The best processor (CPU) for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 3080 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 also up there with its 12th Gen "Alder Lake" Core chips. We've rounded up the best CPUs if you have an RTX 3080 that needs a partner.
Best overall AMD
The AMD Ryzen 9 5950X is a killer CPU that will have no issues keeping up with the RTX 3080. 16 cores, 32 threads, and a boost speed up to 4.9GHz with 105W TDP. Crush QHD and UHD gaming with this chip, but expect to pay dearly for all that power.
Best overall Intel
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 efficiency), and 24 threads, with a Turbo frequency of 5.2GHz. It costs more than the Ryzen 9 5950X, but it scores better on many benchmarks.
Runner-up AMD
The Ryzen 9 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. You should be able to handle QHD and UHD gaming with ease.
Runner-up Intel
The Intel Core i7-12700K is a significant upgrade over the i7-11700K and pairs nicely with the RTX 3080 for less money than an i9. It supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0, operates at a 125W TDP, and has 12 cores (8 performance, 4 efficiency) with 16 threads and a max Turbo clock of 5GHz.
Best budget Intel
The Intel Core i5-12600K is an affordable 10-core (6 performance, 4 efficiency) CPU with a 125W TDP and a boost clock up to 4.9GHz. It's compatible with PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM and will excel at QHD and FHD gaming.
Best budget AMD
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X budget chip can provide substantial numbers when gaming at QHD. You get 6 cores, 12 threads, a 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's well worth the money.
Choosing the best CPU for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
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Any of the above CPUs will do an excellent job with the NVIDIA GeForce 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 fantastic job if you want to save some money.
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 still not potent options for high-end gaming builds. You will pay more for similar Intel chips, but you can access the phenomenal new hybrid architecture with performance and efficiency cores.
For more buying options, check out our picks for the best processor for your custom PC.
