Best CPU for World of Warcraft (WoW)

Explore the World of Warcraft on modern hardware with a best CPU pick

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World of Warcraft, better known as WoW, is a legendary MMO RPG developed by Blizzard. The game has been around since 2004, and people are still playing it to this day. If you were wondering about the best CPU for WoW, we’ve got you covered with this guide.

It’s important to note that WoW can run on basically any system out there. While Blizzard recommends an 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, you should have no problem running it on older hardware. Of course, for 2023, we’ll be recommending relatively recent parts. With that in mind, here are the best CPUs for WoW.

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Best CPU for World of Warcraft (WoW) – 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

For World of Warcraft, the Intel Core i5 13600K is quite a bit overkill. It’s a processor that punches well above its price bracket, and leaves the competition in the dust. If you want a stable and high-end experience while playing this classic title, the 13600K won’t disappoint.

Of course, we won’t recommend you buy this CPU just for WoW, as that would be a bit ridiculous. Instead, if you play a lot of CPU-intensive games or your workload requires strong processor power, the 13600K is excellent.

The 13600K is much more than just a mid-range gaming processor. It brings a lot to the table in the form of productivity performance, gaming performance, and more. With 14 cores, 20 threads, and a 5.1GHz boost clock, you’ll never notice any sort of performance slow downs with this chip.

Best Budget CPU for World of Warcraft (WoW) – Intel Core i3 12100F

Intel Core i3-12100F

Core (threads)

4/8

Boost clock

4.3 GHz

Socket

Lga 1700

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Specs:

• Speed: 4.3GHz (Boost Clock)
• Cores/Threads: 4/8
• Socket: LGA1700
• TDP: 58W

The Intel Core i3 12100F is a bit of an underrated processor, simply because it has that “i3 Stigma” attached to its name. However, don’t let that fool you as this is a highly capable processor going into 2023. 

Sure, it only has 4 cores, but with a 4.3GHz boost clock, excellent single-threaded and multi-threaded performance, this thing can handle modern titles surprisingly well. As such, it has no issues with running WoW at high settings at a 1080p or 1440p resolution.

Is Word of Warcraft CPU or GPU intensive?

WoW is considered to be a CPU-intensive game and payers can benefit from higher clock speeds over higher core counts. Performance gains over say a GPU for World of Warcraft is significant but this can depend on how old your hardware is in general.

Final Word

In conclusion, you don’t need over-the-top hardware specs to run WoW in a playable manner. However, if you are building a new PC, then you could say the 13600K is the best CPU for WoW. However, even entry-level chips like the Core i3 12100F work well for the game.