Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Divinity: Original Sin
From the Ryzen 5 8500G to the Ryzen 9 7900X: three processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
For Divinity: Original Sin, spend on the graphics card, memory or storage rather than the most powerful processor. Every pick is an AM5 processor that cost $330 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; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips L3 cache, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 8500G
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8500G (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
The Zen 4 architecture.
Best for: Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
The largest L3 cache here (64MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8500G (opens in a new tab) |
| The Zen 4 architecture. | Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7600X (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest L3 cache here (64MB). | Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
AMD Ryzen 5 8500G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 8500G is built around a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, with Radeon graphics built in on top.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games is a problem.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 5GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. Its 5GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 5.6GHz. 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.
Another plus: integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card. It cost the least of the 3 picks at the time of writing, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up. There is no published L3 cache figure, whereas the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 64MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 5GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- Radeon graphics built in
- The lowest price of the group at our last check
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No published L3 cache
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 9 7900X (5.6GHz)
Also Consider2 of 3
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 7600X is the least expensive route to 240Hz here, with six Zen 4 cores on AM5.
Best for
- Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It needs an aftermarket cooler, since none is included. Its 5.3GHz boost clock ranks second of 3 here, behind the Ryzen 9 7900X (5.6GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 8500G (5GHz). On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 8500G at 6 cores.
It also comes with the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. 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. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating.
It was priced above the Ryzen 5 8500G and below the Ryzen 9 7900X at the time of writing. It gives ground on core count, where the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 12 cores.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.3GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 105W
- Threads: 12
- 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
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- Core count trails the Ryzen 9 7900X (12 cores)
Largest Game Cache3 of 3
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 7900X has 12 Zen 4 cores on AM5.
Best for
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO is a problem.
Why we like it
It is a cheaper way to the same thread count as the 9900X, at a higher power rating. On boost clock it leads this guide at 5.6GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X (5.3GHz). Nothing else here matches its 12 cores core count; the Ryzen 5 8500G comes closest at 6 cores.
You also get the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5. 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. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included.
Only the Ryzen 5 7600X came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks. What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 8500G; by contrast, the Ryzen 5 8500G has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 64MB
- Max boost: 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 12 cores
- Rated power: 170W
- 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
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 8500G at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side three processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and L3 cache and rated power are missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Ryzen 5 8500G to the Ryzen 9 7900X, state boost clock, core count and threads and share AM5 socket and DDR5 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 8500G gives no L3 cache; the Ryzen 5 8500G gives no rated power.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 8500G ($100 to $150) to the Ryzen 9 7900X ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Divinity: Original Sin
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Boost clock across these picks
Here boost clock runs from 5GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G to 5.6GHz on the Ryzen 9 7900X, a 12% spread. For less, the Ryzen 5 7600X is the runner-up at 5.3GHz ($150 to $250 tier).
Core count
The Ryzen 9 7900X tops core count at 12 cores and the Ryzen 5 7600X sits lowest at 6 cores. The Ryzen 9 7900X is the pick for core count.
How much L3 cache you need
The Ryzen 9 7900X tops L3 cache at 64MB and the Ryzen 5 7600X sits lowest at 32MB. If L3 cache is your first filter, the Ryzen 9 7900X sets the ceiling at 64MB. The Ryzen 5 8500G gives no L3 cache figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The Ryzen 5 8500G: Radeon graphics built in. The Ryzen 5 7600X: a 5nm process.
How much to spend
$100 to $150 buys the Ryzen 5 8500G; $150 to $250 buys the Ryzen 5 7600X; $250 to $500 buys the Ryzen 9 7900X at our last check.
How to Choose a CPUs for Divinity: Original Sin
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up | Ryzen 5 8500G | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture | Ryzen 5 7600X | The Zen 4 architecture |
| Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles | Ryzen 9 7900X | The largest L3 cache here (64MB) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 9 7900X leads on boost clock at 5.6GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X at 5.3GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 8500G leaves the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 8500G | Not listed | 5GHz | 6 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 6 cores | 105W |
| Ryzen 9 7900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 170W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Ryzen 5 8500G, sat in the $100 to $150 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the Ryzen 9 7900X at $250 to $500; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | Ryzen 5 8500G |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 7600X |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 9 7900X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ryzen 9 7900X ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X on boost clock?
The Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 5.6GHz, with the Ryzen 5 7600X at 5.3GHz. The spread runs down to the Ryzen 5 8500G at 5GHz.
Which has the highest core count: the Ryzen 9 7900X or the Ryzen 5 8500G?
The Ryzen 9 7900X tops core count at 12 cores; the Ryzen 5 8500G follows at 6 cores, 100% apart.
Which has the largest L3 cache: the Ryzen 9 7900X or the Ryzen 5 7600X?
The Ryzen 9 7900X tops L3 cache at 64MB; the Ryzen 5 7600X follows at 32MB, 100% apart. The Ryzen 5 8500G doesn't state a L3 cache figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
Is the Ryzen 9 7900X worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 8500G?
The spec sheets show boost clock (5.6GHz against 5GHz) and core count (12 cores against 6 cores) in its favour. The Ryzen 5 8500G sat in the $100 to $150 tier and the Ryzen 9 7900X in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if boost clock and core count decide your purchase.
What makes the Ryzen 9 7900X the Largest Game Cache?
The label rests on the largest L3 cache here (64MB). The Ryzen 5 7600X is next on L3 cache at 32MB, so this pick's 64MB is 100% further out. The Ryzen 5 8500G, the cheapest pick, sat in the $100 to $150 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Which of these processors have cooler in box?
The Ryzen 5 8500G has it; the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Ryzen 9 7900X do not.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 5 8500G, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the Ryzen 5 7600X for the Zen 4 architecture if those matter more to you.
Put leftover budget toward an SSD or more memory.