Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Binding of Isaac
Three processors compared, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 5600, with the trade-offs of each named.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
You do not need a flagship processor for Binding of Isaac; a low-cost current chip clears the game and leaves money for other parts. Every pick is an AM4 processor that cost $250 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
We sorted these picks by L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads, working from the makers' own data; if a maker skips L3 cache, the guide says 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.
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
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
The largest L3 cache here (32MB).
Best for: Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 (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 (32MB). | Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 5600 (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 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 than into the Ryzen 5 5500F.
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 boost clock it ties with the Ryzen 5 5500F at 4.2GHz. You also get 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 5500F was the next step up. The main gap: L3 cache of 16MB, behind the Ryzen 5 5600 (32MB). If that matters, the Ryzen 5 5600 offers 32MB.
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 3
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
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 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 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.
Another plus: 65W rating suits a modest air cooler. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 5600, based on our last check. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Ryzen 5 5600, which offers 32MB.
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 3
AMD Ryzen 5 5600 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 5600 is the lower-clocked, cheaper sibling of the 5600X with a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
Best for
- Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It is a common drop-in upgrade for AM4 owners. On boost clock it leads this guide at 4.4GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 (4.2GHz). You also get DDR4 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap.
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. Only the Ryzen 5 5500F came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks. It gives ground on core count, where the Ryzen 5 5500 offers 6 cores.
Key dimensions & specs
- L3 cache: 32MB
- Max boost: 4.4GHz
- 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 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap
- 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
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We set side by side three processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power from manufacturer specifications. We did not test them in-house, and L3 cache is missing for at least one pick.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Ryzen 5 5500 to the Ryzen 5 5600, state boost clock, core count and rated power and share AM4 socket and DDR4 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 5500F gives no L3 cache.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 5500 ($50 to $100) to the Ryzen 5 5600 ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Binding of Isaac
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much boost clock you need
Here boost clock runs from 4.2GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500F to 4.4GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600, a 5% spread. Start with the Ryzen 5 5600 if boost clock decides it.
L3 cache across these picks
The Ryzen 5 5600 tops L3 cache at 32MB and the Ryzen 5 5500 sits lowest at 16MB. The Ryzen 5 5600 is the pick for L3 cache. The Ryzen 5 5500F gives no L3 cache figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Features beyond the spec table
The Ryzen 5 5500: one of the cheapest six-core desktop chips. The Ryzen 5 5500F: DDR4-3200 support and 19MB of cache. The Ryzen 5 5600: DDR4 support that keeps an AM4 upgrade cheap.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the Ryzen 5 5500; $100 to $150 buys the Ryzen 5 5500F; $150 to $250 buys the Ryzen 5 5600 at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who would rather put the savings elsewhere than into the Ryzen 5 5500F: the Ryzen 5 5500. Players chasing 1% lows in simulation and esports titles: the Ryzen 5 5600.
How to Choose a CPUs for Binding of Isaac
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 | Ryzen 5 5600 | The largest L3 cache here (32MB) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 5600 leads on boost clock at 4.4GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 at 4.2GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 5500F leaves 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 |
| Ryzen 5 5600 | 32MB | 4.4GHz | 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 5600 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 |
| About $150 to $250 | Ryzen 5 5600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Ryzen 5 5500 compare with the Ryzen 5 5600 on boost clock?
Between the top two, it is 4.4GHz on the Ryzen 5 5600 against 4.2GHz on the Ryzen 5 5500, a 5% difference.
Is the Ryzen 5 5600 ahead of the Ryzen 5 5500 on L3 cache?
The Ryzen 5 5600 leads at 32MB, with the Ryzen 5 5500 at 16MB. No L3 cache figure is published for the Ryzen 5 5500F, which leaves 2 of 3 picks ranked here.
Is the Ryzen 5 5600 worth paying more than the Ryzen 5 5500?
What it brings is boost clock (4.4GHz against 4.2GHz) and L3 cache (32MB against 16MB). The Ryzen 5 5500 sat in the $50 to $100 tier and the Ryzen 5 5600 in the $150 to $250 tier when we checked, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if boost clock and L3 cache decide 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.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Ryzen 5 5500 and the Ryzen 5 5500F apart?
The Ryzen 5 5500: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 5500F: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 5600: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box.
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 if those matter more to you.
Check the motherboard's socket and BIOS version before ordering a processor.