Cities Skylines is a popular city-building simulation game that has gained a large fan base since its release in 2015. As a complex game that simulates the management of a city, it requires a powerful gaming CPU to handle the processing demands of the game. A powerful CPU can significantly improve the gameplay experience, reducing lag and ensuring smooth, uninterrupted gameplay. Choosing the best CPU for Cities Skylines can be a daunting task, especially for those who need to become more familiar with the features of CPUs.
It’s important to consider several factors when choosing a CPU for Cities Skylines, including clock speed, core count, cache size, and CPU socket type. When choosing a CPU for Cities Skylines, the clock speed is also matters. A high clock speed ensures that the CPU can process data quickly, improving the game’s performance. The core count is also important, as Cities Skylines is a multi-threaded game that benefits from CPUs with more cores.
For high performance, the Intel Core i9-11900K processor is an ideal choice and offers an 8-core, 16-thread base clock speed of 3.5 GHz, which boosts up to 5.3 GHz. Additionally, a larger cache size allows the CPU to access data faster, resulting in smoother gameplay. Finally, socket compatibility with the i5-12600K motherboard is most important because that CPU can be installed on and used effectively.
Moreover, choosing a CPU with an appropriate thermal design power (TDP) rating is important to avoid overheating and ensure stable performance. AMD Ryzen 5 5600 Unlocked multipliers for easy overclocking desktop processor. It also has a 35 MB cache and a TDP of 65W, making it a relatively efficient choice. If your budget is tight, you want an affordable processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Spire Cooler is an affordable processor with impressive features and performance.
Our Recommended list of the Best CPU for Cities Skylines
- AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Desktop Processor
- Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Unlocked Desktop Processor
- Intel Core i9-10900K Desktop Processor
- AMD Ryzen 7 3800X Unlocked Desktop Processor
- Intel Core i9-11900K Desktop Processor
Cities Skylines CPU Requirements
- Cores Minimum 6 cores, Maximum 10 cores
- Threads Min. 12 threads, 20 threads
- Base Clock Speed Min. 3.0 MHz, 4.0 MHz
- Max Boost Speed Min. 5.0MHz, 5.5 MHz
- Cache Memory Min. 16 MB, 35MB
- TDP Min. 65 W, 125W
- Cooler Some processors come with a cooler, but some need to buy
Cities Skylines VS Simcity
Cities Skylines and SimCity are city-building simulation games that have gained popularity among players who enjoy building and managing their cities. However, there are some differences between their impressive games.
Cities Skylines,
- Developed by Colossal Order, it is a more recent game that was released in 2015.
- It offers a more realistic and detailed gameplay experience, with more in-depth simulation mechanics that allow players to manage their city’s economy, transportation, and infrastructure. It also offers a more extensive modding community, allowing players to customize and add to the game’s features and content.
SimCity,
- It has been around since 1989 and has undergone several iterations and upgrades. Its latest iteration, SimCity (2013), was met with mixed reviews due to its online-only gameplay and technical issues.
- It offers a simplified gameplay experience, focusing on creating aesthetically pleasing cities and managing their basic needs, such as power and water.
Cities Skylines and SimCity are great city-building simulation games but offer different experiences. Cities Skylines offers a more detailed and realistic gameplay experience, while SimCity focuses on creating visually appealing cities with a more simplified gameplay experience.
1- AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Desktop Processor
You want an efficient process for running Cities Skylines, so the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is an ideal affordable option. With 6 cores and 12 threads, the 3600X can handle the game’s complex graphics and AI-driven simulations without issues. The processor is also unlocked, allowing users to overclock it for even better performance if desired. The 3600X has a base clock speed of 3.8GHz; for faster processing, you should be boosted up to 4.4GHz when needed.
This high clock speed provides excellent single-threaded performance, allowing the processor to handle the game’s physics simulations and other tasks that rely heavily on a single core. In addition, comes a large 35MB cache, which allows the processor to store frequently used data for faster access. This ability can help improve performance in Cities Skylines and other CPU-intensive games and applications.
With a TDP of just 95W Power efficiency ability, the processor can deliver excellent performance without consuming excessive power. This makes it a great choice for users who are looking to build a gaming PC that is both powerful and efficient. Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is an excellent choice for running Cities Skylines. Its high core count, fast clock speed, and large cache make it well-suited for demanding games. The included Wraith Spire Cooler is also a nice bonus, providing adequate cooling for the processor without additional cooling solutions.
Comparison
The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X is an impressive Processor for multiple uses at an affordable price. If we compare this processor to AMD Ryzen 5 4600G, 5 3600X has a 6% better average single-core performance and 10% multithreading performance. Such an also offers a higher +100 MHz frequency and higher +200 MHz Max TurboClock frequency. So For Cities Skylines AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Unlocked desktop processor is a Good choice and this is also Compatible with RTX 4090 and RX 6600 CPU.
Pros
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Supports Cooler
- Support AM4 Sockets
- Affordable
- Impressive performance
Cons
- No include integrated Graphics
2- Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor
You want a versatile processor well-suited for running Cities Skylines with impressive features and excellent performance. So the Intel Core i5-12600K With 10 cores (6 performance and 4 efficiencies) and a base clock speed of 3.7GHz, the 12600K can easily handle the game’s complex graphics and AI-driven simulations. The processor can also be overclocked for better performance in multiple applications and games. In addition to its high core count and clock speed, the 12600K also features a large 20MB cache, which allows the processor to store frequently used data for faster access.
This can help to improve performance in Cities Skylines, as well as other CPU-intensive games and applications. The impressive features of the 12600K are its power efficiency; with a TDP of just 125W, the processor can deliver excellent performance without consuming excessive amounts of power. This makes it a great choice for users who are looking to build a gaming PC that is both powerful and efficient. Moreover, The 12600K also features Intel’s new Alder Lake architecture, which includes a mix of high-performance and high-efficiency cores.
This allows the processor to optimize its performance based on the workload, providing better overall performance and power efficiency. As a result, the Intel Core i5-12600K is an excellent choice for running Cities Skylines. This processor is an Affordable option for those looking to build an energy-efficient system with a midrange price. Additionally, it provides improved performance and efficiency because of the processor’s new Alder Lake architecture compared to previous generations of Intel processors.
Comparison
Let’s compare Intel Core i5-12600K to its previous version processor Intel Core i5-10600K, for Cities Skylines. Then the Intel Core 12600K is a better option because it is 48% better in single-core performance and 85% in multithreading performance. Such as also have 4 more cores and threads for fast processing.
Pros
- Speedly good multi-core performance
- Support DDR5 and PCIe 5.0
- Solid performance for many games
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Support LGA 600 series
Cons
- Power-hungry than Ryzen
- No CPU cooler included
3- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Unlocked Desktop Processor
For users who want an affordable processor for their system, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a powerful and efficient process that is well-suited for running Cities Skylines. With 6 cores and 12 threads, the 5600X can handle the game’s complex graphics and AI-driven simulations without issues. The processor is also unlocked, allowing users to overclock it for even better performance if desired. They are heaving a base clock speed of 3.7GHz, which can be boosted up to 4.6GHz when needed.
This high clock speed provides excellent single-threaded performance, allowing the processor to handle the game’s physics simulations and other tasks that rely heavily on a single core. In addition to its high core count and clock speed, the 5600X also features a large 35MB cache, which allows the processor to store frequently used data for faster access. This can help to improve performance in Cities Skylines, as well as other CPU-intensive games and applications.This CPU is also Supported by AMD RX 6500 XT CPU .
With a TDP of just 65W, the processor can deliver excellent performance without excessive power. This makes it a great choice for users who are looking to build a gaming PC that is both powerful and efficient. In addition, you will maintain your processor temperature because it comes with the Wraith Stealth Cooler. which is a reliable and efficient cooling solution that can keep the processor running at optimal temperatures during extended gaming sessions.
This can help prevent performance drops due to overheating, ensuring that the processor can maintain its maximum performance levels. Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is an excellent choice for running Cities Skylines. The included Wraith Stealth Cooler is also a nice bonus, providing adequate cooling for the processor without additional cooling solutions.
Comparison
AMD is good for programmers and an affordable brand and provides impressive performance; we compare this Ryzen 5 5600X processor to its previous version, Ryzen 5 3600X. Then the new version is much better because 5600x provides 21% faster single-core, and multithreading offers 22% better performance. In addition, compared to 3600X, it uses 32% lower thermal design power and offers a higher +200MHz Max Turbo Clock frequency.
Pros
- Very power efficient
- Support bundled cooler
- Gaming performance improved by over 15%
Cons
- Price increase over the previous generation
4- Intel Core i9-10900K Desktop Processor
Suppose you want a high-end desktop processor well-suited for running Cities Skylines and other multiple applications. Then, the Intel Core i9-10900K desktop processor is an ideal choice. With excellent features, 10 cores, a clock speed of 5.3 GHz, cache memory, and compatibility with Radeon RX 6950XT, and Radeon RX 6750XT CPU. This processor can handle games and other intensive tasks without any issues. It is also an unlocked processor, allowing overclocking to achieve even higher performance if desired. The i9-10900K has a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz, which can be boosted to 5.3 GHz thanks to Intel’s Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0.
This makes it a great choice for single-threaded tasks such as physics simulations and other AI-driven tasks that rely heavily on a single core. In addition features a large 20MB cache, which can help to improve performance in Cities Skylines by allowing frequently used data to be stored for faster access. One of the standout features of the processor is handling multitasking with ease because of 10 cores and 20 threads, and the processor can handle multiple CPU-intensive tasks simultaneously without any performance drops.
It supports Intel Optane Memory, a type of high-speed memory that can significantly improve system performance. This can help to boost further performance in Cities Skylines, as well as other games and applications. In terms of power consumption, the i9-10900K has a TDP of 125W, which is on the higher end for desktop processors. This means a high-quality cooling solution is required to keep the processor operating at optimal temperatures during extended gaming sessions. However, its high power consumption and thermal requirements mean that it is best suited for users willing to invest in a high-quality cooling solution.
Comparison
If we compare this Intel Core i9-10900K processor to its Intel Core i9-10900, both processor performance is impressive. But compared to i9-10900, the K version is better in 22% single core and 2 % multithreading performance. The fast reaction is also +900 MHz higher in CPU clock frequency.
Pros
- High performance for Gaming
- Impressive features
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Support LGA1200 Sockets
Cons
- No included cooler
- Power consumption
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5- AMD Ryzen 7 3800X Unlocked Desktop Processor
If you want a powerful and multitasked processor to run Cities Skylines, the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X is a great option. With new and impressive features, this processor can handle high graphics games without a sweat. Its base clock speed of 3.9 GHz can be boosted up to 4.5 GHz, providing ample processing power to handle CPU-intensive tasks. In addition, this processor is an unlocked multiplier for easy overclocking to achieve higher performance.
In addition to its high core count and clock speed, the Ryzen 7 3800X also features a large 32MB cache, which can help to improve performance in Cities Skylines by allowing frequently used data to be stored for faster access. Additionally, it would help if you Significantly improved the speed of data transfer between the processor and other components like graphics cards and storage devices because this high-end processor is compatible with PCIe 4.0, new interface technology. This can further boost the performance of Cities Skylines and other games and applications.
For cooling and maintenance, the processor temperature comes with a Wraith Prism LED cooler, which keeps the processor running at optimal temperatures and adds a touch of style to your build with its customizable RGB lighting. Regarding power consumption, the Ryzen 7 3800X has a TDP of 105W, which is relatively low for a high-end desktop processor. Overall, it is a powerful and versatile processor for Cities Skylines. Its high core count makes it an excellent choice for handling the game, and the Wraith Prism LED cooler provides added flexibility and style to your build.
Comparison
If we compare the AMD Ryzen 7 3800X to the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, then the Ryzen 7 3800X is better in moderately workstation effective value. Offers 2% better in single-core performance and 3% in multithreading performance, such as +300 Higher CPU clock and Max turbo speed.
Pros
- A solid blend of single and multi-threaded performance
- PCIe 4.0 support
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Bundled cooler
Cons
- Bit expensive
6- Intel Core i9-11900K Desktop Processor
The Intel Core i9-11900K is a great choice. Suppose you’re looking powerful and high-performance processor to run Cities Skylines. With high-performing, new features, this processor can handle even the most demanding tasks like games, browsing, and multiple application open impressively. One of the key features of the i9-11900K is its unlocked multiplier, which allows for easy overclocking to achieve even higher levels of performance. This is especially important for Cities Skylines, as the game requires a lot of processing power to handle complex simulations and graphics.
Such as, come with Intel’s Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 provide the best-performing cores speed and increases their clock speeds for fast processing performance. This can be particularly useful for Cities Skylines, where certain tasks may benefit from higher clock speeds. The i9-11900K is also compatible with the i9-11900K Graphics card and the latest Intel 500 series and selects 400 series chipsets, which offer a range of features to enhance the gaming experience. They also support PCIe 4.0, and along with this, you will improve the speed of data transfer between the processor and other components like graphics cards and storage devices.
In terms of power consumption, the i9-11900K has a TDP of 125W, which is relatively high but can be managed with an appropriate cooling solution. The processor is compatible with an i9-11900K motherboard and a wide range of cooling solutions, from air coolers to liquid coolers, allowing for flexibility in building a high-performance system.
The i9-11900 K also features Intel’s HD Graphics 750, which provides integrated graphics capabilities for those who don’t have a dedicated graphics card. As a result, this powerful, high-performance processor is a great choice for running Cities Skylines. In addition, with the right cooling solution and graphics card, the i9-11900K can provide an exceptional gaming experience that can easily handle the most demanding tasks.
Comparison
If we compare this Intel Core i9-11900K to the Intel Core i9-11900, both processors are good in performance. But in some features, the i9-11900K is better, offering +1000 higher CPU clock speed and +100MHz higher Max Turbo Clock frequency. Both processors have almost the same features and are good for Cities Skylines.
Pros
- Support PCIe 4.0 interface
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Boost equals 5.1GHz on all cores
- Solid performance for demanding games
Cons
- Runs hot
- Power hungry
- Need CPU cooler
Best CPU for Cities Skylines Buying Guide
Cities Skylines is a city-building simulation game that requires a powerful CPU to handle complex simulations and graphics. When choosing a CPU for Cities Skylines, several key features must be considered before purchasing. In our list, all Processors are best for this game and other demanding applications. If you want a high-end processor for this, we suggest Intel Core i9-10900K, 10 cores Desktop Processor. The AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Unlocked Desktop Processor with Wraith Spire Cooler is a good affordable choice for tight-budget users.
Core count:
Cities Skylines benefits from a higher core count, as the game can utilize multi-core processors to distribute the workload. A CPU with at least 6 cores is recommended for optimal performance. For this AMD Ryzen 5 3600X Unlocked Desktop Processor is a good choice.
Clock speed:
A high clock speed is important for single-core performance, which is crucial for pathfinding and traffic simulation tasks. Therefore, a CPU with a clock speed of at least 3.5 GHz is recommended. In our list, all products have this frequency range and a boost range of 5.0MHz for fast processing.
Overclocking:
Overclocking is running a CPU at higher clock speeds in fast-action games. This can significantly boost performance but requires a CPU with an unlocked multiplier and a compatible motherboard. In our list, all products have the ability for gets the full potential of your system.
Cache size:
In processors, the Cache memory is another feature for faster data processing; if your processor has a larger cache size, you improve performance by getting faster access to frequently used data. A CPU with at least 12 MB of cache is recommended. For example, AMD Ryzen 7 3800X Unlocked Desktop Processor offers 32MB cache memory.
Thermal Design Power (TDP):
TDP measures how much heat a CPU generates and how much power it consumes. A higher TDP can provide more performance but requires a more powerful cooling solution. For example, with 65 watts TDP, your processor is too good, but if you look at high-performance processors, these use 125 watts TDP. And with a power-hungry processor, you need a CPU cooler.
Compatibility:
For best performance, you must look for CPU compatibility with your motherboard and other components. So you importantly check your motherboard and processor sockets compatibility. All processors are compatible with LGA 1200 Sockets and support 400 and 500 series chipsets. AMD is also compatible with AM4.
FAQs
Which kind of CPU do You need for Cities Skylines?
Cities Skylines is a CPU-intensive game that requires a processor with a high core count and clock speed. At a minimum, a quad-core CPU with a clock speed of 3.0 GHz is recommended.
Is Intel or AMD better for Cities Skylines?
Both Intel and AMD processors can run Cities Skylines, but some AMD processors, such as the Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7, offer better value for money compared to Intel processors. However, some high-end Intel processors, such as the Core i9, offer superior performance for the most demanding gameplay.
Do Cities Skylines use multiple cores?
Yes, Cities Skylines is a multi-threaded game and can take advantage of processors with multiple cores. However, optimal performance is recommended for a CPU with at least 4 cores.
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