RTX 3070 is NVIDIA’s flagship GPU and one of the best ray-tracing graphics cards having high-speed GDDR6 memory, and it enables the gamers to experience 4K gaming. The latest games demand an intelligent and fast CPU and a powerful GPU. To utilize the full potential of this graphics machine, you will need to pick the best CPU for RTX 3070. CPU and GPU work in parallel to provide the desired output. CPU is given the artificial functioning of non-player characteristics, and the GPU performs the functions related to graphics detailing and rendering. It renders the animations and images that you see.
The faster GPUs give you better frames per second. More frames per second mean that the games will run smoothly without lagging. All processors are not made equal, so that we will consider the CPU according to our requirements. The most important thing to consider is that your CPU should not bottleneck your graphics, preventing it from reaching its fullest potential. Therefore, to experience a lag-free real-time gaming experience, we shall select the CPU wisely. If we want to buy a processor for some particular graphics card, we must consider some core specifications.
Quick Shopping Tips:
Clock speeds: Clock Speed is measured in GHz. The higher it is, the faster the CPU is. You can increase the potential of your PC by overclocking. Modern processors adjust their clock speed depending upon the task running. So it shows a maximum and a minimum speed. It is the indicator of how far your CPU can go in performance. For overclocking, you need to increase the budget for a cooling solution and compatible motherboard.
Cores/Threads: Multicore processors are now used instead of single-core processors. Multicores give the advantage of splitting up the processor’s tasks. The best processor for RTX 3070 shall have a higher number of cores, boosting CPU performance. So multiple cores are recommended for a processor to be used with RTX 3070. Thread is several processes a chip can handle at a time, i.e., multitasking. Multi threads of CPU boost performance and enhance multitasking during heavy-threaded applications like video editing and gaming.
Bottleneck: It is the most crucial factor while buying a CPU for a particular GPU. You shall make sure that the CPU you are shortlisting will not hinder the performance and potential of your GPU. If the CPU is not processing the calculations fast enough, it can create a bottleneck for your GPU. In this way, it will deprive you of some of the GPU’s features.
Brand: While discussing the shopping tips to buy the best CPU for 3070, the most important is selecting two giant CPU manufacturers, Intel and AMD. Both the brands deliver the best quality workstations. AMD is more suited for content creation, and Intel provides better performance when playing the latest games. So, depending upon your usage, you can opt for a suitable brand.
Best CPUs for RTX 3070 at a glance:
- Intel Core i9-10900K
- AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
- Intel Core i7-10700K
- AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
- Intel Core i9-9900K
- AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Intel Core i5-10600K
- AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
The Best CPUs for RTX 3070 You Can Buy Today
Intel Core i9-10900K
Intel's Best CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Comet Lake | Socket: LGA1200 | Cores/Threads: 10/20 | Base Frequency: 3.7 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 5.3 GHz | TDP: 125W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ High FPS in gaming
✓ 128 GB memory support
✓ Good for multi-threaded applications
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No ECC Memory Support
✗ Requires an expensive cooler
It is a flagship and one of the best processors of Intel, which is why Intel Core i9-10900K has been awarded the Intel’s Best CPU for RTX 3070 award. It has been built with ten cores, 20 threads, and boost clocks with an extraordinary speed that exceeds the 5GHz mark. Due to such higher clock speeds, it delivers the best frames per second. The primary clock speed is 3.7 GHz and can be increased to the maximum of 5.3 GHz. It provides users with a premium-level gaming experience. This high performance of the CPU comes with some drawbacks that the maximum amount of heat it produces is way too large, i.e., 325 Watt. So you need to buy a high-end cooling solution to cool down this gaming beast.
It will add up to the price of this already high-priced CPU. You need to upgrade to the LGA 1200 socket motherboard. To enhance your experience Intel offers some innovative software. Intel Easy streaming wizard simplifies your PC bandwidth and allows you to stream without hassle. This CPU fulfills all the criteria to be the best CPU for 3070. Intel performance maximizer is an efficient overclocking tool that helps you overclock your processor. Intel extreme gaming utility allows gamers to overclock and stress their processor. It also incorporates the feature named Intel optane memory. This feature enables your PC to store the data that is commonly used.
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
AMD's Best CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: AMD Zen 3 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 12/24 | Base Frequency: 3.7 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.8 GHz | TDP: 105W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ PCIe 4.0 supported
✓ Ubuntu x86 64-Bit OS
✓ Higher threads for multitasking
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No cooler included
✗ No dedicated integrated graphics
With the release of the new Zen 3 architecture, AMD introduced a significant upgrade in design and processing. If you want to shortlist the fastest processors in the market, AMD Ryzen 9 5900X is the best choice for content creators and gamers. It has been awarded the AMD’s Best CPU for RTX 3070 award because it has 12 cores that make it magnificent for processing data and running the latest games. The number of threads is also 24, which makes it perfect for multitasking.
It is AMD’s high-end processor targeted at enthusiasts and professional gamers. Ryzen 9 5900X is many times faster than its competitors in the market. Its TDP is the same as Ryzen 9 3900X, reaching a maximum value of 142W. AMD processors reach a higher temperature than Intel processors, but AMD is accustomed and designed to it. This processor is one of the best for gamers and content creators too. It is the best for multi-core workloads. The single-core performance has increased dramatically.
Intel Core i7-10700K
Best Mid-Range CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Comet Lake | Socket: LGA1200 | Cores/Threads: 08/16 | Base Frequency: 3.8 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 5.1 GHz | TDP: 125W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ High boost frequencies
✓ Great overclocking headroom
✓ Excellent in single & multicore performance
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No PCIe 4 lanes
✗ No thermal velocity boost
Intel Core i7-10700K is the king of mid-range performance processors. It is a budget-friendly option from Intel’s 10th generation. Intel i7 10700K is awarded the Best Mid-Range CPU for RTX 3070 award for the reasons mentioned above. Performance-wise it is very close to Intel i9 10900K, with only two cores deficit. Considering its performance and the price tag, It is the best processor for RTX 3070. With Intel’s hyperthreading technology, multi-threading can be made more accessible. It operates with the 14nm manufacturing process. It offers a decent margin for overclocking. The most significant advantage is that it does not produce much heat while being overclocked. It implies that we can get higher gains by spending less.
Intel’s thermal boost technology tends to extract the most out of the clock’s frequency. It is used to boost the performance of a processor temporarily. The memory support is also improved from DDR4-2666 to DDR4-2933. It is provided with a base frequency of 3.8GHz, which delivers excellent performance when combined with 16 threads. Having a boost frequency of 5.1 GHz, this processor increases the overclock potential manifold.
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Best Overall CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: AMD Zen 3 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 08/16 | Base Frequency: 3.8 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.7 GHz | TDP: 105W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Energy-efficient performer
✓ Best Instructions Per Core (IPC)
✓ Optimized for high-FPS gaming
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No integrated graphics
✗ Higher core temperatures
Ryzen 5000 series is a blast of high-end features into its chips. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X has been awarded the Best Overall CPU for RTX 3070 award. AMD captured the market by changing the core design to CCX. Core Complex (CCX) is a basic unit of AMD processors. With the advent of Zen3 architecture, each CCX has eight cores upgraded from four cores, incorporated in Zen 2 architecture. Each core has access to a 32MB cache. By giving access to the cache, AMD claims to improve the instructions per clock performance by 19%, decrease memory latency and improve performance.
Core count has increased many folds with simultaneous Multithreading. Memory has been upgraded to DDR4-3200 MHz with a memory clock ratio of 1:1, which increases the quality of the gaming experience. It supports up to 128GiB of dual-channel DDR4 memory. If you consider the upgraded features, it shall be regarded as the best CPU for RTX 3070. The processor does not include dedicated graphics. You need to buy a graphics card to step into the gaming world. So the Nvidia RTX 3070 will be the best option to complement this masterpiece. It will neither overkill nor bottleneck the mentioned processor.
Intel Core i9-9900K
Best Flagship CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Coffee Lake | Socket: LGA1151 | Cores/Threads: 08/16 | Base Frequency: 3.6 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 5.0 GHz | TDP: 95W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Intel Optane technology
✓ Support Intel UHD Graphics 630
✓ Great for multi-threaded applications
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No PCIe Gen4 support
✗ No support for Intel 400/500 series chipset
Intel Core i9-9900K is Intel’s 9th gen processor designed for gamers to push their PC to extract a lot out of it. It is a flagship CPU having a premium set of features. This model is crowned with the Best Flagship CPU for RTX 3070 award. It is built with solder thermal interface material (STIM) to increase the efficiency of heat transfer. It prevents shutting down of the system due to ascending temperatures. Now gamers can push their PC to higher clock speeds, experiencing more realistic gaming.
It is the most powerful processor of Intel’s (9th generation). With a boost clock frequency of 5GHz and the ability to overclock, it can be considered the best CPU for RTX 3070. Compared to its predecessors, the Intel i9 9900 is a beast offering astonishing eight cores and 16 threads. Intel is stuck with a 14nm chip for years, and the plus point is that you get a wide range of motherboard compatibility with this drawback of Intel. For example, Z390 motherboards also support 14nm chips and can be considered a valuable option instead of buying the latest and pricier platforms.
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Best Budget CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: AMD Zen3 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 06/12 | Base Frequency: 3.7 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.6 GHz | TDP: 65W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ VR-ready Premium features
✓ Deficient power consumption
✓ Wraith Stealth cooler included
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ Fewer no. of core/threads
✗ No DDR6 system memory type
AMD Zen 3 based architecture offers this model a blend of economy and performance; that is why AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is awarded the Best Budget CPU for RTX 3070 award. It offers the best core count having six cores and 12 threads, and is designed for mid-range gaming at a nominal price tag giving tough competition to its counterparts in the marketplace. Its package also includes a bundled cooler, which keeps you from spending more on cooling solutions for your PC. Other upgrades include boosting algorithms, enhanced memory overclocking, and refreshed cache topology. System memory support is DDR4 type, and the frequency support is 3200 GHz.
As far as power consumption is concerned, this is the most energy-efficient chip in the market. Though it includes all the prerequisites for mid-range gaming, it lacks integrated graphics. Hence this chip model is regarded as the best CPU for 3070. It can provide gamers with the best performance output. For gamers who are concerned about the budget, AMD provides broad socket support. For example, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X can use an AMD X570 or B550 board with the Zen 3 chips following a BIOS update. In this way, gamers can get the most out of their PC while spending less.
Intel Core i5-10600K
Best Enthusiast CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: Comet Lake | Socket: LGA 1200 | Cores/Threads: 06/12 | Base Frequency: 4.1 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.8 GHz | TDP: 125W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Good heat transfer
✓ Lower per thread pricing
✓ Robust overclocking headroom
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No Thermal Velocity Boost
✗ No Embedded Options Available
Gamers who want to experience mid-range gaming without spending much shall consider the Intel Core i5-10600K processor coupled with the Nvidia RTX 3070. It has been awarded the Best Enthusiast CPU for RTX 3070 award. It incorporates hyperthreading technology at no extra cost. With six cores/12 threads running up to 4.8GHz on a single core, the Core i5 10600K has excellent potential in every aspect of gaming. Compared to the previous generation, the thread count, overclock ability, and clock frequencies have increased. Memory support increased up to DDR4-2933. Intel fully enables memory overclocking on the Z-series motherboard. Adding to its value is the Intel UHD Graphics 630, an integrated GPU. Core i5-10600K is equipped with a copper integrated heat spreader (IHS) and a solder TIM to improve heat transfer and overclock ability.
Due to the changed thermal profile on the Comet lake chips, overclocking is up to the mark. It is made on the same thin die as the i9-10900K but with cores disabled. The Less number of cores on the same die makes it supercooled due to lesser power demand. It comes with a TDP rating of 125watts, relatively higher for an i5 processor.
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
Best Performance CPU for RTX 3070
SPECIFICATIONS
Architecture: AMD Zen2 | Socket: AM4 | Cores/Threads: 12/24 | Base Frequency: 3.8 GHz | Top Boost Frequency: 4.6 GHz | TDP: 105W
REASONS TO BUY
✓ Dual-memory channel
✓ 7nm chip is energy efficient
✓ RHEL x86 64-Bit OS supported
REASONS TO AVOID
✗ No VR-ready features
✗ Single-core performance lags
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is the best AMD processor in the market, loaded off with unique features. It is best suited for whatever kind of task you are to perform on your PC. With this level of multithreading, it can process both gaming and content creation perfectly. It is worth mentioning here that this processor has been awarded the Best Performance CPU for RTX 3070 award. It offers 12 cores and 24 threads at the best price. Instruction per core (IPC) has increased up to 15% in the AMD third-generation processors.
When you are gaming with high frame rates, game cache plays a significant role. This model smashes in with the devastating 64MB of L3 cache and 6MB of L2 cache, making the total game cache 70MB. Having this more remarkable game cache makes it the best processor for RTX 3070. It also holds PCIe 4. Only a few GPUs run on PCIe 4, but it brings a revolution when tied up with SSD. The data transfer speeds of SSDs increased drastically with the presence of PCIe 4. AMD’s Zen 2 architecture introduced a 7nm chip. It is very energy efficient as compared to Intel’s conventional 14nm chips.
Conclusion
Keeping in view all the reviews and pros and cons, I would like to give my verdict on the choice for the Best processor for RTX 3070. In my opinion, AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is the best choice for high-end gamers and content creators. It offers spectacular multitasking with 24 threads and 12 cores. Being a 7nm chip, It is very energy efficient as well. It has a fantastic game cache (70MB) which is rarely found on any chip in this price range. IPC has also been increased up to 15%. With the inclusion of PCIe 4 support, SSD data transfer is made superfast.
For mid-range gamers, my suggestion would lean towards AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. It is a budget-friendly option for enthusiasts and gamers who want to make the best out of their budget. Due to its best value for money, this CPU has been awarded the Best Budget CPU for RTX 3070 award, making it quite clear that this is the best CPU for 3070. With six cores and 12 threads, it performs pretty amazingly during most of the high-end games. Making it more cost-effective is the bundled cooler, which is included in the package.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CPU should I get for RTX 3070?
Intel Core i7-10700K is the best mid-range CPU to be coupled with RTX 3070. It is a budget-friendly CPU belonging to Intel’s 10th generation. It also won the Best mid-range CPU for RTX 3070 award. A significant gain is that it doesn’t heat up so much while overclocking. It possesses an incredible overclock potential. Intel’s thermal boost technology tends to push the CPU temporarily towards its fullest potential.
What CPU is best for RTX 3070?
Intel Core i9-10900K is the chip to be coupled with the Nvidia RTX 3070. When paired up, both will give extraordinary output. It is Intel’s flagship and is titled the best gaming processor. Having ten cores/20 threads, it is the best option for high-end gaming and multitasking. It is meant for high-end gaming and professional graphics designing.
Is Ryzen 9 3900X enough for 3070?
The answer is YES. It offers 12 cores and 24 threads, making it the best option to be considered while pairing up with the Nvidia RTX 3070. It boosts the gaming experience by enhancing multi-tasking with the aid of 24 threads. Ryzen 9 3900X is one of the processors which will utilize every bit of RTX 3070 potential and elevate the gaming experience to the next level.
Will the i9 9900k bottleneck The RTX 3070?
Intel i9 9900K will not bottleneck the RTX 3070. It’s because it has a sufficient number of cores and threads to handle high-end games. Its maximum boost frequency is 5 GHz, which is quite enough for a decent amount of overclocking. To support my argument, I would like to mention that it also won the “Best flagship CPU for RTX 3070”.
