Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for BioShock Infinite
Three processors compared, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 7 5700X, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
You do not need a flagship processor for BioShock Infinite; 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.
This is a research roundup, not a lab test: L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads come from each maker's published specs; a missing L3 cache is flagged, not filled in, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 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)
Largest Game Cache
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
The largest L3 cache here (32MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (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 largest L3 cache here (32MB). | Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
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
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It has a smaller 16MB L3 cache and runs PCIe 3.0, which matters little for a budget graphics card. It matches the Ryzen 5 5500F on core count (6 cores). 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 was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Ryzen 5 5500F was the next step up. The main gap: L3 cache of 16MB, behind the Ryzen 7 5700X (32MB). If that matters, the Ryzen 7 5700X offers 32MB.
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 3
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. It matches the Ryzen 5 5500 on core count (6 cores). 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.
Another plus: 65W rating suits a modest air cooler. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 7 5700X, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Ryzen 7 5700X, which offers 32MB.
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
Largest Game Cache3 of 3
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 5700X stands out for 32MB of L3 cache at a 65W TDP, and it adds DDR4-3200 dual-channel support.
Best for
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Skip if
- Pass on it if aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It also offers a 32MB L3 cache and offers an 8 cores core count. Nothing else here matches its 8 cores core count; the Ryzen 5 5500 comes closest at 6 cores. 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.
Worth noting: 65W rating suits a modest air cooler. Only the Ryzen 5 5500F came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks. There is no published boost clock figure, whereas the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 4.2GHz.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- 32MB of L3 cache at a 65W TDP
- DDR4-3200 dual-channel support
- Largest L3 cache of the picks (32MB)
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No published boost clock
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up three processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 3 picks leave out L3 cache.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 7 5700X, state core count, rated power and threads and share AM4 socket and DDR4 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 5500F gives no L3 cache; the Ryzen 7 5700X gives no boost clock.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 7 5700X ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for BioShock Infinite
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Core count
Across these 3 picks core count spans 6 cores (the Ryzen 5 5500F) to 8 cores (the Ryzen 7 5700X). If core count is your first filter, the Ryzen 7 5700X sets the ceiling at 8 cores.
How much L3 cache you need
Here L3 cache runs from 16MB on the Ryzen 5 5500 to 32MB on the Ryzen 7 5700X, a 100% spread. Start with the Ryzen 7 5700X if L3 cache decides it. The Ryzen 5 5500F gives no L3 cache figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The Ryzen 5 5500: one of the cheapest six-core desktop chips. The Ryzen 5 5500F: DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache. The Ryzen 7 5700X: DDR4-3200 dual-channel support.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the Ryzen 5 5500; $100 to $150 buys the Ryzen 5 5500F; $150 to $250 buys the Ryzen 7 5700X at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F: the Ryzen 5 5500. Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles: the Ryzen 7 5700X.
How to Choose a CPUs for BioShock Infinite
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 |
| Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles | Ryzen 7 5700X | The largest L3 cache here (32MB) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 7 5700X leads on core count at 8 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 at 6 cores. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 5500F leaves 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 7 5700X | 32MB | Not listed | 8 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 7 5700X 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 7 5700X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest core count: the Ryzen 7 5700X or the Ryzen 5 5500?
The Ryzen 7 5700X tops core count at 8 cores; the Ryzen 5 5500 follows at 6 cores, 33% apart.
How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare with the Ryzen 7 5700X on L3 cache?
Between the top two, it is 32MB on the Ryzen 7 5700X against 16MB on the Ryzen 5 5500, a 100% difference. The Ryzen 5 5500F doesn't state a L3 cache figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
Is the Ryzen 7 5700X worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 5500?
On paper it adds core count (8 cores against 6 cores) and L3 cache (32MB against 16MB). The Ryzen 5 5500 sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the Ryzen 7 5700X in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if core count and L3 cache decide your purchase.
What makes the Ryzen 5 5500 the Lowest Price Here?
It carries the badge for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. It makes sense for anyone who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Which of these processors have cooler in box?
The Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 5500F have it. The maker of the Ryzen 7 5700X doesn't state cooler in box, so 2 of 3 picks are covered here.
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 7 5700X: 32MB of L3 cache at a 65W TDP.
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 if those matter more to you.
Check the motherboard's socket and BIOS version before ordering a processor.