Best CPU for Your GPU
Short answer: pick your graphics card below to see the slowest processor that keeps it balanced at 1080p and 1440p, the fastest gaming CPU, and bottleneck and FPS for 18 current processors.
| Graphics card | Minimum CPU for 1080p | Minimum CPU for 1440p |
|---|---|---|
| RTX 3060 | Core i5-12400F | Core i3-12100F |
| RTX 4060 | Core i5-14400F | Core i3-12100F |
| RTX 4060 Ti | Core i5-14600K | Core i5-12400F |
| RTX 4070 | Ryzen 7 7800X3D | Core i5-13400F |
| RTX 4070 Super | Core Ultra 9 285K | Ryzen 7 5700X3D |
| RTX 4080 Super | Fastest you can get | Ryzen 5 9600X |
| RTX 4090 | Fastest you can get | Core Ultra 7 265K |
| RTX 5060 | Core i5-14600K | Core i5-12400F |
| RTX 5060 Ti 16GB | Core i7-14700K | Core i5-13400F |
| RTX 5070 | Ryzen 7 9800X3D | Ryzen 7 5700X3D |
| RTX 5070 Ti | Fastest you can get | Core i5-14600K |
| RTX 5080 | Fastest you can get | Ryzen 7 9700X |
| RTX 5090 | Fastest you can get | Core i9-14900K |
| RX 6600 | Core i5-12400F | Core i3-12100F |
| RX 7800 XT | Core Ultra 9 285K | Core i5-14400F |
| RX 9060 XT 16GB | Core i5-14600K | Core i5-12400F |
| RX 9070 | Fastest you can get | Ryzen 5 7600 |
| RX 9070 XT | Fastest you can get | Ryzen 5 9600X |
| RX 7900 XTX | Fastest you can get | Ryzen 7 9700X |
| Arc B580 | Ryzen 7 5700X3D | Core i5-12400F |
How to choose a CPU for your graphics card
A graphics card can only render frames as fast as the processor prepares them. If the CPU is too slow, the GPU sits partly idle and you lose FPS you already paid for. The table above shows the slowest processor that still keeps each card balanced, so you can spend less on the CPU and more where it counts.
- Start with your resolution. At 1080p the CPU does more of the work, so you need a faster chip. At 1440p and 4K the GPU becomes the limit and a mid-range CPU is usually enough.
- Check the platform cost. A new AM5 or LGA 1851 processor also needs a new motherboard and DDR5 memory, so compare the total price, not just the CPU.
- Look at your games. Competitive shooters and large strategy or simulation games lean heavily on the CPU. Story-driven single-player games usually lean on the GPU.
- Leave a little headroom. If you plan to upgrade the graphics card later, pick a CPU one step above the minimum.
What counts as a balanced pair?
We treat a bottleneck under 10% as balanced. Between 10% and 20% the slower part holds the other back a little, and above 20% an upgrade usually pays off. Each guide below gives results at 1080p and 1440p so you can see where your own setup lands.
Already own a processor? Use the reverse guide, best GPU for your CPU, or see CPU upgrade guides for drop-in options. To test an exact pair with your own resolution and game type, run the PC bottleneck calculator.
Looking the other way round? See the best GPU for your processor, or check any pair in the bottleneck calculator.
Sources: Tom’s Hardware GPU hierarchy, Tom’s Hardware CPU hierarchy, TechSpot CPU and GPU scaling tests, TechPowerUp GPU database, and manufacturer specifications from AMD, Intel and NVIDIA. Bottleneck and FPS figures come from our own bottleneck and FPS models.