Best CPU for Total War Warhammer 3 – our top picks
Here are the best CPUs for enjoying Total War: Warhammer 3

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Looking for the best CPU for Total Warhammer 3? We’ve got that for you right here. The Total War series is one of the most popular and well-regarded strategy games of all time. Total War: Warhammer 3 is no exception. Players will need a powerful CPU to run the game smoothly, so in this article, we will be looking at the best CPU for Total War: Warhammer 3.
The developers state that you’ll need a Core i5 or Ryzen 5 processor to properly run the game, along with 8GB of RAM. You should be safe with relatively recent AMD or Intel processors, and we’ll be recommending based on that. Here are our picks for the best CPU for Total War: Warhammer 3.
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Best CPU for Total War Warhammer 3
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.
- Great price to performance ratio
- Strong multi-core performance
- Lots of threads for an i7
- 13600K is better value for pure gaming
Specs:
- Boost Clock: 5.4GHz
- Total Cores/Threads: 16/24
- Socket: LGA1700
- TDP: 125W
The Intel Core i7-13700K is a powerful 8-core, 16-thread CPU that is capable of handling even the most demanding games and applications. It has a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.0 GHz, making it one of the fastest CPUs on the market.
This processor performs well in demanding applications, and Total War: Warhammer 3 is no exception. Even when you are dealing with complex scenes, this CPU can handle the game quite well, even at higher settings. The 13700K is also unlocked, which means that it can be overclocked to achieve even higher performance. However, this will require a good motherboard and cooling system, as well as some knowledge of how to safely overclock a CPU.
Best Budget CPU for Total War Warhammer 3
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.
- High core count for an entry level CPU
- High base and boost speeds
- Efficient
- backwards compatible with 12th gen motherboards
- Runs very warm
Specs:
- Speed: 5.1GHz (Boost Clock)
- Cores/Threads: 14/20
- Socket: LGA1700
- TDP: 125W
The Intel Core i5-13600K is a 6-core, 12-thread CPU with excellent single-threaded performance and a boost clock speed of 5.1 GHz. Like the 13700K, it also uses the LGA1700 socket and is best paired with a Z690 motherboard.
It is a very capable CPU that should be able to run Total War: Warhammer 3 without any issues. The 13600K is also unlocked, so it can be overclocked if desired. In terms of value, it is the best gaming processor out right now. If you don’t feel like overspending on the processor, then this Core i5 part will not disappoint.
Final Word
In conclusion, if you want the best possible performance in Total War: Warhammer 3, consider going with the Intel Core i7 13700K. However, if you care more about value but still want great performance, then the Core i5 13600K won’t let you down either. If you’re after a more powerful CPU, make sure to check out the best CPUs for gaming in 2024.