Minecraft is one of the most popular games and it is quite an interesting game to play as well. Not only children but also adults play this game for many hours. Those people, who want to play Minecraft with their friends and enjoy it privately, need a private server. A private server can be hosted on a computer which allows all the users to connect to it and play Minecraft privately.
If you want to host a lot of people like 50 or more then your personal computer won’t be enough to run a Minecraft server smoothly. To get your server running perfectly, you ought to purchase a good computer. CPU is one of the most important components of a good computer and it isn’t very easy to choose the best CPU for a Minecraft server.
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Intel Core i5-12400 Read More | See On Amazon |
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X Read More | See On Amazon |
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AMD Ryzen 7 5800X Read More | See On Amazon |
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Intel Core i7-12700k Read More | See On Amazon |
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Intel Core i9-12900k Read More | See On Amazon |
I have worked with hosting companies and know what components can make your server system go beyond its capabilities. For starters, I recommend Intel Core i5 and if you’re a Ryzen lover, then Ryzen 5 would be the best to go with. So, let’s get started and move on to our best CPUs for Minecraft Server. I have done my research and compiled a list of the 5 best CPUs for minecraft server that are sure to provide you with both quality and performance.
Table of ContentsShow
The 5 Best CPU for Minecraft Server Reviews
Intel Core i5-12400

Reasons to Buy
- Low power consumption
- Best performance for price
Reasons Not to Buy
- New socket needs new motherboard
The reason for choosing i5-12400 is its mid-range price as well as performance. The i5-12400 is the latest i5 CPU in Intel’s Alder Lake series. This processor operates at a base frequency of 2.60GHz but you’re lucky with this processor as you can overclock it up to 4.40GHz with Intel’s turbo boost technology which allows you to get the most out of your processor.
Talking about performance, i5-12400 comes with 6 cores and 12 threads and with that you can easily host a lot of people 30-40 without any performance issues. Intel has introduced two types of cores including performance cores and efficient cores. The i5-12400 doesn’t have two types of cores but its upgraded version i5-12600k has 6 performance cores and 4 efficient cores to enhance your CPU’s performance. Its predecessor core i5-11400 comes with a 12MB of smart Intel cache while the latest Alder Lake i5-12400 has improved itself and comes with a stunning 18MB Intel smart cache.
The base TDP of i5-12400 is 65W but with maximum performance boost TDP also elevates up to 117W. The best part is that i5-12400 comes with an in-box CPU cooler which has a futuristic design, but in the case of i5-12600k, you don’t get any CPU cooler included.
Intel’s i5-11600 Tiger Lake processor doesn’t support DDR5 ram but i5-12400 can support both DDR4 and DDR5 RAMs. The maximum capacity of ram support is up to 128GB but for a Minecraft server, you don’t need to get that much RAM. 16-32GB would be more than enough for a smooth and perfect Minecraft server.
Overall, i5-12400 is a great choice for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a Minecraft server. It gives the best performance for its price and you can get it just in the price range of 170-200$ depending upon where you get it from. If I were to build a Minecraft server, this processor would be the first priority in my list.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Reasons to Buy
- Good Overclocking Potential
- Wraith Stealth Cooler Included
Reasons Not to Buy
- No DDR5 Support
- No Integrated Graphics
Ryzen 5 5600X fits into the market as a mid-range gaming processor but it can also be used for server builds. As you might know, in the X series of Ryzen processors, you can overclock your CPU. Ryzen 5 5600X operates on the base frequency of 3.7GHz but as it is an unlocked processor it can be overclocked to the company’s set limit which is 4.6GHz.
With a total of 6 cores and 12 threads, you are now sure to get the best performance in your Minecraft server. 5600X has a TDP of 65W and its higher limit is set to 77W which seems to be a bit less for a newer CPU like 5600X. Being an overclockable chip, you can overclock it easily but to do so you are going to need a performance CPU cooler to avoid heating issues.
I know that there are better options from Ryzen like Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 9 but for starters, Ryzen 5 5600X is my recommendation as it doesn’t come with a hefty price tag. Despite its lower specifications as compared to Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 9 series, It can perform all the tasks quite efficiently.
As no chipset is fully perfect and has some drawbacks, I would like to discuss some of the drawbacks of the Ryzen 5 5600X. The first thing is that there are no integrated graphics in 5600X so you might have to buy a Graphics Card for your Minecraft Server. Secondly, this CPU supports only DDR4 memory and there is no DDR5 support as well as there is no PCIe 5 support.
Overall, this CPU is the best in mid-range Ryzen Zen 3 processors and comes in a price range of 200-300$ which is neither too high nor too low. If you are an AMD Ryzen fanboy and want to build an exceptional Minecraft server then Ryzen 5 5600X is your choice to go for.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X

Reasons to Buy
- Easily Overclockable
- Low TDP
- Best Single core performance
Reasons Not to Buy
- No Cooler Included
Ryzen 7 5800X is comparatively an expensive processor from the Ryzen Zen 3 generation. If you want a future proof processor for long term server build then Ryzen 7 5800X is the choice to go for you. As we discussed earlier in ryzen 5 5600X, the “X” means that your CPU is unlocked for overclocking but still there is a limit for overclocking to avoid the risks.
Out of the box, you get a TDP of 105W with this high-end processor which can jump up depending upon the usage and overclocking of the processor. It comes with an AM4 socket and you get a lot of motherboards with an AM4 socket available in the market in various price ranges.
Ryzen 7 5800X differs a bit from its predecessor Ryzen 7 5700X in its base clock speed and overclocked frequency. 5800X comes with default base clock of 3.8GHz and can be overclocked upto 4.7Ghz but as you are aware of the heating issues so make sure to get some water cooling or high performance cooler with this CPU.
Comparing the clock speeds of 5800X with 5700X, I would like to tell you that there is not a big difference, 5700 X 3.4GHz base operating frequency and can be overclocked to 4.6GHz. Unfortunately, there are no integrated graphics in 5800X just like the Ryzen 5 5600X.
Despite being a high-end processor, there is no DDR5 memory support which I consider as a big drawback of 5800X. However, you get PCIe 4.0 support and max memory support upto 128GB. But don’t rush out and buy that much memory for your Minecraft server, as a single 16GB stick can do well for you.
Overall, I would recommend this processor if you have a high budget for your Minecraft server. At the same time I would avoid this processor because the AMD Zen 3 processors have no DDR5 support. Also no integrated graphics can add some hundred bucks more to your bill because of a separate Graphics Card.
Intel Core i7-12700k

Reasons to Buy
- Improved integrated graphics
- Two types of cores
Reasons Not to Buy
- Doesn't come with a cooler
Core i7-12700k belongs to Intel’s new innovative processor family that have two types of cores and I’ll also explain what they are for. Intel’s 12th gen processors have the family name of Alder lake and are designed for maximum efficiency. The Alder Lake series has noticeable differences in terms of the performance.
First, I would like to talk about the two types of cores that are a new innovation in these processor series. Total number of cores on i7-12700k are 12 but they are divided into two different categories. These include performance cores and efficiency cores and the performance cores are claimed to give 19% more performance than the previous 11th gen Intel processors. Performance cores are mainly for single threaded and automated tasks.
Efficiency cores are specifically integrated for better multi-core performance and relatively simpler tasks. Comparing 12700k to its predecessor 11700k, both the processors support DDR4 memory. However, 12700k now comes with DDR5 support and this is fact that gives Intel’s Alder Lake processors a plus point to the AMDs Zen 3 processors. I consider it as one of those factors that make Intel’s new line-up better than AMD.
With Intel’s unlocked processors you also get integrated graphics. i7-11900k has Intel HD graphics 750 while i7-12700k has improved itself and comes with Intel HD 770 so you can expect a slightly more graphics performance in the i7-12900k. Number of displays supported also varies in both these processors. Alder Lake i7 can be paired up with a maximum of 4 displays while the supported display number is only 3 in 11700k.
Overall, I personally like this processor and I would prefer it to the Ryzen processors mentioned in this article. The main reason for this preference is the Integrated graphics and DDR5 Memory support in i7-12700k as compared to Ryzen Zen 3 Series.
Intel Core i9-12900k

Reasons to Buy
- Wide Range of Overclocking features
- DDR5 support
Reasons Not to Buy
- Expensive to overclock to max power
Intel’s Core i9-12900k is the performance beast and it has the best in class specifications. As I mentioned earlier, the Alder Lake series is integrated with Performance and efficient cores. I912900k has the same architecture as the i7-12700k and Intel officially declares that it can also be used as a workstation processor.
Its previous variant i9-11900k has only 8 cores and 16 threads while Intel has doubled the number of cores in the new i9-12900k. Out of the 16 cores of i9-12900k, 8 cores are performance cores and the rest 8 are efficiency cores. The number of threads has also increased to 24 as compared to 11900k which were only 16. This increased number of threads unleashes the maximum capabilities of your processor.
The i9-12900K has improved a lot and there is a noticeable difference between the i9-12900k and i9-11900k. Talking about the cache, 12900k has 30 MB Intel smart cache while on the 11900k, you get a cache of 16 MB. Just like the i7-12700k, this processor also has Intel UHD 770 integrated graphics operating at 1.55GHz graphics frequency. I think that with these graphics, you won’t need any external graphics card for your Minecraft Server.
With PCIe 5.0 support, you can now get ultra-fast operating speeds, boot-up times and application opening times. This can save much of your time and reduce the chances of your server crashing frequently.
The I9-12900k is not a low-range or mid-range processor and it might disturb your budget if you don’t want to spend much on your Minecraft server. I highly recommend this processor to people who have a high budget for their Minecraft server. This processor is sure to provide you the best performance just under the price tag of 600 bucks. Depending on where you make your purchase, you can get this processor in the price range of 550-600$ bucks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I have to say that Minecraft server requires a good CPU to run smoothly and everyone doesn’t have enough budget to buy a high-end processor. Some people are also confused about whether they should buy an AMD or Intel processor. In my top 5 list of best CPU for Minecraft server, I’ve listed processors to meet everyone’s budget needs. I’ve also considered options from both AMD and Intel so that you have different options to choose from.