Best CPU for The Blackwood (2026)
To get the most out of The Blackwood, 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 i7-12700F Meets the recommended spec · 12 cores · ~$244.00 |
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| Sweet spot | Intel Core i5-8500 Processor High-FPS headroom at 1080p/1440p · 6 cores |
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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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The Blackwood system requirements
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel® Core™ i3-550 Processor / OR / AMD Athlon II X4 640 | Intel Core i5-3470 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200 |
| GPU | 4 GB GRAPHICS CARD / Radeon RX 470 4GB OR GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | 8 OR 6 GB GRAPHICS CARD Radeon RX 580 8GB / GeForce GTX 1660 6GB |
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
Building the whole rig? See the best GPU for The Blackwood, 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 The Blackwood?
A Intel Core i7-12700F-class processor meets the recommended bar. For high frame rates a Intel Core i5-8500 Processor gives more headroom. Verify any chip with our free Can I Run It checker.
Does the CPU matter for The Blackwood, 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 The Blackwood?
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.