Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Call of Duty: Warzone
We weighed four processors on L3 cache and boost clock; the Ryzen 9 9900X has the highest boost clock, and the Ryzen 7 7700X costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read4 products evaluated
Warzone is one of the most CPU-heavy shooters, with large maps and many players. Every pick has eight or more cores and 16 or more threads and boosts to 5.4GHz or more, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads from maker specifications; we did not test these processors ourselves, and gaps in the specs are flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 4 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Keeping the budget tight.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Rated Power
AMD Ryzen 9 7900
The lowest rated power here (65W).
Best for: Buyers who put rated power first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (opens in a new tab)
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
The highest boost clock here (5.6GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (opens in a new tab)
Highest Core Count
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
The highest core count here (20 cores).
Best for: Buyers who put core count first.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Keeping the budget tight. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest rated power here (65W). | Buyers who put rated power first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest boost clock here (5.6GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest core count here (20 cores). | Buyers who put core count first. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 7 265K (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 4
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 7700X brings eight Zen 4 cores with high clocks to AM5 at a lower price than the X3D chips.
Best for
- Keeping the budget tight.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no cooler in the bo is a problem.
Why we like it
It gives esports titles plenty of headroom without the cache premium. On L3 cache it sits mid-pack at 32MB: the Ryzen 9 7900 offers 64MB, and the Core Ultra 7 265K comes in at 30MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 9 7900 at 5.4GHz.
Its 8 cores core count is the lowest in this group; the Core Ultra 7 265K leads at 20 cores. Its 105W rated power ranks second of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 9 7900 (65W) and ahead of the Core Ultra 7 265K (125W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 9 7900 and Ryzen 9 9900X; the Core Ultra 7 265K goes with an LGA1851 socket.
It also offers the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. It undercut the Ryzen 9 7900 and every other pick on price at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 105W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 4 architecture
- 5nm process
- PCIe 5.0 support on AM5
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Core count trails the Core Ultra 7 265K (20 cores)
Lowest Rated Power2 of 4
AMD Ryzen 9 7900 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 7900 is the 65W twelve-core AM5 chip with a Wraith Prism cooler included.
Best for
- Buyers who put rated power first.
Skip if
- Skip it if boost clock matters most to you; the Ryzen 9 9900X offers 5.6GHz.
Why we like it
It trades a little boost clock for lower heat. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 9 9900X at 64MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700X at 5.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 9 9900X on core count (12 cores). On rated power it leads this guide at 65W, ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700X (105W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 7 7700X and Ryzen 9 9900X; the Core Ultra 7 265K goes with an LGA1851 socket.
It also offers 12 cores at a 65W rating. 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 7 7700X and the Ryzen 9 9900X, based on our last check. If boost clock is your priority, the Ryzen 9 9900X (5.6GHz) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
Cons
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 9 9900X (5.6GHz)
- Costs more than the Ryzen 7 7700X at the time of writing
Highest Boost Clock3 of 4
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 9900X steps down to 12 cores on Zen 5.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It leaves plenty of threads for an encoder alongside a game, with a lower power rating than the 16-core chips. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 9 7900 at 64MB. On boost clock it leads this guide at 5.6GHz, ahead of the Core Ultra 7 265K (5.5GHz).
It matches the Ryzen 9 7900 on core count (12 cores). Its 120W rated power ranks third of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 9 7900 (65W) and ahead of the Core Ultra 7 265K (125W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 7 7700X and Ryzen 9 7900; the Core Ultra 7 265K goes with an LGA1851 socket.
On price it sat third of 4, between the cheaper Ryzen 9 7900 and the pricier Core Ultra 7 265K, at the time of writing. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 9 7900. If that matters, the Ryzen 9 7900 has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 120W
- Threads: 24
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 7 7700X at the time of writing
Highest Core Count4 of 4
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core Ultra 7 265K is Intel's strongest all-rounder here, with 20 cores for games plus background work, on the LGA1851 socket.
Best for
- Buyers who put core count first.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It suits a builder who wants an Intel platform and a lot of multi-threaded headroom. Its 30MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900 leads at 64MB. Its 5.5GHz boost clock ranks second of 4 here, behind the Ryzen 9 9900X (5.6GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 9 7900 (5.4GHz).
Nothing else here matches its 20 cores core count; the Ryzen 9 7900 comes closest at 12 cores. On rated power it trails the group at 125W, while the Ryzen 9 7900 offers 65W. No other pick in this guide offers an LGA1851 socket; compare the Ryzen 7 7700X, which has an AM5 socket.
You also get 8 performance and 12 efficient cores and a built-in NPU for AI features. Only the Ryzen 9 9900X came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 4 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 30MB
- Max boost: 5.5GHz
- Cores / threads: 20 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 20
- Socket: LGA1851
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 5.5GHz maximum boost
- 20 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- 8 performance and 12 efficient cores
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 9 7900 (64MB)
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 9 7900 (65W)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up four processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 4, from the Ryzen 7 7700X to the Core Ultra 7 265K, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count and share DDR5 memory and integrated graphics.
- Who each pick suits
- The Ryzen 7 7700X for the lowest price of the group at our last check; the Ryzen 9 7900 for the lowest rated power here (65W); the Ryzen 9 9900X for the highest boost clock here (5.6GHz).
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 7 7700X ($150 to $250) to the Core Ultra 7 265K ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Call of Duty: Warzone
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much L3 cache you need
Here L3 cache runs from 30MB on the Core Ultra 7 265K to 64MB on the Ryzen 9 7900. Start with the Ryzen 9 7900 if L3 cache decides it.
Boost clock
Here boost clock runs from 5.4GHz on the Ryzen 9 7900 to 5.6GHz on the Ryzen 9 9900X. The Ryzen 9 9900X is the pick for boost clock.
Core count
Here core count runs from 8 cores on the Ryzen 7 7700X to 20 cores on the Core Ultra 7 265K. The Ryzen 9 7900 comes second for less money.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 7 7700X, the Ryzen 9 9900X and the Core Ultra 7 265K go without; the Ryzen 9 7900 has it. Rule out the mismatches before looking at price.
Extras that separate them
The Ryzen 9 7900: 12 cores at a 65W rating. The Ryzen 9 9900X: the Zen 5 architecture. The Core Ultra 7 265K: a built-in NPU for AI features.
How to Choose a CPUs for Call of Duty: Warzone
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Keeping the budget tight | Ryzen 7 7700X | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who put rated power first | Ryzen 9 7900 | The lowest rated power here (65W) |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 9 9900X | The highest boost clock here (5.6GHz) |
| Buyers who put core count first | Core Ultra 7 265K | The highest core count here (20 cores) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 9 7900 leads on L3 cache at 64MB, ahead of the Ryzen 9 9900X at 64MB.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 7700X | 32MB | 5.4GHz | 8 cores | 105W |
| Ryzen 9 7900 | 64MB | 5.4GHz | 12 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 120W |
| Core Ultra 7 265K | 30MB | 5.5GHz | 20 cores | 125W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Ryzen 7 7700X was the lowest-priced pick and the Core Ultra 7 265K the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 7 7700X |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 9 7900, Ryzen 9 9900X, Core Ultra 7 265K |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Core Ultra 7 265K compare with the Ryzen 9 9900X on boost clock?
The Ryzen 9 9900X leads at 5.6GHz, with the Core Ultra 7 265K at 5.5GHz. The Ryzen 9 7900 is at the other end of this group with 5.4GHz.
Which has the highest core count: the Core Ultra 7 265K or the Ryzen 9 7900?
The Core Ultra 7 265K leads at 20 cores, with the Ryzen 9 7900 at 12 cores. The Ryzen 7 7700X is at the other end of this group with 8 cores.
Is the Ryzen 9 7900 ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700X on rated power?
The Ryzen 9 7900 comes out best at 65W, with the Ryzen 7 7700X at 105W. The Core Ultra 7 265K is at the other end of this group with 125W.
What does the Core Ultra 7 265K add over the Ryzen 7 7700X?
On paper it adds boost clock (5.5GHz against 5.4GHz) and core count (20 cores against 8 cores). It does not win everywhere: the Ryzen 7 7700X still leads on L3 cache (32MB) and rated power (105W). The Ryzen 7 7700X was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
Why is the Ryzen 9 9900X our Highest Boost Clock pick?
It earns the label for the highest boost clock here (5.6GHz). It suits anyone who put boost clock first.
Do the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Core Ultra 7 265K differ on socket?
The Ryzen 7 7700X, the Ryzen 9 7900 and the Ryzen 9 9900X use AM5; the Core Ultra 7 265K uses LGA1851.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 7 7700X, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the Ryzen 9 7900 for the lowest rated power here (65W), the Ryzen 9 9900X for the highest boost clock here (5.6GHz) and the Core Ultra 7 265K for the highest core count here (20 cores) if those matter more to you.
Keep the shader cache enabled and install the game on an NVMe SSD.