Best CPUs for NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB

Top 15 CPUs ranked by performance and balance with the NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB at 1440p. Balanced pairings ranked by power, then by bottleneck %.

1
Core i3-4170
Score: 24/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended
Balanced ~10%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
2
Core i5-2400S
Score: 24/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~10%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
3
Core i3-4160
Score: 23/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended
Balanced ~9%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
4
Core i3-4340
Score: 23/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended
Balanced ~9%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
5
Core i3-4130
Score: 22/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
6
Core i3-4330
Score: 22/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
7
Intel Pentium Gold G7400
Score: 22/100Socket: LGA1700Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
8
AMD Ryzen 3 1200
Score: 22/100Socket: AM4Not recommended
Balanced ~8%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
9
Core i3-3245
Score: 21/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~7%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
10
Core i3-2130
Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~6%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
11
Core i3-3220
Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~6%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
12
Core i3-3225
Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~6%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
13
Core i3-4170T
Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1150Not recommended
Balanced ~6%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
14
Intel Pentium Gold G6400
Score: 20/100Socket: LGA1200Not recommended
Balanced ~6%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf
15
Core i3-2120
Score: 19/100Socket: LGA1155Not recommended
Balanced ~5%
See current builds→Used on eBay
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:11Ultra|16Bal|21Perf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB?

The Core i3-4170 is the best CPU for the NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It has a gaming score of 24/100.

What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB?

The Core i3-4170 is well-balanced with the NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB, at only 10% bottleneck at 1440p.

Does the NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB need a high-end CPU?

Not necessarily. The NVIDIA GTX 960 4GB has a gaming score of 13/100, 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.