With the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070, you can play any game at high settings without spending too much on a GPU. It is a versatile card that can adapt to different resolutions and refresh rates, giving you the best gaming experience possible. But to make sure you get the best out of your GPU, you need a CPU that won’t hold back the card.
You need a processor that can balance performance and efficiency, avoiding thermal throttling and power consumption issues. Here are some of the best CPUs for the NVIDIA RTX 3070 that will optimize its performance.
AMD's superstar
The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X might be overkill for most people, but if you have the budget, it will crush anything you throw its way. It has 16 cores and 32 threads albeit with a higher 170W TDP than competitors, with a ceiling available for overclocking. It will need an AM5 compatible motherboard, though, and DDR5 RAM so be sure to factor that in.
Intel's powerhouse
The Core i9-13900K is Intel's absolute most powerful CPU right now. It has 24-cores in total but only a 125W base TDP and is overclockable with DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 support. It follows the big.LITTLE design with 32 threads and a max boost of 5.8GHz.
Best value AMD
The Ryzen 7 5800X isn't quite as powerful as the i7-12700K, but it will still easily keep up with the RTX 3070. Eight cores, 16 threads, a 105W TDP, and it's overclockable with DDR4 RAM and PCIe 4.0 support. You can even use older AMD motherboards, thanks to the AM4 socket.
Best value Intel
The Core i5-13600K is arguably the best CPU for gaming right now, combining the power of its 14-cores and 20 threads with a highly manageable 125W TDP, support for DDR5 and PCIe 5.0. It can boost all the way up to 5.1GHz and runs on the same motherboards as the previous 12th Gen Intel CPUs.
Best affordable AMD
The Ryzen 5 5600X vs. Intel Core i5-12600K shows it doesn't bring as much power with six cores and 12 threads. Still, the lower 65W TDP, PCIe 4.0 support, and overclocking ceiling are appealing. The AM4 socket also means keeping your motherboard if upgrading an older AMD build.
Best affordable Intel
The Intel Core i5-12600K beats the Ryzen 5 in most benchmarks, costing about the same amount too, but you must factor in an LGA 1700 socket motherboard. It benefits from DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 support plus the same big.LITTLE hybrid design as the other 12th Gen Intel CPUs.
Intel vs. AMD
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For the best value out there, the Ryzen 7 5800X and Intel Core i5-13600K are both top options that will crush modern gaming and specialized work. And if you'd rather spend a little less, the Ryzen 5 5600X and Core i5-12600K will get the job done at a mild performance cost.
If you've previously used an AMD CPU on the AM4 platform it also makes sense to go as far as a 5000 series financially, as you won't require a new motherboard. But if you're going all out with the Ryzen 9 7950X, then you will.
Choosing the best CPU for NVIDIA RTX 3070
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 is still a top choice for gamers looking for a high-end gaming experience without overspending. That disregards the history of the GPU market, rife with scalpers and insane prices. If you're searching out new CPUs, chances are you already have an RTX 3070 and are now looking for further upgrades.
Any of the best CPUs in this list will do a great job accompanying the RTX 3070, and you have some choices depending on your budget. If you already have the right equipment to use the respective brands CPUs, then there's something here that will pair perfectly with your desired performance and your budget.
