Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Divinity: Original Sin 2
We weighed five processors on L3 cache and boost clock; the Core Ultra 5 245KF has the largest L3 cache, and the Core Ultra 5 225F costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
For Divinity: Original Sin 2, spend on the graphics card, memory or storage rather than the most powerful processor. Every pick cost $200 or less, ordered by core count.
We ranked these processors on L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads using manufacturer specifications; we did not test these processors ourselves, and where a maker leaves out L3 cache, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Largest Game Cache
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
The largest L3 cache here (24MB).
Best for: Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F
The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core i5-9400F.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Intel Core i5-9400F
6 cores at a 65W rating.
Best for: Buyers who want 6 cores at a 65W rating.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-9400F (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AMD Ryzen 5 7500F
A low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5.
Best for: Buyers who want low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (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 Ryzen 5 7500F 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 largest L3 cache here (24MB). | Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF (opens in a new tab) |
| The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core i5-9400F. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (opens in a new tab) |
| 6 cores at a 65W rating. | Buyers who want 6 cores at a 65W rating. | Check price for Intel Core i5-9400F (opens in a new tab) |
| A low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5. | Buyers who want low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 7500F (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding Radeon integrated graphics. | Spending more than the Ryzen 5 7500F costs for the fullest feature set in this group. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Largest Game Cache1 of 5
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core Ultra 5 245KF is the entry to LGA1851, with 14 cores and no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It needs a graphics card to show a picture, which every gaming build has anyway. Its 24MB L3 cache is the largest here; the Core Ultra 5 225F comes next at 22MB. Nothing else here matches its 5.2GHz boost clock; the Ryzen 5 7500F comes closest at 5GHz.
Nothing else here matches its 14 cores core count; the Core Ultra 5 225F comes closest at 10 cores. On rated power it trails the group at 125W, while the Core i5-9400F offers 65W. Like the Core Ultra 5 225F, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Core i5-9400F uses an LGA1151 socket.
Like the Ryzen 5 7500F, it has DDR5 memory, while the Core i5-9400F uses DDR4 memory. It also comes with 6 performance and 8 efficient cores, Intel 800-series chipset support and PCIe 5.0 support. It was priced above the Core i5-9400F and below the Ryzen 5 7500F at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 24MB
- Max boost: 5.2GHz
- Cores / threads: 14 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 14
- Socket: LGA1851
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 14 cores for encoding and background work
- 6 performance and 8 efficient cores
- Intel 800-series chipset support
- PCIe 5.0 support
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Rated power trails the Core i5-9400F (65W)
Lowest Price Here2 of 5
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core Ultra 5 225F is a locked ten-core LGA1851 chip.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core i5-9400F.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: no integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required.
Why we like it
It suits a budget Intel build that will pair with a B860 board. Its 22MB L3 cache ranks second of 4 here, behind the Core Ultra 5 245KF (24MB) and ahead of the Core i5-9400F (9MB). Its 4.9GHz boost clock ranks third of 5 here, behind the Core Ultra 5 245KF (5.2GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-9400F (4.1GHz).
On core count it sits mid-pack at 10 cores: the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers 14 cores, and the Ryzen 5 5600G comes in at 6 cores. Like the Core Ultra 5 245KF, it has an LGA1851 socket, while the Ryzen 5 7500F uses an AM5 socket. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Core i5-9400F was closest. If you want a confirmed rated power, look to the Core i5-9400F instead: it offers 65W, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 22MB
- Max boost: 4.9GHz
- Cores / threads: 10 cores
- Socket: LGA1851
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 6 P-cores plus 4 E-cores
- PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support on Intel 800-series boards
- L3 cache of 22MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5600G
- Boost clock of 4.9GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5600G
Cons
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- No published rated power
Also Consider3 of 5
Intel Core i5-9400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-9400F has six cores at a 65W rating and no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Buyers who want 6 cores at a 65W rating.
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 is the low-cost way to move a 300-series board off a dual- or quad-core chip. Its 9MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Core Ultra 5 245KF leads at 24MB. Its 4.1GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Core Ultra 5 245KF leads at 5.2GHz.
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 5 7500F and the Ryzen 5 5600G at 6 cores. On rated power it ties with the Ryzen 5 5600G at 65W. No other pick in this guide offers an LGA1151 socket; compare the Ryzen 5 7500F, which has an AM5 socket.
Like the Ryzen 5 5600G, it has DDR4 memory, while the Core Ultra 5 245KF uses DDR5 memory. It was priced above the Core Ultra 5 225F and below the Core Ultra 5 245KF at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 9MB
- Max boost: 4.1GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 6
- Socket: LGA1151
- Memory: DDR4
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- 6 cores at a 65W rating
- LGA1151 socket, the only one here
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- L3 cache trails the Core Ultra 5 245KF (24MB)
Strong Alternative4 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 want low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5.
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 also offers a 5GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. Its 5GHz boost clock ranks second of 5 here, behind the Core Ultra 5 245KF (5.2GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-9400F (4.1GHz). It is the only pick here with an AM5 socket; the Core Ultra 5 245KF has an LGA1851 socket instead.
Like the Core Ultra 5 245KF, it has DDR5 memory, while the Core i5-9400F uses DDR4 memory. 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. When we checked, only the Core Ultra 5 245KF and cheaper picks cost less, and the Ryzen 5 5600G cost more. If you want a confirmed L3 cache, look to the Core Ultra 5 245KF instead: it offers 24MB, while this one gives no figure.
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
- Boost clock of 5GHz, ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F
- AM5 socket, the only one here
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No published L3 cache
- No published rated power
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 Ryzen 5 7500F costs for the fullest feature set in this group.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
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. Its 16MB L3 cache ranks third of 4 here, behind the Core Ultra 5 245KF (24MB) and ahead of the Core i5-9400F (9MB). Its 4.4GHz boost clock ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the Core Ultra 5 245KF (5.2GHz) and ahead of the Core i5-9400F (4.1GHz).
On core count it ties with the Core i5-9400F and the Ryzen 5 7500F at 6 cores. On rated power it ties with the Core i5-9400F at 65W. No other pick in this guide offers an AM4 socket; compare the Core i5-9400F, which has an LGA1151 socket.
Only the Ryzen 5 7500F came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. It gives ground on core count, where the Core Ultra 5 245KF offers 14 cores.
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
- Core count trails the Core Ultra 5 245KF (14 cores)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We set side by side five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 9 fields compared are stated for every pick, while L3 cache and rated power have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Core Ultra 5 245KF to the Ryzen 5 5600G, state boost clock, core count and socket.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 7500F gives no L3 cache; the Core Ultra 5 225F and the Ryzen 5 7500F give no rated power.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Core Ultra 5 225F ($100 to $150) to the Ryzen 5 5600G ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Divinity: Original Sin 2
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Boost clock
Here boost clock runs from 4.1GHz on the Core i5-9400F to 5.2GHz on the Core Ultra 5 245KF, a 27% spread. Start with the Core Ultra 5 245KF if boost clock decides it.
Core count across these picks
Across these 5 picks core count spans 6 cores (the Ryzen 5 5600G) to 14 cores (the Core Ultra 5 245KF). For less, the Core Ultra 5 225F is the runner-up at 10 cores ($100 to $150 tier).
How much L3 cache you need
Across these 4 picks L3 cache spans 9MB (the Core i5-9400F) to 24MB (the Core Ultra 5 245KF). The Core Ultra 5 225F comes second at 22MB, in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 for the Core Ultra 5 245KF. The Ryzen 5 7500F gives no L3 cache figure, so 4 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The Core Ultra 5 245KF and the Ryzen 5 7500F list DDR5; the Core i5-9400F and the Ryzen 5 5600G list DDR4. Sort out memory before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 2 and 2.
Cooler in box
The Core Ultra 5 245KF goes without; the Ryzen 5 5600G has it. Sort out cooler in box before price: it splits 2 stated picks into groups of 1 and 1.
How to Choose a CPUs for Divinity: Original Sin 2
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates | Core Ultra 5 245KF | The largest L3 cache here (24MB) |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core i5-9400F | Core Ultra 5 225F | The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want 6 cores at a 65W rating | Core i5-9400F | 6 cores at a 65W rating |
| Buyers who want low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5 | Ryzen 5 7500F | A low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5 |
| Spending more than the Ryzen 5 7500F 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 Core Ultra 5 245KF leads on boost clock at 5.2GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7500F at 5GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 7500F leaves the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 5 245KF | 24MB | 5.2GHz | 14 cores | 125W |
| Core Ultra 5 225F | 22MB | 4.9GHz | 10 cores | Not listed |
| Core i5-9400F | 9MB | 4.1GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 7500F | Not listed | 5GHz | 6 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 5 5600G | 16MB | 4.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Core Ultra 5 225F was the lowest-priced pick ($100 to $150) and the Ryzen 5 5600G the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | Core Ultra 5 225F |
| About $150 to $250 | Core i5-9400F, Core Ultra 5 245KF, Ryzen 5 7500F, Ryzen 5 5600G |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Core Ultra 5 245KF ahead of the Ryzen 5 7500F on boost clock?
The Core Ultra 5 245KF tops boost clock at 5.2GHz; the Ryzen 5 7500F follows at 5GHz, 4% apart. The spread runs down to the Core i5-9400F at 4.1GHz.
How does the Core Ultra 5 225F compare with the Core Ultra 5 245KF on core count?
The Core Ultra 5 245KF leads at 14 cores, with the Core Ultra 5 225F at 10 cores. The Ryzen 5 5600G closes the ranking at 6 cores.
How does the Core Ultra 5 225F compare with the Core Ultra 5 245KF on L3 cache?
The Core Ultra 5 245KF leads at 24MB, with the Core Ultra 5 225F at 22MB. The Core i5-9400F is at the other end of this group with 9MB. The Ryzen 5 7500F doesn't state a L3 cache figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 4 of 5 picks are ranked.
What does the Ryzen 5 5600G add over the Core Ultra 5 225F?
The Ryzen 5 5600G matches or trails the Core Ultra 5 225F on boost clock, core count and L3 cache, so the extra spend buys only what the spec sheet doesn't show. It does not win everywhere: the Core Ultra 5 225F still leads on boost clock (4.9GHz) and core count (10 cores). On our last price check the Core Ultra 5 225F was in the $100 to $150 tier and the Ryzen 5 5600G in the $150 to $250 tier, with 3 other picks between them.
Why is the Core Ultra 5 245KF our Largest Game Cache pick?
The label rests on the largest L3 cache here (24MB). On L3 cache it leads the Core Ultra 5 225F, 24MB against 22MB, a 9% margin. The Core Ultra 5 225F, the cheapest pick, sat in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Do the Core Ultra 5 245KF and the Core i5-9400F differ on socket?
The Core Ultra 5 245KF and the Core Ultra 5 225F use LGA1851; the Core i5-9400F uses LGA1151; the Ryzen 5 7500F uses AM5; the Ryzen 5 5600G uses AM4.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Core Ultra 5 245KF. Look at the Core Ultra 5 225F for the lowest price among these processors at the time of writing, the Core i5-9400F for 6 cores at a 65W rating and the Ryzen 5 7500F for a low-cost Zen 4 entry to AM5 if those matter more to you.
Check whether the processor has integrated graphics if you are not adding a card yet.