Best CPUs for NVIDIA GTX 960

Top 15 CPUs ranked by performance and balance with the NVIDIA GTX 960 at 1440p. Balanced pairings ranked by power, then by bottleneck %.

Core i3-4160

Score: 23/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended

Balanced ~10%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-4340

Score: 23/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended

Balanced ~10%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-4130

Score: 22/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended

Balanced ~9%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-4330

Score: 22/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended

Balanced ~9%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Intel Pentium Gold G7400

Score: 22/100Socket: LGA1700Not recommended

Balanced ~9%

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CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

AMD Ryzen 3 1200

Score: 22/100Socket: AM4Not recommended

Balanced ~9%

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CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-3245

Score: 21/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended

Balanced ~8%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-2130

Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended

Balanced ~7%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-3220

Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended

Balanced ~7%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-3225

Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended

Balanced ~7%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-4170T

Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended

Balanced ~7%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Intel Pentium Gold G6400

Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1200Not recommended

Balanced ~7%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-2120

Score: 19/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended

Balanced ~6%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

AMD Athlon 3000G

Score: 18/100Socket: AM4Not recommended

Balanced ~5%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Core i3-2100

Score: 18/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended

Balanced ~5%

See current builds→Used on eBay

CPU

GPU

~FPS 1440p:10Ultra|14Bal|20Perf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA GTX 960?

The Core i3-4160 is the best CPU for the NVIDIA GTX 960 with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It has a gaming score of 23/100.

What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA GTX 960?

The Core i3-4160 is well-balanced with the NVIDIA GTX 960, at only 10% bottleneck at 1440p.

Does the NVIDIA GTX 960 need a high-end CPU?

Not necessarily. The NVIDIA GTX 960 has a gaming score of 12/100, so a mid-range CPU will pair well. You don't need the most expensive CPU to avoid bottlenecking.

Check Your Own Combo

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