Best CPU for Mortal Kombat 11 (2026)
To get the most out of Mortal Kombat 11, pair your graphics card with a CPU at or above its recommended processor. A too-slow CPU caps your frame rate no matter how strong the GPU is. Below are our picks by budget, chosen from real benchmark data.
Recommended processors by budget
| Tier | Our pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Intel Core i3-6100 Meets the recommended spec · 2 cores · ~$25.00 |
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| Sweet spot | AMD Ryzen 3 1200 High-FPS headroom at 1080p/1440p · 4 cores · ~$25.00 |
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| High-end | AMD Ryzen 5 1400 1440p+, streaming & future-proofing · 4 cores · ~$35.00 |
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The CPU sets your frame-rate ceiling. For high-refresh (144Hz+) or 1080p competitive play, lean toward the sweet-spot or high-end pick; at 4K the GPU does most of the work and a budget-tier CPU is usually enough.
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Mortal Kombat 11 system requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5-750, 2.66 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz or AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200, 3.1 GHz | Intel Core i5-2300, 2.8 GHz / AMD FX-6300, 3.5GHz or AMD Ryzen™ 5 1400, 3.2 GHz |
| GPU | NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 670 or NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 1050 / AMD® Radeon™ HD 7950 or AMD® Radeon™ R9 270 | NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 780 or NVIDIA® GeForce™ GTX 1060-6GB / AMD® Radeon™ R9 290 or RX 570 |
| RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
Building the whole rig? See the best GPU for Mortal Kombat 11, check for a CPU/GPU bottleneck, or test your current PC with Can I Run It.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CPU do I need for Mortal Kombat 11?
A Intel Core i3-6100-class processor meets the recommended bar. For high frame rates a AMD Ryzen 3 1200 gives more headroom. For 1440p+ gaming while streaming, a AMD Ryzen 5 1400 or better is ideal. Verify any chip with our free Can I Run It checker.
Does the CPU matter for Mortal Kombat 11, or just the GPU?
Gaming is GPU-bound, so the graphics card matters most for raw settings and resolution. But the CPU sets your frame-rate ceiling — it matters most at high refresh rates, at 1080p, and in CPU-heavy games (strategy, simulation, open-world). A weak CPU paired with a strong GPU causes a bottleneck.
Will my CPU bottleneck Mortal Kombat 11?
It can, if your CPU is much weaker than your GPU. Check the exact balance of your build with our free bottleneck calculator before buying either component.