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Here’s the best CPU for RTX 4070, Nvidia’s latest edition to the GeForce 40-series.
If you’re taking the plunge and opting for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, you might be considering what PC components might be in need of some love and attention. We’re pretty impressed by the specs on offer, meaning a powerful CPU to match will be worth your time and money. We’ve already had a look at the best CPU for gaming and the best budget CPU, so let’s hope we have everything covered now.
Best CPU for RTX 4070 graphics cards at a glance
Intel Core i9-13900K
Architecture
Raptor Lake
Core Count
24
Thread Count
32
Boost Speed
5.8GHz
Cache
36MB
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
4.2GHz
Boost speed
5.9GHz
Cache
104MB
TDP
120W
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
CPU Speed
4.5 GHz
TDP
105W
Now we can think about the rig as a whole. A CPU is an instrumental PC component if you’re looking to maximise your gaming performance. Excitingly, the last year has been impressive for CPU releases from AMD and Intel. We’ve seen the Ryzen 7000 X3D series which have pushed the boundaries for processing speed. Similarly, Intel has not been messing around with their 13th Gen CPUs, with a rumoured release of their 14th Gen potentially coming soon.
Below, you’ll find three CPUs that stand out for their speed, performance and value. Depending on which one works best for you and your set-up, you may need to consider a CPU cooler to keep everything safe. We’ve covered the best coolers for Ryzen’s latest 7800X3D and Intel’s i9-13900K.
We’ve broken down the specs for you, focusing particularly on clock speeds and core performance so you can make your final decision with confidence.
So, let’s jump to it, here are the best CPUs for RTX 4070.
Best overall CPU for RTX 4070 – Intel i9-13900K
Intel Core i9-13900K
Architecture
Raptor Lake
Core Count
24
Thread Count
32
Boost Speed
5.8GHz
Cache
36MB
- Compatible with Z790, Z690 & B660 motherboards
- Powerful
- Compatible with DDR5 and DDR4
- Can run hot
Today’s first CPU is the i9-13900K, and with good reason, too. This Raptor Lake-S CPU from Intel is an extremely powerful chip, which includes all the bells and whistles – not to mention, horsepower – that you’d expect from a truly next-gen gaming product.
The chip boasts a core clock speed of 3.0GHz, distributed across 24 cores. However, under load, it can ramp up to 5.8GHz. So, whether you’re just doing your day-to-day browsing or playing resource-heavy titles, expect unparalleled performance from this high-end set-up.
Those 24 cores can each address more than one thread at once, operating a maximum of 32 at any one time using Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology. What does this mean for you? Well, you can expect far-better multitasking performance, and it’s also going to provide a much-slicker experience when playing demanding AAA titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 – also making it perfect for gamers.
And, if for whatever reason the power being offered here isn’t enough for you, the 13900K also happens to have an unlocked multiplier. If you’re curious to learn more about overclocking, you can head over to our friends at WePC for a full written introduction on the benefits and potential risks. It also happens to have full DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 compatibility, making it the perfect option for pairing with an RTX 4070 card.
We really love this Intel CPU, and can’t think of a better one to go along with Nvidia’s newest release. If you’re dead-set on jumping to a Socket 1700 board, you seriously need to check this chip out.
Best AMD CPU for RTX 4070 – Ryzen 7 7800X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Cores
8
Threads
16
Base speed
4.2GHz
Boost speed
5.9GHz
Cache
104MB
TDP
120W
- Brilliant value
- Very power efficient
- More overclocking support
- Expensive AM5 ecosystem
Next up, we’ve got the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Although it’s nowhere near as powerful as the i9-13900k, this Raphael CPU from AMD is still more than powerful enough to handle the processing power requisite for decent AAA gaming. Paired with the RTX 4070, you’ll have a rig that absolutely plows through any game!
The 7800X3D is a powerful CPU with 8 cores and a base clock speed of 4.2GHz. That clock speed can turbo up to 5.0GHz for intensive workloads. whether video-editing or playing heavy-duty titles like Valorant, making the most of the RTX 4070’s 12GB of VRAM.
The processor’s cores can manage 16 threads individually, thanks to AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading technology. Much like Intel’s Hyper-Threading approach, this allows the chip to process a larger number of simultaneous operations than would have previously been possible. This means better speed and smoother performance for you.
As it’s an AM5 chip, it’s actually compatible with an even newer set of standards than the Intel offering above; this time, you’ve got full DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 spec, meaning that you’ll be able to enjoy the fastest transfer speeds available. This is going to be crucial as time goes by and, paired with an RTX 4070, you’re going to have insane power at your fingertips.
If you end up choosing the 7800X3D, we’ve gathered the best AM5 X670 motherboards to help you out.
Plus, with an exceptional 96MB L3 cache, as well as a relatively-low TDP of 120W, the 7800X3D really is a tremendous option for pairing with an RTX 4070. If you’re a diehard AMD fan, this is – in our opinion – the best option for pairing with Nvidia’s new card.
Best value CPU for RTX 4070 – Ryzen 7 5800X3D
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Core Count
8
Thread Count
16
CPU Speed
4.5 GHz
TDP
105W
- Amazing gaming performance
- Uses AM4
- 3D cache
- Not as futureproof
The last CPU we’ll cover will be the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. AMD has produced an incredibly impressive offering here; not only is it a beast when paired with a powerful GPU like the 4070, it’s also fairly affordable, too. That’s why we’ve picked it as our favourite budget CPU for the new GPU.
The 5800X3D comes with 8 cores and a base clock speed of 3.4GHz that can reach up to 4.5GHz when necessary. Plus, with AMD’s Simultaneous Multithreading, you’ll be able to effectively utilise 16 threads at once. This means excellent performance playing games like Persona 5 Royale, or even just carrying out system-intensive admin tasks such as compressing large files.
Beyond the low price tag, another benefit of going with the 5800X3D is the surprisingly low TDP of 105W. This makes it perfect for building an energy-efficient system that is still capable of tearing through demanding titles.
In terms of its compatibility, it is restricted to DDR4 and PCIe 4.0 speeds, but these will still be more than enough to play modern ray-tracing titles for years to come, especially if you are going to go with the RTX 4070.
Plus, with a 96MB L3 cache, AVX, and AVX2 compatibility, you’ve got a chip in the 5800X3D which includes a surprising number of next-gen features for such a reasonably priced option. If sticking to a budget is an absolute must for you – but you still need a new CPU to go along with that RTX 4070 – this is definitely the way to go.
If you’d like to see how the 5800X3D shapes up to the 7800X3D, we’ve got you covered. Similarly, if you need to invest in a new CPU cooler, we’ve gathered the best ones on the market.
Features to consider when choosing a CPU for the RTX 4070:
Frequency
Securing a CPU with a fast, reliable frequency is going to be crucial. Alongside that, overclocking capabilities will let you reach boost clock speeds, and you’ll see a huge difference in loading times in-game, alongside the general smoothness of your gameplay.
DLSS Is also a feature that relies on both your GPU and CPU, so picking a CPU with a fast clock-speed will help you upscale resolutions without a cost to your frames per second.
Chipset
We imagine that anyone picking out a new CPU alongside their GPU is going to also pick up a new motherboard. With new hardware releases, especially CPUs, it’s extremely important to make sure you’re picking an up-to-date chipset. For example, Zen 4 CPUs have support for the AM5 chipset. This includes support for PCIe Express 5.0 and DDR5 RAM. Compared to the previous generation, AM5 hardware boasts huge improvements over its predecessors, and much of this can be attributed to its new compatibility with different hardwares.
Usage
If you’re going to be playing demanding games – you’re going to want to choose a CPU with a high clock speed. Realistically, for the average consumer, quality hardware is best put to use while gaming. Enjoying high frame rates needs high-end CPUs and graphics cards, so if you know you’re going to be playing games we’d suggest picking out a CPU that offers the max clock-speeds.
Similarly, if you’re into your content creation and will be running equally demanding applications, we’d recommend focusing on on a CPU with high clock speeds and an impressive core count.
Frequently asked questions
There are plenty of questions to ask about which CPU is best for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 so we’re here to help where we can.
What CPU will not bottleneck a RTX 4070?
To be safe, any CPU after Intel’s 12600K will be free from bottlenecking the RTX 4070 GPU.
What is the best CPU for gaming?
The best CPU for gaming has to be the Intel Core i9-13900K which we’ve also chosen as our best CPU for the RTX 4070. It boasts 24 cores and ultra high clock speeds making it a very speedy CPU.
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