Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for StarCraft: Brood War
Five processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, where the Ryzen 7 7700 has the highest boost clock; the Core Ultra 5 225F is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
For StarCraft: Brood War, spend on the graphics card, memory or storage rather than the most powerful processor. Every pick has at least eight cores and cost $300 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads as the makers state them; if a maker skips rated power, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
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 i5-14400F.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Intel Core i5-14400F
6 performance and 4 efficient cores.
Best for: Buyers who want 6 performance and 4 efficient cores.
Our take Check price for Intel Core i5-14400F (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AMD Ryzen 7 5700
A 65W TDP.
Best for: Buyers who want 65W TDP.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700 (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
Eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform.
Best for: Buyers who want eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (opens in a new tab)
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
The highest boost clock here (5.3GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core i5-14400F. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (opens in a new tab) |
| 6 performance and 4 efficient cores. | Buyers who want 6 performance and 4 efficient cores. | Check price for Intel Core i5-14400F (opens in a new tab) |
| A 65W TDP. | Buyers who want 65W TDP. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700 (opens in a new tab) |
| Eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform. | Buyers who want eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest boost clock here (5.3GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 7 7700 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 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 i5-14400F.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 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 third of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 7 5700X (32MB) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700 (16MB). Its 4.9GHz boost clock ranks second of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 7 7700 (5.3GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700X (4.6GHz).
On core count it ties with the Core i5-14400F at 10 cores. No other pick in this guide offers an LGA1851 socket; compare the Ryzen 7 5700X, which has an AM4 socket. You also get 6 P-cores plus 4 E-cores and PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support on Intel 800-series boards.
It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the Core i5-14400F the next step up. There is no published rated power figure, whereas the Ryzen 7 5700 offers 65W.
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 Core i5-14400F
- Boost clock of 4.9GHz, ahead of the Core i5-14400F
Cons
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- No published rated power
Also Consider2 of 5
Intel Core i5-14400F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Core i5-14400F is a locked ten-core LGA1700 chip with no integrated graphics.
Best for
- Buyers who want 6 performance and 4 efficient cores.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: no cooler in the box.
Why we like it
It pairs well with a B660 or B760 board and DDR4. Its 20MB L3 cache ranks fourth of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 7 5700X (32MB) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700 (16MB). Its 4.7GHz boost clock ranks third of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 7 7700 (5.3GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700X (4.6GHz).
On core count it ties with the Core Ultra 5 225F at 10 cores. On rated power it trails the group at 125W, while the Ryzen 7 5700 offers 65W. It is the only pick here with an LGA1700 socket; the Core Ultra 5 225F has an LGA1851 socket instead.
No other pick in this guide offers DDR4 or DDR5 memory; compare the Ryzen 7 7700, which has DDR5 memory. When we checked, only the Core Ultra 5 225F cost less, and the Ryzen 7 5700 cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 20MB
- Max boost: 4.7GHz
- Cores / threads: 10 cores
- Rated power: 125W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: LGA1700
- Memory: DDR4 or DDR5
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 6 performance and 4 efficient cores
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
- PCIe 5.0 and 4.0 support
- L3 cache of 20MB, ahead of the Ryzen 7 5700
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- Rated power trails the Ryzen 7 5700 (65W)
Strong Alternative3 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 want 65W TDP.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when aM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming is a problem.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 16MB L3 cache and offers a 4.6GHz boost clock. Its 16MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 7 5700X leads at 32MB. It matches the Ryzen 7 5700X on boost clock (4.6GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 5700X and the Ryzen 7 7700 at 8 cores. Like the Ryzen 7 5700X, it has an AM4 socket, while the Ryzen 7 7700 uses an AM5 socket. Like the Ryzen 7 5700X, it has DDR4 memory, while the Core i5-14400F uses DDR4 or DDR5 memory.
It also offers a 65W TDP. 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 priced above the Core i5-14400F and below the Ryzen 7 5700X at the time of writing.
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
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 7 5700X (32MB)
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 225F at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 5700X gives AM4 builds eight cores at a 65W rating.
Best for
- Buyers who want eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform.
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 suits players who also stream or edit on a DDR4 platform. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 7 7700 at 32MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 7 5700 at 4.6GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 7 7700 on core count (8 cores). It shares an AM4 socket with the Ryzen 7 5700; the Core i5-14400F goes with an LGA1700 socket. You also get PCIe 4.0 support.
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. Its price falls between the Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 7 7700, based on our last check. If boost clock is your priority, the Ryzen 7 7700 (5.3GHz) is the stronger choice.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 4.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: No
- Integrated graphics: No
Pros
- 65W rating suits a modest air cooler
- Eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform
- PCIe 4.0 support
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F
Cons
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No cooler in the box
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
Highest Boost Clock5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 7 7700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 7 7700 is the 65W version of the 7700X and ships with a Wraith Prism cooler.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Skip it if core count matters most to you; the Core Ultra 5 225F offers 10 cores.
Why we like it
It gives eight AM5 cores without buying a cooler. It matches the Ryzen 7 5700X on L3 cache (32MB). Its 5.3GHz boost clock is the highest here; the Core Ultra 5 225F comes next at 4.9GHz.
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 7 5700X at 8 cores. It is the only pick here with an AM5 socket; the Core Ultra 5 225F has an LGA1851 socket instead. No other pick in this guide offers DDR5 memory; compare the Ryzen 7 5700, which has 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. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Ryzen 7 5700X the nearest cheaper option. Core count is its weakest area, and the Core Ultra 5 225F covers it better at 10 cores.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 5.3GHz
- Cores / threads: 8 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 16
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- 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
- L3 cache of 32MB, ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F
Cons
- Core count trails the Core Ultra 5 225F (10 cores)
- Costs more than the Core Ultra 5 225F at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We set side by side five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house, and rated power and threads are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Core Ultra 5 225F to the Ryzen 7 7700, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Core Ultra 5 225F gives no rated power; the Core Ultra 5 225F gives no threads.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Core Ultra 5 225F ($100 to $150) to the Ryzen 7 7700 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for StarCraft: Brood War
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
L3 cache
The Ryzen 7 5700X tops L3 cache at 32MB and the Ryzen 7 5700 sits lowest at 16MB; 2 picks share the top figure. The Ryzen 7 5700X is the pick for L3 cache.
Boost clock across these picks
Across these 5 picks boost clock spans 4.6GHz (the Ryzen 7 5700X) to 5.3GHz (the Ryzen 7 7700). For less, the Core Ultra 5 225F is the runner-up at 4.9GHz ($100 to $150 tier).
Core count across these picks
The Core Ultra 5 225F tops core count at 10 cores and the Ryzen 7 7700 sits lowest at 8 cores; 2 picks share the top figure. Start with the Core Ultra 5 225F if core count decides it.
Memory
The Core i5-14400F lists DDR4 or DDR5; the Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 7 5700X list DDR4; the Ryzen 7 7700 lists DDR5. Settling memory first narrows 4 picks to 2 or 1 or 1.
Cooler in box
The Core i5-14400F and the Ryzen 7 5700X go without; the Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 7 7700 have it.
How to Choose a CPUs for StarCraft: Brood War
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Core i5-14400F | Core Ultra 5 225F | The lowest price among these processors at the time of writing |
| Buyers who want 6 performance and 4 efficient cores | Core i5-14400F | 6 performance and 4 efficient cores |
| Buyers who want 65W TDP | Ryzen 7 5700 | A 65W TDP |
| Buyers who want eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform | Ryzen 7 5700X | Eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 7 7700 | The highest boost clock here (5.3GHz) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 7 5700X leads on L3 cache at 32MB, ahead of the Ryzen 7 7700 at 32MB. "Not listed" marks rated power where the Core Ultra 5 225F leaves the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 5 225F | 22MB | 4.9GHz | 10 cores | Not listed |
| Core i5-14400F | 20MB | 4.7GHz | 10 cores | 125W |
| Ryzen 7 5700 | 16MB | 4.6GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 5700X | 32MB | 4.6GHz | 8 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 7 7700 | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 8 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 7 7700 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 i5-14400F, Ryzen 7 5700, Ryzen 7 5700X, Ryzen 7 7700 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ryzen 7 7700 ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F on boost clock?
The Ryzen 7 7700 leads at 5.3GHz, with the Core Ultra 5 225F at 4.9GHz. The Ryzen 7 5700X closes the ranking at 4.6GHz.
What does the Ryzen 7 7700 add over the Core Ultra 5 225F?
What it brings is L3 cache (32MB against 22MB) and boost clock (5.3GHz against 4.9GHz). It does not win everywhere: the Core Ultra 5 225F still leads on core count (10 cores). On our last price check the Core Ultra 5 225F was in the $100 to $150 tier and the Ryzen 7 7700 in the $150 to $250 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if L3 cache and boost clock decide your purchase.
Why is the Ryzen 7 7700 our Highest Boost Clock pick?
The label rests on the highest boost clock here (5.3GHz). On boost clock it leads the Core Ultra 5 225F, 5.3GHz against 4.9GHz, an 8% margin. The price of that: the Core Ultra 5 225F, the cheapest pick, still beats it on core count (10 cores against 8 cores). It makes sense for anyone who puts boost clock first.
Do the Core Ultra 5 225F and the Core i5-14400F differ on socket?
The Core Ultra 5 225F uses LGA1851; the Core i5-14400F uses LGA1700; the Ryzen 7 5700 and the Ryzen 7 5700X use AM4; the Ryzen 7 7700 uses AM5.
What extras do the Core Ultra 5 225F and the Core i5-14400F include?
The Core Ultra 5 225F: 6 P-cores plus 4 E-cores. The Core i5-14400F: 6 performance and 4 efficient cores. The Ryzen 7 5700: a 65W TDP.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Core Ultra 5 225F, chosen for the lowest price among these processors at the time of writing. Look at the Core i5-14400F for 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, the Ryzen 7 5700 for a 65W TDP and the Ryzen 7 5700X for eight cores on the DDR4 AM4 platform if those matter more to you.
Check the motherboard's socket and BIOS version before ordering a processor.