Best CPU for RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti in 2024 – our top picks

We’ve rounded up the best CPUs for RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti graphics cards, Nvidia’s newest edition to their 40-series lineup.

Once you’ve checked out where to buy the RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti, it’s time to take a look at the best CPUs on offer to complement your graphics card. If you’re still making your mind between the two, we’ve comapred the RTX 4060 vs 4060 Ti to help you decide.

Best CPU for RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti at a glance

Choosing the best CPU/GPU Combo is important if you want to avoid bottlenecks, especially as the latest releases can be pretty intensive to play. Factors like the clock speed of your GPU will impact whether your CPU can maintain a normal temperature while gaming. So, once you’ve familiarised yourself with the 4060 Ti specs, feel free to jump right into the best CPUs for RTX 4060 Ti.

Best overall CPU for RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti – Ryzen 7 7900X

We’ve opted for the Ryzen 7 7900X as our flagship CPU for gaming – we think it offers a brilliant value for money when paired with the 4060 series. It belongs to AMD’s new Zen 4 architecture, taking performance output to a whole new level. Though gamers may dislike having to upgrade to DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, it looks like it could be worth it whilst you’re upgrading your GPU. Alternatively, it’ll be worth checking out how the Ryzen 9 7900 shapes up against the more powerful 7 7900X

The 7 7900X features 8 cores and 16 threads, delivering a truly exceptional multi-core performance, allowing for a very speedy transfer of data. Combine this with its speeds boost clock speed of 5.6GHz and you’ve also got yourself a very high single-core performance. The cache size has also been doubled to 1MB per core, enhancing the efficiency of the CPU.

Overall, the Ryzen 9 7900X is a fantastic CPU. Though it’s not the cheapest CPU on this list, it’s a brilliant investment. If you’d like further depth surrounding the Ryzen 9 7900X’s strengths and limitations, WePC has covered it all in their review of the 9 7900X

Best runner-up CPU for 4060 and 4060 Ti – Intel Core i5-13600K

The Intel i5-13600K is a top choice if you’re looking for low CPU temperature, power efficiency, and a speedy overclock.

The 13600K boasts 14 cores and 20 threads, with a clock speed that exceeds 5GHz. With specs like these, it makes a fine choice for your average gamer who’s after quality without breaking the bank. You’ll find this CPU offers a healthy balance between single-core and multi-core performance, making it suitable for multi-core based workloads too. This is arguably one of the main selling points for the 13600K, setting itself apart from many other CPUs that generally prioritize one over the other.

The fact that it can use a DDR4 motherboard will also come as a relief for those not wanting to upgrade their entire setup. Compared to other CPUs, the 13600K falls between the 7600X and 7700X from AMD’s lineup, outperforming the former. Overall this CPU has earned its spot amongst the best CPUs for gaming as we consider it brilliant all-round performer. It may also be worth checking out WePC’s review of the i5-13600K if you’d like to get into more depth about this CPUs strengths and limitations.

Best budget CPU for RTX 4060 and 4060 Ti – Ryzen 7 5800X3D

The 5800X3D is a remarkably affordable CPU that’s earned its spot amongst the best budget CPUs. It comes equipped with 8 cores and a clock speed of 3.4GHz, reaching up to 4.5GHz at a push. When you combine this with AMD’s Simultaneous Multi-threading you can effectively utilise 16 threads at once.

This CPU also deserves recognition for its remarkably energy efficient credentials which should pair nicely with the 4060 Ti 8GB’s low TDP of 160W and the 4060’s 110W TDP. This CPU has a TDP of just 105W which is still capable of ripping through more demanding AAA titles. Some gamers might be disappointed by its limited compatibility with DDR5 and PCIe 4.0, but this is in part what keeps the price down. You’re welcome to consider whether PCIe 5.0 is worth it, and if DDR5 is worth upgrading to ahead of your decision. However, DDR4 and PCie 4.0 is more than capable to play modern ray tracing titles for years to come.

You’re also getting 96MB L3 cache, AVX and AVX2 compatibility and a chip that includes an impressive number of next-gen features for more value oriented CPU. Ahead of making your final decision, it’s worth checking out how the 5800X3D compares to the 7800X3D. Finally, in the interests of keeping temperatures down, you should check out the best budget CPU coolers to complete your gaming set-up.

Things to consider

Before committing to a new CPU, there are a few important things to run through ahead of your purchase. We’ll go into a little depth below.

Compatibility

First things first – make sure your chosen CPU is compatible with your motherboard. You check this by looking at the socket type and the motherboard’s compatibility list. If you’re going for the Ryzen 7 7900X, it’ll be worth checking out the best DDR5 motherboards for the best pairing.

Performance

There’s no point going for the most expensive CPU on the list if you haven’t considered what you intend to use the CPU for. Different CPUs excel in different tasks, such as gaming, content creation or professional applications. We recommend checking out CPU benchmarks and reviews before committing to your new purchase.

Cores and threads

As an easy rule of thumb, more cores and threads generally equate to a better multitasking and improved performance in multi-threaded applications.

Power consumption

Check the capabilities of your power supply before committing to your CPU. You’ll want to ensure your CPU’s power requirements are well within the range that your PSU can handle. A higher-power CPU may also require a compatible cooling solution to keep your temperatures in check.

Futureproofing

Futureproofing your gaming setup is generally determined by what you can afford to upgrade. It’s certaily worth upgrading to PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 since it offers significant performance increases, and will keep your PC setup up to date for longer.

The above factors will hopefully help you make an informed decision on the right CPU for you and your setup. You’re welcome, and good luck in your research!

Final word

Hopefully one of the above suggestions will be well suited to your needs. We’ve highlighted the Ryzen 9 7900X, Core i5-13600K and Ryzen 7 5800X3D. The specs of the 4060 and 4060 Ti promise to deliver a fairly impressive performance. Both with an MSP of less than $400, they offers great value for money if you’re priority is finding the best GPU for 1080p gaming. Choosing the right CPU for the job is a task that requires considerable research, so hopefully we’ve done most of the hard bit for you.