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If you’re looking for the best CPU for Starfield then you’re in the right place. Bethesda’s latest open world opus isn’t the easiest of games to get running on humble hardware, and is CPU-bound, so we’re bringing you only the top processors for the job.
After hours of playing Starfield, our team is enthused and confident in recommending these top three picks for the game. So far, it’s proving the perfect excuse to upgrade your CPU. The news from Digital Foundry that Starfield performs better on AMD systems over Nvidia and Intel further informs our decision, though we’ve kept an Intel recommendation for those reluctant to switch to Ryzen.
We knew that AMD was an exclusive partner with Bethesda Studios, but we weren’t expecting this. In light of the news and playing the game ourselves, we’ve chosen mostly AMD CPUs that deliver a high performance per watt, hopefully giving you the best bang for your buck. With these settings – you’re going to be able to max out the best graphics settings for Starfield pretty easily.
Best CPU for Starfield at a glance
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
4.7GHz
Boost speed
5.6GHz
Cache
L3 64MB
TDP
170W
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores
6
Threads
12
Base speed
3.6GHz
Boost speed
4.6GHz
Cache
32
TDP
95W
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
Don’t forget that you’ll also need one of the best SSDs for Starfield too to play the RPG game. Unfortunately, upgrading your PC doesn’t come cheap, though at least you’re doing it for a noble cause – Starfield. You may also want to check out the best gaming monitor for Starfield too for the most immersive gaming experience.
1. AMD Ryzen 9 7900X – Best CPU for Starfield overall
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
4.7GHz
Boost speed
5.6GHz
Cache
L3 64MB
TDP
170W
- High performance per Watt
- Powerful performance
- Cooler than 7000 series CPUs on average
- Requires a decent CPU cooler
If you’re not convinced by our Starfield review to get the best possible CPU, then think again. The Ryzen 9 7900X boasts an impressive list of specs thanks to its twelve cores and 24 thread count. As WePC found in its Ryzen 9 7900X hands-on review, it’s great to see the max boost speed of 5.6GHz climb higher than the others as a Zen 4 CPU. Thanks to AMD’s new TSMC’S 5nm manufacturing process, you’re looking at significantly smaller transistors inside the CPU cores, giving this CPU a fantastic ability to complete complex instructions.
You’re looking at around a 13% IPC increase over Zen 3 which is a solid win for the 7900X. Note that the 7900X also used the new AM5 socket. While this might mean you’ll probably need to upgrade to one of the best AM5 motherboards, you’ll be pleased to know the AM5 socket retains AM4 compatibility for coolers.
However, we’re caveating that to say you may want to check out the best coolers for Ryzen 9 7900X since AMD’s Zen 5 CPUs can reach pretty high temperatures. According to WePC’s benchmarks of the CPU, you’ll be getting around a 23% increase in performance over the previous generation Ryzen 9 5900X.
2. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X – Best budget-friendly CPU for Starfield
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Cores
6
Threads
12
Base speed
3.6GHz
Boost speed
4.6GHz
Cache
32
TDP
95W
- Good base and boost clock
- Competitively priced
- Outperforms the Ryzen 5 5600X by 10%
- Won’t be as good as Zen 4 chips
- Uses previous gen Zen 3 architecture
The Ryxen 5 5600X offers an excellent price to performance ratio, powered by six cores and twelve threads. Though it uses Zen 3 architecture built upon the 7nm process, you’re still getting improved memory overclocking combined with decent power consumption. Don’t forget to check out the best motherboard and GPU for 5600X for the best possible PC build.
Beyond Starfield, you’ll find this CPU is decent for 3D rendering and video encoding, though gaming is clearly what this CPU is made for. Overall, we’re the 5 5600X provides those smooth frame rates that any Starfield fan wants, though don’t expect 144 FPS for this particular game.
3. Intel Core i7-13700K – Best Intel CPU for Starfield
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
- Second generation hybrid architecture
- Futureproof
- Power efficient
- The socket will soon be replaced
As we’ve already covered, Starfield runs better on an AMD setup. However, if you’re reluctant to jump ship from Intel, then the i7-13700K is a brilliant mid-range pick for Starfield. Offering an abundance in extra cores and threads, this CPU offers a great multi-core performance ideal for intensive workloads.
This CPU can be boosted up to a hefty 5.0 GHz thanks to Intel Turbo Boost Technology. It also boasts an L3 cache of 12MB combined with 20 threads. As for cores, this CPU has eight P-cores and four efficiency cores which is strong. Finally, if you’re wondering what GPUs pair the best with this CPU, we recommend the RTX 3080, 3070 or AMD’s RX 6800 XT.
Overall, this is a great mid-range CPU recognised for its excellent adaptability for gaming and working scenarios. If you’re thinking about gaming on the go, you can also check out the best gaming laptops for Starfield.
How to improve Starfield CPU performance?
In the wake of its release, we’re offering some tips and tricks to boost your CPU performance for Starfield. If you’re experiencing stuttering or frame rates drops, we recommend reading through the latest Starfield mods for performance optimization. The solution doesn’t always lie in spending hundreds on a new CPU.
You should also update your Nvidia drivers if you haven’t already. Nvidia is now offering DLSS 3.5 in previous gen graphics cards that should help improve FPS. Of course, if you have one of the best GPUs for Starfield, you may have access to DLSS 3 which is even better.
What are the Starfield CPU requirements?
For Starfield, you’ll need at least an Intel Core i7-6800K or equivalent at a minimum. However, since Starfield is a CPU intensive game, you may want to consider a more powerful CPU from AMD’s Zen 4 series to future-proof your system. However, the official specs recommend an Intel Core i5-10600K. You enjoy looking at a full list of the best CPUs for gaming for further advice.
