On today’s agenda is figuring out what the best CPU for Hades 2 is, and there’s a wide range to choose from. In this guide, we’re going to cover options from both AMD and Intel, with the former remaining a popular choice for gaming with the latest and greatest Ryzen processors. However, Hades II is thankfully a lightweight game (performance wise) and you can afford to go back a generation or two to score great value.
We’ve already covered the best GPU for Hades 2, and you can find an equally budget-friendly selection from our CPU suggestions, as the game will hardly be taxing on your system. With this in mind, we’d even venture out into the world of APUs if you want to save big while building a gaming PC on a very limited budget, or perhaps a small form factor build.
- Best CPU for Hades 2
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Best Intel CPU for Hades 2
Intel Core i5-13600K
- Cores: 14 (6P-8E)
- Threads: 20
- Boost speed : P-Core 5.1GHz / E-Core 3.5GHz
- Base speed: P-Core 3.5GHz / E-Core 2.6GHz
- L3 Cache: 24MB
- TDP: 181W
- Best AM4 CPU for Hades 2
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Cores: 6
- Threads : 12
- Boost speed : up to 4.6 GHz
- Base speed: 3.7 GHz
- L3 Cache: 32 MB
- TDP: 65W
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Best APU for Hades 2AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Boost speed: 5.1GHz
- Base speed: 4.2GHz
- L3 Cache: 16MB
- TDP: 65W
What CPU do you need for Hades 2?
Looking at the Hades 2 system requirements tells us that you don’t really need a powerful CPU to run the game. The minimum and recommended specs simply suggest either a Dual Core or Quad Core 2.4Ghz processor respectively, without any specific mention of particular models. Pretty much any relatively modern CPU will be able to achieve this milestone, so being able to run the game isn’t much of a problem.
So if you don’t need the best CPU for gaming on the market, what is a good option? Well, our selection below all meet those requirements while being modern solutions which will remain relevant for time to come, especially if you want to play more demanding games alongside Hades II. Furthermore, we’d even suggest an AMD Ryzen APU with sufficient integrated graphics if you want to skip buying a discrete graphics card altogether.
- Cores: 6
- Threads : 12
- Boost speed : 5.3 GHz
- Base speed: 4.7 GHz
- L3 Cache: 32 MB
- TDP: 105W
- Platform: AMD (AM5)
For a solid CPU for gaming on AMD’s latest AM5 platform, we have to recommend the 7600X. This is currently the best budget option from the 7000 series and provides plenty of power to enjoy Hades II. For a new build, this is ideal and will last for years to come.
- Entry-level option for AM5
- Solid core / thread count for gaming
- Good value for money
- Upgrading to AM5 will come with additional costs
- Fewer cores not ideal for workstations
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a great value option from the Ryzen 7000 series, AMD’s Zen 4 line-up and the first to fit the AM5 socket. If you’re putting together a new PC or want to do a substantial upgrade without going all-out, then this is a excellent choice that will remain relevant for a long time. Given the lax requirements of Hades II, this is more than enough to play, but is what we’d recommend as a future-proof upgrade right now.
“Thanks to the AM5 platform, we have an increased PCIe Gen 5 bandwidth to work with as the main source of future-proofing, and increased storage speed thanks to Gen 5 storage compatibility. You can speed up your system in more than one way with the Ryzen 5 7600X”
Ryzen 5 7600X review, PCGuide
Looking at our Ryzen 5 7600X review, we can see that this processor provided support for even powerful graphics cards, such as the 4070 Ti Super in our test rig at the time. This would be overkill for Hades II, but it proves that this CPU offers plenty of headroom if you plan on upgrading your system in the future. Do keep in mind that AM5 hardware will be required if you wish to use the 7600X, such as a compatible AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM, which is more expensive than last-gen counterparts.
What users say
The 7600X is one of the most popular CPUs on the market right now, boasting an impressive 4.7 stars against over 1,500 ratings on Amazon. Users praise the stunning performance to price ratio, noticing a sizeable uplift compared to older Ryzen hardware. The 105W TDP also makes it fairly easy to cool, though this is more power draw than the 5600X we feature down below.
- Cores: 14 (6P-8E)
- Threads: 20
- Boost speed : P-Core 5.1GHz / E-Core 3.5GHz
- Base speed: P-Core 3.5GHz / E-Core 2.6GHz
- L3 Cache: 24MB
- TDP: 181W
- Platform: Intel (LGA 1700)
Moving over Team Blue now, Intel has consistently provided excellent processing power for gaming. And on top of that, the 13600K is great for productivity workflows thanks to the 14 cores and 20 threads. For Intel fans, this is a suitable upgrade on their modern LGA 1700 socket.
- High number of cores and threads for multitasking
- Strong performance for gaming and productivity
- LGA 1700 platform is no longer too expensive
- Both DDR5 and DDR4 compatibility
- More expensive than the 7600X
- Runs hot with high TDP
The Intel Core i5-13600K would be our go-to processor at the moment if you prefer going with Intel over AMD right now. It is comparable to the 7600X, while offering more potent multi-core performance thanks to the big.LITTLE technology which allows for a higher number of cores and threads overall. Even with the introduction of the 14th gen, it provides very little performance boost while being more expensive due to 13th gen price drops. Our efforts with benchmarking this CPU can be found in our Intel Core i5-13600K review.
“The very real performance means it excels in both gaming and workstation tasks such as editing and rendering. We saw this when we explained the high Multi-core scores. The fact that you can pick up this CPU for as little as $275, or less if you’re lucky, makes this CPU an absolute score”
Intel Core i5-13600K review, PCGuide
Based on the LGA 1700 socket, it offers compatibility with both DDR5 and DDR5 RAM, which will be a money saver if you don’t mind working with slower memory speeds to help save cash. Like the 7600X, the 13600K offers high performance to help support a higher-end GPU, not that you need it for Hades II. Be wary that this Intel CPU will run pretty hot though, as we measured a 181W power draw that will require a suitable cooling solution.
What users say
Taking to the Amazon reviews of the i5-13600K, we can see that it offers a high 4.8 rating with nearly 1,000 reviews (at the time of writing) under its belt. Generally speaking, many users look to benefit from the additional cores in this CPU compared to its Ryzen equivalent, so this is something that is a big selling point. Many reviewers also comment on the great value.
If you’re on a limited budget, we definitely suggest instead going for an AM4 build, and the 5600x is the perfect CPU to keep costs down. Like the 7600X, it offers 6 cores and 12 threads for strong gaming performance and is more than suitable for a lightweight game like Hades II.
- Still relevant with fast performance to this day
- Low price tag; frequently on sale
- Modest power draw makes it easy to keep cool
- Comes with stock Wraith Stealth Cooler
- Will become dated as AMD shifts focus on AM5
- 6 core / 12 thread design limited for high-end productivity
Even though AMD has since moved on to the AM5 platform, AM4 is still widely used as a budget-friendly option these days. Plus, it has even seem support in 2024 thanks to the introduction of some new CPUs. Regardless, we’re going to stick with the tried and test Ryzen 5 5600X, easily the most popular processor for gaming in recent years. Despite it’s age, it still holds up to this day and is plenty powerful enough for the likes of Hades 2. It is a versatile option for those on a limited budget that can drive a high level of performance, and efficiently so with a modest 65W TDP that makes it easy to keep cool.
We think it’s the ideal budget CPU for gaming, especially since compatible AM4 hardware is much cheaper these days compared to their newer AM5 counterparts. Plus, those of you wishing to upgrade from something like a 1st gen Ryzen CPU will benefit from impressive performance boosts without having to swap out your motherboard (a BIOS update should do the trick).
What users say
Like we said, this CPU is massively popular – with over 25,000 ratings on Amazon to its name. It claims a very impressive 4.8 star rating as we write this and many reviewers agree that it still represents the best choice for a budget gamer. Additionally, one user reports it to be a fantastic upgrade to their 1600X with a sharp performance uplift.
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Boost speed: 5.1GHz
- Base speed: 4.2GHz
- L3 Cache: 16MB
- TDP: 65W
- Platform: AMD (AM5)
- iGPU: Radeon 780M
- Great performance in Hades II without the need for a dedicated GPU
- Cost effective and ideal for small form factor builds
- Runs cool with just 65W TDP
- Uses the latest AM5 socket
- No need for an APU if you already have a suitable graphics card
- Upgrading to AM5 can be expensive
The Ryzen 7 8700G is an outsider in this list, but it’s something we had to include. Since Hades II is not an intensive game at all, you can easily run it on a CPU with capable integrated graphics and the best ones for this are part of AMD’s Ryzen APU line-up. The latest on offer is the 8000 series, a sizeable upgrade that makes use of AMD’s latest AM5 socket. The 8700G uses the Radeon 780M iGPU (integrated GPU) which boasts great 1080p performance, even on much more demanding titles than Hades.
APUs are great if you only plan on playing lightweight or competitive games which are well optimized. It’s cost effective too since you won’t have to buy a dedicated graphics card separately either. Additionally, if you’re putting together a small form factor build, it’s a great space saver as a discrete graphics card is the largest component in most builds. The 8700G also boasts a low 65W TDP, so its easy to keep cool, plus the lack of a beefy GPU will allow your system to run cooler overall.
What users say
It’s newer to the market and more niche, so there’s not as many user reviews as our other choices here, but well worth reading through nonetheless. One buyer calls it a ‘gaming computer in one CPU’ which achieves solid 1080p performance for most games. You’ll also find some useful benchmarks for popular games to help gauge framerates.
Things to consider before you buy a CPU for Hades 2
Upgrading your CPU for Hades 2 comes with a few things to consider, which we’ve put together just below.
Price
Like we’ve mentioned plenty of times by now, Hades 2 is far from a demanding game that doesn’t require a top-notch CPU to run smoothly. As such, you can afford to shop around for a more entry-level CPU. That being said, we’d still recommend going for a processor within the last couple of generations if you’re buying new, as older models will be harder to source at a great price unless you look into the used market.
Additionally, the fact you can run Hades 2 nicely on a Ryzen APU means you may want to consider this is a budget option if you don’t fancy buying a GPU as well.
Cores & Threads
Core and thread count is an integral part to any processor. More cores generally allows for better multi-core performance, ideal for multitasking or taking on heavy productivity workloads such as rendering, video editing, and graphic design. The latest Intel CPUs are best for this due to the Performance and Efficiency core split. However, for gaming, we’d consider 6 cores plenty enough, especially since Hades II only recommends at least four (Quad-Core).
Integrated graphics
As mentioned above, a strong CPU with good integrated graphics can also be suitable for Hades 2, especially if you don’t want to spend a ton of cash on a graphics card as well. Many CPUs come with integrated graphics, but not all are built for gaming, which is why we’d recommend one of AMD’s Ryzen APUs for solid gaming performance.
Final word
There’s a lot of excitement around the sequel to Hades, which proved to be a hit when it launched a few years ago, also into early access. Now that the sequel is here, we’re sure than many of you have been wondering whether it’s going to be tougher to run. Luckily, it works just as well on low-end hardware as we found out in our best settings for Hades 2 guide (using a Ryzen APU without need for a dedicated GPU), but if you are due an upgrade, then our picks above will put you on the right track.
As always, we do a ton of CPU benchmarking in our testing lab to help put together our CPU reviews, giving us the knowledge and experience required to hand-pick a strong selection.
