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Since the release of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090, it has genuinely taken the gaming world by storm. It has been a while since we have seen such a massive gap in performance between two flagship graphics cards of subsequent generations. Nevertheless, the RTX 4090 is an absolute powerhouse and thus needs a powerful CPU to be truly maximized.
Here’s a quick look at our selected CPUs for RTX 4090 and a brief comparison of their specs:
Make sure you opt for the best possible variant of the RTX 4090 before searching for a CPU:
Best CPU for RTX 4090
Here is a selection of the best CPUs for RTX 4090 that you can buy right now:
- Best AMD: AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- Best Intel: Intel Core i7-13700K
- Best Overall Gaming: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Best Budget: Intel Core i5-13600K
- Best High-End: Intel Core i9-13900K
- Best Value: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
Best AMD CPU for RTX 4090
Socket: AMD AM5 | Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | L2 Cache: 8MB | Base Clock: 4.5 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.4 GHz | TDP: 105W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- High single-core performance
- Impressive overclocking headroom
- Solid price-to-performance ratio
- Decent productivity performance
Cons
- May limit the RTX 4090 at 1080p
- High temperatures
Performance: Ryzen 7 7700X maintains the same 8-core, 16-thread layout of the previous generations, but this time the processor is capable of hitting a boost frequency of up to 5.4 GHz. Thanks to the supreme single-core performance, you can get pretty close to the maximum performance of the RTX 4090 at a fraction of the price.
Cooling: Zen 4 processors take advantage of the entire power budget that is available to the CPU. This was evident in my testing, as the CPU tried to hit Tjmax as soon as it was put under a load, completely ignoring the 105W TDP. With that in mind, you should pair the CPU with a 240mm AIO cooler at the very least.
Future Proofing: The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X brings a hefty performance uplift over its predecessor, which adds to its overall longevity as a processor. Not only that but the AM5 platform is expected to support future processors, giving users a safe upgrade path. PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 memory support is also an added bonus.
Take a look at the picture of the Ryzen 7 7700X we captured before testing.
You want a capable mid-range processor: The AMD Ryzen 7 7700X allows the RTX 4090 to achieve a significant portion of its maximum performance in most games without the price tag of a flagship processor.
What Makes It The Best AMD CPU For RTX 4090?
In a word, value! The price-to-performance ratio offered by this combination is almost too good to pass up. If you game at 1440p or 4K, the Ryzen 7 7700X is all you need to allow the RTX 4090 to fully stretch its wings, making it the Best AMD CPU For RTX 4090.
- Read Our AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Review
- Best Cooler for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- Best Motherboard for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
- Best RAM for AMD Ryzen 7 7700X
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 8/10 |
Intel Core i7-13700K
Best Intel CPU for RTX 4090
Socket: LGA1700 | Cores: 16 (8P + 8E) | Threads: 24 | L2 Cache: 24MB | Base Clock: 2.5 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.4 GHz | TDP: 125W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Superb gaming performance
- Great for productivity
- Reasonable cost of entry
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
Cons
- High power draw
- Runs hot
Performance: The Core i7-13700K from Intel’s Raptor Lake lineup is certainly one of the fastest CPUs on the market when it comes to gaming. Thanks to its sky-high 5.4 GHz boost clock and variable turbo boost technology, the 13700K can take advantage of its massive power budget to maximize its single-core performance while gaming.
Cooling: In my tests, I found that the temperatures of the Intel CPU were teetering at the edge of Tjmax the entire time, requiring a high-end cooler to keep the temperatures down. I would recommend a 360mm AIO liquid cooler with the i7-13700K given how hot the processor tends to run.
Future Proofing: With the i7-13700K, you can forget about upgrading for the next 2-3 years thanks to its performance. Overclocking potential is also present as long as you have a cooler to sustain the high temperatures. Furthermore, the LGA 1700 socket allows users to upgrade to 14th-gen offerings down the line.
You want the best price-to-performance The gaming performance of the Core i7-13700K is top-notch, and so is the value proposition. You can also pair it with a last-gen Z690 motherboard and DDR4 memory to save a few more bucks.
What Makes It The Best Intel CPU For RTX 4090?
With the ideal mix of single-core performance and value for money, the i7-13700K is definitely the Best Intel CPU For RTX 4090.
- Read Our Intel Core i7-13700K Review
- Best Cooler for Intel Core i7-13700K
- Best Motherboard for Intel Core i7-13700K
- Best RAM for Intel Core i7-13700K
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 9/10 |
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Best Overall Gaming CPU for RTX 4090
Socket: AMD AM5 | Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | L2 Cache: 8MB | Base Clock: 4.2 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.0 GHz | TDP: 120W | Unlocked: No
Pros
- Fastest gaming processor
- High power efficiency
- 3D V-cache technology
- PCIe 5.0 support
Cons
- No multiplier-based overclocking
- Mediocre productivity performance
Performance: My thorough testing revealed that the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the absolute fastest gaming processor on the market at the time of writing in the vast majority of tested titles, even surpassing the 7950X3D thanks to its simpler layout. It comes with 96MB of L3 Cache, 8 cores, 16 threads, as well as a clock speed of 5 GHz.
Cooling: The Ryzen 7 7800X3D comes with a TDP of 120W, which means you will need a fairly capable cooler to maintain optimal temperatures. A 280mm or a 360mm AIO is recommended for the CPU; however, a 240mm cooler also works fine.
Future Proofing: The Ryzen 7 7800X3D outclasses the top-of-the-line 7950X3D in terms of gaming performance, making it an option that will last a reasonably long time. AMD also continues to support the AM5 platform, which means upgrading processors won’t warrant a platform change in the near future.
We also took these shots of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D:
You want top-notch gaming performance: For one, I loved the gaming performance that this little chip has on offer, especially for the price.
What Makes It The Best Overall Gaming CPU For RTX 4090?
AMD’s ingenious 3D V-Cache design allows the Ryzen 7 7800X3D to challenge for the crown of the Best Overall Gaming CPU for RTX 4090, thanks to its supreme single-threaded performance and high efficiency. It challenges CPUs that are almost twice its price and, more often than not, comes away with a victory.
- Read Our Ryzen 7 7800X3D Review
- Best Cooler for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Best Motherboard for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Best RAM for Ryzen 7 7800X3D
| Performance: 9/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 10/10 |
Intel Core i5-13600K
Best Budget CPU for RTX 4090
Socket: LGA1700 | Cores: 14 (6P + 8E) | Threads: 20 | L2 Cache: 20MB | Base Clock: 2.6 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.1 GHz | TDP: 125W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Affordable price point
- Relatively low power consumption
- Unlocked for overclocking
- Support for DDR4 and DDR5
Cons
- May introduce bottlenecks at 1080p
- Unremarkable productivity performance
Performance: The Core i5-13600K comes equipped with 6 P-Cores and 8 E-Cores, with 20 total threads to boot. With a boost clock of 5.1 GHz and variable turbo boost technology, this budget processor manages to punch way above its weight when it comes to gaming.
Cooling: As far as cooling is concerned, Using a 240mm AIO liquid cooler or even a powerful dual-tower air cooler is enough to keep the CPU from thermal throttling. In my testing, the Core i5-13600K reached a peak temperature of 76C with a custom loop.
Future Proofing: Despite solid performance results in my tests, it’s hard to recommend the Core i5-13600K as a future-proof processor. Since it’s aimed at the budget segment of the market, you might feel the need to upgrade sooner. If that’s the case, you’ll be limited to higher-end 13th or 14th gen CPUs.
When our hardware tester, Nauman Siddique, reviewed the Core i5-13600K, he was especially surprised by the value it offers, saying:
“The Intel Core i5-13600K stands out as the best value gaming CPU in the market. It delivers impressive gaming performance while also excelling in overall tasks, making it a compelling choice.”
Here is a shot of the Core i5-13600K from our review:
You are on a budget: The Core i5-13600K is perfect for those gamers who want to dedicate a large portion of their budget toward the graphics card.
You are looking for an efficient CPU: When loaded with a gaming benchmark, it consumed around 160-180W of power during our testing, which is a good result for a 13th Gen Intel processor.
What Makes It The Best Budget CPU For RTX 4090?
Being a budget-oriented CPU, the i5-13600K manages to keep up with the RTX 4090 in most gaming scenarios without breaking the bank. This earns it the title of the Best Budget CPU For RTX 4090.
- Read Our Intel Core i5-13600K Review
- Best Cooler for Intel Core i5-13600K
- Best Motherboard for Intel Core i5-13600K
- Best RAM for Intel Core i5-13600K
| Performance: 7/10 | Value: 10/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 7/10 |
Intel Core i9-13900K
Best High-End CPU for RTX 4090
Socket: LGA1700 | Cores: 24 (8P+16E) | Threads: 32 | L2 Cache: 32MB | Base Clock: 2.2 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 5.8 GHz | TDP: 125W | Unlocked: Yes
Pros
- Flagship gaming performance
- Solid productivity performance
- DDR4 and DDR5 support
Cons
- Very expensive
- Ridiculous power consumption
- High temperatures
Performance: Intel has equipped the i9-13900K with 24 total cores, split up into 8 P-Cores and 16 E-Cores. This configuration allows the i9-13900K to get both single-core and multi-core aspects of productivity. When paired with the RTX 4090, the Core i9-13900K allows you to get the maximum performance from both of your components.
Cooling: During the course of my testing, the suggested 125W TDP number was little more than a placeholder since the CPU easily crossed 220W of power draw as soon as a load was placed on it. Ideally, you’ll have to pair the i9-13900K with a 360mm AIO liquid cooler, especially considering the previously mentioned power draw.
Future Proofing: The Intel Core i9-13900K is a phenomenal pick for those looking for a processor that’ll last the next couple of years. Overclocking or upgrading to the 14th gen is also a possibility with the processor.
Here’s the i9-13900K in our test bench:
You want high-end performance: The single-core and multi-core performance of the i9-13900K is among the very best that is available on the market right now. It is also a highly overclockable processor thanks to its high power budget.
What Makes It The Best High-End CPU For RTX 4090?
The combination of supreme gaming performance and a versatile feature set makes the i9-13900K the Best High-End pairing for the RTX 4090.
- Best Cooler for Intel Core i9-13900K
- Best Motherboard for Intel Core i9-13900K
- Best RAM for Intel Core i9-13900K
| Performance: 10/10 | Value: 7/10 |
| Features: 9/10 | Future Proofing: 10/10 |
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Best Value CPU for RTX 4090
Socket: AMD AM4 | Cores: 8 | Threads: 16 | L2 Cache: 4MB | Base Clock: 3.4 GHz | Boost Clock: Up to 4.5 GHz | TDP: 105W | Unlocked: No
Pros
- High value for money
- Excellent gaming performance
- Affordable platform
Cons
- No DDR5 support
- No overclocking support
- Dead-end platform
Performance: By stacking the cache in three dimensions around the central core structure, AMD was able to pack a whopping 96MB of L3 cache on the 5800X3D die. In addition to that, you also get a boost clock of 4.5 GHz, 8 cores, and 16 threads, along with impressive single-core performance.
Cooling: Cooling the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is an easier task compared to the other 5000 series counterparts thanks to its lower TDP of 105W. A capable air cooler or a 240mm AIO should suffice for the processor; however, you can always opt for higher-end options for extra thermal headroom.
Future Proofing: While the Ryzen 7 5800X3D’s impressive performance will remain sufficient for the next couple of years, you do not get overclocking support with the processor. You will also be limited to DDR4 memory and the AM4 platform, both of which impact future upgradability.
You want the best possible value: The strongest point of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is its value proposition. From an affordable platform to compatibility with cheaper DDR4 memory, you get the best value for money with this processor.
What Makes It The Best Value CPU For RTX 4090?
The Ryzen 7 5800X3D was targeted at high-end gamers when it was released, but it has fallen in price quite a bit now. You can also use it on an affordable X570 or B550 motherboard and get away with it. The cost-per-frame analysis makes it the Best Value CPU for RTX 4090 right now.
| Performance: 8/10 | Value: 9/10 |
| Features: 8/10 | Future Proofing: 7/10 |
Gaming Benchmarks of The Best RTX 4090
At Tech4Gamers, we do not merely make hollow claims. Our highly specialized team of hardware experts puts every single product through a gauntlet of tests designed specifically to help us form an objective opinion based on empirical data. For the purposes of this roundup, we put our target CPUs through a barrage of tests in order to gauge the performance of these processors in a variety of scenarios.
Important CPU Key Terms
Here are some key CPU terms you should know when shopping for a CPU in 2023.
- Cores: A CPU core is part of a CPU designed to fetch, decode and execute various functions.
- Threads: A thread is a data string in every computer program. Cores make use of threads to improve multitasking.
- Cache: The cache is a small amount of fast memory stored directly onto the CPU substrate. It is divided into L1, L2, and L3 cache.
- Clock Speed: The clock speed of a processor is the number of data cycles it can complete in a second. It ranges from a minimum (base clock) to a maximum (boost clock) value.
- TDP: The TDP value is an estimated amount of heat the processor puts out.
- IPC: The IPC (Instructions Per Clock) is a measure of the work being done by the CPU in one clock cycle.
- Overclocking: Overclocking is when you allow your processor to run above its stock or pre-configured settings.
How We Picked The Best CPU For RTX 4090
When looking for the best CPU for RTX 4090, we kept the following factors in mind.
- Gaming Performance: Since the RTX 4090 is arguably the fastest graphics card on the market right now, you need to pair it with an equally powerful CPU in order to avoid potential bottlenecks. Our team tested the gaming performance of various modern CPUs in different scenarios in order to get an objective idea of their performance.
- Platform: Considering the feasibility and longevity of the platform is really important when finalizing your selection. You don’t want to be stuck in a dead-end platform with no clear upgrade path. This includes CPU sockets, RAM platforms, as well as storage interfaces.
- Value For Money: Even though the GeForce RTX 4090 is an extremely expensive graphics card, that does not mean that you have to spend a fortune on the CPU as well. Every CPU will create a little bit of a bottleneck with the RTX 4090, but it is the FPS-per-dollar figure that really separates a great-value CPU from an average one.
FAQs
The minimum CPU that you should get for the RTX 4090 is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D or the Intel Core i5-13600K. These two CPUs offer great gaming performance with the RTX 4090 while being affordable.
Every CPU creates a little bit of bottleneck with the RTX 4090, especially at lower resolutions. However, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D and Intel Core i9-13900K create the least amount of bottleneck while gaming.
You can definitely use the RTX 4090 with an i5 processor, namely the Core i5-13600K. It has excellent single-core performance and offers great value for money, which is why we recommend it as the best-budget CPU for RTX 4090.
Also Read:
Recent Updates
- April 1, 2024: To help you choose, I’ve tested Cinebench R23 scores, 1080p gaming performance, and average power consumption for my top CPU picks.
- February 4, 2024: Few text changes to improve readability.
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[Reviews Specialist]
Usman Saleem brings 8+ years of comprehensive PC hardware expertise to the table. His journey in the tech world has involved in-depth tech analysis and insightful PC hardware reviews, perfecting over 6+ years of dedicated work. Usman’s commitment to staying authentic and relevant in the field is underscored by many professional certifications, including a recent one in Google IT Support Specialization.
8+ years of specialized PC hardware coverage
6+ years of in-depth PC hardware analysis and reviews
Lead PC hardware expert across multiple tech journalism platforms
Certified in Google IT Support Specialization
Get In Touch: usman@tech4gamers.com
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