Best CPUs for NVIDIA RTX 3070
A fast chip attached to too little memory, and one of the clearest cautionary tales in recent GPU history. In everything that fits inside eight gigabytes it is still quick at 1440p. In the growing pile of games that do not, it stutters in a way its raw performance does not predict. We would take a slower card with more memory over this one for a machine meant to last.
Ranked below: 15 CPUs against the NVIDIA RTX 3070 at 1440p, balanced pairings first, then by bottleneck %.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3070?
The Core i5-13490F is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3070 with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It has a gaming score of 78/100.
What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA RTX 3070?
The Core i5-13490F is well-balanced with the NVIDIA RTX 3070, at only 10% bottleneck at 1440p.
Does the NVIDIA RTX 3070 need a high-end CPU?
Not necessarily. The NVIDIA RTX 3070 has a gaming score of 67/100, so a mid-range CPU will pair well. You don't need the most expensive CPU to avoid bottlenecking.
Test any CPU/GPU pair with our free bottleneck calculator.