Best CPUs for NVIDIA RTX 3090
Top 15 CPUs ranked by performance and balance with the NVIDIA RTX 3090 at 1440p. Balanced pairings ranked by power, then by bottleneck %.
1
Intel Core i7-14700F
Score: 90/100Socket: LGA1700$329.97
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
2
Intel Core i5-14600K
Score: 90/100Socket: LGA1700$228.96
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
3
Intel Core i5-14600KF
Score: 90/100Socket: LGA1700$228.96
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
4
Intel Core i9-13900F
Score: 90/100Socket: LGA1700$415.1
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
5
Core i7-13790F
Score: 90/100Socket: LGA1700$314.74
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
6
Intel Core i7-14700
Score: 90/100Socket: LGA1700$329.97
Balanced ~10%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
7
Intel Core i9-13900
Score: 89/100Socket: LGA1700$415.1
Balanced ~9%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
8
AMD Ryzen 9 7900
Score: 89/100Socket: AM5$316
Balanced ~9%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
9
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Score: 89/100Socket: AM5$249
Balanced ~9%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
10
Intel Core Ultra 9 285
Score: 88/100Socket: LGA1851$549
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
11
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
Score: 88/100Socket: AM5$189
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
12
Intel Core Ultra 7 265KF
Score: 88/100Socket: LGA1851$257.99
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
13
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
Score: 88/100Socket: LGA1851$257.99
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
14
Intel Core i7-13700KF
Score: 88/100Socket: LGA1700$378.94
Balanced ~8%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
15
AMD Ryzen 7 7700
Score: 87/100Socket: AM5$218.99
Balanced ~7%Check Price
CPU
GPU
~FPS 1440p:66Ultra|96Bal|132Perf
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3090?
The Intel Core i7-14700F is the best CPU for the NVIDIA RTX 3090 with only a 10% bottleneck at 1440p. It costs $329.97 and has a gaming score of 90/100.
What is the cheapest CPU that won't bottleneck the NVIDIA RTX 3090?
The Intel Core i7-14700F at $329.97 is well-balanced with the NVIDIA RTX 3090 (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.