Best CPUs for NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB

Top 15 CPUs ranked by performance and balance with the NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB at 1440p. Balanced pairings ranked by power, then by bottleneck %.

1
Core i3-7100
Score: 32/100Socket: LGA1151Not recommended
Balanced ~10%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
2
Core i5-2500K
Score: 32/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~10%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
3
Core i5-3470
Score: 32/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~10%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
4
Core i5-4430
Score: 32/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended
Balanced ~10%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
5
AMD Ryzen 5 2400G
Score: 32/100Socket: AM4Not recommended
Balanced ~10%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
6
Core i5-3450
Score: 31/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~9%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
7
Core i3-6100
Score: 30/100Socket: LGA1151Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
8
Core i5-3330
Score: 30/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
9
Core i7-2600S
Score: 30/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
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CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
10
AMD Ryzen 3 3200G
Score: 30/100Socket: AM4Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
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CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
11
AMD Ryzen 5 1400
Score: 30/100Socket: AM4Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
12
Core i5-2400
Score: 28/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~6%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
13
Core i5-3470S
Score: 28/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~6%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
14
Core i5-3450S
Score: 27/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~5%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf
15
Core i3-7300T
Score: 26/100Socket: LGA1151Not recommended
Balanced ~5%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:17Ultra|25Bal|35Perf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB?

The Core i3-7100 is the best CPU for the NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It has a gaming score of 32/100.

What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB?

The Core i3-7100 is well-balanced with the NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB, at only 10% bottleneck at 1440p.

Does the NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB need a high-end CPU?

Not necessarily. The NVIDIA GTX 1060 3GB has a gaming score of 21/100, so a mid-range CPU will pair well. You don't need the most expensive CPU to avoid bottlenecking.

Check Your Own Combo

Test any CPU/GPU pair with our free bottleneck calculator.