Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for A Hat in Time
Five processors compared, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 5600G, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
You do not need a flagship processor for A Hat in Time; a low-cost current chip clears the game and leaves money for other parts. Every pick cost $200 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips L3 cache, the guide says so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 5 5500F
A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500F (opens in a new tab)
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 5 7500F
The highest boost clock here (5GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
Intel Core i5-12400
The largest L3 cache here (18MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-12400 (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G
The top of this price range, adding Radeon integrated graphics.
Best for: Spending more than the Core i5-12400 costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (opens in a new tab) |
| A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500F (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest boost clock here (5GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest L3 cache here (18MB). | Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles. | Check price for Intel Core i5-12400 (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding Radeon integrated graphics. | Spending more than the Core i5-12400 costs for the fullest feature set in this group. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5500 is the cheapest six-core chip here.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It has a smaller 16MB L3 cache and runs PCIe 3.0, which matters little for a budget graphics card. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600G at 16MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500F at 4.2GHz.
It shares an AM4 socket with the Ryzen 5 5500F and Ryzen 5 5600G; the Core i5-12400 goes with an LGA1700 socket. It also offers a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping.
It undercut the Ryzen 5 5500F and every other pick on price at the time of writing. The main gap: no integrated graphics, unlike the Ryzen 5 5600G. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 5600G has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 16MB
- Max boost: 4.2GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- One of the cheapest six-core desktop chips
- The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
Also Consider2 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5500F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5500F is built around a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, with DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 4.2GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 4.2GHz. It shares an AM4 socket with the Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen 5 5600G; the Core i5-12400 goes with an LGA1700 socket.
It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping. On price it sat second of 5, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 5500 and the pricier Ryzen 5 7500F, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its L3 cache; if that figure matters, the Core i5-12400 offers 18MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 4.2GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
Highest Boost Clock3 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 7500F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the Ryzen 5 7500F brings to the table is a low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5, plus DDR5 memory support.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It also offers a 5GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. On boost clock it leads this guide at 5GHz, ahead of the Core i5-12400 (4.4GHz). You get an AM5 socket here, which sets it apart from the Ryzen 5 5600G and its an AM4 socket.
It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Core i5-12400, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Core i5-12400, which offers 18MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 5GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
Pros
- Low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5
- DDR5 memory support
- Highest boost clock of the picks (5GHz)
- AM5 socket, the only one here
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No published L3 cache
- No published rated power
Largest Game Cache4 of 5
Intel Core i5-12400 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
What the Core i5-12400 brings to the table is 18MB of cache, plus a 2.5GHz base clock with 4.4GHz turbo.
Best for
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Skip if
- Its core count is not published, which rules it out if you need that number.
Why we like it
The maker lists 18MB of L3 cache and an LGA1700 socket, so it needs a compatible board. Built-in Intel UHD Graphics 730 supports up to four monitors, which lets you set up the PC before adding a graphics card. Nothing else here matches its 18MB L3 cache; the Ryzen 5 5500 comes closest at 16MB.
On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600G at 4.4GHz. An LGA1700 socket is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 5 5500F uses an AM4 socket. It fits LGA1700 boards (600 and 700 series) with either DDR4 or DDR5, depending on the board; 600-series boards may need a BIOS update for 14th-gen chips.
On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 7500F and the pricier Ryzen 5 5600G, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its core count; if that figure matters, the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 6 cores.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 18MB
- Max boost: 4.4GHz
- Socket: LGA1700
Pros
- 18MB of cache
- 2.5GHz base clock with 4.4GHz turbo
- Largest L3 cache of the picks (18MB)
- Boost clock of 4.4GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500
Cons
- No published core count
- No published rated power
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5600G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5600G pairs six Zen 3 cores with Radeon integrated graphics and a boxed cooler.
Best for
- Spending more than the Core i5-12400 costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games is a problem.
Why we like it
It runs lighter games without a graphics card on cheap AM4 boards and DDR4 memory, and a card can be added later. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 16MB. On boost clock it ties with the Core i5-12400 at 4.4GHz.
It shares an AM4 socket with the Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen 5 5500F; the Core i5-12400 goes with an LGA1700 socket. It drops into an AM4 board with DDR4 memory; older B450 and X470 boards need a BIOS that supports this chip, so check the support list before swapping. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Core i5-12400 and the rest. The trade-off is L3 cache; for more, the Core i5-12400 offers 18MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 16MB
- Max boost: 4.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- Radeon integrated graphics
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- L3 cache trails the Core i5-12400 (18MB)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 2 of 5 picks leave out L3 cache.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 5600G, state boost clock and socket.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 7500F give no L3 cache; the Core i5-12400 gives no core count.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 5 5600G ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for A Hat in Time
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much boost clock you need
Across these 5 picks boost clock spans 4.2GHz (the Ryzen 5 5500F) to 5GHz (the Ryzen 5 7500F). Start with the Ryzen 5 7500F if boost clock decides it.
L3 cache across these picks
Here L3 cache runs from 16MB on the Ryzen 5 5600G to 18MB on the Core i5-12400, a 13% spread. The Core i5-12400 is the pick for L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 7500F give no L3 cache figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600G list DDR4; the Ryzen 5 7500F lists DDR5. Settling memory first narrows 4 picks to 3 or 1.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600G have it. Settling cooler in box first narrows 3 picks to 3.
Features beyond the spec table
The Ryzen 5 7500F: DDR5 memory support. The Core i5-12400: a 2.5GHz base clock with 4.4GHz turbo. The Ryzen 5 5600G: Radeon integrated graphics.
How to Choose a CPUs for A Hat in Time
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F | Ryzen 5 5500 | The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F |
| Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box | Ryzen 5 5500F | A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 5 7500F | The highest boost clock here (5GHz) |
| Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles | Core i5-12400 | The largest L3 cache here (18MB) |
| Spending more than the Core i5-12400 costs for the fullest feature set in this group | Ryzen 5 5600G | The top of this price range, adding Radeon integrated graphics |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 7500F leads on boost clock at 5GHz, ahead of the Core i5-12400 at 4.4GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 7500F leave the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5500 | 16MB | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 5500F | Not listed | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 7500F | Not listed | 5GHz | 6 cores | Not listed |
| Core i5-12400 | 18MB | 4.4GHz | Not listed | Not listed |
| Ryzen 5 5600G | 16MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Ryzen 5 5500, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the Ryzen 5 5600G at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Ryzen 5 5500 |
| About $100 to $150 | Ryzen 5 5500F |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 7500F, Core i5-12400, Ryzen 5 5600G |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Core i5-12400 compare with the Ryzen 5 7500F on boost clock?
The Ryzen 5 7500F leads at 5GHz, with the Core i5-12400 at 4.4GHz. The Ryzen 5 5500F closes the ranking at 4.2GHz.
Is the Core i5-12400 ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 on L3 cache?
The Core i5-12400 tops L3 cache at 18MB; the Ryzen 5 5500 follows at 16MB, 13% apart. The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 7500F are left out of this ranking because their L3 cache isn't stated; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the Ryzen 5 5600G worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 5500?
The spec sheets show boost clock (4.4GHz against 4.2GHz) in its favour. The Ryzen 5 5500 sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the Ryzen 5 5600G in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if boost clock decides your purchase.
What makes the Core i5-12400 the Largest Game Cache?
The label rests on the largest L3 cache here (18MB). The Ryzen 5 5500 is next on L3 cache at 16MB, so this pick's 18MB is 13% further out. The Ryzen 5 5500, the cheapest pick, sat in the $50 to $100 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Do the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 7500F differ on socket?
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600G use AM4; the Ryzen 5 7500F uses AM5; the Core i5-12400 uses LGA1700.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 5500F apart?
The Ryzen 5 5500: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 5500F: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 7500F: a low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 5 5500, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. Look at the Ryzen 5 5500F for a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, the Ryzen 5 7500F for the highest boost clock here (5GHz) and the Ryzen 5 5600G for the top of this price range, adding Radeon integrated graphics if those matter more to you.
Confirm the cooler you plan to use fits the socket; some boxed processors include one.