Best CPU for RTX 3060

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The RTX 3060 is one of the better-performing budget GPUs available to date. The 3060 brought high FPS 1080p gaming to the hands of even the most frugal PC gamers. But as we know, every GPU needs a good support system, so we ask. What is the best CPU for RTX 3060?

Now read: Best CPU for RTX 3050

It’s not just about finding a CPU that will be compatible with the 3060, it’s about one that works well with the hardware. The last thing you want is a CPU that bottlenecks the new GPU you just acquired.

So, without further delay, let’s explore what the best choice of CPU is for the RTX 3060.

Best CPU for RTX 3060

Now we will reveal the best CPU to pair with the RTX 3060. And as a surprise to probably nobody, we’re recommending the Ryzen 5 5600X.

Ryzen 5 5600X

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Speed

3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz

Core (Threads)

6/12

Socket

AM4

TDP

65W

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The Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the best Price-to-performance CPUs available. The Ryzen 5 5600X has 6 cores and 12 threads to work with meaning it can cut through some of the less demanding multi-core workloads. But still, hold its own in single-core scenarios.

The 4.6GHz core speed ensures that the 5600X can handle gaming, as we all know, core speed is directly tied to gaming performance. This is a CPU that’s ideal to be paired with the RTX 3060, as it won’t cause any CPU bottlenecks, slowing the GPU down as a result.

The 5600X is truly an efficiency beast, outputting a surprisingly large amount of processing power for a remarkably tiny TDP of 65W, that’s almost 200W less than some of the top-dog CPUs out there. The Ryzen 5 5600X’s power-to-performance ratio is almost unbeatable.

With the 5600X, you won’t have to worry about upgrading your hardware. This is because the 5600X belongs to the AM4 socket standard. AMD has used this motherboard socket for many years and has inhabited motherboards for the last 6 or so years.

Best Budget CPU for RTX 3060

Although we recommend sticking with the CPU we recommend, for the most part, we do suggest the I5-12400f. If you can find this CPU for a good deal then you should consider one.

Core i5-12400F

Cores:

6

Threads:

12

Base clock speed:

2.50 GHz

Boost clock speed:

4.40 GHz

TDP:

65 W

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This CPU is one to watch, it performs around the same as the 5600X, however, it goes on sale much more frequently. If the 12400F cannot be found on sale then don’t bother. Unless you already have an Intel system of course, then you’re probably better off. It would be cheaper for you to take a loss on the CPU than it would be to upgrade to accommodate the new CPU.

Is the RTX 3060 a good GPU?

The RTX 3060 is a high-end GPU that was introduced by NVIDIA in 2021. It is based on the latest Ampere architecture and it is designed to deliver excellent performance for gaming, video editing, and other demanding tasks.

Compared to the previous generation of GPUs, the RTX 3060 is expected to offer significantly higher performance and power efficiency, it also supports real-time ray tracing and AI-accelerated features. It is capable of running most of the latest games at 1440p resolution with high frame rates and settings.

It is also expected to be a more affordable option than the RTX 3070 and RTX 3080, making it accessible to more users.

Final word

no matter what CPU you choose on this list, both will serve you very well. Whether you’re AMD or Intel, we have you covered. We hope you found what you needed in this best CPU for RTX 3060 article.