The Best CPU for Arma 3 | Best Picks + Buyers Guide
The CPU is one of the most important parts of any PC build. In fact, some even go as far as to say that the CPU is the brain of the computer. And to a certain extent, they aren’t wrong. The processor is the thing that will power most tasks on your computer. Be it web browsing, word processing, or gaming. So it’s safe to say that having a decent CPU is pretty important for a healthy, well-functioning PC. To learn more, let’s dive into our Best CPU for Arma 3 Guide.
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Best CPU for ARMA 3 Guide
Some games require 5th gen CPUs at a minimum to get good performance and these can be pretty expensive. Luckily the game that we’re talking about today is actually pretty relaxed when it comes to system requirements. Arma 3 was released all the way back in 2013 and PC hardware has come a long way since then. So the components you’ll need to run it can be pretty cheap too. But you’ll still want to take a look at the best of the best so you can game without issue. This is why we’ve found some of the highest performing CPUs at varying prices to suit your next PC build. Whether you want something cheap or have a little more money to spend, this is the list for you. So let’s get right into our list for The Best CPU for Arma 3.
Intel Core i3-9100
For the first option on our list, we’ve gone for a cheaper CPU that is great for those that don’t want to spend too much money. We’ve chosen the Intel i3-9100 for its low price and decent performance. Releasing in May 2019, this CPU was another entry into Intel’s 3rd generation of CPUs. Coming in with an affordable price and appealing to those who were making PCs on a budget. So it’s expected then that, performance-wise, this CPU is going to fall behind more expensive options. But even though it does have less power, it can still do a good job.
This CPU has 4 cores and a base clock speed of 3.6GHz and it can’t be overclocked in most cases. So performance-wise it isn’t incredible but there are a few good things here too. The base clock speed here is pretty decent and means that it’ll be able to read and interpret data fairly quickly. But the 4 cores might limit how many tasks you can do at once before noticing stuttering and slowdown. So if you are looking at getting this cheaper CPU you should understand its limits. For single tasks or a handful of lighter programs, this processor will be able to handle that just fine. But more intensive tasks like video editing, for example, will put a heavy strain on it.
There are some extra benefits here though. The integrated Intel UHD 630 GPU is able to handle some games really well. Able to [push roughly 100 FPS on Valorant at times. And in most cases, it’s able to keep cool to avoid those high temperatures. Don’t expect to be getting a solid 60 FPS with modern titles. But if you’re looking for something that can handle older or less intensive games, this is a great option.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Made For Economy PCs
- Decent Cooling
Cons:
- Not for Modern Gaming
- Struggles with Intensive Tasks
AMD Ryzen 3 2200G
Next up we’ve got a CPU that ticks a lot of the same boxes but will appeal to fans of AMD. We chose the AMD Ryzen 3 2200G for its low price and good performance. And really this comes down to whether or not you prefer Intel or AMD as your brand of choice. This particular CPU offers up quite a lot for the price and in terms of user experience, there are a lot of people that vouch for it in that regard. Releasing back in February 2018, this processor was designed for cheaper PC builds but still does a fantastic job at running some modern titles. Even being able to reach above 60 FPS in some games.
This processor has 4 cores, has a base clock speed of 3.7GHz, and can be overclocked as well. In terms of performance, this CPU is definitely not the best on the market. There only being 4 cores can limit how many tasks you’ll be able to comfortably do at once. And if you’re someone who likes to multitask or has work involving multiple programs at once, this might be an issue. Though the base clock speed is pretty fast and if you aren’t sure about how overclocking works you shouldn’t need to worry.
The graphics power on offer from the Radeon Vega 8 is also pretty good too. Able to attain high framerates on pretty intensive games. It also stays cool thanks to the fan that it comes with. Which is also pretty quiet in most situations. Though it can be pretty loud too when you’re performing some pretty intensive tasks. Overall though, this is another fantastic CPU for those building on a budget. Even though it’s a couple of years old, it can still hold its own with a few modern titles.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Great for Cheap Builds
- Great Integrated Graphics Chip
Cons:
- Cooling Fan Gets Loud
- Struggles with Intensive Tasks
Intel Core i7-9700K
Next up we’ve got a CPU that will appeal to gaming PC enthusiasts. We’ve gone for the Intel i7-9700K for its ability to handle intensive tasks while being able to keep its cool. While this is a pretty big leap in price, you’ll definitely notice how much it’ll improve performance. Especially in comparison to cheaper CPUs on the market. Releasing back in October 2018, this CPU has been a part of tons of different PC builds during that time. And there’s a good reason for that since it offers great performance for gaming and other intensive tasks. But its age and price tag might make you turn away.
This CPU has 8 cores and a base clock speed of 3.6GHz and it can be overclocked up to 4.9GHz too. So in terms of sheer performance, this processor is fantastic. The 8 cores mean that it can handle multiple tasks at once with ease. It can also run a few intensive programs at the same time without much issue either. So if you are someone who uses lots of different creative programs at the same time, you won’t notice as much of a performance loss here.
The integrated graphics card here is the Intel Graphics UHD 630. Which is a really good GPU considering it is an integrated chip. Though it will of course have its limits so don’t expect to be running modern titles solely through the CPU alone. The biggest issue with this CPU is that it does not come with any cooling device. Meaning that you’ll have to do your own research to find out which one would work best. An annoying step that you’ll need to take to really use this CPU. But once that’s been sorted, this is a great CPU to get.
Pros:
- Great Performance
- Overclockable up to 4.9GHz
- Great Integrated Graphics Chip
Cons:
- No Packaged Cooling Solution
- Expensive
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
Next up on our list is another CPU that delivers fantastic performance for gaming and other suitably intensive tasks. We’ve gone for AMD’s Ryzen 7 2700X for its high-grade spec and the way that appeals to more casual PC owners. And by casual appeal, that isn’t to say that this is a weaker CPU. This processor works brilliantly out of the box regardless of whether or not you decide to overclock it. Released back in April 2018, this CPU was and still is designed for modern gaming at a high level. Though it’s got a pretty hefty price tag, you can be sure to get some bang out of your buck with this option.
This processor has 8 cores and a base clock speed of 3.7GHz and if you wanted to, you can overclock it to 4.3GHz. So while the max clock speed is lower than our previous option, the base clock speed is higher. So if you don’t really want to bother with overclocking and you don’t feel like it’s worth doing, you’ll get better performance here. Though be sure to look into overclocking as it’s worth doing on some of these more expensive CPUs!
Now the first disappointment here is that there is no integrated graphics card. Which in all honesty is probably something you won’t really need at this price point. Since most people who get this processor most likely have a dedicated GPU as well. This also comes with a cooling fan so you won’t need to worry about getting one that works with this processor. Ultimately this is a fantastic CPU that performs at a high level. If you don’t mind the lack of integrated GPU and the price point, it’s a great option.
Pros:
- Great Performance
- Overclockable up to 4.9GHz
- Comes With Cooling Fan
Cons:
- No Integrated Graphics
- Expensive
Intel Core i9-9900K
For our final option on this list, we’ve gone for a CPU that really focuses on performance. We’ve chosen the Intel i9-9900K for its high performance for gaming and CPU-intensive programs. While this isn’t the absolute best CPU on the market that you could be getting, it’s the best middle ground between price and performance. Released back in October 2018, it was billed as a gaming powerhouse and still is today. A lot of the newer processors are absolutely worth the money in their own ways. But this processor gives you a ton of value for your money and will make your PC run very smoothly. Though there are some things that you should make note of before going all-in on this purchase.
This processor has 8 cores and a base clock speed of 3.6GHz and can reach up to 5.0GHz when overclocked. So it’s safe to say that there’s a lot of power in this CPU. With the 8 cores, you can multitask seamlessly without issue. If you want to overclock the CPU then you’re getting really fast transmission speeds too. And even if you don’t plan on overclocking the processor, 3.6GHz is still a decent clock speed. So it’s great for those that don’t like diving into their Bios settings and messing around with stuff there.
For integrated graphics, we’re back with the Intel UHD 630, which holds its own on older titles and less-demanding modern releases. Though if you’re looking at this kind of CPU you probably already have a dedicated GPU. The issue that this processor has is that it doesn’t come with any kind of cooler. So you’ll need to look into what would be best for it. This is still a fantastic CPU though and well worth the expensive entry fee.
Pros:
- Great Performance
- Overclockable up to 5.0GHz
- Great Integrated Graphics Chip
Cons:
- No Packaged Cooling Solution
- Expensive
Buying Guide
If you’ve come this far down the list and you still aren’t sure which CPU you should have for your next PC build, don’t worry! In this section, we’ll be giving you some extra advice to help you out with your purchase.
System Requirements for Arma 3
Arma 3 has been out for quite some time now. Released back in September 2013, the game was fairly easy to run back then. Nowadays the requirements to run it are pretty low. So here are the minimum and recommended specs for Arma 3.
Minimum System Requirements:
- CPU: Intel Dual-Core 2.4 GHz | AMD Dual-Core Athlon 2.5 GHz
- RAM: 4 GB RAM
- HDD: 20 GB available space
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT | AMD Radeon HD 5670
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7 SP1
Recommended System Requirements
- CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 | AMD FX 4300 or better
- RAM: 6 GB RAM
- HDD: 25 GB available space, SSD
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 | AMD Radeon HD 7800 Series with 2 GB VRAM
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10
What to look for in a CPU
Processors are complex pieces of technology and there are lots of little things to be aware of when looking for the right one for you. The first thing that you’ll want to look at is how many cores your chosen CPU has. These days the minimum you really want to be aiming for is 4. Since as programs and technology advance, more and more power is needed to run everything smoothly. Quad-core CPUs like the Intel i3-9100 are cheap and able to run computers quite smoothly. But if you’re serious about gaming or use intensive software, then you’ll need to start thinking about getting a processor with more cores.
But it isn’t necessarily all down to how many cores a CPU has. There’s also its clock speed that you need to consider. This determines how fast a CPU is able to deal with data. Generally, most processors made these days have a clock speed that is somewhere between 3.0 to 4.0GHz. And some CPUs allow you to ‘overclock’, which basically lets the CPU perform faster at the cost of more power drainage and higher temps. If you aren’t 100% sure of the risks and benefits of overclocking it’s best to stay away from that. But the bottom line here is that you want to make sure your chosen CPU has a clock speed of 3.6GHz or close to it. That way it should be able to keep up with most tasks that you need to perform.
Buyer Tips:
- You don’t need to break the bank! Find the CPU that works for what you want to do. If you play older games that are less intensive you won’t need higher-end processors.
- Make sure you check out benchmarks for the CPU that you want. So you get an idea of how powerful it actually is. Seeing that data is a great way to find out if the CPU is worth it or not.
- Intel and AMD processors tend to have their own unique pros and cons. Intel is usually more expensive while AMD is usually cheaper. But their differences are far more in-depth than that so be sure to do plenty of research!
- If you have any friends that are good with tech, ask them what CPU they would recommend. Getting an opinion from someone you trust is a great way to shop for expensive tech.
Verdict – The Best CPU for ARMA 3
That’s the end of our list for The Best CPU for Arma 3. If it helped you out at all please let us know all about it in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
