Best CPU for RTX 4070 in 2023: our top picks

Here's the best CPU for the RTX 4070

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Best CPU for RTX 4070? What a question, we’re glad you asked. The RTX 4070 is allegedly being released to the world on April 13th, by Nvidia, who else? That leaves you just a couple of days to select the best CPU for RTX 4070. In this article, we will guide you through everything you need to know to select the CPU that’s right for you, and most importantly, the 4070.

Today we ask ourselves, “The RTX 4070 is a very efficient, very powerful GPU, what is the best CPU for the RTX 4070?”

There may be some hardware in this article released before 2023, but we assure you that this hardware is still relevant and an excellent choice to pair with the RTX 4070.

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The best CPU for RTX 4070

Now that we have covered those basic concepts, which CPU would be the most suitable one to match with the RTX 4070? We will arrange them in order of suitability, starting from the most appropriate to the least. It’s worth noting that many of these new CPUs are quite expensive.

It’s important to have a powerful CPU to meet the demands of owning a 4070. This GPU is exceptionally resource-intensive and can devour any workload, regardless of how modern the CPU is.

It’s highly advisable not to skimp on a CPU, as there’s a good chance you’ll encounter a bottleneck, even if you opt for a CPU that’s not the top-of-the-line flagship from the latest generation.

The best AMD CPU for RTX 4070 – Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Best AMD Ryzen CPU for RTX 4070

Ryzen 9 7950X3D

Cores:

16

Thread:

32

Boost speed:

5.7 GHz

Cache:

144 MB

TDP:

120W

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Pros

• 3D V-cache makes for fantastic gaming performance
• Less limited thanks to dual CCD config
• Relatively efficient

Cons

• Expensive
• Locked to auto overclocking, no manual

The AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D has emerged as the reigning champion of CPU gaming at present. Boasting an impressive 16 CPU cores and 32 threads, all clocked at an impressive 5.7GHz, the 7950X3D takes the cake with its considerably larger cache size than any other CPU presently available on the market.

Although the V-cache on this CPU is a remarkable addition, it comes with its own limitations. It is known to be highly sensitive to high voltages and temperatures, requiring a certain degree of restriction to maintain its proper functioning.

Fortunately, the Zen 4 version of the X3D CPUs is a game-changer as it features 3D V-cache built only onto one of the two CCDs. As a result, only half of the CPU is subjected to the limitations imposed by the 3D V-cache, providing greater performance efficiency.

In terms of gaming, the 7950X3D outperforms the competition by up to 40%, which becomes evident when comparing its performance to that of the 5800X3D. Although this top-tier CPU comes with a substantial price tag, the substantial gains in gaming and computing performance justify the investment.

In short, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D reigns supreme as the undisputed best CPU for gaming in 2023, showcasing the latest and greatest advancements in technology.

Best Intel CPU for RTX 4070- Intel Core i9-13900K

Intel Core i9-13900K

Best Intel CPU for the RTX 4070

Intel Core i9-13900K

Cores

24

Threads

32

Base speed

P-cores 3 GHz / E-cores 2.2 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.8 GHz / E-cores 4.3 GHz

Cache

36MB

TDP

125 W / 253 W boost.

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Pros

• Powerful single and multi-core performance
• High boost speeds
• improved L2 cache capacity
• 32 logical processors

Cons

• pricey
• runs VERY hot

The i9-13900K is an incredibly powerful CPU that outperforms the competition, boasting 24 cores and 32 threads that excel in both single and multi-core workloads, positioning the 13900K as the leader in multi-threaded performance after a long time.

With a TDP of 125 W base and 253 W boost, the 13900K significantly increases the TDP compared to the previous generation’s Alder Lake CPUs, but this translates into a massive jump in performance.

The 13th-generation Raptor Lake CPUs deliver up to 15% improved single-core performance and up to 41% improved multi-core performance. The best part is that you don’t need to upgrade your motherboard to access all of this performance, but there are advantages to upgrading.

This time, the L2 CPU cache is doubled, which gives the CPU access to larger, faster storage, enabling it to process instructions quickly without developing a backlog that results in slowdowns. The 13900K is incredibly fast, with a boost core speed of up to 5.8 GHz, the fastest core speed currently available.

However, all of this performance comes at a cost: the 13900K runs very hotly under heavy load. While it’s unlikely that you’ll reach the same usage and stress levels as we did in our testing, we managed to get the 13900K to throttle up to 13% using a 360mm AIO.

Overall, the 13900K is a beast that’s unmatched by any other CPU. With its immense amount of cores and the speeds at which they operate, the 13900K will keep the RTX 4070 continuously fed, making it the ideal partner for the GPU.

Best price to performance Ryzen CPU for 4070 – Ryzen 9 7900X

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X

Best Ryzen CPU for the RTX 4070

AMD Ryzen 9 7900X

Cores

12

Threads

24

Base speed

4.7GHz

Boost speed

5.6GHz

Cache

L3 64MB

Socket

AM5

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Pros

• Incredible performance
• High performance pew Watt
• Interesting IHS
• Cooler than other 7000 series CPUs on average

Cons

• A little pricey
• Hard to keep cool

The Zen 4 architecture includes the 7900X, which AMD has implemented on the new AM5 platform, resulting in a significant performance boost. The AM5 socket supports both DDR5 and PCIe Gen 5, bringing the 7000 series up to speed.

The 8-core, 16-thread Ryzen 7900X is capable of remarkable multi-core and single-core performance, thanks to its substantial 5.6 GHz boost clock speed.

This time, AMD has doubled the cache to 1MB per core from 512KB, which means more efficient instruction buffering and a reduced chance of the CPU getting stuck in a backlog, causing slowdowns.

Unfortunately, the TDP of the 7900X is 170 W at the base core speed and 230 W at the boost speed, which means that the CPU runs much hotter than desired, much like the 13900K.

It appears that CPU cooler technology is struggling to keep up with the amount of power packed into the new generation of CPUs. However, this CPU is a gaming powerhouse and has enough cores and threads to handle multithreaded workloads, such as content creation and streaming, making it an ideal high-end AMD CPU to pair with the RTX 4070.

AMD hoped that this CPU will be enough to compete with the likes of the 13700K, and it definitely is.

Best previous-gen Ryzen CPU for 4070 – Ryzen 7 5800X3D

03

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Wildcard: Ace in the hole

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Cores

8

Threads

16

Max boost speed

4.5GHz

L3 Cache

96MB (64MB 3D V-cache)

TDP

105W

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Pros

• Inexpensive
• Incredible performance
• 3D V-cache

Cons

• No cooler
• No native overclocking support

If you happen to be using a previous-gen AMD CPU, which is a possibility according to research, you might want to look into the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. This CPU is a game-changer in terms of engineering, having already dominated the 12th-generation flagship CPUs in terms of pure gaming performance.

The Ryzen 7 5800X3D, with its eight multi-threaded cores, is a great choice for gamers, and it’s equipped with an unprecedented 96MB of AMD 3D V-cache. This amount of cache is unmatched by any other CPU, even by the current generation’s flagship CPUs.

This CPU’s most distinct feature is its 3D V-Cache, which distinguishes it from every other CPU currently on the market (until the release of Zen 43D). This cache differs from conventional 2D caches in that it’s stacked vertically using innovative 3D printing technology. As a result, more chiplets can be placed within a given area, allowing AMD to achieve a massive 96MB L3 cache with a total access speed of 2TB/s in its 5800X3D CPUs.

The 5800X3D has base core speeds of 3.4GHz and a maximum of 4.5GHz, which are even slower than those of its siblings, the 5800X. The reason for this is due to the instability of the 3D V-cache at higher clock speeds, which also explains why overclocking is disabled by default on this CPU. Despite this limitation, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is an excellent choice for gaming and other intensive tasks.

This would be the perfect last-gen pick for the RTX 4070.

Best previous get Intel CPU for 4070 – Intel Core I9-12900K

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Intel Core i9-12900K

Best Previous gen Intel CPU for RTX 4070

Intel Core i9-12900K

Boost clock speed (single core)

5.3 GHz

Total Cores / Threads

16/24

P-cores

8

E-cores

8

Socket

LGA 1700

Overclockable

Yes

sada

2 /5

asd

3 /5

21

2 /5

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Pros

• Powerful single core performance
• Powerful multi-core performance
• Overclockable

Cons

• Expensive

The i9-12900K is the newest flagship CPU from Intel, replacing the previous generation’s i9-11900K with a new Alder Lake architecture instead of the Rocket Lake architecture of its predecessor. Unlike the previous CPU release, the i9-12900K has been well-received by reviewers.

The i9-12900K has a 125W TDP, higher than the 105W TDP of the AMD 5950X, which means that it can run hot on the CPU die, although not as hot as the i9-13900K. The i9-12900K is only compatible with the LGA1700 socket, which requires a complete motherboard upgrade from LGA 1200. However, the good news is that this CPU will work with both 600 and 700 series Intel motherboards.

The i9-12900K boasts a core count of 16 and 24 threads, making it a great all-around CPU for both gaming and multitasking. With the new Alder Lake architecture, Intel has focused on architectural improvements that improve almost every aspect of the CPU.

With these improvements, Intel has reclaimed the top spot for gaming performance. Furthermore, in workstation and multitasking scenarios, the i9-12900K is almost on par with the AMD 5900X in multi-core performance. Combine this with the better single-core performance and Intel’s impressive overclocking potential, and you have a powerful CPU that pairs well with the RTX 4070.C

The best up-to-date budget CPU for the RTX 4070 – Core i5-13600K

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Core i5-13600K

Middle-ground Intel CPU

Intel Core i5-13600K

Cores

14

Threads

20

Base speed

P-cores 3.5 GHz / E-cores 2.6 GHz

Boost speed

P-cores 5.1 GHz / E-cores 3.9 GHz

Cache

20MB

TDP

125 W / 181 W boost.

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Pros

• High core count for an entry level CPU
• High base and boost speeds
• Efficient
• backwards compatible with 12th gen motherboards

Cons

• Runs very warm

The Intel i5-13600K is an exceptionally efficient CPU, owing to its 14-core, 20-thread design and clock speed of over 5GHz. It operates at significantly lower temperatures than its larger sibling, the 13900K, which speaks volumes about Intel’s prowess at both the high and low ends of the market.

The 13900K is impressively cost-effective, positioned between the 7600X and the 7700X from team red. Yet, it outperforms the former and comes close to matching the latter, demonstrating Intel’s formidable position in the market.

The 13600K is an ideal choice for the average gamer who desires a CPU upgrade without breaking the bank. It boasts 20 threads that are perfect for multi-core-based workloads, achieving a balance that is uncommon in other CPUs that tend to prioritize either single-core or multi-core performance. The 13600K is a true jack-of-all-trades.

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RTX 4070 specifications

Let’s analyze why exactly the RTX 4070 is regarded as a powerful GPU.

The very basic specifications of the RTX 4070, as reported by VideoCardz, are as follows:

Why have we chosen these CPUs to pair with the RTX 4070?

When looking for a CPU to pair with your RTX 4070, several factors come into play. While we can’t cover all of them in detail, we’ll discuss the essential ones that matter the most.

Core and Thread Count

One of the most crucial factors that determine a CPU’s power is its core and thread count. In general, a CPU with more cores and threads will be better at multitasking and handling multiple tasks simultaneously. This setup is ideal for content creators and streamers. However, if you’re only a gamer, you might want to focus more on our next factor: core speed.

Core Speed

Core speed is the measurement of how fast a CPU core can complete an instruction cycle. This cycle involves three main actions: fetch, decode, and execute. The faster a CPU can complete these actions, the faster it can process information. Clock speed is measured in GHz, which indicates the number of billions of cycles per second. Therefore, a CPU with a clock speed of 5 GHz has a processing power of 5,000,000,000 cycles per second. CPUs with higher clock speeds and more cache capacity are ideal for gaming scenarios. For instance, the new X3D CPU from AMD offers massive cache capacity, compensating for the slight hit to core speed.

Cache

A CPU cache is a small amount of memory on the processor chip that stores frequently accessed data for faster access. It is important for gaming performance because modern games require a lot of data to be processed by the CPU in real-time. The CPU cache acts as a buffer between the CPU and the main system memory, allowing the CPU to access frequently used data more quickly, which can significantly reduce the amount of time spent waiting for data to be retrieved from the slower main memory.

More, faster cache reduces slowdowns, and stutters, and increases the overall performance of the CPU in all scenarios, but it mainly benefits gaming workloads.

Conclusion

Choosing the best CPU for RTX 4070 requires considering various factors. While core and thread count are crucial for multitasking, core speed is more important for gaming scenarios. With the information discussed here, you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs.

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CPU bottleneck: RTX 4070

You certainly don’t want to be bottlenecking your RTX 4070 graphics card in any way. When a component in a system doesn’t perform to the level of the other components, it results in a bottleneck, which in turn slows everything down.

When it comes to a CPU bottleneck, this means that the processor is not powerful enough to keep up with the GPU, causing it to be restricted by the amount of data it can process. It’s like wearing a plastic bag over your head while running a marathon – you won’t perform as well as you would without it, right?

So, what would a 4070 CPU bottleneck look like? It would look like an Intel CPU under the Core i5-12600K or an AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. We strongly suggest going for CPUs above that limit. While there may not be many options available right now, choosing anything below those specified CPUs would just result in wasted money and bottlenecked performance.

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Can A CPU affect the performance of the RTX 4070?

Yes, the CPU can indeed affect the performance of the RTX 4070. The CPU and GPU work together in a computer system, and their performance can be interdependent in certain tasks and applications.

The CPU handles tasks related to general computing and system operations, while the GPU specializes in graphics rendering and processing. In some scenarios, the CPU may become a bottleneck if it cannot keep up with the demands of the GPU.

For example, in gaming, the CPU is responsible for handling game physics, artificial intelligence, and other calculations that go beyond graphics rendering. If the CPU is not powerful enough or lacks sufficient cores/threads, it may struggle to keep up with the GPU’s processing requirements, leading to a CPU bottleneck. This can result in reduced GPU performance, as the GPU may have to wait for the CPU to complete its tasks before it can process and render graphics.

Additionally, certain applications, such as video editing or 3D rendering software, rely on both the CPU and GPU for optimal performance. These tasks often require intensive processing from both components. If the CPU is not capable of efficiently feeding data to the GPU or if the CPU’s performance is limited, it can impact the overall performance of the GPU.

In summary, while the GPU is primarily responsible for graphics processing, the performance of the CPU can influence the GPU’s performance in certain situations. A balanced system with a powerful CPU and GPU combination is essential to achieve optimal performance in a wide range of tasks and applications.

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Best CPU For RTX 4070: FAQs

Here we have some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the RTX 4070.

What is the best CPU for the RTX 4070?

We think that the best value and bang-for-the-buck CPU for the RTX 4070, is the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. It’s the best Zen 4 CPU around, perfect for the almost best 40 series card around.

Should I upgrade my CPU for the RTX 4070?

We wouldn’t recommend trying to run with an RTX 4070 with any CPU below the i5-12600K or the Ryzen 5 5600X. If you have a CPU lower than that, then you should consider upgrading. Upgrading your motherboard may also help you out.

Is the RTX 4070 good?

Yes, the RTX 4070 is a very good GPU if you’re on a budget. The card will offer high FPS gameplay even at 1440p for very little money.

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Final word

In conclusion, choosing the right CPU to pair with your RTX 4070 is crucial for getting the most out of your gaming and productivity experience. While there are many factors to consider when selecting the best CPU, including core and thread count, core speed, cache, and compatibility, the CPUs that we have recommended in this article provide excellent performance and reliability.

By selecting a CPU from Intel or AMD that meets the recommended specifications, you can ensure that your system runs smoothly and efficiently, without any bottlenecking issues that could impact your overall gaming or productivity experience. So, do your research, consider your needs, and choose the CPU that will take your RTX 4070 to the next level!