Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Dota 2
Three processors compared, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 9600X, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Dota 2 depends more on the processor than the graphics card in late-game fights. Every pick has six or more cores and cost $200 or less, ordered by boost clock.
Our comparison rests on published figures for L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads; where a maker leaves a figure out, we say so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
The highest boost clock here (5.4GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (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)
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 7600X.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest boost clock here (5.4GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (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 cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 7600X. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Highest Boost Clock1 of 3
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 9600X brings six Zen 5 cores to AM5 at a 65W rating, which keeps cooling simple.
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 suits a budget build now that can take an X3D chip later without changing boards. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 7600X at 32MB. Its 5.4GHz boost clock is the highest here; the Ryzen 5 7600X comes next at 5.3GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 5500 on rated power (65W). It shares an AM5 socket with the Ryzen 5 7600X; the Ryzen 5 5500 goes with an AM4 socket. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version.
It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Ryzen 5 7600X and the rest. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 5500. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 5500 has it.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- The Zen 5 architecture
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
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
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It needs an aftermarket cooler, since none is included. It matches the Ryzen 5 9600X on L3 cache (32MB). Its 5.3GHz boost clock ranks second of 3 here, behind the Ryzen 5 9600X (5.4GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 (4.2GHz).
On rated power it trails the group at 105W, while the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 65W. Like the Ryzen 5 9600X, it has an AM5 socket, while the Ryzen 5 5500 uses an AM4 socket. 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. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. It was priced above the Ryzen 5 5500 and below the Ryzen 5 9600X at the time of writing.
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
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 5 9600X (65W)
Lowest Price Here3 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 in the build.
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 trails the group at 16MB, while the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 32MB. On boost clock it trails the group at 4.2GHz, while the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 5.4GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 9600X on rated power (65W). You get an AM4 socket here, which sets it apart from the Ryzen 5 7600X and its an AM5 socket. DDR4 memory is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 5 7600X uses DDR5 memory.
It also comes with 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 7600X was the next step up.
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
- AM4 socket, the only one here
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
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. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Ryzen 5 9600X to the Ryzen 5 5500, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count.
- Who each pick suits
- The Ryzen 5 9600X for the highest boost clock here (5.4GHz); the Ryzen 5 7600X for the Zen 4 architecture; the Ryzen 5 5500 for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 7600X.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 5 9600X ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Dota 2
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
L3 cache across these picks
Here L3 cache runs from 16MB on the Ryzen 5 5500 to 32MB on the Ryzen 5 9600X. For less, the Ryzen 5 7600X is the runner-up at 32MB.
Boost clock
Here boost clock runs from 4.2GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500 to 5.4GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X. The Ryzen 5 7600X comes second for less money.
How much rated power you need
Here rated power runs from 105W on the Ryzen 5 7600X to 65W on the Ryzen 5 9600X. For less, the Ryzen 5 5500 is the runner-up at 65W.
Memory
The Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 5 7600X list DDR5; the Ryzen 5 5500 lists DDR4. Settle this first, then compare prices.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 5 7600X go without; the Ryzen 5 5500 has it. Rule out the mismatches before looking at price.
How to Choose a CPUs for Dota 2
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 5 9600X | The highest boost clock here (5.4GHz) |
| Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture | Ryzen 5 7600X | The Zen 4 architecture |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere in the build | Ryzen 5 5500 | The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 7600X |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 9600X leads on L3 cache at 32MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X at 32MB.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 9600X | 32MB | 5.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 6 cores | 105W |
| Ryzen 5 5500 | 16MB | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Ryzen 5 5500 was the lowest-priced pick and the Ryzen 5 9600X the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Ryzen 5 5500 |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 7600X, Ryzen 5 9600X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has the highest boost clock: the Ryzen 5 9600X or the Ryzen 5 7600X?
The Ryzen 5 9600X leads at 5.4GHz, with the Ryzen 5 7600X at 5.3GHz. The Ryzen 5 5500 is at the other end of this group with 4.2GHz.
Is the Ryzen 5 9600X worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 5500?
On paper it adds L3 cache (32MB against 16MB) and boost clock (5.4GHz against 4.2GHz). The Ryzen 5 5500 was the lowest-priced pick when we checked, so pay the difference only if those gains matter to you.
What makes the Ryzen 5 9600X the Highest Boost Clock?
It earns the label for the highest boost clock here (5.4GHz). It suits anyone who put boost clock first.
Do the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 5 5500 differ on socket?
The Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 5 7600X use AM5; the Ryzen 5 5500 uses AM4.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Ryzen 5 9600X and the Ryzen 5 7600X apart?
The Ryzen 5 9600X: the Zen 5 architecture. The Ryzen 5 7600X: the Zen 4 architecture. The Ryzen 5 5500: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 5 9600X, chosen for the highest boost clock here (5.4GHz). Look at the Ryzen 5 7600X for the Zen 4 architecture and the Ryzen 5 5500 for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 7600X if those matter more to you.
Spend the rest of the budget on faster RAM before a bigger GPU.