The Best CPU For RTX 2080 in 2023 (Reviews) – Ultimate Guide
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In this review, You’ll find below the winners of the test, complete with reviews, technicals specs, and pros & cons.
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The Best CPU for RTX 2080 – Comparison Table
Product Reviews – The Best CPU for RTX 2080
- Overall Best: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
- Best Elite Gaming Performance: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X
- Best Smooth Gaming: Intel Core i5-9600K
The RTX 2080 is a powerful graphics card that can handle most modern games on high settings. When it comes to choosing a CPU to pair with it, you’ll want to consider a few factors.
First, you’ll want to consider the type of games you’ll be playing and the resolution you’ll be gaming at. If you’re playing games that are more CPU-intensive and you’re planning on playing at higher resolutions (such as 4K), you’ll want a CPU with more cores and threads to help keep up with the demands of the graphics card.
You’ll also want to consider the overall performance of the CPU. While the RTX 2080 is a strong graphics card, it can still be held back by a weaker CPU. In general, a CPU with a higher clock speed will perform better in most games.
Finally, you’ll want to consider your budget. There are many CPUs available at a wide range of price points, so you’ll want to choose one that fits your budget while still offering the performance you need.
Some good CPU options to consider for the RTX 2080 include the Intel Core i5-10600K, the Intel Core i7-10700K, and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X.
Let’s see the reviews!
AMD Ryzen 7 3700X – Best CPU for RTX 2080
The AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a high-performance processor based on the Zen 2 microarchitecture. It was released in 2019 as part of the Ryzen 3000 series of processors.
The 3700X has a base clock speed of 3.6 GHz and a maximum boost speed of 4.4 GHz. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, making it well-suited for multitasking and heavily-threaded workloads. It also has a large 32 MB L3 cache, which can help improve performance by reducing the time it takes the processor to access frequently-used data.
One of the key features of the 3700X is its ability to overclock. Overclocking involves increasing the clock speed of the processor beyond its rated maximum speed, and can be done by adjusting the settings in the BIOS or UEFI of a motherboard. However, it is important to note that overclocking can increase the risk of hardware failure and may void the manufacturer’s warranty.
In terms of performance, the 3700X is a strong performer. It has a high single-core and multi-core score on benchmark tests, and can handle demanding tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering with ease. It is also power efficient, with a TDP (thermal design power) of just 65 watts.
Overall, the AMD Ryzen 7 3700X is a powerful and efficient processor that is well-suited for a variety of demanding workloads.
What We Like:
- High performance: The 3700X has a high clock speed and 8 cores and 16 threads, making it well-suited for demanding tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering.
- Overclockable: The 3700X has the ability to be overclocked, which can further improve its performance. However, it is important to note that overclocking can increase the risk of hardware failure and may void the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Efficient: The 3700X has a low TDP of just 65 watts, making it power efficient.
What Could Be Better:
- Price: The 3700X is a high-end processor and may be more expensive than some budget options.
- Requires a compatible motherboard: The 3700X uses the AM4 socket, which may require a new motherboard if you are upgrading from an older processor.
- Overclocking can be risky: As mentioned above, overclocking can increase the risk of hardware failure and may void the manufacturer’s warranty. It is important to carefully consider the risks and rewards before attempting to overclock any hardware.
Related: The Best Gaming Monitor for RTX 3080
AMD Ryzen 9 3900X – Best Elite Gaming Performance
The AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is a 12-core, 24-thread processor with a base clock speed of 3.8 GHz and a boost clock speed of 4.6 GHz. It is built on AMD’s Zen 2 microarchitecture and is fabricated on a 7 nm process.
One of the key features of the Ryzen 9 3900X is its high core count, which makes it well-suited for demanding workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming. The processor also has a large L3 cache (64 MB) and support for DDR4 memory, which can help improve system performance.
In terms of performance, the Ryzen 9 3900X is generally considered to be one of the top processors on the market. It has a TDP (thermal design power) of 105 watts and comes with a Wraith Prism cooler, which is capable of keeping the processor cool under heavy loads.
Overall, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X is a powerful and efficient processor that is well-suited for a wide range of workloads. It is a good choice for those who need a high-performance processor for tasks such as gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering.
What We Like:
- High core count and thread count, making it well-suited for multi-threaded workloads
- Good performance in a wide range of applications, including gaming, video editing, and 3D rendering
- Large L3 cache and support for DDR4 memory can improve system performance
- Low TDP and efficient design make it a power-efficient processor
- Comes with a cooler, so you don’t need to purchase one separately
What Could Be Better:
- Expensive compared to some other processors on the market
- Some users may not need the high core count and thread count, making it overkill for their needs
- Requires a motherboard with an AM4 socket, which may be a drawback for those with older motherboards that do not support the AM4 socket
- May require a more powerful power supply and cooler to get the best performance out of the processor
Related: The Best CPU for RTX 3070
Intel Core i5-9600K – Best Smooth Gaming
The Intel Core i5-9600K is a 6-core, 9th generation processor with a base clock speed of 3.7 GHz. It has a maximum turbo frequency of 4.6 GHz and is based on the Coffee Lake microarchitecture. The i5-9600K has a 9 MB Intel Smart Cache and supports DDR4-2666 memory. It has a TDP (thermal design power) of 95 watts and does not come with a built-in GPU (graphics processing unit).
One of the key features of the i5-9600K is its ability to be overclocked, which allows users to boost the processor’s clock speed beyond its rated maximum frequency. This can provide a performance boost for certain types of workloads, but it also requires a compatible motherboard and may void the processor’s warranty.
The i5-9600K is well-suited for a wide range of tasks, including gaming, video editing, and content creation. It has sufficient performance for most users and is a good value for the price.
What We Like:
- Good performance: The i5-9600K has 6 cores and a high clock speed, which makes it capable of handling most tasks with ease.
- Overclockable: The i5-9600K has unlocked multipliers, which makes it easy to overclock the processor and boost its performance.
- Good value for the price: The i5-9600K offers good performance at a reasonable price point, making it a good value for the money.
What Could Be Better:
- No built-in GPU: The i5-9600K does not have a built-in GPU, so a separate graphics card is required to run games or other graphical applications.
- High power consumption: The i5-9600K has a TDP of 95 watts, which is higher than some other processors in its class. This may result in higher power consumption and potentially higher cooling requirements.
- May require a compatible motherboard: In order to overclock the i5-9600K, a motherboard with an appropriate BIOS and voltage regulation module is required. Some older motherboards may not be compatible with the i5-9600K.
Related: The Best Motherboard for RTX 3080
Final Thoughts
It’s difficult to make a definitive conclusion about the best CPU for an RTX 2080 graphics card, as the optimal choice will depend on a variety of factors such as the specific tasks and workloads that you plan to use the GPU for, as well as your budget and other system requirements.
That being said, here are a few general recommendations:
- If you are planning to use the RTX 2080 for gaming, a high-end Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, or a AMD Ryzen 5 or 7 CPU, should be sufficient.
- For more demanding workloads such as video editing, 3D rendering, or machine learning, you may want to consider a more powerful processor such as an Intel Core i9 or AMD Ryzen 9.
- It’s also worth noting that the performance of the GPU will be limited by the speed of the CPU to some extent, so if you are using a lower-end CPU, you may not be able to fully utilize the capabilities of the RTX 2080.
Ultimately, the best CPU for an RTX 2080 will depend on your specific needs and budget. It may be helpful to do some research and benchmarking to determine the optimal choice for your system.
Thank you for reading this article on the best CPU for RTX 2080.
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