Best CPUs for NVIDIA RTX 3090
Twenty-four gigabytes of memory attached to a previous-generation gaming chip, which makes it a stranger buy for games than for anything involving large models or heavy content work. As a gaming card, cards costing far less now match it. As a cheap route into a lot of VRAM, it still has no obvious replacement. Power draw and physical size are both serious, so check your case and PSU before you get attached to the idea.
Ranked below: 15 CPUs against the NVIDIA RTX 3090 at 1440p, balanced pairings first, then by bottleneck %.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3090?
The Intel Core i7-13700K is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3090 with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It has a gaming score of 91/100.
What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA RTX 3090?
The Intel Core i7-13700K is well-balanced with the NVIDIA RTX 3090, at only 10% bottleneck at 1440p.
Does the NVIDIA RTX 3090 need a high-end CPU?
Not necessarily. The NVIDIA RTX 3090 has a gaming score of 80/100, 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.