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If your processor is a little out of date then an upgrade to the best CPU for Helldivers 2 may be in order. This buying guide goes through our three top recommendations from both Intel and AMD based on Helldivers 2 system requirements so you’re getting a machine perfectly spec’d out for the action-heavy third person shooter.
For more, we’re also bringing you our recommendations for the best keyboard for Helldivers 2 as well as the best gaming laptop for Helldivers 2. The game has proven itself to be a near instant classic, and the proof is in the pudding with a high average play time and millions of copies sold. Luckily, in terms of processors, you won’t necessarily need to be on the bleeding edge, so you’ll find some excellent value buys here that don’t skimp on the power.
Best CPUs for Helldivers 2
If you want a quick view of our recommendations then here you are. We think that the Intel Core i7-14700K is the best overall chipset with the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X being a viable AMD alternative. Let’s get into all the details as to why we’ve made these choices and how much you can expect to spend.
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1. Intel Core i7-14700K – best overall CPU for Helldivers 2
Intel Core i7-14700K

Cores
20 (8P + 12E)
Threads
28
Base clock
3.4 GHz (P) ; 2.5 GHz (E)
Boost clock
5.6 GHz (P) ; 4.3 GHz (E)
Socket
LGA 1700
- Aggressive pricing
- Tons of cores and threads
- Impressive boost clock
- LGA 1700 will be retired soon
The Intel Core i7-14700K takes the top spot for the best overall CPU for Helldivers 2. It’s not quite the most powerful processor in the Raptor Lake refresh line-up, however, it offers incredible price-to-performance for anyone investing in LGA 1700 or upgrading from an older Alder Lake model. This chipset features a staggering 20 cores and 28 threads with a boost clock of up to 5.6 GHz which should be more than enough to handle Helldivers 2 at full throttle.
It’s a particularly impressive processor given the fact that you can find it routinely around the $400 which offers exceptional value for money. That’s especially when factoring in that its predecessor, the 13700K clocked in with 16 cores and 20 threads with a lower boost clock of just 5.4 GHz. It may not seem like a massive jump, but as the last hurrah for the Raptor Lake as the third generation chipset on the current socket.
2. AMD Ryzen 7 7700X – best AMD CPU for Helldivers 2
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base clock
4.5 GHz
Boost clock
5.4 GHz
Socket
AM5
- Ready for DDR5 RAM
- Strong performance
- Competitively priced
- No support for DDR4 RAM
If you would rather prefer a processor from Team Red then we’ve got you covered, too. We think that the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is among the best AMD CPUs you can slot into your machine for Helldivers 2. That’s because it’s competitively priced under the $400 mark and offers powerful performance with its 8 cores and 16 threads available to you. It should be more than enough for the new third person shooter in all target resolutions.
What’s particularly impressive about the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X is the fast base clock speed of 4.5 GHz out of the box which can be pushed up to 5.4 GHz with overclocking. What’s more, there’s 80MB of L3 cache onboard which should make running the game a breeze. Considering that Helldivers 2 can comfortably run on considerably weaker chipsets, we don’t see a need to splash the cash on the bleeding edge when this mid-range offering can more than keep up.
3. AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D – Best value CPU for Helldivers 2
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base clock
3.0 GHz
Boost clock
4.1 GHz
Socket
AM4
- Affordable price point
- Support for DDR4 memory
- Tons of L3 cache
- Previous generation
There’s no reason why you necessarily have to burn too deep a hole in your pocket and that’s where the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D comes in. The second chipset to offer the company’s 3D V-cache, there’s a total of 100MB L3 cache to use in the game, coupled with a relatively low TDP, and support for older DDR4 RAM, too. If you’re building a PC on a budget, then this chipset should serve well for under the $250 mark.
It’s equipped with 8 cores and 16 threads with a maximum boost clock of 4.1 GHz. While not the most powerful, it should still have enough horsepower to be able to play Helldivers 2 in 1080p and 1440p without any obvious bottleneck. Just be sure to invest in either an air cooler or an AIO so you can keep this chipset nice and cool when under stress.
Is Helldivers 2 on PC?
Yes, Helldivers 2 PC was released on day one alongside its PS5 console release. The game is being published by PlayStation Studios on clients such as Steam, meaning you can skip the usual wait time.
Can you play Helldivers 2 solo?
Yes, you can play Helldivers 2 solo. Despite being made and marketed as a coop third person shooter, you should be able to take on solo missions as well.
Image Credit: Arrowhead Game Studios / AMD / Intel / Sony