Best CPU for Of Ash and Steel (2026)
To get the most out of Of Ash and Steel, 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 | AMD Ryzen 5 5500 Meets the recommended spec · 6 cores · ~$99.00 |
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| Sweet spot | AMD Ryzen 7 5700X High-FPS headroom at 1080p/1440p · 8 cores · ~$159.00 |
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| High-end | Intel Core i5-13600KF 1440p+, streaming & future-proofing · 14 cores · ~$254.00 |
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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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Of Ash and Steel system requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 10600 / AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Intel Core i7-10700 / AMD Ryzen 7 3700x |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 / AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 / AMD Radeon RX 6700 |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
Building the whole rig? See the best GPU for Of Ash and Steel, 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 Of Ash and Steel?
A AMD Ryzen 5 5500-class processor meets the recommended bar. For high frame rates a AMD Ryzen 7 5700X gives more headroom. For 1440p+ gaming while streaming, a Intel Core i5-13600KF or better is ideal. Verify any chip with our free Can I Run It checker.
Does the CPU matter for Of Ash and Steel, 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 Of Ash and Steel?
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.