Best CPU for GTX 1070
Best CPU for GTX 1070? Let's find out

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The GTX 1070 is a beast in 1080p but it began to push the boundaries into 1440p gaming, laying the way for the GTX 1080. The GTX 1070 can handle some older games at 60 FPS in 1440p, a surprising result considering the card’s age. We need a CPU that fits the GTX 1070 nicely, what is the best CPU for GTX 1070?
Now Read: Best CPU for GTX 1060
Every GPU, no matter the age, power, or price, needs a good CPU behind it pushing data for the GPU to process. That’s why it’s very important we find a good CPU/GPU pair to eliminate as much bottleneck from either end as possible. And we think we have just the CPU for you.
Without further delays, here’s the best CPU for GTX 1070.
Best CPU for GTX 1070
The best CPU for the GTX 1070 has to be the Ryzen 5 5600X
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Speed
3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz
Core (Threads)
6/12
Socket
AM4
TDP
65W
The Ryzen 5 5600X is one of if not the best Price-to-performance CPUs available to date. Its massive 6-Core and 12-Thread configuration mean it’s able to do some light workstation tasks in addition to gaming, thanks to its core count and core speeds.
The 4.6GHz CPU max core speed suggests that the 5600X can handle gaming. A CPUs max core speed is directly tied to game performance, as games still use very few CPU cores to get the job done.
The 5600X performs extremely well. Additionally, the 5600X’s low power consumption makes it an excellent option for individuals with a limited power supply or who are somewhat conscious of their power consumption. The TDP is 65W, which is almost 200W less than some of the Raptor Lake flagships.
With the 5600X, you won’t have to worry about upgrading your hardware. This is due to the fact that AMD promised to keep supporting socket AM4 for a few more years to come, so there’s definitely no shortage of parts.
Best Budget CPU for GTX 1070
One of the other options you can consider for the GTX 1070 is the Core i5-12600K.
Intel Core i5-12600KF
Boost clock speed (single core)
4.9 GHz
Total Cores / Threads
10/16
P-cores
6
E-cores
4
Socket
LGA 1700
Overclockable
Yes
The 12600K has more cores, threads, and a higher boost speed, however, because of the 12600K’s bank of E-Cores, the Ryzen 5 5600X still comes out on top as the best processor all around. This is because the extra full-strength cores the 5600X provides outweigh the small performance gained from the faster core speed of the 12600K.
What is a GPU bottleneck and why should you avoid it?
A GPU bottleneck occurs when the GPU is not powerful enough to keep up with the demands of the system, resulting in reduced performance. This can happen when the GPU isn’t powerful enough to keep up with the rest of the system, causing the GPU to become a bottleneck that limits the overall performance of the system.
A GPU bottleneck is generally considered bad because it can result in lower frame rates, slower performance, and reduced visual quality in games, multimedia applications, and other GPU-intensive tasks. In addition, a GPU bottleneck can lead to system instability, crashes, and errors, which can result in data loss or corruption. Therefore, it is important to have a well-balanced system that is optimized for the specific tasks being performed, to avoid a GPU bottleneck and ensure optimal performance and stability.
Final word
The Ryzen 5 5600X is proving to be a formidable CPU in the realm of supporting older GPUs. The larger performance cores in the 5600X make for a slightly better CPU all around in terms of multi-core performance. The Core i5-12600K does pip it to the post in terms of single-core performance, but either way. These are the best CPUs for GTX 1070.