Introduction
The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is a pretty good graphics cars that provides RTX 4070-esk performance, for around $150 less at MSRP price points. The little brother to the arguably more impressive RX 7800 XT, this card brings a good level of performance at 1440p, while providing more than enough legroom for 1080p gaming.
However, one of the big questions that we often get asked, is which are the best CPUs to buy for the RX 7700 XT, or any GPU in fact. That’s why we’ve compiled a series of tests to establish which processors are best with which graphics cards, and will be focusing on the RX 7700 XT card in this article.
Our team of PC hardware pros conduct detailed CPU testing for every new chip released by AMD and Intel, which is why you can trust our product recommendations, every time.
Suggested Article: Best AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT Graphics Cards to Buy in 2023
Our Recommendation: Intel Core i5-13600K
📸 View the Intel Core i5-13600K gallery.
Our choice of CPU for the AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is the Intel Core i5-13600K. This Intel chip is capable of some serious power, whether that be for gaming or using it as a workstation, the 13600K can do it all with ease.
It is comfortably our favorite pick for the mid-range systems for the more budget conscious consumer coming in at around $270.
Thermals: 4.2/5
Performance: 4.6/5
Value for Money: 4.6/5
Our Verdict: 4.4/5
Skip to the full testing, gallery and where to buy the Intel Core i5-13600K. ⬇️
The CPUs in Our RX 7700 XT Testing Roundup
Our Recommendations
1. Intel Core i5-13400F
Intel 13th
CPU Generation
4.6GHz
Boost Clock
10
Core Count
16
Thread Count
The Intel Core i5-13400F is a CPU we’ve taken a look at before in a full review, and overall we were pretty happy with the price to performance metrics. The 13400F offers a solid set of cores, allowing you to engage in some productivity applications. It is worth keeping in mind that there will be better options for complex multi-core workloads. On the gaming front, the 13400F is an awesome mid-range CPU, capable of handling 1440p without any problems. It does get beat out by other CPUs with stronger clock speeds, but for the most part, it holds itself up pretty well versus the alternatives.
The 13400F is very well priced as consumers can pick this up for $200 or less, which is pretty solid for a mid-range CPU. Additionally, while the 13400F isn’t the most capable CPU, if you’re looking to play games at 1080p and 1440p, you won’t have any issues when paired with the 7700XT.
The 13400F is pretty capable, but we found that it lacks the capability to handle 4K gaming. The 7700 XT has some pretty decent legs at 4K, so we’d recommend looking at alternative CPUs if you plan on pushing your system with 4K. Intel upgraded all of their 13th-Gen range with more cores, equipped to handle multi-core workloads. Consumers that plan on utilising productivity applications during the day will want to take a look at other CPUs with higher core and thread counts.
Pros
- Ideal for 1440p and 1080p gaming.
- Competitive price point.
- Can handle light productivity applications.
Cons
- Not ideal as a workstation CPU.
- Can't handle 4K as well as other options.
Our Ratings:
Thermals: 4.3/5
Performance: 4.1/5
Value for Money: 4.4/5
Our Verdict: 4.2/5
Where to Buy
Buy the Intel Core i5-13400F on:
2. AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Ryzen 7000
CPU Generation
5.3GHz
Boost Clock
6
Core Count
12
Thread Count
Next up is the Ryzen 5 7600X, AMD’s budget overclockable Ryzen 7000 option. During the initial launch of the AM5 platform, AMD’s CPUs weren’t received incredibly well. But with some maturity and lower prices, they’re actually worth taking a look at versus a number of other market alternatives. The 7600X in particular is one of the strongest options, offering excellent single core metrics. Multi-core workloads do become a problem for this chip based on its measly six cores, but if you’re just planning on gaming, this shouldn’t be much of a problem.
The enhanced clock speeds of the Ryzen 7000 range makes them all perfect for gaming. The 7600X is more than capable of 1440p gaming, and when paired up with the right graphics card, can easily handle 4K too. The Ryzen 5 7600X comes in around the $200 mark, not too dissimilar from the 13400F. This CPU is definitely worth considering if you’re being price conscious.
Due to the boosting behaviour of the new Ryzen 7000 CPUs, thermals will reach their peak before the boost clock goes up, which means you’ll want to pick up a solid cooler. Additionally, the new Ryzen 7000 motherboards and DDR5 RAM have dropped in price since their initial release, but not enough for them to be considered cheap. If you are on a budget, your options may be limited.
Pros
- Can handle 1440p and 4K gaming with ease.
- Competitively priced.
- Can be overclocked.
Cons
- Ridiculous thermals.
- Motherboards and RAM are quite expensive.
Our Ratings:
Thermals: 3.6/5
Performance: 4.4/5
Value for Money: 4.3/5
Our Verdict: 4.1/5
Where to Buy
Buy the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X on:
3. Intel Core i5-13600K
Intel 13th
CPU Generation
5.3GHz
Boost Clock
14
Core Count
20
Thread Count
For our third recommendation, we’ve picked out the Core i5-13600K, a firm favourite in the GeekaWhat office. The 13600K was somewhat of an underdog during the initial 13th-Gen launch, cementing itself as the best value option within the entire range. This CPU offers both strong single and multi-core metrics, making it ideal for gaming or workstation usage. It also comes in at a pretty competitive price point too, which is why it brings such great value to the market. This CPU is a massive winner for those looking to build a mid-range system, but are being a bit tighter with their budget.
This CPU comes in around the $270 which I’d say is fairly reasonable considering the performance metrics.
Although we love the 13600K, it just isn’t necessary for most consumers. Those looking to play games at 4K, can pick out a cheaper or older CPU option to ensure games run smoothly.
Pros
- More than capable at 4K games and multi-core workloads.
- Very competitive price point.
- Perfect for gaming.
Cons
- Runs hotter than 12th-Gen options.
- Requires more power than most CPUs.
- Higher price point than 12th-Gen equivalent.
Our Ratings:
Thermals: 4.2/5
Performance: 4.6/5
Value for Money: 4.6/5
Our Verdict: 4.4/5
Where to Buy
Buy the Intel Core i5-13600K on:
4. AMD Radeon Ryzen 7 7700X
Ryzen 7000
CPU Generation
5.4GHz
Boost Clock
8
Core Count
16
Thread Count
The last CPU in our roundup is the Ryzen 7 7700X, an very solid mid-range CPU that provides a slight upgrade versus its Ryzen 5 sibling when pairing with the 7700 XT. We’ve recommended this CPU a number of times in different buyers guides, and it is a worthwhile option for those building a mid-range system. Consumers are able to leverage the strong set of cores and threads, providing solid multifaceted performance. The 7700X also has decent clock speeds, sitting at 5.4GHz, which means the 7700X has pretty strong single core performance too, making it perfect for gaming. Single core performance is arguably the most important metric for high framerates, so the 7700X definitely has you covered.
If you’re looking to gain a little bit more performance from your system, overclocking is a great way to do this. The 7700X can easily be overclocked to provide you with some more frames if your favourite games.
The 7700X has a decent core count, and should be able to handle itself when it comes to productivity applications, but there are better CPUs, like the 13600K that can handle this better. Additionally, the Ryzen 7 7700X comes in above the $300 mark, which is quite expensive for a CPU of this stature. I’d say the majority of consumers will want to wait for this processor drop in price during a sale before it becomes worth picking up.
Pros
- Solid gaming performance at 1440p and 4K.
- Can cope with some multi-core workstation applications.
- Plenty of upgrade paths.
Cons
- Requires a good CPU cooler.
- Build cost on average is generally higher.
- Slightly weaker than the 13600K in multi-core workloads.
Our Ratings:
Thermals: 4.1/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4.6/5
Our Verdict: 4.4/5
Where to Buy
Buy the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X on:
How Does the 7700 XT Perform?
In this section, we’ll briefly be delving into the performance of the 7700 XT. We’ll be taking a look at some gaming benchmarks at all of the three main resolutions, to see how this new GPU performs versus the market alternatives.
Starfield @ 1440p
For our first benchmark, we fired up Starfield, Bethesda’s brand new space RPG title. In this game, performance is definitely suppressed, resulting in weaker framerates from the entire suite of cards that we’ve tested. However, while performance could’ve been better the average output of the 7700 XT (which was 74FPS), was pretty decent overall. Consumers can expect pretty big disparities in framerates in this game, so we were just happy to consistently sit above 60FPS.
Warzone 2 @ 1080p
First off in Warzone 2 at 1080p we saw the 7700 XT absolutely top the charts, beating out the likes of the Radeon RX 6800, and the 4060 Ti. Framerates sat just above the 144Hz mark, which is perfect for those that need super-fast response times, coupled with buttery smooth gameplay. There’s not much else to say here, the 7700 XT is clearly capable of 1080p, and this is clearly represented in this benchmark.
@ 1440p
At 1440p, we saw a pretty similar situation, with the 7700 XT even beating out the RTX 4070 in this instance. Average framerates sat just below the 144Hz mark, with the 7700 XT offering around 137FPS which I’d still argue is pretty strong. It is also worth noting that all of the NVIDIA cards were using DLSS in this benchmark and the 7700 XT still managed to beat out these cards.
Apex Legends @ 1080p
In Apex Legends at 1080p the RX 7700 XT offered up a framerate of around 209FPS which is pretty exceptional. Gamers will be able to enjoy a buttery smooth refresh rate with no hindrances. 202FPS is more than you can really ask for, and clearly demonstrates that the 7700 XT is more than capable at this resolution.
How We Tested the Best CPUs for the 7700 XT
In order to test and evaluate the CPUs for the 7700 XT, there are a number of factors that we take into account, these are:
- Gaming Performance
- Workstation Performance
- Thermals
- Upgrade Paths
- Platform Longevity
- Value for Money
Conclusion
Best CPU to Buy for the 7700 XT: Intel Core i5-13600K
Finishing up this roundup, we’ve picked out the 13600K as the best CPU to pair up with AMD‘s new 7700 XT. Whilst this CPU might be a bit overkill, it is definitely worth it. You’re able to leverage unhindered multifaceted performance, and this means you aren’t likely to need an upgrade within the next few years. This processor is definitely worth considering if you’re looking for the best gaming performance money can buy.
Read our full Intel Core i5 13600K review, or Buy the Intel Core i5 13600K on Amazon
