NVIDIA's RTX 4060 is one of the most popular GPUs for gamers worldwide, coming in at the top of Steam's hardware survey with a 4.85% user share.
Why is it so popular? It delivers a premium 1080p experience that can also handle 1440p, adding DLSS and ray tracing support without breaking the bank.
If you've chosen the RTX 4060 (or the 4060 Ti) as the centerpiece for your gaming rig, you want to be sure you have the perfect CPU that won't cause bottlenecks.
While my top pick is the mighty Ryzen 7 9800X3D, it's probably overkill for most people. That's why I've added five other top processor options to consider — including high-end, mid-range, and budget chips — for your RTX 4060 build.
September 10, 2025: I've completely reworked this list now that AMD's Zen 5 chips have entered the market. — Cale Hunt
Best overall
This CPU might be overkill for the RTX 4060, but it's the best gaming chip you can buy today. It arrives with AMD's unique 3D V-Cache that specifically boosts gaming performance, it has all of the latest Zen 5 architecture improvements, and it works in the same AM5 socket that AMD has used for several generations. Find it for about $475 at Amazon.
Also great
AMD's Zen 4 Ryzen 7 7800X3D is the predecessor to the 9800X3D, offering the same 3D V-Cache improvements for gaming. Best part? It delivers similar performance to its successor while coming in at a much more modest price. I found it for about $359 at Walmart, which is a great deal on a great chip.
Cheaper Zen 5
The Ryzen 5 9600X is an excellent performance pairing with an RTX 4060, and it arrives with all of the Zen 5 improvements. It's a six-core chip that's unlocked for overclocking, it uses the AM5 socket, and it supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 with the right motherboard. You can usually find it for about $197.
Budget pick
AMD's Ryzen 5 7600X is an awesome pairing for the RTX 4060, especially if you only want to spend around $177. It'll keep up even with 1440p gaming, though you will have to be sure that your system's motherboard uses AMD's AM5 socket for proper compatibility. The CPU has 6 cores, 12 threads, boost frequency up to 5.3GHz, and support for DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0.
Best AM4 AMD
There are still plenty of PCs using a motherboard with AMD's older AM4 socket, and not everyone wants to spend on an upgrade. In that case, AMD's Ryzen 5 5600X remains a top AM4 option to pair with the RTX 4060 even if you want to try out 1440p gaming. DDR4 RAM and PCIe 4.0 support are included, and it boasts 6 cores, 12 threads, a 4.6Hz boost clock, and a 65W TDP. It's also the cheapest option in this collection at about $159, perfect for budget builds.
Best Intel
If you'd like to go with Intel's desktop chips, the Core i5-14600K should be the best choice for the RTX 4060. It's available for around $200, and it will easily keep up with 1080p and 1440p duties. It runs on the LGA 1700 socket for easier compatibility with older Intel systems, boasting 14 cores, 20 threads, and a 5.3GHz Turbo clock. DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 support are included.
I love building gaming PCs, and writing for Windows Central gives me access to lots of the latest hardware. With in-house reviews and my decades of experience in tow, I can confidently recommend these CPUs to pair with your RTX 3060.
Getting the best CPU for NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4060 GPU
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Those building a new PC have some tough choices to make, especially when it comes to pairing hardware.
If you've already settled on an NVIDIA RTX 4060 to handle the graphics workload, you're no doubt also looking for a processor (CPU) that can keep up with the GPU to prevent bottlenecks. You also don't want to overspend on a CPU unnecessarily.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 was released in 2023 as a successor to the RTX 3060. It remains a popular option for PC gamers who use a 1080p resolution with high framerates, but it's also capable of quality 1440p as long as you don't mind tweaking some in-game settings here and there to land a smoother experience.
I'm recommending the Ryzen 7 9800X3D as the ultimate choice for your RTX 4060 and any GPU that comes after. It's an exceptional chip that particularly shines while gaming, thanks to the inclusion of AMD's unique 3D V-Cache technology.
👉 Related: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D vs. 7800X3D
Windows Central Senior Editor Ben Wilson reviewed the 9800X3D, remarking:
"AMD continues the theme with its second generation of 3D V-Cache to deliver unparalleled gaming performance and middling productivity. Thankfully, most gamers do not care about the benchmark-breaking number crunching as long as they get their framerate boosts, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D delivers that sweet extra FPS."
The Ryzen 7 9800X3D can usually be found for about $475. If you'd like to spend less and retain 3D V-Cache, I highly recommend the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. It's not quite as powerful as the newer chip, but at about $359, it'll make a massive difference for less.
And if you'd like to spend less than $200 on one of AMD's latest Zen 5 CPUs, the Ryzen 5 9600X should be seriously considered. It lacks 3D V-Cache, but it nevertheless has more than enough power to keep up with the RTX 4060.
My colleague Ben Wilson also reviewed the 9600X, stating:
"In a masterclass of performance-per-watt efficiency, AMD offers incredible single-core performance scores that beat its intended 14600K rival and even challenge the 14700K."
I'd also like to call out the Ryzen 5 7600X. It's a Zen 4 CPU, but it's still a perfect pairing for your RTX 4060. In our Ryzen 5 7600X review, former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds said:
"If you're looking to build a new gaming PC or a machine for doing some work and browsing websites, the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X offers more than enough performance headroom. Even more demanding PC games and software will be able to take advantage of the higher clock speeds, so long as you have adequate cooling."
You can usually find the Ryzen 5 7600X for about $177, making it one of the more affordable options in this list.
Is NVIDIA's RTX 4060 good for 1440p gaming?
NVIDIA launched its RTX 4060 as a GPU focused on 1080p gaming, and that's where it excels. However, that doesn't mean you can't use it with a 1440p display.
My previous build had an RTX 3060 that I used nearly every day for 1440p gaming, and I really had no complaints aside from not being able to max out in-game settings in all titles.
The RTX 4060 has improved on the RTX 3060, and DLSS 4 does a lot of heavy lifting to make up for the card's shortcomings in terms of raw performance at 1440p.
