Best CPU for Sim Racing in 2024 – our top picks

A PC that's built for speed with the best CPU for sim racing

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Wondering what the best CPU for sim racing is? We have got you covered. Sim Racing games have risen in popularity over the last couple of years. This is thanks to Twitch streamers and other content creators online that are recreating the hype that was once around simulation games. If you’re building a new system, we’ll be covering the best CPUs for Sim Racing games in this guide.

Keep note that a lot of these games can be highly taxing on the CPU. Of course, this also depends on the game. However, to be on the safe side, we’re recommending some strong processors that were released recently. Here are the best CPUs for Sim Racing today. If you’re after something more powerful, make sure to check out the best CPUs for gaming.

Why are CPUs important for sim racers?

The CPU (Central Processing Unit) is an important component when trying to run sim racers because it is responsible for performing the complex calculations required to simulate the physics and dynamics of the race cars and track. A powerful CPU will be able to handle the high computational demands of simulators, allowing for a more realistic and immersive racing experience.

Sim racers require a lot of processing power in order to simulate the physics of the cars and track, such as tire wear, suspension movement, and aerodynamics. Additionally, sim racers also require a lot of data to be processed in real-time, such as track and car data and physics calculations. A powerful CPU is needed to handle all this data in real time and make sure that the simulation runs smoothly.

Having a powerful CPU will also help to ensure that the frame rate is high and consistent, which is important for maintaining the realism and immersion of the racing experience. A powerful CPU will also allow you to run the simulators at high resolutions and with all the settings maxed out.

Best CPU for Sim Racing

Intel Core i7 13700K

Intel Core i7-13700K

Cores

16

Threads

24

Base speed

P-cores 3.4 GHz / E-cores 2.5 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.4 GHz / E-cores 4.2 GHz

Cache

24MB

TDP

125 W / 253 W boost.

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Specs:

• Boost Clock: 5.4GHz
• Total Cores/Threads: 16/24
• Socket: LGA1700
• TDP: 125W

For more demanding Sim Racing games such as Asetto Corsa, Dirty Rally, and F1 22, we recommend going with the new Intel Core i7 13700K. This 13th gen processor is a beast in terms of performance, and can easily handle all of the games we just mentioned above. It’s a 16 core, 24 thread monster of a CPU. This thing can easily handle the most demanding CPU-intensive games out there, and it does that all while being an unlocked processor. This means that you can easily overclock.

Sure, it is quite a power-hungry chip. The TDP is rated at 125W, but it can pull up to 250W from the wall at full load. So, you’ll need a strong powerful supply, a good Z690/Z790 motherboard, and fast DDR5 memory for the best possible performance. All of that requires quite the hefty investment. However, if you’re planning on building an over-the-top sim racing setup, then you can’t go wrong with this CPU.

Best CPU for Sim Racing

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.

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Specs:

• Speed: 5.1GHz (Boost Clock)
• Cores/Threads: 14/20
• Socket: LGA1700
• TDP: 125W

We thought about recommending the 5600X here, but considering you want to build a new PC in 2024, you should go with the Core i5 13600K. It will deliver excellent performance in games and surprisingly comes close to the 13700K in that regard. This is a processor that outperforms the competition from AMD at a lower price. You have to appreciate the overall value of this CPU, and it’s a good choice for sim racing. It’ll also become better value given that the 14th Gen is now available.

Final Word

To sum it up, you can’t go wrong with either choice in this case. The 13700K is the best CPU for sim racing for higher-end builds, but the Core i5 13600K is decent as well, even in 2024. It comes down to how much you are willing to spend.