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.
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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.
