Arma 3 is a combat massive military sandbox game for single and multiplayer. A very popular military shooter game that has captured the attention of many online gamers.
If you plan on playing this game, you have two options – build a PC or buy a laptop. If you decide to go down the build a PC for Arma 3 route.
You need a capable CPU to run the game since it’s CPU intensive. In this article, we list the best CPU for Arma 3 that will run the game smoothly on the highest preset.
- AMD Ryzen 9 – Best CPU For Gaming Server
- AMD Ryzen 7 – Best CPU For Home Server
- Intel Core i7 – Best CPU For Home Server
- Intel Core i5 – Best CPU For Plex Server
- AMD Ryzen 5 – Best CPU For Home Media Server
Insane multi-core performance at an affordable price
Most popular gaming CPU by team blue.
Very affordable CPU that can game.
Insane multi-core performance at an affordable price
Most popular gaming CPU by team blue.
Very affordable CPU that can game.
Last update on 2021-09-22 at 00:01 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Preview | Name | CPU Speed | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 7 | 3.8 GHz | |
| Intel Core i7 | 3.6 GHz | |
 | AMD Ryzen 5 | 3.7 GHz | |
 | Intel Core i5 | 4.1 GHz | |
| Intel Core i3 | 3.6 GHz |
The Best CPU for Arma 3 | Best Picks + Buyers Guide
➕ Pros
- Excellent multi-core performance
- Great value
- Runs cool
➖ Cons
- Doesn’t come with a cooler
- Can’t be overclocked much
Operating Frequency: 3.8 GHz | Max Frequency: Up To 4.7 GHz | Number of Cores and Threads: 8 Cores and 16 Threads | L3 Cache: 36MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 105W
The AMD Ryzen 7 is a processor that gets almost everything right. Performance, price, etc. you name it.
This makes it the best value processor on the market because you don’t need to spend a lot on others to get powerful performance.
A powerful octa-core CPU, thanks to its high operating frequency. This provides it with excellent multi-core performance making it a suitable choice for Arma 3 or other CPU-intensive games.
It’s also one of the few CPUs that runs cool. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a powerful cooler. Compared to similar processors, the AMD Ryzen 7 will run the coolest when the same cooler is used for the processors.
To sum it all up, the AMD Ryzen 7 is the best CPU for Arma 3. It has plenty of processing power, runs cools, and is affordable.
➕ Pros
- Very high single-core performance
- Overclockable
- Excellent for gaming
➖ Cons
- No hyper-threading
- No stock cooler included
Operating Frequency: Up To 3.6 GHz | Max Frequency: 5.0 GHz | Number of Cores and Threads: 8 Cores and 16 Threads | L3 Cache: 16MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 125W
The Intel Core i7 is one of the most popular CPUs for gaming. It also has one of the best single-core performances out there.
This is a double-edged sword because even though it’s a multi-core processor. It isn’t the best but only dominates in single-core applications making it perfect for running Arma 3.
Also, Intel removed the hyper-threading technology which allows a CPU to perform multiple tasks at once.
The good news is that the Intel Core i7 can be overclocked which allows better performance. But, at the cost of it running hotter.
And there is no stock cooler included and it’s more expensive than the AMD Ryzen 7. This makes it have less value compared to it.
Still, the Intel Core i7 is a powerful processor that excels in single-core applications. A solid choice if plan on playing single-core games. Highly recommended as one of the best CPUs for Arma 3.
Where To Buy
➕ Pros
- Best budget CPU
- Plenty of performance
- Affordable and great value
- Bundled cooler
- Power-efficient
➖ Cons
- No integrated graphics
Operating Frequency: 3.7 GHz | Max Frequency: 4.6GHz | Number of Cores and Threads: 6 Cores and 12 Threads | L3 Cache: 35MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 65W
The AMD Ryzen 5 is literally the best budget CPU for Arma 3 and gaming. At its budget price, it is a powerful CPU. And it doesn’t stop there.
The multi-core and single-core performance make it great for a lot of demanding applications.
It also comes with a bundled cooler which makes it a great value buy. The AMD Ryzen 5 is more power-efficient compared to the Intel processors and runs cool under demanding loads.
If you want to play mid-range or demanding 1080p games without spending a lot, then this is the processor for you.
Overall, the AMD Ryzen 5 checks all the boxes except for one thing – no integrated graphics.
To be honest, it’s not much of an issue because it has plenty of performance and you will use a discrete instead of the integrated graphics card when setting up your Arma 3 PC build.
Highly recommended if looking for the best budget CPU for Arma 3.
Where To Buy
➕ Pros
- Good gaming performance
- Very affordable
➖ Cons
- Locked ratio multiplier
Operating Frequency: Up to 4.1 GHz | Max Frequency: 4.9 GHz| Number of Cores and Threads: 6 Cores and 12 Threads | L3 Cache: 12MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 125W
The Intel Core i5 is a solid budget CPU that can handle fairly demanding games. It’s not the most powerful CPU but its great single-core performance makes it a great option.
One of the most popular choices for budget 1080p gaming even more so when you pair it with an NVIDIA RTX 3060.
It has quite a high base frequency, plenty of cores, and bundled cooler and will dish out serious performance when running Arma 3.
However, the Intel Core i5 has a locked ratio multiplier that prevents you from overclocking unless it’s disabled.
Overall, the Intel Core i5 is nothing more than a budget CPU that delivers very good single-core gaming performance. This makes it one of the best budget Intel CPUs for Arma 3.
Where To Buy
➕ Pros
- Very affordable
- Good performance
- Can be overclocked
- Runs cool
➖ Cons
- Not suitable for very heavy applications and software
Operating Frequency: Up to 3.6 GHz | Max Frequency: 4.3 GHz| Number of Cores and Threads: 4 Cores and 8 Threads | L3 Cache: 9MB | TDP (Thermal Design Power): 65W
On par with the Intel Core i7 7000K, the Intel Core i3 is a very affordable CPU that has some serious performance.
Most budget CPUs do not come close making it the top choice for budget gaming. With 4 cores and up to a 4.3 GHz boost clock, the Intel Core i3 will run Arma 3 smoothly.
Just make sure to pair it with the right graphics card so as not to cause a CPU or GPU bottleneck. The only downside is that even though the Intel Core i3 is a very capable CPU.
It does suffer under very heavy CPU loads. Overclocking is one way around. But, you have to know what you are doing.
Overall, the Intel Core i3 is a great buy if you are on a tight budget. We highly recommend it as one of the best CPUs for Arma 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Arma 3 a CPU Intensive Game?
Arma 3 is a CPU-intensive game. To be precise, the better the single-core performance of the CPU smoother Arma 3 will run. Multi-core CPUs will handle Arma 3.
However, it won’t utilize all the cores. You will be better off getting a CPU that has very high single-core performance like the Intel Core i5.
What Processor Do You Need For Arma 3?
Processors with high single-core performance or scores are great options for Arma 3. According to the Arma 3 system requirements.
The recommended processor is a 4th Gen Intel Core i5. For the best performance, newer CPUs are highly recommended.
Does Arma 3 Need A Good Computer?
Yes, Arma 3 needs a good computer to run well. The recommended system requirements for Arma 3 states you need an Intel Core i5 – 4460/AMD FX 4300, 8GB RAM, and NVIDIA GTX 660/AMD HD 7800.
Modern gaming computers are will run Arma 3 smoothly because they surpass the system requirements for Arma 3.
They have newer and better hardware that you will run Arma 3 on the highest
settings.
Can An i5 Run Arma 3?
According to the Arma 3 system requirements, Intel Core i5 is the recommended CPU for running Arma 3. You will easily run Arma 3 if you have an Intel Core i5 or higher.
Buyer’s Guide For Arma 3 PC Build
Aside from choosing the best CPU for Arma 3. Other important components are important and without them you will have a difficult time running Arma 3.
GPU
Although Arma 3 is CPU intensive you also need a capable GPU. Turning up the graphic settings will
increase GPU usage. And if it’s not up to the task, you won’t enjoy smooth gameplay. Furthermore, pairing your GPU with the right CPU is paramount.
For example, the Intel Core i5 and RTX 3060 are great combinations. However, the Intel Core i3 and RTX 3070 might cause some bottleneck problems which will impact performance.
Always check if there will be a bottleneck between the two before pairing them.
RAM
A minimum of 8GB RAM is enough for Arma 3. The recommended amount is 16GB RAM. The higher the PC RAM the smoother it will run applications. It won’t hurt to get 16GB RAM or higher for your PC build.
Monitor
Monitors with high refresh rates are recommended (75Hz or higher). Arma 3 is a fast-paced game and the hardware is powerful. You can easily reach 100 FPS+.
Monitors with high refresh rates ensure that there is no ghosting, screen tearing, or stuttering during gameplay.
These visual distortions can negatively impact the game experience. The higher the refresh rate of the monitor the better and smoother the gameplay.
Final Thoughts
A capable CPU makes it easier not only to run Arma 3 but other games as well. Aside from that, you need to make sure that your hardware is up to the task for running games i.e., a capable GPU, lots of RAM, high refresh rate monitor, solid gaming keyboard, and mouse. That’s it for the best CPU for Arma 3.