Best CPU for NBA 2K23

Best CPU for NBA 2K23? Let's find out

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Released in late 2022, NBA 2k23 is the latest addition to the popular NBA 2k series. The game lets you build your dream basketball team with your favorite players from eras past and present. In this article, we’ll talk about the best CPU for NBA 2k23. 

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What are NBA 2K23’s CPU requirements?

Despite being a relatively recent release, NBA 2K23 has fairly low CPU requirements. The devs recommend you equip yourself with an Intel® Core™ i5-4430 @ 3 GHz/ AMD FX-8370 @ 3.4 GHz or better to enjoy the game at its best. 

To give you some more details about the recommended processors, the Intel Core i5-4430 is a quad-core with a boost clock of 3.2GHz and no hyperthreading. The FX-8370 is an 8-core processor with a max boost clock of 4.3GHz, also without multithreading. 

There does seem to be a sizeable disparity here between the two recommended processors, but that’s probably due to the fact that AMD doesn’t have many weak gaming processors for the devs to recommend here. 

The Ryzen CPUs started off as very strong processors in 2017, whereas Intel’s Core CPUs have been around since 2011, and they were much weaker back then. 

So, essentially, you need something better than a 4th generation i4. That’s not a difficult requirement to meet – most modern-day computers will naturally have processors strong enough to run NBA 2K23. 

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Best CPU for NBA 2K23 – Ryzen 5 7600

For NBA 2K23, we’re recommending the Ryzen 5 7600. The standard version of the processor was released in January 2023, which is not all that long ago. It’s a relatively new Zen 4 processor that runs on AMD’s latest AM5 socket. 

AMD Ryzen 5 7600 (Non-X)

Cores

6

Threads

12

Base speed

4.7GHz

Boost speed

5.3GHz

Cache

L3 32MB

Socket

AM5

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The Ryzen 5 7600 is a 6-core, 12-thread processor. 12 threads is a respectable amount for a modern-day processor to have, and it’s plenty for gaming. The processor has a moderate 3.5GHz base clock speed but can boost all the way up to a much more impressive 5.1GHz max clock. 

Perhaps what stands out most about the Ryzen 5 7600 is its power efficiency. Its performance is by all means great, but what’s even more interesting is the fact that it’s able to deliver such top-tier performance while maintaining a TDP (Thermal Design Power) of a mere 65 watts. 

The new Ryzen 5 processor will run cool and help you avoid ending up with unexpectedly high energy bills. Also, it comes out of the box with an AMD wraith stealth cooler, so you won’t need to go out of your way to get an aftermarket cooler. AMD’s high-quality stock coolers provide adequate cooling to take care of their more energy-efficient processors. Still, getting a better cooler to increase component lifespan is never a bad investment. 

The Ryzen 5 7600 will provide you excellent performance in NBA 2K23, no matter the resolution you choose to go with. You can find a more detailed review of the processor here, including some benchmarks and comparisons. 

What GPU should you consider?

The game is much more demanding on your GPU, so it would be best to pair up the 7600 with something like a 6600 XT or an RTX 3070Ti, especially if you intend to play at higher resolutions, such as 4K. For 1080p and 1440p gaming, a mid-range GPU such as the RTX 3050 will suffice. 

Lastly, it’s worth noting that you will need a new AM5 motherboard and DDR5 memory for the Ryzen 5 7600. If you’re upgrading from an existing setup, you’ll have to spend a bit more to upgrade to the new platform. 

The performance difference justifies the price, though, since Zen 4 also features a 14% IPC (instructions per cycle/clock) boost on top of all the upgraded CPU specs.