Helldivers 2has taken thegaming and streaming industryby storm with a lot of gamers having a great time with their friends. The game looks visually stunning and the gameplay itself is enjoyable, filled with quirks that resonate with the audiences. As optimized as it is, you would need a fairly capable CPU to run the game well, and the recommended requirements from developer Arrowhead Game Studios suggest the same.
The massive multiplayer third-person shooter involves a lot of gunfire, explosions, and a fairly large map filled with many objects, textures, physics, and simulations. In other words, it is a CPU-heavy game, and a lot of players have faced scenarios whereHelldivers 2is hammering their CPUs much harder than their GPUs. That means investing in thebest gaming CPUpossible is a good idea if you intend to enjoy the game to the fullest as well as other CPU-intensive games in 2024.
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X CPU
Here are the minimum and recommended requirements straight from Arrowhead Game Studios:
Processor: Intel Core i7-4790K or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 470
Storage: 100 GB available space
Processor: Intel Core i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 6600XT
Game Rant’s Picks for the Best CPUs to Dominate in Helldivers 2
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD’s latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.
There isn’t a processor on the market right now that can usurp theAMD Ryzen 7 7800X3Dsimply because of the value proposition. Priced at under $400 (under $350 if you’re lucky), this processor can deliver gaming performance that matches or even outperforms the more expensive and high-end offering, the Intel Core i9-14900KS. This level of performance is mainly because of the 3D V-Cache technology that has allowed AMD to stack 96 MB of L3 cache.
Not just the high cache, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is an extremely efficient CPU consuming only 120W to about 160W at load, and it can be overclocked fairly easily to squeeze even more performance out of it. Where it falls behind some other options that may be even cheaper is the core count and clock speeds. It has only eight cores and 16 threads with 4.2 GHz base clock speed and 5 GHz boost clock speeds.
In 2024, that can be considered a relatively low core count and clock speed, considering there are Intel CPUs that can boost up to over 6 GHz. That doesn’t mean the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is not powerful enough for modern AAA games. In fact, it’s quite the opposite andHelldivers 2is no different. Whenpaired with the right GPU, you can get an excellent 1440p and even a 4K gaming experience. Given its price and performance, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is easily the best CPU overall for experiencingHelldivers 2in all its glory.
Intel Core i9 14900KS 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i9 14900KS 24-core, 32-thread CPU is Intel’s special edition CPU take on its flagship 14th generation CPU, the Core i9 14900K.It is essentially a cherry-picked 14900K SKU that can push higher clocks with up to a minimum of 6.2 GHz on its P-Cores, making it effectively the highest-clocked CPU out of the box to date when it comes to boost clocks from Intel.It trades at a significant premium as a result and is expected, as a limited-run chip, to be a collectible SKU with high demand from enthusiasts and overclockers in 2024.
If dominating inHelldivers 2is not your only objective, and you are looking for an overall high-performing CPU that will not slow down no matter what you throw at it, theIntel Core i9-14900KSis the one for you. It is not a cheap or budget-friendly offering, but it is among the most powerful CPUs in the mainstream market, if not the most powerful. It is essentially a souped-up version of the Core i9-14900K that can boost even higher, requiring only 25W more base power.
The Core i9-14900KS features 24 cores and 32 threads with the 24 cores being split into eight P-cores and 16 E-cores with impressive core clocks as is, but the chip itself can boost up to 6.2 GHz, which is the highest out-of-the-box clock speeds you can find on any CPU. This simply means an excellent gaming experience no matter what game you’re playing. On top of that, the Core i9-14900KS is also overclockable, but make sure you have asufficient PSU wattageas it can pull up to 253W at stock settings.
As powerful as the Core i9-14900KS is, it has less than half the L3 cache compared to the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which is why it underperforms in some games. Furthermore, it has an iGPU as well, which is not strong enough to enjoyHelldivers 2but is a good addition in case you want to troubleshoot display issues.
Intel Core i7 14700K 20-Core, 28-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i7 14700K 20-Core, 28-Thread CPU succeeds the Intel Core i7 13700K CPU with a 200 MHz boost clock increase as Intel also throws in an additional 4 efficiency cores to make it increasingly better value for money versus its predecessor.With 28 threads on offer and higher boost clocks, the Intel Core i7 14700K is noticeably faster in both games and productivity benchmarks alike while replacing its predecessor at the same price points.
Intel fans looking to upgrade their CPU but not invest a fortune will find theCore i7-14700Kchecks all the right boxes, making it the best Intel CPU overall forHelldivers 2. While the Core i9-14900KS delivers better performance, it also costs almost double.
Coming to specifications, the Core i7-14700K features 20 cores with eight P-cores and 12 E-cores, along with 28 threads. It has a respectable 5.6 GHz boost clock speed and, being a ‘K’ SKU, it is unlocked, which means you can overclock it. This chip, of course, considering the silicon lottery, overclocks quite well and delivers even better performance at no extra cost. When it comes to cache, the 14700K comes with 33 MB of Intel Smart Cache, which is not too far off from the much more expensive 14900KS.
The Intel chip supports all the latest technologies, including Deep Learning Boost, Speed Shift Technology, Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0, and more. It also supports PCIe 5.0, making it future-proof. On top of that, it has an iGPU as well, but don’t expect to game with it, though it is sufficient for less-intensive casual games.
Alternatively, if the iGPU is not a requirement, you can also go with the slightly cheaper 14700KF. If you’re willing to sacrifice overclocking and are comfortable with stock performance, the 14700F is an option too.
Intel Core i5 14600K 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU
The Intel Core i5 14600K 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU is a powerful mid-range CPU that replaces the last generation Intel Core i5 13600K with higher clocks on both its performance and efficiency cores. Like all its siblings, it does offer better performance out-of-the-box versus its predecessors but replaces them at the same price points they sold last year.
An AMD offering typically takes over the best mid-range category, but the Core i5-14600K can deliver better performance than both the Ryzen 7 7700X and the Ryzen 5 7600X in gaming – for a higher price tag, of course. It comes with 14 cores and 20 threads, of which there are six P-cores and eight E-cores. The chip can boost up to 5.3 GHz and has 24 MB Intel Smart Cache. At just over $300, the performance it offers is perfect forHelldivers 2if you pair it with an appropriate GPU.
The Core i5-14600K has a maximum power consumption of 181W, which is much lower than its older brother, the 14700K, but much higher than the AMD competition. But, if you have a powerful enough PSU, the extra power requirement is totally fine. If you have some headroom, the 14600K can also be overclocked, but make sure you have a solid cooling system in place.
The Intel chip gets support for most of the latest technologies except for Turbo Boost 3.0, but instead supports a previous version. You do get an iGPU with this chip and, as with most other Intel chips, you’re able to save some money by going with the ‘KF’ SKUs but still get the same stock performance and support for overclocking but no iGPU.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700x is an excellent octacore processor with 16 threads in tow. It is quite similar to the fastest gaming CPU on the market, the Ryzen 7800X3D and offers similar productivity performance even as the latter takes the lead in games thanks to its larger L3 cache.
In the budget-friendly segment, while the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a cheaper option, the 7700X takes the cake, considering how CPU-intensiveHelldivers 2can be. The Ryzen 7 7700X comes with eight cores and 16 threads which, considering the competition, is relatively low. The processor can boost up to 5.4 GHz and is very power efficient at a default TDP of just 105W. You also get 32 MB of L3 cache, which makes it a lot more competitive.
With the Ryzen 7 7700X, you get AMD Radeon graphics that on their own would not be able to deliver a satisfactory experience in Helldivers 2. It supports all the latest AMD technologies, including EXPO Memory Overclocking Technology, Precision Boost Overdrive, and Precision Boost 2, among others. You also getPCIe 5.0 support, which is a great feature, especially when the industry is moving towards the newer standard.
While you would be able to get away with the 7600X without losing a lot of frames, it is better to go with the Ryzen 7 7700X instead, even though there is a significant difference in price. The idea is to get the best possible performance out of the box in the budget segment and then, if need be, spend some time doing some strategic overclocking.
The Ryzen 9 5900X desktop processor from AMD is one of the high-end CPUs that the company offers. It has a staggering 12 cores and 24 processing threads, which provide excellent multitasking capabilities. The maximum clock speed offered by the chip is 4.8 GHz, and there is 70 MB of cache and support for DDR-3200 memory. The processor is also unlocked for overclocking, and according to AMD, it can deliver over 100 fps in the most popular games. This processor doesn’t come with a cooler and is compatible with the Socket AM4 motherboards.
While Helldivers 2 is a modern AAA title, you don’t necessarily need the latest and greatest to get the best experience. If you want to save some money and get similar performance as the Ryzen 7700X, the AMD Ryzen 7 5900X is a great option. While it sounds like a two-generation old processor, AMD skipped the 6000 series for desktops, so the AMD Ryzen 7 5900X stands as a top-tier last-gen gaming CPU.
The Ryzen 7 5900X features 12 cores and 24 threads which, interestingly, is more than some of the more premium offerings of the current generation. However, the clock speeds are not the best at 3.7 GHz base and 4.8 GHz boost speeds. But what makes the 5900X such a great performer in games is the 64 MB of L3 cache. That’s even higher than Intel’s best current-gen offering.
It should be noted that the Ryzen 7 5900X does not have an iGPU, and you will need to pair this chip with an appropriate discrete GPU to get the bestHelldivers 2experience. Additionally, there is no support for PCIe 5.0, which makes it a harder sell in 2024. But, if you only care about raw performance, the 5900X has plenty of that.
Factors to Consider for the Best CPUs for Helldivers 2
Brand: There are only two CPU companies that gamers can choose from: Intel and AMD. Both offer solid CPUs for gaming at every price point. Intel is currently on its 14th Gen of CPUs, which are generally more power-hungry. AMD has justannounced its Ryzen 9000 seriesof desktop processors, but they haven’t made it to the market yet, so the Ryzen 7000 series is the way to go for now.
Core Count and Clock Speeds: The higher the core count, the better the overall experience. Fortunately, most modern CPUs come with at least 8 cores and Intel CPUs typically focus on packing the highest core counts and clock speeds, while AMD focuses on doing more with less. This means it is not always necessary to go with the higher core count.
Budget: Every component of a gaming PC ideally has a budget dedicated to it. With gaming being the focus, the GPU takes higher priority in terms of budget. However,Helldivers 2and several other games that are more CPU-intensive need an equal focus on the CPU, and going with the cheaper option may not be ideal here.
FAQ
Q: Is Helldivers 2 a CPU-hungry game?
Yes, Helldivers 2 is a CPU-intensive title as seen by its CPU usage vs GPU usage on different gaming systems.
Q: Can I run Helldivers 2 on an i5?
Yes, Helldivers 2 can run on a Core i5 CPU, but the performance will depend on which generation you decide to go with. The Core i5 14600K can deliver a great gaming experience at 1080p and possibly even 1440p, depending on the GPU paired with the CPU.
