Best
CPU for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
Windows Central
2022
The best processor (CPU) for NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3080 is one that won’t bottleneck the absolutely monstrous power coming from the card. In this case, AMD Ryzen 5000 series CPUs are a great match, but Intel is right up there as well with its 12th Gen “Alder Lake” Core chips. We’ve rounded up the best CPUs right here if you have an RTX 3080 that needs a partner.
Best overall AMD:
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Editor’s choice
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a killer CPU that will have no issues keeping up with the RTX 3080. You get a whopping 16 cores, 32 threads, and a boost speed up to 4.9GHz with 105W TDP. You’re going to be able to crush QHD and UHD gaming with this chip, but expect to pay dearly for all that power. Check out the best motherboards for AMD Ryzen 9 5950X for the right pairing.
Best overall Intel:
Intel Core i9-12900K
Staff pick
The Intel Core i9-12900K is a beast of a CPU, with 125W stock TDP, DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 support, 16 cores (8 performance, 8 efficient) and 24 threads, with a Turbo frequency of 5.2GHz. It costs just a bit more than the Ryzen 9 5950X, but it scores better in a bunch of benchmarks. This is the chip you want for a truly high-performance Intel system. Check out the best motherboards for the Core i9-12900K for some compatible hardware.
Runner-up AMD:
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
If you’d still like to get in on a Ryzen 9 but don’t want to pay top dollar, the 5900X is a great alternative that will still handle quality modern gaming and heavy workloads. It has 12 cores, 24 threads, and a boost speed up to 4.8GHz with a 105W TDP. If you’re pairing it with an RTX 3080, you should be able to handle QHD and UHD gaming with ease. Check out the best motherboards for AMD Ryzen 9 5900X.
Runner-up Intel:
Intel Core i7-12700K
The Intel Core i7-12700K is a big upgrade over the i7-11700K, and it will pair nicely with the RTX 3080 for less money than an i9 chip. It supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0, it operates at a 125W TDP, and it has 12 cores (8 performance, 4 efficient) with 16 threads up to a max Turbo clock of 5GHz. Add one of the best motherboards for the Core i7-12700K for a proper setup.
Best value AMD:
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
The AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is an incredibly powerful CPU available at a reasonable price. It has 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost frequency up to 4.7GHz with a 105W TDP. This is going to easily handle QHD gaming when paired with the RTX 3080. Check out the best motherboards for AMD Ryzen 7 5800X for the right hardware match.
Best budget Intel:
Intel Core i5-12600K
The Intel Core i5-12600K is an affordable 10-core (6 performance, 4 efficient) CPU with a 125W TDP and a boost clock up to 4.9GHz. It’s compatible with PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM, and it will excel at QHD and FHD gaming. Grab one of the best motherboards for the Core i5-12600K to ensure full compatibility.
Best budget AMD:
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
AMD isn’t without its own budget chip that can put up strong numbers if you’re gaming at a QHD resolution. You’re getting 6 cores, 12 threads, 4.6GHz boost clock, and a low 65W TDP. It costs a bit more than the Intel Core i5-11600K, but if you’re on Team Red it will be well worth the money. Check out the best motherboards for AMD Ryzen 5 5600X to get the right pairing.
If we’re making some suggestions
The GPU market is far more cutthroat than the CPU market, but if you managed to get your hands on one of the best graphics cards you are probably looking for a great CPU to pair it with. And if you haven’t yet grabbed a new GPU, check out our guide on where to buy NVIDIA RTX 30-series graphics cards for some pointers.
AMD’s Ryzen 5000 desktop processors have been available a lot longer than Intel’s 12th Gen Core desktop CPUs, but that doesn’t mean they’re not still potent options for high-end gaming builds. You will pay a bit more for similar Intel chips, but you get access to the phenomenal new hybrid architecture with performance and efficiency cores.
Any of the above CPUs will do a great job with the NVIDIA RTX 3080 depending on the level of performance you’re looking for, but the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X or Intel Core i9-12900K are at the top. If you want to push 4K resolutions in modern AAA games, either of these will do a great job and they’re priced similarly. Even the Ryzen 9 5900X will do a great job if you want to save some money.
The Ryzen 7 or the Core i7 can still be considered in the upper ranges of performance, and they’ll pair well with what the RTX 3080 has to offer. The Ryzen 5 and the Core i5 can still put out a ton of power if you’re on a tighter budget.
For more buying options, be sure to check out our picks for the best processor for your custom PC.
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