The jump in the performance that the RTX 3000 has brought to the gaming industry was enormous. This new series of graphics cards has allowed the gaming community to take their gaming experience to the next level. And one of these mind-blowing stars in this line up is the RTX 3070. This graphics card is one of the fantastic GPUs ever released as it offers RTX 2080 Ti‘s performance for less than half of the price. And on top of that, it also supports improved RTX features such as Ray Tracing and DLSS 2.0. But, in order to get the best gaming performance out of your RTX 3070, you will need to pair it with a good CPU.
Choosing the right CPU for your graphics card is critical, as it will prevent you from bottlenecking your GPU. Nevertheless, many people struggle in selecting the right one due to the wide variety of options in the market. And that’s the reason why we have made this article. Today, we will introduce you to the best CPUs from both Intel & AMD, which we consider to be the best option for your Nvidia RTX 3070.
1-AMD Ryzen 5 5600X (Best overall)
Designed with the ZEN 3 Architecture, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a six cores CPU that manages to compete ahead to head with Intel flagship, the Intel Core i9 10900K. This mighty processor will offer you high-end performance at a very reasonable price.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is the big brother of the Ryzen 5 3600. It has 6 cores, 12 threads and can boost up to 4.6GHz at its stock speed. Unlike other CPUs in the Zen 3 lineup, this CPU is the only one that comes with a stock cooler. The stock cooler is more than capable of handling the Ryzen 5 5600X. However, if you would like to do some overclocking, then we highly recommend an aftermarket cooler.
Furthermore, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X supports the AM4 socket type. In other words, you will have plenty of motherboards to choose from. Nevertheless, we recommend getting at least a B550 or X570 motherboard in order to get the best performance out of this CPU. And if you want to have a clear idea about the best motherboards for the Ryzen 5 5600X, we recommend taking a look at this article.
Overall, whether you are a casual or a hardcore gamer, the Ryzen 5 5600X will still remain one of the best options for you. The performance it offers, along with its fantastic price, makes it the best CPU in his league.
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2-Intel Core i7 10700K (Runner Up)
Even though AMD is now competing in the high-end CPU market, it couldn’t steal all its competitors’ lights. The Intel Core i7 10700K is another high-end processor. The monstrous performance it offers is on par with other high-end CPUs.
Intel has always been hardcore gamers’ favourite choice. And with the Intel Core i7 10700K, you will get the Core i9 9900K’s performance at a cheaper price point. The Intel Core i7 10700K is a powerful 8 cores gaming CPU with hyperthreading. It does boost up to 5.1GHz, while it also can be overclocked for extra performance.
This CPU does consume a fair amount of energy. Therefore, you will need a third party cooler in order to maintain it under good temps. Other than that, you should be more than satisfied with the performance of the Intel Core i7 10700K, as it will squeeze every drop of performance out of your RTX 3070.
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3-Intel Core i5 10600K (Best Value)
Nvidia RTX 3070 is a powerful graphics card capable of offering an incredible gaming experience at 1440P & 4K. However, unlike most beginners think, you don’t need a high-end CPU to utilize the card at its maximum potential. In fact, a good midrange CPU such as Intel i5 10600K is more than capable of providing you with the performance you are looking for without any bottlenecking issues.
Unlike its predecessor, the Core i5 9600K, the Core i5 10600K is a 6 cores CPU with hyperthreading. It benefits from Comet Lake’s architecture, which offers high-end gaming performance similar to the top leading CPUs.
The only minor downside of this CPU is that you need a Z490 Motherboard in order to utilize it at its maximum potential. Nevertheless, we can’t consider these motherboards as a downside since, according to Intel, they will support the next-gen, rocket lake Intel CPUs.
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4-AMD Ryzen 7 3700X (Best for productivity)
As a PC user, we often end up doing more than gaming. And whether you are a content creator, streamer, or you do any type of heavy workload, you will need a powerful CPU with a high core count. And what else should you choose other than the Ryzen 7 3700X?
Even after the ZEN 3 lineup release, the Ryzen 7 3700X is still a solid option. It’s an all-rounder CPU that is very well priced. It has 8 cores with hyperthreading, and it has got AM4 socket. As there is a wide variety of options for AM4 motherboards, finding a good value motherboard shouldn’t be an issue.
Besides, this CPU also got a stock cooler included in the box. AMD’s stock coolers are more than competent in handling their high core counts CPUs at their stock speed.
Now, to the main question, should you purchase the Ryzen 7 3700X? The answer to this question is straightforward, yet only you can decide it. If you are a gamer who is also a content creator, you will need a powerful CPU such as the Ryzen 7 3700X. However, if you are looking to utilize your PC just for gaming, we recommend either the Ryzen 5 5600X or the Intel Core i7-10700K as they will offer a better gaming experience.
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5-AMD Ryzen 5 3600 (Best Budget)
Why paying a premium cost when you could have the same performance at a lower price point? It may sound unreal, but in fact, it’s possible with the Ryzen 5 3600. This gaming CPU from AMD has amazed us with its competitive performance and affordable price. And if you are on a budget but still want to utilize your RTX 3070 at its maximum potential, this CPU is definitely worth your attention.
The AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is by far one of the amazing gaming CPUs. Its affordable price and fantastic performance in gaming and multitasking make it the perfect option for every person looking to build a strong PC without breaking the bank.
Just like all the Ryzen CPUs, the Ryzen 5 3600 uses AM4 socket type. And if you are looking to get the best value for your money, we highly recommend the B450 motherboards. Most of these motherboards support all the Ryzen CPUs, including the Ryzen 5000 lineup.
Another factor that pushes us to recommend the Ryzen 5 3600 for budget gamers is its stock cooler. On top of its amazing gaming performance for its price, the Ryzen 5 3600 also comes with a stock cooler included in the box. This will allow you to save money for another important part, especially if you are looking to build a new gaming machine.
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Final Thoughts
Unless you are a competitive player, you will surely end up gaming in a 1440P or 4K gaming monitor with the RTX 3070. And these resolutions don’t require a high-end gaming CPU. In fact, a good 6 cores CPU will be more than capable of providing you with the desired result.
Other than that, we hope that we have given you a clear idea about the CPU that you can pair with your RTX 3070. If you have already decided on one of these CPUs, we will be happy to know your final choice in the comment section below.
