AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Pros
Up to 7% faster than 13900K
Insane gaming performance for the money
Large cahce
Dual CCD
Cons
One CCD limited by V-cache
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CHECK PRICEWhat CPU won’t bottleneck the RTX 4090?
What CPU won't bottleneck the RTX 4090? Let's find out
Updated: Feb 19, 2024 10:18 am
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The RTX 4090 is a behemoth of a GPU and you need a powerful processor to feed it with instructions fast enough to utilize its resources fully. Today, we’re determining what CPU won’t bottleneck the RTX 4090. So of course, we’re looking at only the high-end options currently on the market, right? Well, you can go far these days on a more modest CPU if it’s primarily for gaming.
On a related note, our best CPU for the RTX 4090 page is a good place to be regarding this topic. Here, however, we’re going to do a deeper dive into what kind of CPU works with the 4090 without bottlenecking – starting with the most suitable, but also throwing in some more entry-level options if you’ve (understandably) blown your budget picking up this flagship graphics card.
If you don’t have time to read the full article, we have selected the Ryzen 9 7950X3D as the best CPU for the RTX 4090, if you want to be sure you’re avoiding bottlenecks.
CPU pairings to avoid RTX 4090 CPU bottleneck
The good news is that modern processors are extremely powerful, and many of them are even overkill for gaming. Shelling out on an expensive flagship-grade processor if you’re only ever going to be using your computer for gaming is no longer necessary. You even have options available in the Core i5 and Ryzen 5 mid-range lineups that pair well with the 4090.
If you’re looking for CPUs that are guaranteed to have enough performance to not bottleneck the RTX 4090, you should be good to go with most Core i7, Core i9, Ryzen 7, and Ryzen 9 CPUs released within the last 2 to 3 years. Sticking with “K” series processors for Intel is advisable because of the extra clock speeds, and the ability to overclock. Of course, you should carry out your due diligence when choosing between individual processors.
Intel Core i7-14700K
Pros
4 extra cores over 13700K
Same TDP as last generation
Cons
more expensive
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CHECK PRICEWhat is the cheapest CPU that won’t bottleneck the RTX 4090?
You’re probably here to learn the cheapest viable CPU that won’t bottleneck the RTX 4090’s performance. Said CPU would allow you to build a top-of-the-line gaming setup with an RTX 4090 while not spending more than you have to.
The cheapest CPU you can pair with the RTX 4090 while avoiding a bottleneck depends largely on your target resolution. You can go with a weaker processor at 4K compared to 1440p, which seems counterintuitive but is true because of how bottlenecks work.
Best entry-level CPU for RTX 4090 at 4K resolution
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Cores
6
Threads
12
Base speed
4.7GHz
Boost speed
5.3GHz
Cache
L3 32MB
Socket
AM5
We recommend going no lower than a Ryzen 5 7600 here. This is a great value CPU with 6 Zen 4 cores, support for SMT (so 12 threads), and a 5.3GHz maximum clock frequency. For less than $300, this processor has incredible specs, and its high clock speed is a standout feature. You won’t find any other processor with comparable single-thread performance in a sub-$300 price bracket (other than the non-X variant of this same processor).
The Ryzen 5 7600X has a lot going for it, and the CPU itself is priced competitively, but AM5 platform costs and DDR5 memory remain expensive, so your final build costs can end up being somewhat higher than you’d expect. You can check out our review of the 7600X if you want more information.
Best entry-level CPU for RTX 4090 at 1440P
Intel Core i5-13600K
Cores
14
Threads
20
Base speed
P-cores 3.5 GHz / E-cores 2.6 GHz
Boost speed
P-cores 5.1 GHz / E-cores 3.9 GHz
Cache
20MB
TDP
125 W / 181 W boost.
For 1440p, high-framerate gaming with the RTX 4090, we recommend upping your CPU to an Intel Core i5-13600K. This ~$320 processor has a 5.1GHz clock speed, much like the R5 7600, but features 14 cores and 20 threads, which allows it to deliver more performance in CPU-intensive titles and other multicore workloads. The extra cores and threads help avoid a bottleneck at lower resolutions. A quick note on the price too: the release of the 14th gen has helped it drop in price, offering excellent value over its predecessor.
Games continue to be optimized for efficient processing on more cores and threads due to the high-core count processors sported by our latest consoles, so the i5-13600K is expected to age nicely. You can check out our review of the 13600K if you need more information.
What are CPU and GPU bottlenecks?
If you’re into PC gaming, you’re probably already very familiar with bottlenecks. Just in case you aren’t, we have an extensive guide on CPU and GPU bottlenecks for you – feel free to give it a read.
In a high-end gaming rig equipped with a card as powerful as the RTX 4090, you want always to be GPU-bound (having your GPU work at 100% utilization). In other words, your CPU – or any other component in your system, for that matter – shouldn’t be preventing your RTX 4090 from operating at its fullest potential.
Your CPU and GPU work together, so you’ll need a powerful CPU to make the RTX 4090 work at 100%.
RTX 4090 CPU bottleneck FAQs
Will 7800X3D bottleneck the 4090?
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the best CPUs for gaming on the market right now and should have no problems with supporting your RTX 4090 graphics card.
If you want something for more intensive workflows, then going for Ryzen 9 processor with more cores is a solid option.
What is the minimum CPU for RTX 4090?
Modern CPUs are pretty powerful, so you don’t need a flagship model to support the RTX 4090. If you want a cheap option which, we’d recommend going for the likes of the Ryzen 5 7600X or Intel Core i5-13600K. For CPU-intensive tasks though, you may experience some bottlenecking.
Final word
Avoiding a CPU bottleneck with the RTX 4090 is essential because introducing one would mean that you lose money, as the CPU hinders the performance of the 4090. On the flip side, you don’t want to be spending money on the power you don’t need, it is a bit silly if you already have the 4090 in hand. You also need to consider the resolution you’ll be playing at, and the resolution of your monitor. We’ve chosen the Ryzen 9 7950X3D as the logical choice for the RTX 4090, we’re also sure that this CPU choice will give you some wiggle room for upgrades later down the line.
