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01Best CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty with ray tracingBest CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty with ray tracing
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02Best budget CPU for Cyberpunk 2077Best budget CPU for Cyberpunk 2077
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03Best CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 without ray tracing at lower settingsBest CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 without ray tracing at lower settings
Have you been planning to change your CPU? Well, Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty is the perfect excuse to upgrade to the best CPU, here’s why.
There is no doubt that Phantom Liberty brings exceptional visuals to the gameplay, along with a new storyline, more characters, and better customizations. But it is also significantly more CPU-intensive than Cyberpunk 2077. In fact, Phantom Liberty is meant to push your processor to the point that it will have around 90% load on an 8-core CPU. While there could be many reasons behind such CPU dependency, some of the credit definitely goes to the game’s Overdrive Mode, which basically enables full path tracing for excellent graphics.
All of this means one thing: if your CPU is not up to mark and you want to enjoy Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty, then you’re going to need the best CPU for gaming. Lucky for you, we have done our research and talked to Jack Howarth, our in-house CPU expert. With Jack’s guidance, we were able to list a variety of processors that are perfect for Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty. We even have a very pocket-friendly option, so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank.
Why should you get a new CPU for Cyberpunk 2077?
Unless you’re already working with one of the below CPUs or equivalent, it could be time for an upgrade. With Cyberpunk 2077 V2.0 taking full advantage of path tracing, and adding major improvements to the game, the overall CPU usage will increase. Cyberpunk are boasting over 100 new items in Phantom Liberty and if you’re anything like us, having to sit through stuttering or lags, is the last thing you want. By securing yourself a strong CPU that can handle the extra data and processing, you can be assured in efficient and enjoyable gameplay of Cyberpunk 2077 and its expansion.
Best CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 at a glance
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
4.2GHz
Boost speed
5.0GHz
Cache
96MB
TDP
120W
Intel Core i5-13600KF L
Cores
14 (6 Performance, 8 Efficient)
Threads
20
Base speed
2.60GHz (Efficient), 3.50Ghz (Performance)
Boost speed
3.90Ghz (Efficient), 5.10GHz (Performance)
Cache
20MB
TDP
125W (Base), 181W (Max Turbo)
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X L
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
3.8GHz
Boost speed
4.7GHz
Cache
32MB
TDP
105W
If you’re after an affordable CPU then don’t worry, we’ve included budget-friendly options. However, if you’re seeking a cheaper CPU that still maintains high quality features then we’d recommend checking out the best budget CPUs.
For our fellow Cyberpunk 2077 fans, we’ve got our experts on the job to make sure you’re all caught up with Phantom Liberty. Whether it’s finding the best GPU for Cyberpunk 2077, the best monitor for Cyberpunk 2077, or the best PC for Cyberpunk 2077, we’ve got you sorted. Especially with the positive feedback from the Cyberpunk 2077 review, there’s no time like right now to upgrade your equipment and experience the Night City.
Best CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty with ray tracing
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
4.2GHz
Boost speed
5.0GHz
Cache
96MB
TDP
120W
- Plenty of L3 cache
- Good power efficiency
- Excellent gaming performance
- No overclocking support
There is no doubt that the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the best CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty with ray tracing. AMD has knocked it out of the park with their X3D processors so well that the Ryzen 7 7800X3D even leaves the flagship Ryzen 9 7950X behind in raw gaming performance. Of course, the main credit behind the CPU’s gaming excellence goes to its 96MB of L3 cache, which is physically stacked on top of the main CPU die.
Along with high cache capacity, you also get 8 cores and 16 threads with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. These cores can clock at up to 5.0GHz under full load, giving the CPU more than enough power to handle Phantom Liberty with ray tracing turned on like a beast. You will have zero CPU-related issues no matter which game you play on it.
In short, if you want a top-tier gaming processor that is meant to take up CPU-intensive games like Phantom Liberty, then the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a no-brainer.
Best budget CPU for Cyberpunk 2077
Intel Core i5-13600KF L
Cores
14 (6 Performance, 8 Efficient)
Threads
20
Base speed
2.60GHz (Efficient), 3.50Ghz (Performance)
Boost speed
3.90Ghz (Efficient), 5.10GHz (Performance)
Cache
20MB
TDP
125W (Base), 181W (Max Turbo)
- Bang for the buck
- Good performance
- Solid overclocking potential
- High power draw
The best budget CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 has to be the Intel Core i5-13600KF. It packs just as much performance as the normal i5-13600KF, but it does not have an integrated GPU for a lower price. As such, you get a solid 14-core combination of 6 P-cores and 8-Efficient cores with a 5.10GHz and 3.90GHz boost clock, respectively.
If you want to squeeze every bit of performance out of this processor for even more FPS, then you can also overclock it because it has an unlocked multiplier. The only downside to that would be the increased power consumption, which is already a bit high on stock configuration.
With an 181W max turbo power, you’re going to need a good CPU cooler to keep it at optimal temperatures. But with the best CPU cooler for i5-13600K, that shouldn’t be a big deal. Overall, if you’re on a budget but still want to enjoy Phantom Liberty with zero CPU bottlenecks, then the i5-13600KF is an excellent option.
Best CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 without ray tracing at lower settings
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X L
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
3.8GHz
Boost speed
4.7GHz
Cache
32MB
TDP
105W
- Very affordable
- Decent performance
- Low platform cost
- Can’t handle ray tracing
If you want to save big bucks and get the best CPU for Cyberpunk 2077 without ray tracing at lower settings, then the Ryzen 7 5800X is for you. The best thing about this processor is that it’s very budget-friendly, and in fact, its entire platform is now known for good value for money. As for the performance, the Ryzen 7 5800X can definitely handle Cyberpunk 2077, just not at the most cranked-up settings.
You will need to compromise on ray tracing, but the end result will give you decent framerates to roam the Night City without any issues. The CPU features a solid combination of 8 cores and 16 threads, plus it clocks at up to 4.7GHz to achieve high FPS.
Another good thing about the 5800X is that it uses the AM4 platform, which means you need DDR4 RAM and a 500-series motherboard. Both of these components are not the latest anymore, and you can find them for very low prices. With that said, if you want a pocket-friendly processor to play Cyberpunk 2077, the Ryzen 7 5800X has got your back.
Is Cyberpunk 2077 GPU or CPU intensive?
While Cyberpunk 2077 relies heavily on the GPU, it is more CPU-intensive than most gamers think. The Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty is meant to squeeze every bit of performance out of your processor, which is why upgrading to the best CPU for gaming is necessary.
Is Intel i5 or i7 better for Cyberpunk?
If we compare two Intel i5 and i7 processors of the same generation for Cyberpunk, then i7 is better for it. That’s because the i7 CPUs always have more cores, higher clock speeds, and overall better performance than their i5 counterparts.
