NVIDIA's GeForce RTX 4080 is a huge improvement compared to the last-gen RTX 3080 all thanks to a more energy-efficient node and and some key architectural changes. It's more affordable than the RTX 3090 Ti, yet it delivers better performance. The RTX 4080's "Super" variant is our favorite graphics card in 2024.
PC gamers who want a stellar 4K experience — with the potential to slay 1440p (QHD) as well — can find what they need with the RTX 4080, especially thanks to extras like DLSS 3 and strong ray tracing support. Finding the perfect processor (CPU) to pair with your RTX 4080 ultimately comes down to your preference for Intel or AMD, as well as how much you want to spend.
I've collected six top CPUs for the RTX 4080 right here to get you started, all of which we've reviewed at Windows Central or have ample experience with to make a proper recommendation.
Recent updates
November 14, 2024: I've updated my top picks with some new hardware, including the Ryzen 9 9950X for enthusiasts. Prices and retailers show the best prices and availability, and I've added some buying advice below my top pick for those looking to save money during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. — Cale Hunt
Best CPUs for your NVIDIA RTX 4080
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Best overall
We reviewed AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D favorably, noting its "incredible gaming performance" and solid power management. Fans of AMD should find great success when paired with the RTX 4080, whether you're looking at 1440p or 4K gaming. It uses the AM5 socket that AMD will support for years, and you can usually find it for somewhere around $459.
Best Intel
In our Core i7-13700K review, we called it the "best CPU for gaming." And considering the newer Core i7-14700K really doesn't represent much of an upgrade, you can save some money on the 13th Gen chip and still get an outstanding PC gaming experience combined with the RTX 4080. It uses the LGA 1700 socket and can often be found for less than $400.
Intel power
The Core i9-13900K we reviewed is no longer the newest high-performance Intel chip, but the 14th Gen hardware is more expensive without offering much more power. If you want to go all-out with an Intel system for 4K gaming, this LGA 1700 chip is more than up to the task. Frequent discounts often have it down to around $400.
AMD power
On the flip side of high-performance chips is AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X3D with 16 cores and 32 threads. It uses the AM5 socket that AMD plans to support for years to come, it supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0, and it will absolutely demolish 4K gaming with an RTX 4080. It's usually available for about $650, so you might want to consider whether it's overkill for your needs.
Upgrade AMD
AMD's Ryzen 9 9950X is a productivity monster, but it'll also do a great job of gaming. It's a Zen 5 chip with 16 cores and 32 threads, as well as DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support, all running at a 170W TDP. You can usually find it for about $700, so it's definitely priced for the enthusiast market.
Budget pick
Called a "6-core beast" in our Ryzen 5 7600X review, the value-friendly CPU is a great pick to pair even with the high-end RTX 4080. It runs on the AM5 socket, it supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0, and it can be overclocked if you need a bit more power. You can usually find it for right around $200, perfect if you spent too much on a new GPU.
I've been building custom PCs for more than two decades, and with more than 8 years of reviews and testing for Windows Central, I can confidently recommend these CPUs to pair with your RTX 4080. A range of chips should help everyone find what they need.
Finding the best CPU for your NVIDIA RTX 4080
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is my top pick to pair with the RTX 3080, at least until the newer Ryzen 7 9800X3D we reviewed is back in stock. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D brings specific 3D V-Cache advancements to boost performance in games, though its productivity performance falls behind Intel. It's priced at about $459 without a discount.
If you'd rather go with Intel, I suggest checking out the Core i7-13700K. Intel's 14th Gen hardware isn't a huge upgrade for the asking price. Former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds reviewed the Core i7-13700K, calling it "all you need for a powerful PC." It uses the LGA 1700 socket, it supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0, and you can usually find it for less than $400.
Any of the other CPUs in this collection can pair well with your RTX 4080, and the range of prices should accommodate most users. Enthusiasts and power users will likely be OK with spending more on something like the Intel Core i9-13900K or AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D, while budget shoppers who spent it all on the RTX 4080 might want to check out the Ryzen 5 7600X.
If you want a Zen 5 chip from AMD, I recommend waiting until the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is back in stock. Alternatively, enthusiasts with more than just gaming in mind should look at the Ryzen 9 9950X which is usually priced around $700.
Should I wait for Black Friday or Cyber Monday?
In my 8+ years of covering Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, I've almost always seen the lowest prices on CPUs and GPUs hit at the end of November. Black Friday falls on November 29 and Cyber Monday follows up on December 2, 2024, but the entire month of November seems to be earmarked by major retailers. Some even have price protection in place should you want to start shopping now.
My top CPU to pair with the RTX 4080, at least until the Ryzen 7 9800X3D returns without scalpers, is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Prices have been all over the place this year with the launch of Ryzen 9000 chips, but at the time of writing it's leveled out at about $459. That's slightly more than MSRP, and pricing history shows the CPU has hit as low as $320.38 in 2024. The CPU's popularity and seemingly limited stock means it might not be discounted on Black Friday and Cyber Monday proper, but it's worth waiting to see if you can save some money.
Intel's Core i7-13700K and Core i9-13900K are both already discounted at the time of writing this update. Amazon is the best place to shop with the Core i7-13700K hitting about $284 and the Core i9-13900K hitting about $401. That's the lowest price I've ever seen for the latter chip, though the former has dropped to $250 in 2024. I'd be tempted to grab the Core i9 at the $401 price, but I'd wait longer to see if the Core i7 drops further.
If you want one of the latest Zen 5 chips from AMD, the Ryzen 9 9950X is a supreme choice for enthusiasts who focus on more than just gaming. You can save $90 on the chip at Newegg, but it's still about $100 more than the $598.87 price I spotted briefly earlier this year.
The bottom line here is that you should be able to find the best prices as we get closer to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. That's how it's been in previous years, and I don't expect anything different this year.
