Best CPUs for AMD R9 290X
Top 15 CPUs ranked by performance and balance with the AMD R9 290X at 1440p. Balanced pairings ranked by power, then by bottleneck %.
Balanced ~10%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~9%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~8%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~8%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~7%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~7%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~6%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~6%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~5%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~5%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~5%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~5%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~5%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~4%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Balanced ~4%
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:13Ultra|19Bal|26Perf
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best CPU for the AMD R9 290X?
The Core i5-3450S is the best CPU for the AMD R9 290X with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It has a gaming score of 27/100.
What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the AMD R9 290X?
The Core i5-3450S is well-balanced with the AMD R9 290X, at only 10% bottleneck at 1440p.
Does the AMD R9 290X need a high-end CPU?
Not necessarily. The AMD R9 290X has a gaming score of 16/100, 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.