Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for Oblivion
Three processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, where the Ryzen 5 9600X has the highest boost clock; the Ryzen 5 8500G is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Oblivion runs on almost any current processor, so the best choice is the cheapest sensible one. Every pick has integrated graphics and cost $250 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 L3 cache, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 5 8500G
The lowest price of the group at our last check.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up.
Our take Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8500G (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)
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)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The lowest price of the group at our last check. | Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 8500G (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 highest boost clock here (5.4GHz). | Buyers who put boost clock first. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 5 9600X (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
AMD Ryzen 5 8500G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The Ryzen 5 8500G is built around a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box, with Radeon graphics built in on top.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up.
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 5GHz boost clock and offers a 6 cores core count. 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. You also get this: integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card.
It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the Ryzen 5 7600X was the next step up. Buyers who need a confirmed L3 cache should compare it with the Ryzen 5 7600X, which offers 32MB.
Key dimensions & specs
- Max boost: 5GHz
- Cores / threads: 6 cores
- Threads: 12
- Socket: AM5
- Memory: DDR5
- Cooler in box: Yes
- Integrated graphics: Yes
Pros
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
- Radeon graphics built in
- The lowest price of the group at our last check
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No published L3 cache
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 5 9600X (5.4GHz)
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. On boost clock it sits mid-pack at 5.3GHz: the Ryzen 5 9600X offers 5.4GHz, and the Ryzen 5 8500G comes in at 5GHz. It also offers 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. Its price falls between the Ryzen 5 8500G and the Ryzen 5 9600X, based on our last check. The main gap: no cooler in box, unlike the Ryzen 5 8500G. If that matters, the Ryzen 5 8500G has it.
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
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 8500G at the time of writing
Highest Boost Clock3 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
- Worth skipping when 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games is a problem.
Why we like it
It suits a budget build now that can take an X3D chip later without changing boards. On boost clock it leads this guide at 5.4GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X (5.3GHz). You also get the Zen 5 architecture.
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. No cooler is included; a single-tower air cooler is enough at its rating. At our last price check it topped the group, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the nearest cheaper option. Core count is its weakest area, and the Ryzen 5 8500G covers it better at 6 cores.
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
- Highest boost clock of the picks (5.4GHz)
Cons
- 6 cores leave less headroom for streaming alongside games
- No cooler in the box
- Costs more than the Ryzen 5 8500G at the time of writing
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, and L3 cache and rated power are missing for at least one pick.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the Ryzen 5 8500G to the Ryzen 5 9600X, state boost clock, core count and threads and share AM5 socket and DDR5 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Ryzen 5 8500G gives no L3 cache; the Ryzen 5 8500G gives no rated power.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Ryzen 5 8500G ($100 to $150) to the Ryzen 5 9600X ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a CPUs for Oblivion
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much boost clock you need
Here boost clock runs from 5GHz on the Ryzen 5 8500G to 5.4GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X, an 8% spread. The Ryzen 5 7600X comes second at 5.3GHz, in the $150 to $250 tier against $150 to $250 for the Ryzen 5 9600X.
Rated power
Across these 2 picks rated power spans 105W (the Ryzen 5 7600X) to 65W (the Ryzen 5 9600X). If rated power is your first filter, the Ryzen 5 9600X sets the ceiling at 65W. The Ryzen 5 8500G gives no rated power figure, so 2 of 3 picks are compared here.
Extras that separate them
The Ryzen 5 8500G: Radeon graphics built in. The Ryzen 5 7600X: a 5nm process. The Ryzen 5 9600X: the Zen 5 architecture.
Budget
$100 to $150 buys the Ryzen 5 8500G; $150 to $250 buys the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Ryzen 5 9600X at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up: the Ryzen 5 8500G. Buyers who put boost clock first: the Ryzen 5 9600X.
How to Choose a CPUs for Oblivion
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 5 7600X the next step up | Ryzen 5 8500G | The lowest price of the group at our last check |
| Buyers who want Zen 4 architecture | Ryzen 5 7600X | The Zen 4 architecture |
| Buyers who put boost clock first | Ryzen 5 9600X | The highest boost clock here (5.4GHz) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 5 9600X leads on boost clock at 5.4GHz, ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X at 5.3GHz. "Not listed" marks L3 cache where the Ryzen 5 8500G leaves the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 8500G | Not listed | 5GHz | 6 cores | Not listed |
| Ryzen 5 7600X | 32MB | 5.3GHz | 6 cores | 105W |
| Ryzen 5 9600X | 32MB | 5.4GHz | 6 cores | 65W |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Ryzen 5 8500G was the lowest-priced pick ($100 to $150) and the Ryzen 5 9600X the highest ($150 to $250) when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Processors |
|---|---|
| About $100 to $150 | Ryzen 5 8500G |
| 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?
Between the top two, it is 5.4GHz on the Ryzen 5 9600X against 5.3GHz on the Ryzen 5 7600X, a 2% difference. The spread runs down to the Ryzen 5 8500G at 5GHz.
Is the Ryzen 5 9600X ahead of the Ryzen 5 7600X on rated power?
The Ryzen 5 9600X is lowest on rated power at 65W; the Ryzen 5 7600X follows at 105W, 38% apart. No rated power figure is published for the Ryzen 5 8500G, which leaves 2 of 3 picks ranked here.
What does the Ryzen 5 9600X add over the Ryzen 5 8500G?
What it brings is boost clock (5.4GHz against 5GHz). On our last price check the Ryzen 5 8500G was in the $100 to $150 tier and the Ryzen 5 9600X in the $150 to $250 tier, with 1 other pick between them; pay the difference only if boost clock decides your purchase.
Why is the Ryzen 5 9600X our Highest Boost Clock pick?
It earns the label for the highest boost clock here (5.4GHz). On boost clock it leads the Ryzen 5 7600X, 5.4GHz against 5.3GHz, a 2% margin. The Ryzen 5 8500G, the cheapest pick, sat in the $100 to $150 tier against $150 to $250 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It suits anyone who puts boost clock first.
Does the Ryzen 5 8500G have cooler in box, and which others do?
The Ryzen 5 8500G has it; the Ryzen 5 7600X and the Ryzen 5 9600X do not.
What extras do the Ryzen 5 8500G and the Ryzen 5 7600X include?
The Ryzen 5 8500G: a Wraith Stealth cooler in the box. The Ryzen 5 7600X: the Zen 4 architecture. The Ryzen 5 9600X: the Zen 5 architecture.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 5 8500G, chosen for the lowest price of the group at our last check. Look at the Ryzen 5 7600X for the Zen 4 architecture and the Ryzen 5 9600X for the highest boost clock here (5.4GHz) if those matter more to you.
Put leftover budget toward an SSD or more memory.