The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 has finally arrived. This graphics card offers performance of the likes we’ve never seen, surpassing the highly popular RTX 4090 by quite some margin. With its 32GB of GDDR7 VRAM and a gargantuan amount of CUDA, RT, and Tensor cores, the NVIDIA RTX 5090 is an absolute powerhouse for gaming. But with any new graphics card launch, it can be challenging to determine the best CPU to pair with this beast of a GPU. That’s why we’ve put together this in-depth buyers guide, testing a range of excellent processors that are all great pairings with the RTX 5090, depending on your budget and use case.
With the launch of the RTX 5090, NVIDIA’s 5000 series is shaping up to be pretty impressive. With the big leap over to GDDR7, all of the new graphics cards have double the bandwidth compared to the previous generation. In layman’s terms, more bandwidth means fast performance, resulting in better framerates in your favourite games. This puts the RTX 5000 series in a strong position for those looking to upgrade or build a new system if the solid performance continues on the other cards.
In this buyers guide, we’ve covered the best CPUs to buy for the RTX 5090. We’ve tested, benchmarked, and analysed a range of excellent processors that cater to those looking for the best performance money can buy.
Our Top Pick: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The best CPU to buy for the RTX 5090 is the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. This processor executes a delicate balance between performance and pricing. Not only is it one of the strongest gaming CPUs on the market, but it also has an edge in multi-core tasks thanks to its eight cores and sixteen threads. Combine this with the $479 MSRP, and the Ryzen 7 9800X3D offers one of the best value propositions compared to market alternatives, making it incredibly worthwhile to install in an RTX 5090 gaming PC.
The Best CPUs for the RTX 5090
1. AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is a CPU that has continued to blow us away during benchmarks and testing. Since introducing the 3D V-Cache SKUs on the market, these AMD processors have become the go-to option for prospective buyers looking to maximise gaming performance. The Ryzen 9000 variant takes things to a new level with increased boost clock speeds, better efficiency and unlocked overclocking support.
The 3D V-Cache is what makes the Ryzen 7 9800X3D unique. This cache allows the CPU to read, write, and execute instructions much quicker than pulling the data from RAM. And because games have so many of these instructions that need to be processed quickly, the 3D V-Cache offers significant framerate increases in all your favourite titles, beating out almost every other CPU on the market. Furthermore, with its 5.2GHz boost clock speed and relatively low TDP, it can sustain this performance in demanding modern games.
| Key Specs | AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D |
|---|---|
| Core Count | 8 |
| Thread Count | 16 |
| Base Clock Speed | 4.7GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 5.2GHz |
| Max Cache | 104MB |
| Default TDP | 120W |
| CPU Socket | AM5 |
| Overclockable | Yes |
Performance-wise, you can expect the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D to soar in any game you throw at it. 4K imposes no issues for the 9800X3D, and paired with the RTX 5090, you can expect framerates to reach your monitor refresh rate and go beyond easily. For more intense multi-core tasks, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D isn’t the best option on the market, but it is still substantial. With eight cores and sixteen threads, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D can handle video editing, 3D rendering and AI workloads.
The most significant consideration to make when building a PC with the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is whether you’re primarily going to be gaming or if you need more oomph for multi-core tasks. If the answer is the latter, a CPU like the Ryzen 9 9950X may be worth considering due to its higher core count. While eight cores and sixteen threads will be ample for many, some enthusiasts running demanding workloads may benefit from picking up a processor with more cores.
Pros
- Unrivalled gaming performance
- Competitive pricing
- Efficient
Cons
- Multi-core performance
- Difficult to pick up
2. AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is our recommendation for builders who need plenty of cores and threads for challenging workloads. While the Ryzen 9 9950X is a processor that excels in gaming, it isn’t a CPU we’d explicitly recommend if that’s all you plan on doing. The 9950X has been chosen for this buyers guide because of its strengths in tackling high-intensity tasks, such as 3D modelling and rendering in applications like CAD, or perhaps something more topical like AI.
This CPU has sixteen cores and thirty-two threads, placing it at the top of the proverbial food chain if we consider only the hardware. Boost clocks max out at 5.7GHz, while the default TDP is a rather toasty 170W. This CPU is not meant for the faint of heart but is a worthwhile addition to a system with ample cooling and plenty of power.
| Key Specs | AMD Ryzen 9 9950X |
|---|---|
| Core Count | 16 |
| Thread Count | 32 |
| Base Clock Speed | 4.3GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 5.7GHz |
| Max Cache | 80MB |
| Default TDP | 170W |
| CPU Socket | AM5 |
| Overclockable | Yes |
Moving onto performance, the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is an excellent CPU for a multi-faceted PC build. For gaming, across our testing, we saw the Ryzen 9 9550X offer excellent single-threaded performance. In Cinebench R23, the 9950X output a score of 2276, placing it at the top of our charts. In multi-core tasks, this is where the Ryzen 9 9950X thrives. We saw a score of 38424 in Cinebench R23, placing it just below the Core i9-13900K. In 3D Mark CPU Profile, we also saw a score of 17624, putting it in second place, below the Intel Core Ultra 9 285K.
Unfortunately, the biggest weakness of the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X is its price. At $649, it is not a cheap CPU. While prices have dropped since its launch in August 2024, it’s still not in the most fantastic position, especially compared to the broader market. The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K are available under the 9950X’s MSRP. Both offer varying performance benefits depending on whether you’re gaming or diving into content creation-style workloads.
Pros
- Multi-core performance
- High boost clock speed
- Great for gaming
Cons
- Pricing
- Power hungry
3. Intel Core Ultra 9 285K
Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K is a CPU that didn’t review incredibly well during its launch. But despite this being a slightly more difficult processor to recommend, you can’t deny its exceptional core counts and multi-core performance. Many believe the Core Ultra range is what the 14th-Gen range Raptor Lake CPUs should have been.
With some slight changes to the naming conventions of Intel CPUs, fixes to power consumption and thermal issues, and a switch to a new LGA 1851 socket, Core Ultra is a slightly familiar but new beast. The main pro of the Core Ultra 9 285K is that regardless of the issues with pricing and generational performance, it is still one of the strongest CPUs on the market. With twenty-four cores and threads, this processor is equipped to handle the most intense multi-core tasks, and it does this without reaching highs of 350W, resulting in lower temperatures compared to Core i9-14900K.
| Key Specs | Intel Core Ultra 9 285K |
|---|---|
| Core Count | 24 |
| Thread Count | 24 |
| Base Clock Speed | 3.7GHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 5.7GHz |
| Max Cache | 76MB |
| Default TDP | 125W |
| CPU Socket | LGA 1851 |
| Overclockable | Yes |
To showcase the performance of the Core Ultra 9 285K, it’s best to let the benchmarks explain. In Cinebench R23, the Core Ultra 9 285K offered a score of 41513, placing it at the top of our graphs, easily surpassing the Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 9 9950X. Single core in Cinebench R23 is slightly weaker with a score of 2170, putting it below the Ryzen 5 9600X and Core i9-13900K at 2180 and 2209, respectively.
As mentioned above, the Core Ultra 9 285K and the rest of the Core Ultra range suffer from two main issues. One is pricing. Much like the Ryzen 9 9950X, there are other CPUs available at a lower price that offer similar performance, such as the Core i9-14900K or, on the AMD side, the Ryzen 9 9900X. Additionally, performance within games has seen a slight regression versus the previous generation, which is disappointing considering the Core i9-14900K is cheaper than the Core Ultra 9 285K.
Pros
- Exceptional multi-core performance
- Thermal and power issues fixed
- Strong memory OC support
Cons
- Expensive
- Gaming performance vs 14th-Gen
Performance
Moving onto performance, below, we’ve provided a range of synthetic benchmarks showcasing each CPU’s strength across various applications. Our CPUs are tested using the same benchmarking PC to ensure fair testing. Each benchmark gives an overview of what you can expect across single-core and multi-core workloads.
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
In our Cinebench multi-core run, the results are spread out. Intel’s Core Ultra 9 285K comes out on top with a beefy score of 41513, while the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X lands three places lower with a result of 38424. These are titans in the multi-core space, so it’s no surprise to see them at the top of the chart. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D sits pretty low in the multi-core benchmark with a final score of 23432, just below the Intel Core i5-14600K. While the Ryzen 7 9800X3D can handle multi-core workloads, it is comparably weaker than the Ryzen 9 and Core Ultra 9 alternatives.
Cinebench R23 (Single Thread)
In the single thread run, the results shift slightly. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X comes out on top this time with a score of 2276, while the Core Ultra 9 285K sits four more places down with a score of 2170. This single-core regression explains why the performance is slightly weaker than that of a CPU like the Core i9-14900K. Again, the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is lower down on this graph with a result of 2104, placing it just below the AMD Ryzen 9 9900X and Core i7-13700K.
Ultimately, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D doesn’t look as strong as we’ve made it out to be in this benchmark. However, Cinebench R23 does not use 3D V-Cache, which we imagine would significantly change the stakes for this powerful processor.
3D Mark – CPU Profile (Max Threads)
The 3D Mark CPU Profile tests your chosen CPU at varying thread configurations from one to the maximum. In this benchmarking run, unsurprisingly, both the AMD Ryzen 9 9950X and Intel Core Ultra 9 285K came out on top yet again, with the Core Ultra in first place, outputting a score of 18474 versus the 17624 result that the 9950X offered. AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D sits between the Ryzen 7 9700X and Ryzen 9 5900X with a score of 10300.
The Core Ultra 9 and Ryzen 9 9950X are reasonably similar in terms of results, but there is an apparent advantage between these CPUs compared to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D. It’s worth considering the Ryzen 9 or Core Ultra 9 if you’re running applications that demand more cores.
3D Mark – Timespy Extreme
3D Mark Timespy Extreme is similar to running a game at 4K, which is why this benchmark also considers the GPU performance. The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and AMD Ryzen 9 9950X are top performers in this benchmark, with CPU scores sitting at 13715 and 13305, respectively. 4K gaming can demand more cores, so seeing these CPUs performing well is no surprise. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D sits more towards the middle of the graph in between the Ryzen 7 9700X and Intel Core i5-13600K with a score of 7567.
3D Mark – Firestrike
Firestrike lowers the resolution to 1080p, which makes overall performance more reliant on the CPU over the graphics card. Because of this, the Core Ultra 9 285K and Ryzen 7 9800X3D have almost switched places, with the latter now in second place on the graph with a score of 48443. The AMD Ryzen 9 9950X comes out on top again with a beefy result of 52248, demonstrating its superiority in single-core applications.
The Intel Core Ultra 9 285K offered a final result of 42210, placing it just below the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X. This is, unfortunately, one of the major caveats of the Core Ultra series: gaming and single-thread performance is slightly weaker than Intel 14th-Gen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Cooler Do I Need for these CPUs?
We recommend picking up a 360mm liquid cooler or better for all of these CPUs, as this will minimise the risk of thermal throttling.
Do I Need DDR4 or DDR5 RAM?
These CPUs use DDR5-exclusive platforms, so you will need to purchase a kit of DDR5 RAM.
What Power Supply Do I Need for My RTX 5090 Build?
Generally we recommend a minimum of 1200W, based on the 575W power consumption, however, we’ve written a buyer’s guide which covers the best PSUs to buy for the RTX 5090, which you should check out!
