Best CPU for RTX 3090 Ti
Need a new CPU for your 3090 Ti? Here's the best one!
Share this article...
WePC is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
- 02Best Intel CPU for RTX 3090 Ti
The RTX 3090 Ti is the top dog of the 30-series GPUs from Nvidia, there’s nothing in that series that can even compare to the RTX 3090 Ti. And with all that power, we need a really strong CPU to drive all the data the 3090 Ti needs to render to give us the pixels on the monitor. What is the best CPU for the 3090 Ti?
Now Read: Best CPU for the 3090
CPUs and GPUs need to work in synergy to produce optimal results. There’s absolutely no point getting a 3090 Ti if your CPU is just going to bottleneck your system, choking off your 3090 Ti before it’s had a chance to shine. So, with that being said, we need to offer a CPU that’s going to bottleneck the 3090 Ti the least.
Without further delay, here’s the best CPU for the RTX 3090 Ti.
Best CPU for RTX 3090 Ti
The best CPU for the 3090 at current prices has to be the Ryzen 9 5950X.
AMD Ryzen 9 5950X
Speed
3.4GHz/ 4.9GHz
Core (Threads)
16/32
Socket
AM4
TDP
105W
The Ryzen 9 5950X is a beast when it comes to multi-core performance, it’s fit for even the most intense workstation and gaming loads.
The 5950X holds a very large number of cores and threads for a desktop CPU. The core count comes in at 16 Cores and 32 Threads. Making the Ryzen 9 5950X ideal for chopping through high-intensity workloads. and supplying the 3090 Ti with data to process.
Not only that, but the maximum cores boost speed is 4.9GHz, almost breaking the 5GHz barrier on the limited AM4 platform wasn’t an easy feat back in the day. And as we know, the CPUs core boost speed and gaming performance are synonymous with each other.
The Ryzen 9 5950X does bottleneck the 3090 Ti slightly, but not enough to warrant upgrading to the next platform. You can opt for a 13th gen if you feel you should, but it will cost substantially more.
Thanks to AMD releasing their Zen 4 CPUs this year, we can observe the lesser generations being discounted, making the 5950X the right choice if you can pick one up on sale.
What is a PC bottleneck?
A PC bottleneck refers to a situation where one component of a computer system is preventing the other components from reaching their full performance potential. This can happen when one component is significantly slower or less powerful than the others, causing it to limit the overall performance of the system.
A bottleneck can occur in various parts of a computer system, such as the CPU, GPU, RAM, or storage. For example, a CPU bottleneck can occur when the CPU is not fast enough to keep up with the demands of the GPU, leading to lower frame rates in gaming or poor video quality in streaming. A GPU bottleneck can occur when the GPU is not powerful enough to process the data that the CPU is sending to it, leading to dropped frames and stuttering in gaming or poor encoding performance in streaming.
As you can see, it’s very important we find the correct CPU/GPU balance. To avoid bottlenecks, it is important to have a balance between the different components of a computer system and to upgrade them as necessary. This can help ensure that all components are working efficiently and that the overall performance of the system is optimized.
A better fit CPU for the RTX 3090 Ti
There is a better fit for the 3090 Ti as we mentioned, but it definitely isn’t cheaper. The i9-13900K is what you should be aiming for if you can afford the cost of upgrading to the newer platforms.
Intel Core i9-13900K
Cores
24
Threads
32
Base speed
P-cores 3 GHz / E-cores 2.2 GHz
Boost speed
P-cores 5.8 GHz / E-cores 4.3 GHz
Cache
36MB
TDP
125 W / 253 W boost.
The massive amount of cores and threads, alongside the unfathomable 5.8GHz boost speed, makes the 13900K an ideal CPU for any situation, it’s just incredibly expensive.
You should absolutely consider this CPU, as you’ll not need to get another for 2 years minimum. The 13900k is built to bring performance and is our top pick for the RTX 4090. If you want to future-proof your PC to the max, consider the 13900K.
Final word
No matter what CPU you choose, you’ll be in good hands. The 5950X is the best choice for the price right now, but the 13900K absolutely destroys it and any glint of hope the 5950X has at being viable against the 13900K. Either way, you won’t be disappointed at the results from either CPU.
