Best CPU for NVIDIA RTX 3070

Do you want to crush such high-end games without spending tons of cash? Of course, finding the best graphics card is not easy, like apparel shopping; you will run after your favorite materials, cuttings, and colors even though you’ve already solved the major part of this hard by choosing RTX 3070.

You may know that such new-gen graphics cards, like RTX 3070 or 3080 or 3090, have some special requirements, so you have to check if your CPU is compatible with these requirements or not? Obviously, you know such things so that you’re here.

However, there are a bunch of options available in the market that won’t hold back the RTX 3070 from achieving its true potential. In the previous article, I talked about the best CPU for RTX 3080, and now it’s the turn of the RTX 3070 PC build.

Today, I’ll recommend some compatible CPUs that are capable of rendering the high-end graphics on RTX 3070 at a high FPS. Besides every recommendation, make sure you won’t miss the in-depth buying guide to make a smart purchasing decision.

LIST OF THE BEST CPU FOR RTX 3070

Product Image
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Intel Core i9-12900KF Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E) Cores up to 5.2 GHz...
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor 10 (6P+4E) Cores up to 4.9 GHz...
Product Name
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Intel Core i9-12900KF Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E) Cores up to 5.2 GHz...
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor 10 (6P+4E) Cores up to 4.9 GHz...
Cores
16
16
12
10 (6P+4E)
Threads
32
24
24
16
Max Frequency
4.9GHz
5.20 GHz
4.8GHz
4.9 GHz
Wattage
105 Watts
125 W
105 Watts
125 Watts
Socket Type
AM4
LGA 1700
AM4
LGA 1700
Product Image
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Product Name
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X 16-core, 32-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Cores
16
Threads
32
Max Frequency
4.9GHz
Wattage
105 Watts
Socket Type
AM4
Product Image
Intel Core i9-12900KF Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E) Cores up to 5.2 GHz...
Product Name
Intel Core i9-12900KF Desktop Processor 16 (8P+8E) Cores up to 5.2 GHz...
Cores
16
Threads
24
Max Frequency
5.20 GHz
Wattage
125 W
Socket Type
LGA 1700
Product Image
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Product Name
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-core, 24-Thread Unlocked Desktop Processor
Cores
12
Threads
24
Max Frequency
4.8GHz
Wattage
105 Watts
Socket Type
AM4
Product Image
Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor 10 (6P+4E) Cores up to 4.9 GHz...
Product Name
Intel Core i5-12600K Desktop Processor 10 (6P+4E) Cores up to 4.9 GHz...
Cores
10 (6P+4E)
Threads
16
Max Frequency
4.9 GHz
Wattage
125 Watts
Socket Type
LGA 1700

REVIEW OF THE 8 BEST CPU FOR RTX 3070

1

AMD Ryzen 9 5950X: Best motherboard for 3070

Features

  • Cores: 16
  • Threads: 32
  • Max Turbo Frequency: 4.9GHz
  • L2 and L3 Cache: 72MB
  • Wattage: 105 Watts
    Socket Type: AM4
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X - BEST CPU FOR RTX 3070

Those days were gone when you needed only a high-speed CPU with a decent GPU for gaming. Nowadays, we have to pair a high-end graphics card like RTX 3070 with our PC built.

But the existing configurations of our PC often hold back this high-end graphics card from achieving its true best potential, and we started wondering about the best CPU and GPU combo.
Stop chasing the available options, as you’ve already reached the best CPU for RTX 3070, the AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. From price tags to performance, everything about this CPU is mostly reserved for enthusiasts.

It’s a bit pricey, but this AMD CPU will introduce you to the best processor ever. The 16-core processor with 32 processing threads will crush the most modern games with more than 100 FPS performances and specialized work.

You will get such an incredibly powerful Ryzen 3070 compatible CPU, spending around $550. If you are an Intel lover, keep scrolling to the next portion. Intel also has such a powerful CPU option at the same price range for prebuilt gaming pc with RTX 3070.

Pros

  • Runs smoothly at ultra-high graphics settings
  • No heating or performance issue
  • You won’t need to upgrade the system for a long time
  • Supports PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards
  • Supports CPU and RAM overclocking

2

Intel Core i9-12900KF: Best Gaming CPU for Prebuilt PC with RTX 3070

Features

  • Cores: 16
  • Threads: 24
  • Max Turbo Frequency: 5.20 GHz
  • L3 Cache: 30MB
  • Wattage: 125 W
  • Socket Type: LGA 1700
Intel Core i9-12900KF - BEST CPU FOR RTX 3070

This 12th Generation Intel Core i9 processor has 16 cores, 24 threads, and a 30MB L3 cache, making it the fastest chip in the market. It works with a single-core but deals with the 16-hybrid type or multicores. Out of 16, the first 8 are performance cores, and another 8 are energy cores.

The processor handles multiple tasks and the heavy-loaded game applications with high-end graphics without slowing down the system.


It exclusively incorporates advanced thermal monitoring technology; that prevents the system from turning off suddenly. This feature offers me uninterrupted and continuous game sessions.

Hence it is worthy enough for a person like me, an enthusiastic gamer opting for playing games as well as doing other operations simultaneously. Another big plus of this CPU is that it comes equipped with an efficient cooling system, which solves the heating issues.


The maximum turbo frequency of 5.20 GHz allows it to compute fast and easily. However, I can say from personal experience it will offer you a speedy performance of up to 240 FPS when you pair it with a reliable gaming ring, including the EVGA RTX 3070 graphics card and the required PSU unit.

Pros

  • Having multicore hence allows multitasking.
  • Exclusively has an efficient cooling system to eliminate heating issues
  • Intel’s deep learning boost feature is dedicated to handling AI workloads.
  • Thermal monitoring advanced technology
  • Hyper-threading technology helps to perform different functions simultaneously and swiftly.
  • Highly power-efficient

3

AMD Ryzen 9 5900X: Best Ryzen CPU for gaming and streaming

Features

  • Cores: 12
  • Threads: 24
  • Max Turbo Frequency: 4.8GHz
  • L3 Cache: 70MB
  • Wattage: 105 Watts
  • Socket Type: AM4
AMD Ryzen 9 5900X 12-core - BEST CPU FOR RTX 3070

Taking the advantages of 24 threaded 12 cores and PCIe 4.0 support, you could easily obliterate multi-threaded works, such as software compiling and video and 3D rendering. So, this CPU is highly recommendable for content creators.

A boast of 72 MB cache memory and 4.8GHz max clock speed makes the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X the ultimate gaming CPU. The CPU keeps saved most used files into the large memory and delivers a speedy response by recalling them whenever you request some particular tasks.

The AM4 socket supports PCIe 4.0 on X570 and B550 motherboards; they are the best motherboard for RTX 3070. Both motherboards allow overclocking the CPU and RAM with a simple BIOS update, though I’ll suggest not overclocking for a long time.

Another big plus is it lets you run heavy applications on your PC at ultra-high graphic settings without slowing down performance or any heating issues, making it ideal for the RTX 3070 prebuilt gaming PCs.

Pros

  • 24 threads and 12 cores processor offers high-end graphic
  • Best for the new-gen gaming
  • More than 100 FPS performance
  • Good for multitasking
  • Compatible with AMD 500 series motherboard

4

INTEL CORE I5-12600K: BEST CPU FOR 1440P GAMING

Features

  • Cores: 10 (6P+4E)
  • Threads: 16
  • Base Frequency: 3.7 GHz
  • Max Turbo Frequency: 4.9 GHz
  • L3 Cache: 16 MB
  • Wattage: 125 Watts
  • Socket Type: LGA 1700
Intel Core i5-12600K

The Intel Core i5-12600K CPU creates a perfect balance between price and performance. The CPU comes equipped with 16 threaded 10 cores processor. The core count is good enough for running new-gen games at their best visual quality.

This unclocked CPU also has a 4.9GHz boost clock speed; that lets you overclock the unit according to your needs. The processor smoothly handles heavy work and lets you do multiple tasks at once without slowing down performance.

The L3 cache improves overall system performance. It retrieves the available most used data and responds to every task in no time. You’ll get the best visual and graphic quality, thanks to the integrated UHD graphics. In addition, the Intel 7 Architecture improves per watt performance and makes it highly power efficient.

Now you may agree with me that if you want to get a high-end performance at a reasonable price tag, nothing could be better than the Intel Core i5-12600K CPU.

Pros

  • High-speed gaming performance
  • Enhance graphics and visual quality
  • Improved power efficiency
  • Support for PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5
  • Relatively cheaper than other high-end gaming PC builds

5

Intel Core i7-12700K: Best CPU for RTX 3070

FEATURES

  • Processor: Intel Core i7 3.60 GHz processor
  • Cores: 12 (8P+4E)
  • Threads: 20
  • Base Frequency: 3.6 GHz
  • Max Turbo Frequency: Up to 5.0 GHz Unlocked
  • L3 Cache: 25 MB
  • Wattage: 125 Watts
  • Socket Type: LGA 1700
Intel Core i7-12700K

After an affordable option from Intel, I’m going to get back to another high-end 12th-gen CPU, Intel Core i7-12700K. It is an unclocked CPU; that allows overclocking with a maximum boost clock speed of 5 GHz by default.

The Intel Core i7-12700K offers a high core and thread count; that we need for a smooth gaming experience, specifically when it comes to next-gen gaming.

The processor with 12 cores and 20 threads is also great for multitasking. Out of the 12 cores, the 8P cores efficiently handle multicore tasks, and the remaining are 4 efficiency cores; that reduce power consumption, though it has 125 watts TDP due to the limitations of 10 nm architecture.


Once you pair this Intel CPU with a reliable PSU unit; that follows 3070 power requirements, you’ll get the best gaming and multitasking performance.

Pros

  • Power-efficient
  • Built-in Intel UHD Graphics controller
  • Faster turbo boost
  • Better onboard graphics
  • Improved processing and system performance

6

AMD RYZEN 5 5600X: BEST GAMING CPU TO PAIR WITH RTX 3070

FEATURES

  • Cores: 6
  • Threads: 12
  • Max Turbo Frequency: 4.6GHz
  • L3 Cache: 32MB
  • Wattage: 65 W
  • Socket Type: AM4
  • Lithography: 7 nm
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Unlike the previously launched Intel and AMD CPUs, The Ryzen 5 5600 is a budget-friendly model of AMD Ryzen. The CPU belongs to the latest generation of CPUs from AMD. It offers 6 cores processor and 12 processing threads, which works fine with mainstream desktops for gaming.

The best part of this CPU is with the most affordable price tag. On top of that, it works well with the cheaper PSUs, as the TDP is only 65 watts.
Moreover, you’ll get a 12 threaded 6 cores processor with a boost clock speed of up to 4.6GHz, making it suitable to pair with RTX 3070 gaming PC.

Customizing and configuring a gaming rig had never been easier until I tested Intel Core i5 12600K. The AM4 socket supports most AMD 500 series motherboards with a simple BIOS update.

So, if you’re on a tight budget, don’t push back your dream of upgrading your gaming rig with a new-gen graphics card RTX 3070; when such an amazing CPU is there around you at a pocket-friendly price.

Pros

  • Good choice for multitasking and gaming
  • Offers some exclusive features at an affordable price
  • Incorporates an exclusive Wraith Stealth cooler
  • The 32MB L3 cache helps to play games relatively faster and more smoothly
  • Most affordable on the list

FACTORS YOU MUST CHECK BEFORE BUYING A CPU FOR RTX 3080

The stunning graphics and photorealistic imagery of the new-gen AAA games are making the gaming world almost lifelike. So nowadays, you will need to pair up the best CPU GPU combo to enjoy a new-gen game at its best.

The latest version of the new-gen high-end graphics card, RTX 3070, has some special requirements; that you should have in your CPU. They are -

  • Core count

Whether you want a CPU for a highly productive workstation or a gaming build, a high number of cores and threads will ensure satisfying performances for both.

When it comes to the new-gen graphics card RTX 3070, a prebuilt PC with 3070 should have at least 6 cores processors to ensure the graphics card can be used at its full potential.

  • TDP

The TDP measurement represents the power requirements of the PC build. The new-gen graphics card RTX 3070 deals with high-end graphics, so naturally, the 3070 builds will be power-hungry.

  • Clock Speeds

Unlike the core and thread count, the clock speed of a CPU doesn’t affect its overall performance. The clock speed of a particular unit defines the capacity to render frames at a particular speed.

An RTX 3070 build with a clock speed of 3 to 4MHz is enough to eliminate all sorts of lag during gaming or multitasking.

  • Cooling and 3080 TDP (Thermal Design Point)

Keep in mind that such high RTX 3070 TDP CPUs deliver better performance but generate more heat due to higher power consumption. So having an efficient cooling system is a must in PCs with RTX 3070.

  • Brand

There you’ll get only two brand options – AMD Ryzen and Intel for prebuilt RTX 3070 CPUs. No doubt, both brands offer the best performance during gaming and multitasking. So which brand you will choose; will be completely your decision.

  • Overclockable

Overclocking is dangerous for CPUs, though the high-end motherboards still allow overclocking CPUs and Rams to enable the speed and performance you need to run the new-gen games and applications. So, choose your CPU carefully, and before finalizing the purchasing decision, make sure the CPU is safe to overclock.

  • Socket type

The most RTX 3070 compatible CPUs come with two types of sockets, LGA and AM4; those create a reliable connection between peripherals and the CPU.

FAQ

1. How much faster is the RTX 3070 compared to the RTX 2070?

The latest version of RTX, 3070, offers 45% more effective speed than the older version RTX 2070, at the same MSRP.

2. What CPU is best for RTX 3070?

A CPU with at least 8 GB of RAM, a 6-cores processor, and a reliable PSU unit works fine with RTX 3070 PC builds. I prefer Core i9 or i7 for new-gen gaming, as they provide a better graphics and gaming experience.

3. Will the RTX 3070 bottleneck?

If you have a good CPU for the 3070 with a killer graphics card, like RTX 3070, the entire unit will never get bottlenecked while playing the most demanding games.

4. Is RTX 3070 overkill for 1080P?

Unfortunately, yes! The RTX 3070 graphics cards are designed to play new-gen AAA games at 1440p and 4K for immersive gaming experiences.

5. What power supply do I need for RTX 3070?

As per the recommendation of NVIDIA, a 650W PSU will be the best for the RT3070 builds.

6. Do you need PCIe 4.0 for RTX 3070?

Not necessary! The RTX 3070 GPU works fine with PCIe 3.0, but a motherboard with a PCIe 4.0 slot will make it use at its most graphical potential.

CONCLUSION

All above-written CPUs are truly the least priced with the best performance CPUs amongst the available to pair with 3070. Intel and AMD, every model of both brands, provide an immersive gaming experience and handle multitasking without slowing down performance.

You can pick anyone as per your choice for the RTX 3070 gaming PC. I’m pretty sure that they will be worth every penny.

Martin
 

Hey, this is Martin from San Diego. I am a tech enthusiast and I love to test and review all the gadgets. I have reviewed 100s of products in my lifetime. I just want to ensure our readers to buy the best product for the money they spend.