Best CPUs for the RTX 4070 (AMD & Intel Options)

Suggested Article: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Review (Founders Edition Benchmarks)

Best CPUs for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070

1. Intel Core i5 13600K

👑The best value CPU.

The Core i5 13600K is perfect for gaming, and can handle some lighter workstation applications. 4K gaming shouldn’t pose much of an issue, but extremely high settings could cause a bottleneck potentially. Consumers also have plenty of choice when it comes to motherboards, as the 13600K is supported on 12th and 13th-Gen boards, allowing consumers to save some money for other components. This is technically one of the cheapest options in this roundup, but you are by no means making sacrifices in performance when it comes to this excellent Intel CPU option.

Key Specs

Key Specs	Intel Core i5 13600K
Core Count	14
Thread Count	20
Base Clock Speed	3.5GHz
Boost Clock Speed	5.1GHz
Max Turbo Power	181W
Overclockable	Yes

Things We Like

Ideal for gaming: Intel’s Core i5 13600K is one of the most powerful options that we’ve seen release in the past year or so. This excellent CPU can handle 1440P with decent legs in 4K, at very high framerates.

Great price point: The biggest selling point of the 13600K, is it’s very competitive price point. 12th and 13th-Gen CPUs have been priced very well, and this CPU is no exception. This CPU is perfect for consumers looking to build a PC at a budget price point.

Things We Don’t Like

Struggles with more intense workloads: The biggest downside to the Core i5 13600K, is that intense workloads can be a bit of a struggle. For those that need more cores and threads, you’ll want to look at some alternative options, from the Core i7 and i9 ranges.

Can’t always handle 4K: Although the 13600K is a strong CPU for the majority of games, 4K can be a little bit harder for this CPU to handle. We’d recommend sticking to 1440P for the majority of games with the Core i5 13600K.

Where to Buy

Buy the Intel Core i5 13600K on:

2. AMD Ryzen 7 7700

👑The best budget CPU.

The Ryzen 7 7700X is a strong mid-range CPU that compares with 12600K in multithreaded benchmarks, and offers excellent single core performance, sitting relatively close to it’s Ryzen 9 counterparts. The Ryzen 7 7700 sits relatively close to the 13600K in terms of its overall capability, so consumers can expect strong 1440P performance, with some legs in 4K. This CPU is a great option for those looking to be a bit more price conscious with their purchases.

Key Specs

Key Specs	AMD Ryzen 7 7700
Core Count	8
Thread Count	16
Base Clock Speed	3.8GHz
Boost Clock Speed	5.3GHz
Max Turbo Power	65W
Overclockable	No

Things We Like

Strong gaming performance: Much like the Core i5 13600K, the Ryzen 7 7700 is great for 1440P gaming, with relatively decent legs in 4K. Consumers looking to build a mid-range gaming PC with this CPU will not be disappointed.

Solid upgradeability: The new set of Ryzen 7000 SKUs brings plenty of upgradeability when it comes to new components, and ease of access in the future. AMD tends to keep their platforms alive for a few years, allowing consumers to easily upgrade to new CPU options with their older motherboards.

Things We Don’t Like

Expensive entry cost: The biggest caveat to the new Ryzen 7000 platform, is that it is by no means cheap. The forced DDR5 requirement, and inclusion of widespread PCI-E 5.0, alongside high speed ports, and high VRM power phases makes the build cost rather expensive. Consumers can expect to pay a pretty penny for a Ryzen 7000 build.

Weak workstation performance: Much like the Core i5 13600K, the Ryzen 7700 isn’t ideal as a workstation CPU. There are much better options if you need more cores and threads. To top it off, the Ryzen 7700 can’t be overclocked either, leaving behind some performance bonuses contrasting to CPUs that can be overclocked.

Summary

Where to Buy

Buy the AMD Ryzen 7 7700 on:

3. Intel Core i7 13700K

👑The best all-rounder CPU.

In terms of performance, consumers can expect no issues at 4K, even with Ray-Tracing enabled. And workstation performance should be pretty well-rounded. The 13700K can’t outperform the 13900K, but the strong core count and clock speed should be ideal for the majority of consumers putting their system under some more intense workloads.

Key Specs

Key Specs	Intel Core i7 13700K
Core Count	16
Thread Count	24
Base Clock Speed	3.4GHz
Boost Clock Speed	5.4GHz
Max Turbo Power	253W
Overclockable	Yes

Things We Like

Great performance all around: The biggest upside of the 13700K, is it’s capability as a multifaceted processor. For those that need a CPU that can handle more complicated high intensity tasks, and 4K gaming too, this processor is perfect.

Pretty strong price point: The Core i7 13700K is a pricier SKU compared to some other options that we’ve seen, but I’d argue that the attached price tag is pretty decent overall. Consumers are paying for a multifaceted CPU that can handle workstation applications and top-end gaming, so I’d say you definitely get what you pay for.

Things We Don’t Like

Platform will become deprecated soon: Although Intel’s most recent CPUs are pretty strong when it comes to performance, the 13th-Gen range is likely to be the last series on the LGA1700 platform. This means you’ll probably need to pick up a new motherboard and CPU if you decide to upgrade in the future.

Better options for top-end workstations: The 13700K is a great all-rounder, especially if you’re looking to find the best value option for a CPU that can handle workstation applications, and gaming. But if you need a top-end option, there are better processors, such as the Ryzen 9 7900X, or Core i9 13900K that have more cores, ideal for workstations.

Summary

Where to Buy

Buy the Intel Core i7 13700K on:

4. AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D

👑The best gaming CPU.

The biggest benefit of this CPU is the price. As we’ve mentioned previously, Ryzen 7000 can be expensive to a degree, as the cost of motherboards and RAM will set you back a fair amount. However, the 7800X3D sits below the $500 mark, putting it almost on pair with the 13700K. Considering the gaming performance you’re able to get out of this CPU, I’d definitely say that the price tag is worth it.

Key Specs

Key Specs	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Core Count	8
Thread Count	16
Base Clock Speed	4.2GHz
Boost Clock Speed	5GHz
Max Turbo Power	120W
Overclockable	No

Things We Like

Exceptional gaming performance: AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D is one of the best CPUs that you can buy when it comes to gaming. Consumers can expect to play 4K games with no hindrances, at exceptionally high framerates.

Lower thermals: One of the biggest caveats to Ryzen 7000 processors is the scarily high thermals. However, due to the thermal limitations of the 3D V-Cache, the 7800X3D actually sits at a lower temperature overall contrasting to other SKUs.

Things We Don’t Like

Weaker workstation performance: Although the 7800X3D is very strong in gaming, the 3D V-Cache has it’s limitations. This cache isn’t really needed in workstation applications, so consumers would be better off picking up a processor with more cores and higher clock speeds for strong productivity performance.

Build cost is not cheap: Ryzen 7000 CPUs are the first available options on AMD’s most recent AM5 platform. This platform offers relatively strong specs and performance overall, but the inclusion of new and rather expensive features such as widespread PCI-E 5.0, and a DDR5 memory requirement, makes the overall build cost quite pricey.

Summary

Where to Buy

Buy the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D on:

So this begs the question, is the latest RTX 4070 worth picking up, at it’s given price point? Admittedly, I was very sceptical about this new card, but so far, my opinion is yes. The RTX 4070 offers great performance at 4K (especially when DLSS is enabled), and can achieve even higher framerates at 1440p too. This puts the RTX 4070 in a pretty strong position compared to other market options, as there are very few cards that can achieve such high framerates at the aforementioned target resolution, at a $600 price point. Cards such as the RX 6800 XT from AMD, or NVIDIA’s RTX 3080/Ti are pretty strong, but they sit at significantly higher prices, contrasting to the RTX 4070.

We do have to take this with a pinch of salt, because AMD’s Radeon 7000 range could look to undercut NVIDIA’s most recent offering. But until then, I feel this card is a very strong option when comparing to the rest of the market. It isn’t ‘cheap’ by any means, but I’d say this is what I would expect to spend for good 1440P and 4K performance all-around. It seems NVIDIA have listened this time around, and the competition is only going to heat up for AMD.

AMD or Intel – Which is Better?

AMD vs Intel has been a longstanding argument for as long as I can remember. Both manufacturers bring pros and cons to the table, but this entirely depends on your use-case, budget, and preference as a consumer. We’ve noted down the major differences between each of these manufacturers below.

Intel have since progressed onto bigger things with CPUs that not only retain excellent single core performance, but also incredible multi core performance too. With the invention of hyper threading, Intel have been able to dominated the multithreaded CPU space, by offering CPUs that can handle applications and processes that require as many cores as possible. 

With the launch of 12th and 13th-Gen options, Intel have proven how capable they are of creating multifaceted options. 13th-Gen CPUs specifically have great clock speeds, making them perfect for gaming at high resolutions. Consumers can also pick up CPUs with numerous cores, which are ideal for users building a workstation system. Needless to say, Intel is the go-to option for the vast majority of consumers.

The launch of Ryzen 3000 and 5000 was the ‘golden age’ of CPUs for AMD, and Intel struggled to keep up with Team Red during this time. AMD is primarily known for strong budget and mid-range options, although much of their Ryzen 5000 top-end SKUs were still exceptional.

Ryzen 7000 has been slightly weaker, contrasting to the much more refined Ryzen 5000 range on the AM4 platform. We think this can be primarily chalked down to the fact that Ryzen 7000 is an entirely new set of CPUs, but regardless, some of these CPUs aren’t great value for money. Combined with the rather expensive DDR5 requirement and pricey motherboard options, Ryzen 7000 hasn’t been great so far. But we can definitely expect more refined (and hopefully cheaper) options later down the line.

Check out our roundup of the best PC cases to pair up with the RTX 4070

Factors to Consider

Now that we’ve covered off AMD vs Intel, it is worth discussing some key factors to consider before buying a CPU to pair up with the RTX 4070. We’ve broken down the most important ones below:

CPU Range	CPU Socket	Compatible Chipset
Ryzen 7000	AM5	X670E, X670, B650E, B650
Intel 13th-Gen	LGA 1700	Z790, Z690, H770, H670, B760, B660

When it comes to chipsets, this can be a slightly more involved and complicated decision. Intel and AMD have entirely different chipsets, but they follow a similar pattern in terms of the kind of features and pricing. Z790 (Intel) and X670E (AMD) boards are the most expensive, but they come with the most features available. This means you’ll get access to the most amount of PCI-E slots, highest VRM power phases, most amount of USB ports, and more.

B660 and B650 motherboards offer wider range of options, with budget, and mid-range options being their primary coverage. B660 and B650E boards do have higher-end options, but these boards tend to be cheaper, and do sacrifice some of the big features that can be seen on pricier options. Consumers should be aware of this before deciding on a particular motherboard option.

In short, it depends. For those playing games, you might notice some performance loss in some titles with a higher latency kit. However, low latency becomes more important for those putting together a workstation system. Workstation applications that require the most performance possible, lower latency kits are needed to ensure your system can performance as best as it can. To summarise, gaming doesn’t really need low latency, but a workstation system could very well benefit from low latency kits, but the unfortunate caveat is cost.

When it comes to gaming, clock speed is much more important. Games only tend to use one or two cores, which means CPUs with massive core counts won’t see higher utilisation. Clock speed needs to be higher for games to ensure data from the GPU can be processed quick enough.

Core count becomes important if you’re building a system that can utilise a huge amount of cores. Workstation applications like 3D rendering, or video editing can make use of multiple cores, which is where this becomes more important. Ultimately cores or clock speed will be more important based on your use-case, but this is definitely worth considering beforehand.

How We Picked the Best CPUs for the RTX 4070

To pick out the best CPUs for the RTX 4070, we’ve rounded up a range of options from AMD and Intel, keeping to modern options from both manufacturers. We’ve compared all of these CPUs in a plethora of workstation and gaming benchmarks. We’ve primarily stuck to mid-range options, but we’ve provided some cheaper and more expensive CPUs, so consumers can be price conscious, or build something more high-end.

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions