Having an RTX 3080 Ti inside your gaming PC is an achievement in itself, but the story doesn’t end there. Although it is plenty fast for gaming, some applications that you use, like video rendering and live streaming, require a capable CPU as well.
Granted, Intel and AMD are the only two major players in the CPU space. But it can still be hard to find the right CPU for yourself among all the ones that are out there. In this article, I’ve simplified things for you by bringing it down to five of the best CPUs for RTX 3080 Ti.
RTX 3080 Ti Specs
Here are the technical specifications of the RTX 3080 Ti.
- Memory: 12GB GDDR6X
- CUDA Cores: 10240
- Base Clock: 1.37 GHz
- Boost Clock: 1.67 GHz
Ready? Now, let’s dive into this list of the five best CPUs for RTX 3080 Ti.
Top 5 Best CPUs for RTX 3080 Ti in 2022:
1. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X – Best Overall
SPECS:
- Socket: AM4
- Cores and Threads: 8C/16T
- Boost Clock: 4.7 GHz
- TDP Rating: 105W
- Cooler Included: No
Packing 8 cores and 16 threads with a boost clock of 4.7 GHz, the Ryzen 7 5800X is a very powerful CPU. All this horsepower comes in handy when you’re gaming and encoding high-resolution video for your live stream, that’s why I consider it to be the best overall CPU for the RTX 3080 Ti.
As all PC gamers know, with great power comes great thermal output. Unfortunately, this CPU doesn’t come with a stock cooler. So, you’ll have to use an aftermarket cooler. You can buy an air cooler from Noctua or BeQuiet, or a high-end AIO from Corsair or NZXT. The latter is especially important if you’re planning on overclocking the 5800X, since it is unlocked.
If you have the necessary budget and want to use your RTX 3080 Ti to its fullest, there’s all the reason to go for the 5800X. Granted, you’ll need to buy a high-end cooler to keep the temps under control. Apart from that, it’s still a great CPU and you can’t really go wrong with it.
Pros
- 8 cores and 16 threads
- Supports PCIe 4.0 on X570 AND B550 motherboards
- Unlocked for overclocking
Cons
- Lacks a stock cooler
2. AMD Ryzen 5 3600X – Best CPUs for RTX 3080 Ti on a Budget
SPECS:
- Socket: AM4
- Cores and Threads: 6C/12T
- Boost Clock: 4.4 GHz
- TDP Rating: 95W
- Cooler Included: Wraith Spire
The Ryzen 5 3600 is a very well-known CPU in the PC gaming space, and it is still used and trusted by many gamers. However, did you know that there’s also an upgraded version of it? The Ryzen 5 3600X!
According to Hardware Unboxed, the 3600 is good enough to be used with the RTX 3080 Ti without a bottleneck. Now, add to that 200 MHz of extra base and boost clock (up from 3.6 / 4.2 GHz of the 3600), and you have a recipe for a well-balanced and powerful system. Since it also comes with a great cooler, the Wraith Spire, you can do some overclocking too.
All in all, the Ryzen 5 3600X is a good CPU to pair with the RTX 3080 Ti if you’re on a budget. Of course, the value proposition depends from user to user, but I feel like it’s worth looking into if you like the vanilla 3600 but need a bit more power on top.
Pros
- Capable enough to handle RTX 3080 Ti
- Comes with impressive cooler
- Supports PCIe 4.0 on X570 AND B550 motherboards
Cons
- Considered by many to offer lukewarm value over vanilla 3600
3. Intel Core i5-12600K – Best Value for Money
SPECS:
- Socket: LGA 1700
- Cores and Threads: 10C/16T
- Boost Clock: 4.9 GHz
- TDP Rating: 125W
- Cooler Included: No
Now, let’s shift our focus to Team Blue. The Intel Core i5-12600K is an excellent value-focused CPU. It has 10 cores (6 performance and 4 efficiency) and 16 threads. Being a member of the latest Alder Lake lineup, it has some cutting-edge features like DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility.
With a 125W TDP, it definitely requires a good cooler to keep temps under control. Since it doesn’t come with a stock cooler, you’ll have to spend extra on an aftermarket solution. You can go with one that just gets the job done, or a high-end one that will push this CPU’s 4.9 GHz boost clock to its limits! That’s totally on you.
If you want to see for yourself how it performs with the RTX 3080 Ti, check out this video. Overall, the Intel Core i5-12600K is a great value-for-money CPU from Intel. It’ll give you smooth gaming performance and won’t lag behind in other workloads like 3D modelling, video editing, and live streaming.
Pros
- Great bang for your buck
- Compatible with PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM
- Includes Intel UHD 770 graphics
Cons
- Lacks a stock cooler
4. AMD Ryzen 9 3900X – Best High-End from AMD
SPECS:
- Socket: AM4
- Cores and Threads: 12C/24T
- Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz
- TDP Rating: 105W
- Cooler Included: Wraith Prism
Launched in 2019, the Ryzen 9 3900X might belong to an older generation of processors, but it’s still an excellent choice to pair with your RTX 3080 Ti in 2022. Utilizing a 7nm manufacturing process, it’s an absolute monster of a CPU: 12 cores, 24 threads, and a boost clock of 4.6 GHz! It’ll crush any workload you throw at it, whether gaming- or work-related.
It also comes with a Wraith Prism cooler, which has a max RPM of 2800 and is sufficient for this CPU. As you can see, it has an RGB ring, which adds to the gaming aesthetic. This is very rare in stock coolers, which generally just look bland and lifeless. So, that’s a plus point.
To conclude, the Ryzen 9 3900X is worth considering as your next CPU for the RTX 3080 Ti. It checks all the right boxes for a gaming and streaming CPU: great at multi-threaded workloads, high boost clock, impressive stock cooler, and efficient power consumption.
Pros
- Very powerful (12C/24T)
- Stock cooler has RGB lights
- 7nm manufacturing process
Cons
- Expensive
5. Intel Core i9-9900KF – Best High-End from Intel
SPECS:
- Socket: LGA 1151
- Cores and Threads: 8C/16T
- Boost Clock: 5.0 GHz
- TDP Rating: 95W
- Cooler Included: No
Unless you live under a rock, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Intel Core i9-9900K by now. The only thing different about the i9-9900KF is that it lacks integrated graphics. Since you’re using an RTX 3080 Ti, that shouldn’t be much of an issue. Other than that, it still has 8 cores, 16 threads, and a boost clock of 5.0 GHz.
Intel isn’t the best at efficiency, and that’s visible in this CPU. It’s known to guzzle down a lot of power under heavy loads. That, as we know, generates a lot of heat. So, if you’re getting this CPU, consider factoring in an expensive aftermarket cooler into the total budget too.
Everything considered the Intel Core i9-9900KF is a great CPU for the RTX 3080 Ti. It could provide better performance than the Ryzen 9 3900X in certain scenarios, but it also requires a hefty cooler to maintain those clocks. If you overlook that, it’s worth considering for your next PC build.
Pros
- 5.0 GHz max Turbo frequency
- LGA 1151 socket
- Supports Intel Optane memory
Cons
- Can run very hot (requires high-end CPU cooler)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ryzen Master Worth Checking Out?
Yes, definitely! Available for free, it’s one of the best utilities for getting extra performance out of a Ryzen processor. As you’d probably agree, the manufacturer knows the ins and outs of their processors, so it is likely that their app would be the best. With it, you can control fan speeds, voltage, memory timings, CPU frequencies, and also switch between different profiles!
What is Intel Optane Memory?
In the review for the i9-9900KF, you might’ve noticed that I mentioned that it supports ‘Optane Memory’ and wondered what it means. In a nutshell, it’s a system for accelerating and streamlining your computing experience. It learns which files and programs you access often, and keeps them handy for quick access. Of course, it’s only available in Intel Core-powered PCs. You can read more about it here.
Wrapping Up
So, these are the top five best CPUs for RTX 3080 Ti in 2022. Most of us are guilty of holding our GPUs in very high regard and neglecting our CPUs. This can often result in bottlenecked performance. Fortunately, if you go by the above list when looking for a CPU to pair with your beast RTX 3080 Ti, you should be in the clear!
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