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.
Best Intel
In our Core i7-13700K review from 2022, 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 far less than $400.
Best AMD
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 $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 $450.
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.
Latest Intel
Intel's 14th Gen desktop chips are available, though as mentioned they're more expensive without offering much of an improvement over 13th Gen hardware. Nevertheless, the Core i7-14700K we reviewed delivers 20 cores, 28 threads, and LGA 1700 socket compatibility. You can usually find it for about $400, making the Core i7-13700K a better value.
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.
Finding the best CPU for your NVIDIA RTX 4080
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The Intel Core i7-13700K and the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D are the top two choices for the RTX 4080 based on price and performance.
On Intel's side you're looking at the last-gen model, but 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 much less than $400.
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a strong AMD alternative to the Core i7-13700K. It won't match the raw performance of Intel's chip, but you might be able to find it for less money if Intel's chip isn't on sale. It's priced at about $399 even without a discount, but you might be able to find it for less with Prime Day savings on PC upgrade parts.
Any of the other GPUs 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.
What about AMD Ryzen 9000 'Zen 5' chips?
We're still waiting for concrete details surrounding Intel's 15th Gen 'Arrow Lake' CPUs, which are now expected to launch late 2024 after a serious delay.
AMD, however, has officially revealed its next-gen 'Zen 5' chips. The new Ryzen 9000 hardware uses the AM5 socket (just like the previous generation), it supports DDR5 RAM, and it supports PCIe 5.0. There are so far four Ryzen 9000 chips announced for desktop PCs.
| Ryzen 9 9950X | 16 cores / 32 threads | 5.7 GHz boost | 170W TDP |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | 12 cores / 24 threads | 5.6 GHz boost | 120W TDP |
| Ryzen 7 9700X | 8 cores / 16 threads | 5.5 GHz boost | 65W TDP |
| Ryzen 5 9600X | 6 cores / 12 threads | 5.4 GHz boost | 65W TDP |
AMD's Ryzen 9000 chips are expected to launch at the end of July, though prices are not yet confirmed. If you can wait to upgrade your PC, you might want to hold out to see how good the new AMD chips are compared to the previous generation.
