Ended up buying a new, shiny Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU for your desktop? And now looking to couple it with a good CPU? Well, choosing a CPU based on the GPU’s hardware can be a tricky task. But don’t you dare to take tension. I am here to serve you and do all the research work. And after doing so for the best RTX 3080 CPU, here are some of the CPUs that you should consider buying to get the most out of the RTX 3080. You might also be interested in the best RTX 3070 laptops.
I have listed CPUs from both Intel and AMD as many PC enthusiasts are loyal to just one company. All the CPU s are tried and tested, and after having cross-checked by the professionals, I have filtered the best of the best RTX 3080 CPUs, ranging from different requirements and different budgets.
Recommended: Best CPU for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
What does Nvidia RTX 3080 offer?
The Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU comes packed with 10GB of GDDR6X graphics memory and offers 8,704 shaders. It has been built over Samsung’s 8nm fabrication and is rated to 320Watt of power.
It uses the GA102 GPU chip and packs a total of 28.3 billion transistors. The GPU works at a base clock speed of 1.45GHz and can be boosted up to 1.71GHz. The transfer speeds of the GPU are pretty impressive as it can achieve up to 19GHz of the transfer rate.
Best CPU for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 in 2025
Here is the list of best CPUs for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 to buy in 2025:
1AMD Ryzen 9 5900X – Overall Best CPU for RTX 3080
Starting our list with the CPUs that are the best fit for your RTX 3080, AMD has the Ryzen 9 5900X. This is the best one, the team red, in my opinion, that can clearly meet the performance expectations required to accompany the beast RTX 3080 graphics card.
- TDP: 105W
- Cores/Threads: 12 cores, 24 threads
- Cache: 70MB
- Base Frequency: 3.7GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency: 4.8GHz
- Graphics: No
The Ryzen 9 5900X comprises 12 cores and 24 threads for processing at a really high level. The CPU runs at a base frequency of 3.7GHz and can deliver up to 4.8GHz in the Max boosted state. There is 6MB of L2 and 64MB of L3 cache, and it comes in a fully unclocked state of the hardware.
It’s a pretty power-efficient processor as it has been made over the excellent 7nm FinFET fabrication from TSMC and has a TDP of just 105W.
2Intel Core i9-10900K – Most Powerful Intel Chip
When there is team Red, there is always the team Blue. Yes, talking about the best processor from Intel for your RTX 3080, you can consider the company’s 10th gen Intel Core i9-10900K. In comparison to the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X, this CPU comes with a slightly higher TDP and has been made over a slightly broader fabrication.
- TDP: 125W
- Cores/Threads: 10 cores, 20 threads
- Cache: 20MB
- Base Frequency: 3.7GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency: 5.3GHz
- Graphics: Intel UHD 630 Graphics
Talking in detail, the Intel Core i9-10900K is a processor with 10 cores and 20 processing threads which are more than enough for any graphical task or gaming with the RTX 3080. The base clock speed of the CPU is 3.7GHz, and the user can bring this clock frequency up to 5.3GGHz, which is actually a very high clock speed.
The i9-10900K comes with 20MB of Intel Smart Cache. It has been built over 14nm fabrication and demands comparatively more power, bringing its TDP value to 125W.
3Intel Core i7-10700K – Best Value for Balanced Performance
Intel’s other CPU that offers a really great value and an overall performing package is the Intel Core i7-10700K. At a price of around $320, the CPU has some nice specs that can clearly serve best in all kinds of tasks like gaming, video editing, 3D modeling, etc.
- TDP: 95W
- Cores/Threads: 8 Cores, 16 Threads
- Cache: 16MB
- Base Frequency: 3.8GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency: 5.1GHz
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630
The Core i7-10700K CPU has 8 cores and 16 threads to handle almost all the CPU-intensive tasks, along with good gaming performance. The CPU runs over 3.8GHz of base clock speed and can reach up to 5.1GHz in Max Turbo frequency. There is 16MB of Intel Smart Cache present on the CPU as well. The CPU has a TDP value of 95W as per what Intel’s official website says and has been fabricated over 14nm of fabrication.
4Intel Core i5-10600K – Cheaper Option
If you’re looking for an RTX 3080 compatible CPU that offers the best-to-money ratio in intel’s warehouse, I recommend you bring your attention to the Intel Core i5-10600K. This CPU has some of the best and well-packed hardware that matches the requirements of RTX 3080 without bottlenecking the system and still staying within the budget. Its cache memory is slightly less, i.e., 12MB of Intel Smart Cache.
- TDP: 125W
- Cores/Threads: 6 Cores, 12 Threads
- Cache: 12MB
- Base Frequency: 4.1GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency: 4.8GHz
- Graphics: Intel UHD 630 Graphics
The Intel Core i5-10600K comes packed with 6 processing hardware cores and 12 threads, making it a perfect fit for gaming because gaming does not ask for many cores or threads on a CPU. It runs over Intel’s claim of 4.1GHz of clock speed and has been mentioned to have up to 4.8GHz of processing speed in Max Turbo mode. This processor is also made over the same 14nm fabrications and has a TDP value of 125W.
5AMD Ryzen 7 5800X – Mid-ranger from AMD
Talking about our value for money recommendation from AMD’s house, you should look at the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X. The CPU has slightly better hardware to offer as compared to the previous Intel Core i5-10600K at a slightly lower price. Hence, it’s just a no-brainer listing to look at.
- TDP: 105W
- Cores/Threads: 8 Cores, 16 Threads
- Cache: 12MB
- Base Frequency: 3.8GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency: 4.7GHz
- Graphics: No
The processor comes loaded with 8 processing cores and offers 16 processing threads which are not just good for gaming but will also help you in productivity work like video editing and After Effects.
There is a base clock speed of 3.8GHz and can pump itself up to a maximum of 4.7GHz. Talking about the cache memory, 4MB of L2 cache and 32MB of L3 cache are embedded into the hardware. The processor is built on the 7nm TSMC fabrication and asks for a TDP input of 105W.
6AMD Ryzen 9 3900X – Best Budget Gaming CPU from AMD
To get the best possible gaming performance on a reasonable budget, you should consider the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X. It might seem to be a CPU from the older generation, but don’t get misguided by this thing. Ryzen 9 3900X was used to be one of the top-end variants of its lineup and is still powerful enough to be used with GPUs like the RTX 3080. To count a few of the processor’s specs, the CPU has 12 cores and 24 threads, just like the Ryzen 9 5900X.
- TDP: 105W
- Cores/Threads: 12 Cores, 24 threads
- Cache: 70MB
- Base Frequency: 3.8GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency: 4.6GHz
- Graphics: No
Its clock speed is also impressive. It holds a tag of operating at 3.8GHz with a Max boosted clock speed of 4.6GHz. It has three levels of cache, i.e., L1, L2, and L3 cache, at 768KB, 6MB, and 64MB, respectively. The TDP of the processor is also no different and runs at 105W of supply. The processor has been built on the 7mn FinFET process from TSMC and offers class-leading efficiency.
7Intel Core i9-9900K – Best Budget Gaming CPU from Intel
Like we applied the strategy of looking at the old but top-end CPU, the same can be applied when choosing a Budget CPU for the best gaming performance in Intel. To be specific, the Intel Core i9-9900K comes out to be a pretty good option. The CPU belongs to the Intel 9th gen Coffee lake lineup and offers a good set of hardware.
- TDP: 95W
- Cores/Threads: 8 Cores, 16 Threads
- Cache: 16MB
- Base Frequency: 3.6GHz
- Max Turbo Frequency: 5.0GHz
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630
It is an 8 core CPU that offers 16 processing threads which are pretty much sufficient for high-level gaming. There is a good amount of clock frequency packed in the CPU. It can have a base clock speed of 3.6GHz, which can be Turbo Boosted up to 5.0GHz, just eyewatering. The CPU comes with 16MB of Intel Smart Cache as well. The CPU has a 14nm fabrication build and has been labeled to have 95W of TDP.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What CPU should I get for RTX 3080?
The RTX 3080 is one of the flagship GPU from Nvidia, capable of doing 4K gaming. Hence a low performance will never serve as a bottleneck-free performance. I would recommend you have at least Ryzen 7 5800X or an Intel Core i5-10600K.
What do I need to run RTX 3080 GPU?
The RTX 3080 is a heavy graphics card that has a TDP rating of 320W. Hence the use of a PSU with at least 650W of output is necessary. Its hardware is capable of gaming at 3840×2160, which clearly indicates its pairing with a high-end CPU like the Intel Core i7 or Ryzen 7 of the latest generations, plus at least 16GB of RAM are some of the key requirements to make the most out of your Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU.
Is 650W or 750W PSU enough for RTX 3080?
Yes, a 650W of PSU will work just fine for the flawless working of the GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. The RTX 3080 has a TDP of 320W, and hence your PC build will need to have at least a 650W of PSU. However, going with a 750W PSU will also be good.
Bottom Line
So these were my recommendations for the best CPUs that you can use with your Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 GPU. The RTX 3080 GPU is one of the flagship GPUs of the Nvidia 3000 lineup and is also perfect for 4k gaming. Hence one should wisely choose the CPU as per the requirements.
The word “Best” is a pretty subjective one, and different users are gonna have different definitions for that. I have listed a couple of CPUs for RTX 3080, each having its uniqueness and fits perfectly for a given requirement and use case. The one that suits your needs and budget will be the best for you.
