Best CPU for NVIDIA RTX 4080 in 2024

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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Cale Hunt, Windows Central
Cale Hunt

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

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Intel's Core i7-13700K is a great companion for the RTX 4080. (Image credit: Future)

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.

Cale Hunt
Contributor

Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.