Best CPUs for NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB
Top 15 CPUs ranked by performance and balance with the NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB at 1440p. Balanced pairings ranked by power, then by bottleneck %.
1
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
Score: 87/100Socket: AM5$218.99
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
2
Intel Core i5-13600K
Score: 87/100Socket: LGA1700$259
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
3
Intel Core i5-13600KF
Score: 87/100Socket: LGA1700$259
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
4
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Score: 86/100Socket: AM4$759.98
Balanced ~9%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
5
Intel Core i7-13700F
Score: 86/100Socket: LGA1700$484.99
Balanced ~9%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
6
AMD Ryzen 5 9600
Score: 86/100Socket: AM5$189
Balanced ~9%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
7
Intel Core i7-13700
Score: 86/100Socket: LGA1700$378.94
Balanced ~9%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
8
Intel Core i9-12900KF
Score: 85/100Socket: LGA1700$339.99
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
9
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Score: 85/100Socket: AM5$161.28
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
10
Intel Core i9-12900K
Score: 85/100Socket: LGA1700$339.99
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
11
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D
Score: 84/100Socket: AM4$447.28
Balanced ~7%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
12
Intel Core Ultra 5 245K
Score: 84/100Socket: LGA1851$175.99
Balanced ~7%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
13
Intel Core i5-14600
Score: 84/100Socket: LGA1700$228.96
Balanced ~7%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
14
Intel Core Ultra 7 265
Score: 84/100Socket: LGA1851$257.99
Balanced ~7%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
15
Intel Core Ultra 5 245KF
Score: 84/100Socket: LGA1851$175.99
Balanced ~7%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:64Ultra|92Bal|127Perf
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB?
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It costs $218.99 and has a gaming score of 87/100.
What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB?
The AMD Ryzen 7 7700 at $218.99 is well-balanced with the NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB (only 10% bottleneck at 1440p).
Does the NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB need a high-end CPU?
Not necessarily. The NVIDIA RTX 3080 12GB has a gaming score of 77/100, so a mid-range CPU will pair well. You don't need the most expensive CPU to avoid bottlenecking.