Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for System Shock 2
Five processors compared, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 8600G, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
System Shock 2 does not push current hardware, so this guide is about the lowest-cost processor that suits a wider library. Every pick cost $200 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Our comparison rests on published figures for L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads; where a maker leaves out L3 cache, we say so, and no figure here comes from our own testing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 5500
The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Best for: Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 5 5500F
A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for: Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500F (opens in a new tab)
Largest Game Cache
Intel Core Ultra 5 225F
The largest L3 cache here (22MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Our take Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (opens in a new tab)
Strong Alternative
AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT
Integrated Radeon graphics.
Best for: Buyers who want integrated Radeon graphics.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT (opens in a new tab)
Highest Boost Clock
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G
The highest boost clock here (5GHz).
Best for: Buyers who put boost clock first.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. | Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (opens in a new tab) |
| A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5500F (opens in a new tab) |
| The largest L3 cache here (22MB). | Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles. | Check price for Intel Core Ultra 5 225F (opens in a new tab) |
| Integrated Radeon graphics. | Buyers who want integrated Radeon graphics. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest boost clock here (5GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8600G (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
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 than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
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 has a smaller 16MB L3 cache and runs PCIe 3.0, which matters little for a budget graphics card. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 8600G at 16MB. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500F at 4.2GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 5500F, the Ryzen 5 5600GT and the Ryzen 5 8600G on core count (6 cores). It shares DDR4 memory with the Ryzen 5 5500F and Ryzen 5 5600GT; the Ryzen 5 8600G goes with DDR5 memory. It also comes with a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Ryzen 5 5500F was the next step up. The main gap: no integrated graphics, unlike the Ryzen 5 8600G. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 8600G has it.
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
- The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F
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
Also Consider2 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5500F on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5500F is built around a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, with DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games.
Why we like it
On the spec sheet, it offers a 4.2GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. On boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 4.2GHz. It matches the Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5600GT and the Ryzen 5 8600G on core count (6 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. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Core Ultra 5 225F, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Core Ultra 5 225F, which offers 22MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- 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
- DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache
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
Largest Game Cache3 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
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when no integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required is a problem.
Why we like it
It suits a budget Intel build that will pair with a B860 board. On L3 cache it leads this guide at 22MB, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 (16MB). On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 4.9GHz: the Ryzen 5 8600G offers 5GHz, and the Ryzen 5 5500F comes in at 4.2GHz.
Its 10 cores core count is the highest here; the Ryzen 5 5500 comes next at 6 cores. An LGA1851 socket is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 5 5500F uses 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.
On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper Ryzen 5 5500F and the pricier Ryzen 5 5600GT, at the time of writing. The maker doesn't give its rated power; if that figure matters, the Ryzen 5 5500 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
- Largest L3 cache of the picks (22MB)
- Boost clock of 4.9GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5600GT
Cons
- No integrated graphics, so a graphics card is required
- No published rated power
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 5500 at the time of writing
Strong Alternative4 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 5600GT on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5600GT is built around integrated Radeon graphics, with a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box on top.
Best for
- Buyers who want integrated Radeon graphics.
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
On the spec sheet, it offers a 4.6GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. Its 4.6GHz boost clock ranks third of 5 here, behind the Ryzen 5 8600G (5GHz) and ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500F (4.2GHz). Like the Ryzen 5 5500 and Ryzen 5 5500F, it has an AM4 socket, while the Core Ultra 5 225F uses an LGA1851 socket.
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 Ultra 5 225F and below the Ryzen 5 8600G at the time of writing. There is no published L3 cache figure, whereas the Core Ultra 5 225F offers 22MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 4.6GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM4
- Memory: DDR4
- Cooler in box: Yes
Pros
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated Radeon graphics
- Boost clock of 4.6GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- AM4 is a final-generation platform with no newer CPUs coming
- No published L3 cache
Highest Boost Clock5 of 5
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 8600G pairs six cores with Radeon 760M graphics.
Best for
- Buyers who put boost clock first.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games is a problem.
Why we like it
It can run a PC without a graphics card until you buy one. On L3 cache it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 16MB. Nothing else here matches its 5GHz boost clock; the Core Ultra 5 225F comes closest at 4.9GHz.
It matches the Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT on core count (6 cores). An AM5 socket is unique to it among these picks, while the Ryzen 5 5500F uses an AM4 socket. You get DDR5 memory here, which sets it apart from the Ryzen 5 5500 and its DDR4 memory.
It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the Ryzen 5 5600GT and the rest. The trade-off is L3 cache; for more, the Core Ultra 5 225F offers 22MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 16MB
- Max boost: 5GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Rated power: 65W
- Threads: 12
- 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
- Radeon 760M integrated graphics
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- L3 cache trails the Core Ultra 5 225F (22MB)
- Core count trails the Core Ultra 5 225F (10 cores)
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We compared five processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power as the makers state them. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 9 fields compared are stated for every pick, while L3 cache and rated power have gaps.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 8600G, state boost clock, core count and socket.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT give no L3 cache; the Core Ultra 5 225F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT give no rated power.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 5 8600G ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for System Shock 2
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Boost clock
Across these 5 picks boost clock spans 4.2GHz (the Ryzen 5 5500F) to 5GHz (the Ryzen 5 8600G). For less, the Core Ultra 5 225F is the runner-up at 4.9GHz ($100 to $150 tier).
How much core count you need
Here core count runs from 6 cores on the Ryzen 5 8600G to 10 cores on the Core Ultra 5 225F, a 67% spread. Start with the Core Ultra 5 225F if core count decides it.
L3 cache across these picks
Here L3 cache runs from 16MB on the Ryzen 5 8600G to 22MB on the Core Ultra 5 225F, a 38% spread. The Core Ultra 5 225F is the pick for L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT give no L3 cache figure, so 3 of 5 picks are compared here.
Memory
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT list DDR4; the Ryzen 5 8600G lists DDR5. Sort out memory before price: it splits 4 stated picks into groups of 3 and 1.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F, the Ryzen 5 5600GT and the Ryzen 5 8600G have it.
How to Choose a CPUs for System Shock 2
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F | Ryzen 5 5500 | The cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F |
| Buyers who want Wraith Stealth cooler in the box | Ryzen 5 5500F | A Wraith Stealth cooler in the box |
| Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles | Core Ultra 5 225F | The largest L3 cache here (22MB) |
| Buyers who want integrated Radeon graphics | Ryzen 5 5600GT | Integrated Radeon graphics |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 5 8600G | The highest boost clock here (5GHz) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 8600G leads on boost clock at 5GHz, ahead of the Core Ultra 5 225F at 4.9GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT leave the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 5500 | 16MB | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 5500F | Not listed | 4.2GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
| Core Ultra 5 225F | 22MB | 4.9GHz | 10 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 5 5600GT | Not listed | 4.6GHz | 6 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 5 8600G | 16MB | 5GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
At our last check the cheapest pick, the Ryzen 5 5500, sat in the $50 to $100 tier, 3 tiers in all up to the Ryzen 5 8600G at $150 to $250; Amazon prices move, so recheck before buying.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | Ryzen 5 5500 |
| About $100 to $150 | Ryzen 5 5500F, Core Ultra 5 225F |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 5600GT, Ryzen 5 8600G |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Core Ultra 5 225F compare with the Ryzen 5 8600G on boost clock?
Between the top two, it is 5GHz on the Ryzen 5 8600G against 4.9GHz on the Core Ultra 5 225F, a 2% difference. The Ryzen 5 5500F is at the other end of this group with 4.2GHz.
Is the Core Ultra 5 225F ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 on core count?
The Core Ultra 5 225F leads at 10 cores, with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 6 cores.
Is the Core Ultra 5 225F ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 on L3 cache?
The Core Ultra 5 225F leads at 22MB, with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 16MB. The Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT are left out of this ranking because their L3 cache isn't stated; 3 of 5 picks are ranked.
Is the Ryzen 5 8600G worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 5500?
What it brings is boost clock (5GHz against 4.2GHz). The Ryzen 5 5500 sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the Ryzen 5 8600G in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if boost clock decides your purchase.
What makes the Ryzen 5 5500 the Lowest Price Here?
It earns the label for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. It suits anyone who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
Do the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Core Ultra 5 225F differ on socket?
The Ryzen 5 5500, the Ryzen 5 5500F and the Ryzen 5 5600GT use AM4; the Core Ultra 5 225F uses LGA1851; the Ryzen 5 8600G uses AM5.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 5 5500, chosen for the cheapest way into this group, below the Ryzen 5 5500F. Look at the Ryzen 5 5500F for a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, the Ryzen 5 5600GT for integrated Radeon graphics and the Ryzen 5 8600G for the highest boost clock here (5GHz) if those matter more to you.
Match the memory type (DDR4 or DDR5) to the board you choose.