by What is the best CPU available for emulation?
Updated: December 13, 2022 1:14 pm
Retro gaming and emulation has been on the rise in recent years. This is because many people are tired of Triple-A games repeating the same formula over and over again. It’s easy for gamers to get jaded and cynical about the gaming industry in its current state, so many people are turning to retro gaming to enjoy the games of yesteryear. But is wheat the best CPU for emulation?
Now read: The best CPU for gaming.
Naturally, the debate between “the good old days” and the current state of the game is a bit controversial. That’s a story for another day entirely. Meanwhile, if you want to get into retro gaming and are turning to emulation, you might be wondering if your rig can handle it.
Most gaming PCs built in the last decade can easily handle emulators for most consoles. Even a Core i3 9100F will be able to easily handle PS2, Gamecube, Nintendo 64 and Dreamcast emulation. The problem starts when you want to emulate consoles like the PS3 and the original Xbox/Xbox 360.
For that, you’ll need a little more horsepower. Emulators usually require more CPU, so that’s what you’ll focus on. If you’re building a new gaming PC, here are the best CPUs for emulation.
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The best CPU for emulation: our top picks
01
Better overall
Ryzen55600X
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
02
premium choice
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
03
Best value
Intel Core i5-13600K processor
Intel Core i5-13600K processor
Do I need a good GPU for emulation?
Depending on the capabilities of the type of emulator you want to use, the GPU may or may not matter. For rendering geometry in emulators like RPCS3 (PS3 emulator) and Xenia (Xbox 360 emulator), you will need a powerful GPU.
However, if you just want to play some old school Nintendo games from consoles like Gameboy, NES, SNES or Gamecube, you don’t need the latest and greatest GPU. Most budget Android phones can handle emulating these consoles as well, so you don’t need a high-end GPU.
Even something like an entry-level GTX 1650 Super will be more than enough for most retro games. Of course, this also depends on the type of game you are playing and the settings you want to play it on. Even then, you can play PS2 games at 4K on high settings with cheaper GPUs, so it’s all about the emulator and the game.
Best CPU for Emulation – Thorough Review
Here we’ll list our handpicked CPUs and explain why they’re a great choice.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X – The best ever
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
In our opinion, the Ryzen 5 5600X is the best CPU for emulation. That’s not because it’s the most powerful processor out there, but it sure is highly capable. We also need to take into consideration factors such as motherboard availability and price.
The 5600X features 6 cores and 12 threads. Its relative performance in modern games is highly commendable, and it achieves it at a low TDP of 65W. For emulators, you’ll get great performance without the insane power draw of something like a Core i9 13900K.
You can expect excellent performance in most emulators. This includes Yuzu and Ryujin (Switch Emulators) as well as RPCS3 and Xenia. Pair that with a decent graphics card and you’ll be good to go. The 5600X will give you impressive performance and is a chip that will remain highly efficient for years to come.
However, there is the factor that Intel processors like 13600K and 12600K can outclass it. That said, you can usually find a 5600X and B550 combo for less, so in the end, it’s a win for AMD.
Professionals
-
Set to exceed 10600K -
Excellent value for money -
Overclocking unlocked
Versus
-
Slightly more expensive than we’re used to from AMD’s mid-range offering -
Requires CPU cooler
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X – Premium choice
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X
The Ryzen 9 7950X might be the most impressive processor for emulation. If money is no object and you want the best performance possible, then the 7950X may be the best CPU for emulation. Of course, the high cost and availability of X670 motherboards does not escape us.
The main reason we include the 7950X in this list is that it tops the charts when it comes to performance in RPCS3. This is because RPCS3 is a PS3 emulator which now supports AVX-512 support. AMD’s latest Ryzen processors offer full support for AVX-512 instructions.
Therefore, AVX-512 offers 30% performance improvement for RPCS3. This is why the Ryzen 9 7950X blows any competition out of the water. Other than that, this is a monstrous CPU that can handle any modern title and professional application you can throw at it.
Bottom line, the 7950X isn’t a practical choice for most people, but it’s certainly very impressive. If you need the 7950X for professional workloads, you’ll be happy to know you’re getting the best possible emulation performance as a bonus.
Professionals
-
Monstrous performance -
PCIe Gen 5 support -
Impressive results in RPCS3 -
DDR5 support
Versus
-
Extremely expensive -
Motherboard availability/price issues
Intel Core i5 13600K – the best value for money
Intel Core i5-13600K processor
Basic speed
P-core 3.5GHz / E-core 2.6GHz
Increase your speed
P-core 5.1GHz / E-core 3.9GHz
The Intel Core i5 13600K might just be the best value gaming processor right now. It features 14 cores, 20 threads, and a boost clock of 5.1GHz under full load. It features more cores than the Ryzen 7 7600X and matches that in nearly every game. The 13600K even manages to beat the Ryzen CPU in some titles.
An interesting aspect of the 13600K is that it supports both DDR5 and DDR4 memory. Motherboard availability is also better, as you can find many B660 boards for under $200. Other than that, the relative performance in almost any emulator will leave you quite impressed.
That’s because the 14 cores and high boost clock of the 13600K are more than capable of handling almost any game out there, new, old or retro. Other than that, because the 13600K is so powerful, CPU usage will also be low for most emulators, making this chip highly efficient.
If you’re looking for the best value gaming processor right now, this is the one to get.
Professionals
-
High core count for an entry level CPU -
High base and boost speeds -
Efficient -
backwards compatible with 12th generation motherboards
Final word
No matter which CPU you choose, you’ll be in good hands with these CPUs, you can go “over the top” with the 7950X or go for a value-oriented CPU with the 13600K. Either way, if you pick a CPU from this list, we’re sure you’ll get what you need.
