particularly due to its low thread count. It’s unable to maintain a steady 60FPS in-game, especially when gameplay becomes more action-packed. 

Of course, we’ll recommend something much more recent and capable of playing GTA 5 at the highest settings. 


Best CPU for GTA 5 – Intel i5 13400

Our top pick for GTA 5 is the Intel i5 13400. The newer i5 was released only recently, in Q1 2023, and features incredible specs for its price. 

The 13400 retails at a mid-range, budget-friendly price point but has 10 cores and 16 threads. The i5-13400 features a big.LITTLE architecture Intel introduced to us with Alder Lake.

The processor’s budget-friendliness is only further complemented by its compatibility with the LGA1700 socket used by Alder Lake and with DDR4 memory. Get the “F” variant of the processor if you already have a discrete graphics card for even more savings. 

6 of the CPU’s cores are performance cores with hyperthreading enabled, and the remaining 4 cores are efficiency cores. Hence its unusual core/thread configuration. 

With 16 threads, the processor is unlikely to run into a bottleneck while gaming, even if you’re playing the very best Triple-A titles today, let alone GTA 5, which is a decade old at this point. 

The new i5 processor also has a very respectable 4.6GHz max turbo boost. While that’s a fair bit lower than the 5GHz boost clocks boasted by many of the newer Intel and AMD processors, 4.6GHz is more than enough for GTA 5 and most other games today. 

Pair the CPU with a mid to high-end GPU, such as a 3070 Ti, and enjoy GTA 5 at the highest settings. 

Your screen resolution, in-game visual fidelity, and framerates will depend more on the GPU you choose to use since the 13400 can run GTA 5 at max settings without breaking a sweat. 

The i5-13400 does have a high TDP, though. At 154 watts of power consumption under maximum load, the 13400 is more power-hungry than its predecessors. Still, you should be able to keep temperatures in check with a decent thermal solution. 


Final thoughts

Overall, the i5-13400 is an excellent gaming processor in the budget segment, not just for GTA 5, but for most triple-A titles today. I highly recommend this processor if you’re looking to get some of the newest technology by Intel at a very budget-friendly price point. 


Jack is a Tech and News Writer who has a vast and proficient knowledge of CPUs, Motherboards, and Computer technology.

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