Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Europa Universalis IV
Five processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, where the Ryzen 9 5950X has the highest boost clock; the Ryzen 7 5700 is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
Europa Universalis IV lists a Core i3 3240 or FX 8120 for its recommended tier. Every pick is an AM4 processor with at least six cores, ordered by boost clock.
Europa Universalis IV's official PC requirements list Intel Core i3 3240 or AMD FX 8120 and 8GB of RAM for the recommended tier (source: Steam store page). The list names no AMD processor we can rank, so the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900XT, the Ryzen 7 5700, the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D can't be matched against it directly.
Rankings weigh L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads as the makers state them; if a maker skips L3 cache, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Requirements source: Steam store page
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
The highest boost clock here (4.9GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT
16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache.
Best for: Buyers who want 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 7 5700
The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5600X.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700 (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
The largest L3 cache here (32MB).
Best for: Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache.
Best for: Buyers who want AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest boost clock here (4.9GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 5950X (opens in a new tab) |
| 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache. | Buyers who want 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT (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 Ryzen 5 5600X. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700 (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest L3 cache here (32MB). | Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (opens in a new tab) |
| AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache. | Buyers who want AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Highest Boost Clock1 of 5
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 5950X stands out for 16 cores with 72MB of cache, and it adds a liquid cooler recommended by AMD.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming.
Why we like it
It also offers a 4.9GHz boost clock and offers a 16 cores core count. On boost clock it leads this guide at 4.9GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 9 5900XT (4.8GHz). On core count it ties with the Ryzen 9 5900XT at 16 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. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. Only the Ryzen 7 5800X3D came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks. There is no published L3 cache figure, whereas the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 32MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 4.9GHz
- Cores / threads: 16 cores
- Threads: 32
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: No
Pros
- 16 cores for encoding and background work
- 16 cores with 72MB of cache
- Liquid cooler recommended by AMD
- Highest boost clock of the picks (4.9GHz)
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 7 5700 at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 5
AMD Ryzen 9 5900XT on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 9 5900XT stands out for 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache, and it adds PCIe 4.0 on the AM4 platform.
Best for
- Buyers who want 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache.
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 4.8GHz boost clock and offers a 16 cores core count. Its 4.8GHz boost clock ranks second of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 9 5950X (4.9GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D (4.5GHz). On core count it ties with the Ryzen 9 5950X at 16 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. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. When we checked, only the Ryzen 5 5600X and cheaper picks cost less, and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D cost more. If you want a confirmed L3 cache, look to the Ryzen 5 5600X instead: it offers 32MB, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 4.8GHz
- Cores / threads: 16 cores
- Threads: 32
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: No
Pros
- 16 cores for encoding and background work
- 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache
- PCIe 4.0 on the AM4 platform
- Boost clock of 4.8GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 7 5700 at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 5700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 5700 is built around a 65W TDP, with a Wraith Spire cooler in the box on top.
Best for
- Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5600X.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16MB L3 cache and offers a 4.6GHz boost clock. It matches the Ryzen 5 5600X on boost clock (4.6GHz). On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D at 8 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. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Ryzen 5 5600X the next step up. What it gives up: L3 cache of 16MB, behind the Ryzen 5 5600X (32MB); by contrast, the Ryzen 5 5600X offers 32MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 16MB
- Max boost: 4.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: Yes
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- 65W TDP
- Boost clock of 4.6GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- L3 cache of 16MB, behind the Ryzen 5 5600X (32MB)
Largest Game Cache4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5600X is for AM4 owners: it drops into existing boards after a BIOS update and keeps your DDR4.
Best for
- Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
It includes a Wraith Stealth cooler but has no integrated graphics. It matches the Ryzen 7 5700 on boost clock (4.6GHz). On core count it trails the group at 6 cores, while the Ryzen 9 5950X offers 16 cores.
You also get PCIe 4.0 support on B550 and X570 boards. 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. You also get this: 65W rating suits a modest air cooler. When we checked, only the Ryzen 7 5700 cost less, and the Ryzen 9 5900XT cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 4.6GHz
- 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
- PCIe 4.0 support on B550 and X570 boards
- Largest L3 cache of the picks (32MB)
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
Strong Alternative5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 5800X3D stands out for AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache, and it adds a drop-in upgrade for X570 and B550 boards.
Best for
- Buyers who want AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming.
Why we like it
It also offers a 4.5GHz boost clock and offers an 8 cores core count. Its 4.5GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 9 5950X leads at 4.9GHz. On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 5700 at 8 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. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. When we checked, only the Ryzen 9 5900XT and cheaper picks cost less, and the Ryzen 9 5950X cost more. If you want a confirmed L3 cache, look to the Ryzen 5 5600X instead: it offers 32MB, while this one gives no figure.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 4.5GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: No
Pros
- AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache
- Drop-in upgrade for X570 and B550 boards
- Core count of 8 cores, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5600X
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No cooler in the box
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 9 5950X (4.9GHz)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 6 of the 8 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 Ryzen 9 5950X to the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, state boost clock, core count and threads and share AM4 socket and DDR4 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D give no L3 cache; the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D give no rated power.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 7 5700 ($150 to $250) to the Ryzen 9 5950X ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Europa Universalis IV
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much boost clock you need
The Ryzen 9 5950X tops boost clock at 4.9GHz and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D sits lowest at 4.5GHz. The Ryzen 9 5900XT comes second at 4.8GHz, in the $250 to $500 tier against $250 to $500 for the Ryzen 9 5950X.
Core count
Here core count runs from 6 cores on the Ryzen 5 5600X to 16 cores on the Ryzen 9 5950X, a 167% spread. For less, the Ryzen 9 5900XT is the runner-up at 16 cores ($250 to $500 tier).
L3 cache
Across these 2 picks L3 cache spans 16MB (the Ryzen 7 5700) to 32MB (the Ryzen 5 5600X). Start with the Ryzen 5 5600X if L3 cache decides it. The Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D give no L3 cache figure, so 2 of 5 picks are compared here.
Extras that separate them
The Ryzen 7 5700: a Wraith Spire cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 5600X: PCIe 4.0 support on B550 and X570 boards. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D: a drop-in upgrade for X570 and B550 boards.
How much to spend
$150 to $250 buys the Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 5 5600X; $250 to $500 buys the Ryzen 9 5900XT, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D and the Ryzen 9 5950X at our last check.
How to Choose a CPUs for Europa Universalis IV
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 9 5950X | The highest boost clock here (4.9GHz) |
| Buyers who want 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache | Ryzen 9 5900XT | 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache |
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5600X | Ryzen 7 5700 | The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing |
| Games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates | Ryzen 5 5600X | The largest L3 cache here (32MB) |
| Buyers who want AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache | Ryzen 7 5800X3D | AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 9 5950X leads on boost clock at 4.9GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 9 5900XT at 4.8GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D leave the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 5950X | Not listed | 4.9GHz | 16 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 9 5900XT | Not listed | 4.8GHz | 16 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 7 5700 | 16MB | 4.6GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 5600X | 32MB | 4.6GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 5800X3D | Not listed | 4.5GHz | 8 cores | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Ryzen 7 5700 was the lowest-priced pick ($150 to $250) and the Ryzen 9 5950X the highest ($250 to $500) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 7 5700, Ryzen 5 5600X |
| About $250 to $500 | Ryzen 9 5900XT, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, Ryzen 9 5950X |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Ryzen 9 5900XT compare with the Ryzen 9 5950X on boost clock?
The Ryzen 9 5950X leads at 4.9GHz, with the Ryzen 9 5900XT at 4.8GHz. The Ryzen 7 5800X3D closes the ranking at 4.5GHz.
Which has the largest L3 cache: the Ryzen 5 5600X or the Ryzen 7 5700?
Between the top two, it is 32MB on the Ryzen 5 5600X against 16MB on the Ryzen 7 5700, a 100% difference. No L3 cache figure is published for the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which leaves 2 of 5 picks ranked here.
What does the Ryzen 9 5950X add over the Ryzen 7 5700?
What it brings is boost clock (4.9GHz against 4.6GHz) and core count (16 cores against 8 cores). On our last price check the Ryzen 7 5700 was in the $150 to $250 tier and the Ryzen 9 5950X in the $250 to $500 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if boost clock and core count decide your purchase.
Why is the Ryzen 5 5600X our Largest Game Cache pick?
It carries the badge for the largest L3 cache here (32MB). On L3 cache it leads the Ryzen 7 5700, 32MB against 16MB, a 100% margin. The price of that: the Ryzen 7 5700, the cheapest pick, still beats it on core count (8 cores against 6 cores). It suits games that are limited by the CPU at high frame rates.
Does the Ryzen 7 5700 have cooler in box, and which others do?
The Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 5 5600X have it; the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900XT and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D do not.
What extras do the Ryzen 9 5950X and the Ryzen 9 5900XT include?
The Ryzen 9 5950X: 16 cores with 72MB of cache. The Ryzen 9 5900XT: 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache. The Ryzen 7 5700: a 65W TDP.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 9 5950X, chosen for the highest boost clock here (4.9GHz). Look at the Ryzen 9 5900XT for 16 Zen 3 cores with 72MB of cache, the Ryzen 7 5700 for the lowest price among these processors at the time of writing and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D for AMD 3D V-Cache with 100MB of total cache if those matter more to you.
Compare boost clocks as well as core counts.