Best CPUs for RTX 3080 in 2025 – Our top picks
Need a CPU for the RTX 3080? Look no further
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Despite being a couple of years old, the RTX 3080 is still one of the most popular cards on the market, offering tons of performance without the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4000 series price tag. The RTX 3080 is definitely a 4K GPU but also performs brilliantly at both 1440p and 1080p resolutions, as long as there is a good processor to prevent bottlenecking its power.
However, picking the best processor requires a lot of time spent reviewing specifications, benchmarks, and various options to find the one that suits your build. This can be overwhelming for those who aren’t deeply into tech. To help you with that, we’ve curated a list of the best CPUs for the RTX 3080. As always, we keep this guide updated with the latest products, offering options for everyone, no matter your preferences, requirements, or needs.
Products at a Glance
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Best Overall CPU for RTX 3080
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Max boost speed: 4.5GHz
- L3 Cache: 96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
- TDP: 105W
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Best Intel CPU for RTX 3080
Intel Core i5-13600K
- Core configuration: 14
- Threads: 20
- Base core speed: 3.5 GHz (P-core) / 2.6 GHz (E-core)
- Boost core speed: 5.1 GHz (P-core) / 3.9 GHz (E-core)
- DDR5 support: 5600 MT/s
- TDP / PPT: 125 W / 181 W
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Best Budget CPU for RTX 3080
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Speed: 3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz
- Core (Threads): 6/12
- Socket: AM4
- TDP: 65W
-
Best Balanced CPU for RTX 3080
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
- Cores: 12
- Threads: 24
- Base speed: 4.7GHz
- Boost speed: 5.6GHz
- Cache: L3 64MB
- Socket: AM5
If you’re short on time and want to know the best CPU for the RTX 3080, we recommend either the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D or the Intel Core i5-13600K. Before we get into detailed insights for each of our picks, let’s take a closer look at how we selected these CPUs and the process behind our choices.
How we picked
To select the best CPUs for the RTX 3080, we wanted to ensure our picks could handle the powerful demands of this GPU, delivering a smooth, bottleneck-free, and balanced gaming experience. Having had the opportunity to test the RTX 3080 in-house, we had a clear understanding of its capabilities and what would work well with this GPU. We tested each of our recommended processors in real-world scenarios, comparing them based on gaming and content creation performance, power efficiency, and overall compatibility with the RTX 3080. We also made sure to consider different brands, performance levels, and price ranges, to give you a diverse selection.
That said, we only recommend products that have been tested by us or reviewed by trusted and reputable third-party sources that highlight both the positives and negatives. In addition to performance testing, we thoroughly examined the specifications and technical details of these CPUs, along with user reviews, to get an honest perspective on how these processors perform in everyday use. If you’re interested in learning more about our testing process, check out our dedicated page on how we test CPUs.
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Max boost speed: 4.5GHz
- L3 Cache: 96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
- TDP: 105W
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Base clock speed: 3.4GHz
- Max boost speed: 4.5GHz
- Total L3 cache: 96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)
- Default TDP: 105W
- TSMC: 7nm FinFET
- Socket: AM4
- Memory type: DDR4
- One of the best value gaming CPU even in 2025
- Low power consumption
- No motherboard upgrade required if you’re already on the AM4 platform
- Can not be overclocked
- Runs hot and doesn’t come with an integrated cooler
- Not as strong in desktop applications as in gaming
If you’re building a powerful gaming-focused rig with the RTX 3080, the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the clear choice for the best overall fit. This fan-favorite processor features a powerful 8-core, 16-thread configuration, 96MB of L3 cache, and X3D V-cache technology, making it one of the most powerful gaming processors available. Whether you’re gaming at 4K, 1440p, or even 1080p, this CPU will ensure your rig performs like an ultimate gaming beast, capable of handling anything you throw at it.
When we reviewed the 5800X3D, we compared it to its predecessor, the 5800X, which offers more powerful specifications. However, we wanted to see how much the X3D’s enhancements would improve performance. As expected, the results favored the 5800X3D. In games like Days Gone and Cyberpunk 2077, the 5800X3D outperformed the 5800X by 5.31% and 2.43%, respectively. This highlights how a larger and faster cache can make a noticeable difference in gaming-focused benchmarks. However, the 5800X3D does lag behind in single and multi-threaded workloads, as it doesn’t have the same core count and frequency advantage as compared to other CPUs. Instead, it prioritizes cache retrieval, which affects its performance in those areas.
In the real world, the 5800X3D slams both the 5800X and the 12900K, performing around 5% better than the 5800X in our synthetic benchmarks and around 3% better than the 12900K in real-world benchmarks.
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That said, for pure gaming enthusiasts, this chip offers incredible performance. Additionally, if you’re already on the AM4 platform, upgrading to the 5800X3D can even save you money, as you won’t need to replace other components. Considering its impressive gaming capabilities and competitive pricing, this processor makes an excellent pairing with your RTX 3080 GPU, as both components will perfectly complement each other’s power, providing a balanced gaming experience.
What users say
The official Amazon listing for the Ryzen 7 5800X3D boasts a 4.8-star rating, with an impressive 91% of reviews being 5 stars. Scroll down to the reviews, and you’ll find people praising it as the “best value CPU for gaming.”
- 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.
- One of the best budget CPUs in the market
- Strong gaming and synthetic performance
- Offers backward compatibility with 12th gen motherboards
- High TDP when frequencies are boosted
- You will need an aftermarket CPU cooler
The Core i5-13600K may well be the best Intel CPU for the job when it comes to the RTX 3080. In fact, in our dedicated review of the i5-13600K, we gave it a perfect 5 out of 5 score, thanks to its impressive performance, great efficiency, and incredible cost-effectiveness that earned it our outstanding stamp. With 14 cores and 24 threads, this CPU can handle any workload you throw at it, whether gaming or workstation tasks. The optional DDR5 upgrade even makes it a solid future-proof option that will stay with you for years.
The 13600K’s powerful 6 performance cores can reach clock speeds of up to 5.4 GHz, which, at the time of its release, was an astounding speed for an out-of-the-box CPU. Packed with 24MB of L3 cache, this processor shows no signs of slowing down, as evidenced by our in-house benchmarking tests. During Cinebench R23 testing, the 13600K scored an impressive 1,992 points in the single-core benchmark and 24,024 points in the multi-core benchmark. For gaming, the CPU averaged over 150 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, CSGO, and GTA V.
The Core i5-13600K is a phenomenal CPU with phenomenal specifications to back it up and performance that rivals CPUs at far higher price points.
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If you ask us, the 13600K is quite possibly the best CPU you can pair with the RTX 3080 from Intel, as it checks all the boxes for those looking for a great CPU at a reasonable price. While it does have some drawbacks, such as its 181W TDP, meaning you’ll need a powerful PSU and a beefy CPU cooler, the current 41% discount helps offset the extra cost.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the Core i5-13600K is one of the best-value CPUs for gaming, as seen from its solid 4.7-star rating, with an impressive 89% of reviews being 5 stars.
- Speed: 3.7GHz/ 4.6GHz
- Core (Threads): 6/12
- Socket: AM4
- TDP: 65W
- Unlocked?: Yes
- PCIe Version: PCIe 4.0
- Total L2 Cache: 3MB
- Total L3 Cache: 32MB
- CMOS: TSMC 7nm FinFET
- Max Temps: 95°C
- Strong gaming performance for its price point
- Offer overclocking capabilities
- Power efficient processor
- No integrated graphics
- Wil have you sticking with the AM4 platform
The Ryzen 5 5600X was released back in 2020, but even after 4 years, it proves that 6 cores can go a long way, and with 12 threads to pair, you can expect solid performance even under heavy loads. Pairing this CPU with the RTX 3080 means you’ll breeze through 1440p and 4K gaming without anything holding you back. Additionally, this CPU offers a base clock speed of 3.7GHz and a boost clock speed of 4.6GHz, demonstrating how it excels in every area.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a fantastic CPU to this day, it was released as a budget beat back in 2020, and it continues to be one.
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It’s also power-efficient. The 5600X has a modest 65W TDP, which is less than half the power demands of some other high-performance processors, and it comes with a sufficient cooler that keeps it cool at all times. In our review of the 5600X, we gave it a rating of 4.6 stars, as it consistently delivered strong scores across synthetic workloads and heavy gaming needs, truly earning its “Excellent” stamp. While it may not be the absolute best gaming CPU out there, it is a top-rated community option for the RTX 3080, especially when you consider its extremely budget-friendly $120 price tag.
What users say
Over at Amazon, the Ryzen 5 5600X has established itself as a great budget offering, boasting a solid 4.8-star rating, over 26,000 reviews, and more than 10,000 units sold in just the past month.
- Cores: 12
- Threads: 24
- Base speed: 4.7GHz
- Boost speed: 5.6GHz
- Cache: L3 64MB
- Socket: AM5
- Incredible performance
- High performance pew Watt
- Interesting IHS
- A little pricey
- Hard to keep cool
This solid entry in Team Red’s 7000 series, the Ryzen 9 7900X, features an AM5 socket, providing support for both DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5. We selected it as the best-balanced option on our list because it offers not only pure gaming muscle, thanks to its 12-core, 24-thread powerhouse that can be boosted to 5.6 GHz, but also excellent performance in workstations and productivity scenarios. It delivers a well-rounded performance, making it perfect for a variety of use cases. In our review of the 7900X, we gave it a 4.5-star rating as it showed reliable gaming performance across titles like CS2, Doom Eternal, and Cyberpunk 2077, while also excelling in synthetic benchmarks and handling demanding tasks like Blender rendering and multi-core workloads with ease.
The Ryzen 9 7900X is the second highest core-count CPU on the 7000 series. This means it packs a serious punch in multi-core workloads, and provides a solid gaming foundation thanks to it’s high boost frequencies.
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However, during testing, we noted that the CPU runs fairly hot. While its TDP is rated at 170W at base clock, it rises to 230W at boost speeds, which means you’ll be investing in a high-quality cooler for it as well. On top of that, since the CPU is fairly pricey, with an MSRP of $549, we recommend waiting for discounts if you plan on picking one up. Fortunately, Christmas discounts have currently slashed its price to a much more attractive $351, saving you almost $200. That said, the 7900X is also a future-proof option, offering an upgrade path to AM5 while also pairing exceptionally well with the Nvidia RTX 3080 Ti, which you can upgrade to in the future.
What users say
Over at Amazon, the 7900X has garnered significant attention, boasting a stellar 4.7-star rating, over 1,500 reviews, and more than 4,000 units sold in just the past month. You won’t have to scroll far to find people praising it, with one reviewer calling it an “Excellent CPU for literally everything!”
Things to consider
- Compatibility: When shopping for a CPU, ensure it’s compatible with your motherboard’s socket type. This is especially important if you’re upgrading only the CPU. Double-check that your chosen processor will fit seamlessly with your current or future motherboard.
- Performance: The RTX 3080 is a powerful GPU, so you’ll need a CPU that can match its power-hungry demands without causing bottlenecks. Pay close attention to core count, clock speeds, and overall performance to find a processor that aligns with your gaming or content creation needs.
- Thermal needs: While modern CPUs are designed to be power-efficient, they can still produce significant heat under heavy workloads. Check the thermal requirements of your CPU and invest in a quality cooler to prevent thermal throttling, which could impact performance.
- Set a budget: Before choosing a CPU, set a clear budget to help narrow your options and avoid being overwhelmed by too many choices. While high-performance CPUs are tempting, those on a budget should aim for a balance between cost and performance. Look for a processor that pairs well with your GPU, delivering a great experience without breaking the bank.
Final word
For those building a pure gaming-focused rig, we recommend the 5800X3D. However, if you’re already on the LGA 1700 socket and prefer not to switch platforms, the 13600K is also an excellent choice, offering impressive performance at a reasonable price. On the other hand, for those aiming to future-proof their system with newer hardware, AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900X could be a smart investment. That said, we always suggest approaching these guides with a clear understanding of your needs and priorities. This will help you choose a processor that not only pairs well with your GPU but also aligns with your goals—whether that’s staying within budget or achieving peak performance. Happy gaming!
