Best CPUs for NVIDIA RTX 3050

Top 15 CPUs ranked by performance and balance with the NVIDIA RTX 3050 at 1440p. Balanced pairings ranked by power, then by bottleneck %.

1
AMD Ryzen 7 2700X
Score: 48/100Socket: AM4$99
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
2
AMD Ryzen 3 3300X
Score: 48/100Socket: AM4$89
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
3
Intel Core i5-8600K
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA1151$95.16
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
4
Core i7-7700
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA1151$91.87
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
5
Core i7-6700K
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA1151$68.87
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
6
Core i9-7920X
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA2066$154.87
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
7
Core i5-9500
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA1151$90.48
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
8
Core i7-7820X
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA2066$198.09
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
9
Core i5-9500F
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA1151$90.48
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
10
Core i9-7940X
Score: 48/100Socket: LGA2066$160.98
Balanced ~10%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
11
Core i9-7960X
Score: 47/100Socket: LGA2066$185.15
Balanced ~9%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
12
Intel Core i5-8500
Score: 46/100Socket: LGA1151$86.6
Balanced ~8%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
13
AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
Score: 46/100Socket: AM4$79
Balanced ~8%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
14
AMD Ryzen 7 2700
Score: 46/100Socket: AM4$102.07
Balanced ~8%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf
15
Intel Core i3-10100
Score: 46/100Socket: LGA1200$64
Balanced ~8%Buy on AmazonNewegg
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:32Ultra|46Bal|63Perf

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3050?

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3050 with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It costs $99 and has a gaming score of 48/100.

What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA RTX 3050?

The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X at $99 is well-balanced with the NVIDIA RTX 3050 (only 10% bottleneck at 1440p).

Does the NVIDIA RTX 3050 need a high-end CPU?

Not necessarily. The NVIDIA RTX 3050 has a gaming score of 38/100, 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.