May 28, 2023
United Kingdom
Buyers Guides CPUs

Best CPUs for the AMD Radeon RX 7900XT

Best CPUs 7900XT Feature Image

Introduction

AMD‘s brand new graphics cards are finally here, and we’re all wondering how these cards perform compared to their Nvidia counterparts. AMD have been sitting in the dark for some time, and now we’re ready to see if Team Red can bring the competition to Nvidia with their brand new top-end graphics cards. Are AMD’s new GPUs likely to bring down Nvidia’s somewhat exorbitant prices, or are we yet again left with lacklustre performance? To find out exactly how these new graphics cards perform we’ve done reviews of the new SKUs alongside comparisons so you can see how they compare against Nvidia’s RTX 4000 series.

But if you’re looking to build a brand new PC with these graphics cards, we’d recommend sticking around and reading today’s buyers guide! In this article we’ll be looking at the best CPUs to pair with AMD’s latest Radeon RX 7900XT so that you can get the best value for money for your PC build.

Suggested Article: AMD Radeon RX 7900XTX Review

Best CPUs for the AMD Radeon RX 7900XT

1. Intel Core i5 12600K

👑The best budget CPU.

3070 High-End Build - i5 12600K

Introduction

For our first CPU, we’ve picked out Intel’s ‘old-but-gold’ Core i5 12600K. The reason we’ve picked the 12th-Gen variant is purely based on pricing. The 12600K is one of the best gaming CPUs that money can buy for a mid-range system. It can handle 4K games very well with a good GPU (such as the Radeon 7900XT), and light productivity loads don’t pose much of an issue either. The 12600K is ideal for those that still want to experience high performance but are being more price conscious with their component choices.

Another additional benefit of picking up a 12600K as opposed to one of the new 13th-Gen SKUs is upgradeability. If you’re not entirely happy with the performance of the 12600K, you have the luxury of using the same motherboard to pick up a new CPU. Although you only have options between 12th and 13th-Gen SKUs, this gives you plenty of choice in terms of performance. Not only that, if you’re looking to get some better IO options, you can also use 13th-Gen motherboards with 12th-Gen CPUs and vice versa.

Key Specs

Key SpecsIntel Core i5 12600K
Core Count10
Thread Count16
Base Clock Speed3.7GHz
Boost Clock Speed4.9GHz
Max Turbo Power150W
OverclockableYes

Things We Like

Perfect for gaming: Intel’s Core i5 12600K is an excellent gaming CPU. Although 4K games will be a little bit harder on this processor, the 12600K will have no issues running modern titles at a high framerate.

Solid price point: Due to the 12600K being slightly older, it has significantly dropped in price, making it a rather cheap option. If you’re on a budget, this CPU is definitely worth taking a look at!

Things We Don’t Like

Won’t be great as a workstation CPU: The biggest downside to the 12600K is that there are better options for multithreaded applications. If you’re looking to run some workstation applications, we’d recommend looking at some other CPU choices with higher core counts.

Can’t handle the highest settings: As we’ve alluded to above, the 12600K is a solid CPU for mid-range gaming, but as we’ve alluded to above, the highest settings will be a struggle for this processor.

Summary

Intel’s Core i5 12600K is a great option for those on a budget, or for consumers just looking to play games. This is a great CPU for its price point, and we definitely recommend picking this up if you’re looking to build a mid-range system!

Features: 4/5
Thermals: 4/5
Performance: 3.8/5
Value for Money: 4/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • Exceptional price.
  • Great single core performance.
  • Ideal for a mid-range gaming PC.

Cons

  • There are better options for multithreaded performance.
  • Bottlenecking can occur with maxed out settings.

Where to Buy

Buy the Intel Core i5 12600K on:

2. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

👑The best gaming CPU.

AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D

Introduction

AMD’s Ryzen 5000 range of CPUs impressed the masses and offered very strong performance with all of their SKUs, but the 5800X3D was the proverbial ‘king’ of gaming performance. AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology provides a significant boost in performance within a number of games with the 5800X3D sitting on par with the 12900K SKUs.

The 5800X3D isn’t quite a budget CPU, but still sits at an excellent price compared to a number of other options on the market. The only downside to picking up a Ryzen 5000 CPU is that the AM4 platform is no longer supported. This means that Ryzen 5000 CPUs are the last upgrade path on the AM4 platform, but despite the lack of upgradeability, this CPU should hold up very well for the next 3-5 years. But you’ll need to pick up a new motherboard and some more RAM to upgrade to the latest Ryzen 7000 SKUs.

Key Specs

Key SpecsAMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Core Count8
Thread Count16
Base Clock Speed3.4GHz
Boost Clock Speed4.5GHz
Max Turbo Power105W
OverclockableNo

Things We Like

Solid for 4K gaming: AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D is an underdog CPU offering incredible metrics in 4K games. When paired up with the right GPU, this CPU is a titan of performance.

Great price point: Due to the age and release of newer SKUs the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is very reasonably priced. Consumers can pick up this processor for under $300 in the right sale, definitely worth a consideration at a lower price tag.

Things We Don’t Like

Better options for productivity workstations: Unfortunately, although the 5800X3D is solid for gaming, it isn’t designed for workstation systems. There are better options with higher core counts and threads that will be more ideal for a productivity-based system.

Older deprecated platform: AMD’s Ryzen 5000 CPUs are unfortunately the last set of CPUs on the AM4 platform. This means if you plan on upgrading in the near future, you’ll need to pick up a new motherboard, and CPU.

Summary

AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D is one of the best gaming CPUs that you can purchase right now. For a great price point, you can pick up a CPU that has comparative performance to a Core i9 12900K. Although this CPU is on an older platform, it is definitely worth a consideration for some simple 4K gaming!

Features: 4/5
Thermals: 4/5
Performance: 4/5
Value for Money: 4/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • Incredible performance in games.
  • Very reasonable platform cost.
  • Much cheaper motherboard options.

Cons

  • Not great for productivity workloads.
  • No upgradeability options due to deprecated platform.

Where to Buy

Buy the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D on:

3. Intel Core i7 13700K

👑The best value CPU.

Intel Core i7 13700K in Hand Resized

Introduction

For our third CPU choice, we’ve picked out Intel’s brand new Core i7 13700K. During Intel’s 13th-Gen launch we had the privilege of being able to benchmark all of the new SKUs, and needless to say we were very impressed. The Intel Core i7 13700K is one of the best CPUs that you can buy right now due to is exceptional performance in pretty much everything. Multithreaded or single threaded you can expect similar performance to the previous generation’s Core i9 12900K but at a much more reasonable price point overall.

If you’re building a top-end gaming PC, or a workstation to handle productivity workloads, this CPU will serve you well. There is a small catch though, which is platform longevity. Although the 13700K is likely to last for the next 3-5 years when it comes to performance, if you decide to upgrade to a new generation I’m afraid that will incur a significant cost. Intel only tends to keep a platform alive for around two generations, which means those looking to upgrade will likely need to purchase a new motherboard and/or RAM to gain access to the new platform.

Key Specs

Key SpecsIntel Core i7 13700K
Core Count16
Thread Count24
Base Clock Speed3.4GHz
Boost Clock Speed5.4GHz
Max Turbo Power253W
OverclockableYes

Things We Like

Solid performance all-around: The Core i7 13700K is one of the few CPUs on the market that can easily handle high intensity workstation applications, alongside 4K gaming. Definitely a winner for those looking to build a multifaceted system.

Pretty reasonably priced: The 13700K has very impressive performance metrics this needs to be said, but the attached price tag is pretty reasonable overall. Consumers don’t need to spend an absolute fortune to pick up this excellent processor.

Things We Don’t Like

Platform will be deprecated soon: As a general rule of thumb, Intel only tend to keep each platform alive for around two generations. This means that upgradeability will be limited outside of picking up an entirely new motherboard and CPU.

Better SKUs for workstations: As much as the 13700K is a solid option for the majority of consumers. Those looking to pick up the best of the best will want to pick other options such as the 13900K, or 7950X from AMD’s Ryzen 7000 range.

Summary

Intel’s Core i7 13700K is currently one of the best CPUs that you can buy if you’re looking to build a PC for more than just gaming. It’s exceptional performance metrics make it ideal for a multifaceted PC build, and this can all be achieved at a fairly reasonable price tag.

Features: 4/5
Thermals: 4/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • Perfect as a workstation CPU.
  • Ideal for 4K games.
  • Very reasonable price.

Cons

  • Can’t outperform the 13900K or 7950X.
  • Platform is at the end of its life cycle.

Where to Buy

Buy the Intel Core i7 13700K on:

4. AMD Ryzen 9 7900X

👑The best high-end CPU.

Ryzen 9 7900X in Box

Introduction

For our final pick, we believe the best high performance CPU to pair with the 7900XT is AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900X. The reason why we’ve picked this CPU over the 7950X is because you can save yourself some money whilst still achieving similar frames. The 7900X offers excellent performance in 4K, sitting at a similar level to the 13700K in some titles whilst providing an increase in frames in others.

One of the major benefits to picking up one of the new Ryzen 7000 CPUs is that you’ll have plenty of upgrade options later down the line. Much like the previous AM4 platform, AMD intends to continue support for the new AM5 socket for the next few years. This means you likely won’t need to buy a new motherboard in order to upgrade to a better specced CPU. Although Ryzen 7000 CPUs are somewhat lacklustre at the lower-end we’re likely to see a much better value proposition as the technology matures over time.

Key Specs

Key SpecsAMD Ryzen 9 7950X
Core Count12
Thread Count24
Base Clock Speed4.7GHz
Boost Clock Speed5.6GHz
Max Turbo Power170W
OverclockableYes

Things We Like

Exceptional performance metrics: As you can probably expect with this being a high-end option, the Ryzen 9 7900X has great performance metrics across the board. This CPU can handle pretty much anything you throw at it, making it ideal for a top-end productivity or gaming PC.

Plenty of upgradeability: Ryzen 7000 CPUs are the first available options on AMD‘s latest platform. If Ryzen 5000 is anything to go by, consumers will be able to upgrade to the new generation of CPUs with ease, providing simple upgradeability.

Things We Don’t Like

Entry cost is expensive: One of the more notable downsides to the new Ryzen 7000 CPUs is that a PC build will be rather expensive. Due to the new features on the motherboards and the forced DDR5 requirement, consumers will need to spend a fair amount to build a Ryzen 7000 PC.

Strong cooler is needed: The change in boosting behaviour allows the Ryzen 7000 CPUs to reach a high temperature before the clock speed starts to rise. This effectively means that consumers looking to push their system to the max will need a strong cooler to offset the very high thermals.

Summary

AMD’s Ryzen 9 7900X is one of the most powerful CPUs that consumers can get their hands on right now. It comes in at a fairly reasonable price point, and will be able to handle pretty much anything you throw at it. This processor is worth a consideration for those looking to build a top-end powerful system.

Features: 4.4/5
Thermals: 3.8/5
Performance: 4.5/5
Value for Money: 4/5

GeekaWhat Rating:

Pros

  • One of the best performing AMD CPUs.
  • Excellent in 4K titles, and workstation applications.
  • Easy upgradeability to newer CPUs.

Cons

  • Cost is a significant barrier to entry.
  • Very high thermals, will need a very good cooler.

Where to Buy

Buy the AMD Ryzen 9 7900X on:

Can Your CPU Affect Gaming?

Choosing the right CPU to match your use-case is a vital part of ensuring you’ll get the performance you want. Although your CPU won’t directly affect the amount of frames you’ll reach (because this is ultimately determined by your graphics card), your CPU is responsible for maintaining steady and consistent performance. Without the correct CPU pairing, you can experience severe performance loss in a number of different areas.

Intel Core i5 and Core i7 - 3080 4000D Build

Another point to note is the clock speed that your CPU is capable of reaching. Games are primarily single threaded applications, so you realistically only need one core to run games at an adequate speed. But the amount of frames you can achieve will be down to your clock speed on a single thread. With a higher speed, your CPU can process the incoming data from your GPU much quicker resulting in a higher frame count. This is why 4K games need a CPU that can handle the overhead, or else you’ll suffer from a loss of frames.

To summarise, your CPU can affect how your games perform, but this mainly comes in the form of bottlenecking. If your CPU is on a similar level of performance to your GPU, then you’ll be able reach significant performance metrics with very little issues. But if the opposite of this is achieved, and you have mismatched components, you will see a major decrease in performance. Picking components that pair well together ensures you can reach the best performance that your parts have on offer.

Balancing Costs

One of the major points we’ve discussed in the past concerns how much money you should spend on a PC build. Buying what you need based on your use-case is a vital consideration to make, ensuring that you don’t over, or underspend. But with PC building this can be a difficult task when weighing up your options. Recently we’ve seen a massive slew of launches making now a perfect time to start building, which platform should you settle for? Which brand offers the best performance for your use-case? Who has the best upgrade options?

All of these questions are important to think about when you consider how much is available on the market right now. We would recommend that if you’re building a system entirely for gaming you likely won’t need the latest and greatest options from Intel and AMD. Ryzen 5000 CPUs and Intel 12th-Gen are perfectly suitable when it comes to performance and you won’t be disappointed with framerates in most games. If you’re looking for the best upgrade options, Ryzen 7000 is currently the only option that stands to offer the best choices for upgrade paths, as Intel’s latest platform will become deprecated in the near future.

If you’re looking at performance alone there’s a number of other considerations to be made first before making a decision on a particular CPU to buy. Both Intel and AMD have their own strengths and weaknesses, which doesn’t necessarily make one manufacturer superior compared to another. Regardless, balancing how much you should spend on a PC will ensure you get the best value for money, and only buy components that you need for your system.

AMD vs Intel

The ‘AMD vs Intel’ argument has been a mainstay in the PC gaming space for as long as I can remember. At GeekaWhat we don’t side with any particular manufacturer, as both AMD and Intel have their own benefits and flaws. I believe that the argument primarily boils down to preference, but there are factors and performance metrics which might lead your decision more. We’ve broken down the major benefits and disadvantages to picking either manufacturer with their current SKUs in the market.

AMD CPUs

In their current standing AMD do not have the performance crown, but the Ryzen 7000 platform does have its benefits. If you’re looking for a cheaper but equally powerful processor, the Ryzen 5000 range is a great option. Many of the top-end AM4 CPUs are much cheaper and offer excellent performance metrics. However, if you’re looking for a platform that has more longevity and better upgrade paths, Ryzen 7000 is a better bet.

Best CPU & Motherboards 2022 - Ryzen 5 5600X

Although we wouldn’t necessarily recommend some of the lower-end Ryzen 7000 CPUs, AMD have done an excellent job at making the top-end options a worthwhile pickup if you’re building a high-end PC. But you’ll need to be aware that the overall platform cost is quite high compared to other options available on the market.

Intel CPUs

Intel have offered the golden standard of performance for quite some time, but picking up one of these CPUs does have its caveats. Generally speaking, Team Blue is the go-to manufacturer if you’re looking for an all-rounder CPU, especially CPUs that offer excellent multithreaded performance metrics. Intel‘s 12th and 13th-Gen are incredible performers, and will generally cost less than what it would to build a Ryzen 7000 PC.

Intel Core i5 Truck Shot - Aerocool 3060 Build

The only major downside to Intel currently is that your upgrade paths are rather limited. Intel only tend to keep a platform around for two generations, and unfortunately we’re starting to see the latter half of the generational cycle. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use an Intel 13th or 12th-Gen CPU, but you won’t be able to upgrade to a potential 14th-Gen range of CPUs without having to buy a new motherboard and potentially more RAM. Intel is definitely a winner when it comes to performance, but upgrade paths is not their strong suit.

How We Picked the Best CPUs for the RX 7900 XT

To find the best CPUs for the RX 7900 XT, we’ve rounded up a number of options from AMD and Intel‘s newest and older CPU range. We’ve compared all of these processors in a plethora of gaming and workstation benchmarks to see how they fare performance wise. The Radeon RX 7900 XT is a top-end graphics cards from AMD’s latest Radeon 7000 line-up, and for this reason we’ve stuck to mostly high-end options with some cheaper choices for those just looking to play games at high settings.

Conclusion

Intel Core i7 13700K in Hand Resized

Best Overall CPU for the Radeon RX 7900 XT: Intel Core i7 13700K

Yet again, the best overall CPU in this roundup, is Intel’s Core i7 13700K. The 13700K strikes a fine balance for those looking to build a gaming or workstation system. The price is fairly competitive, and I feel the vast majority of consumers will be very happy with the performance. We’ve picked this CPU because it offers that pivotal balance that gives consumers the option to create a multitude of different builds that the rest of the CPUs can’t.

GeekaWhat Rating:

Read our full Intel Core i7 13700K review, or Buy the Core i7 13700K on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

RR Question Mark

How Many Cores Are Needed for Gaming?

As a general rule, most games will only ever use one core. This means that the majority of consumers can get away with having a CPU that doesn’t have loads of cores. However, clock speed matters, the higher the clock speed, the more frames you’ll get in titles. And often the more cores you have in your CPU, the higher the clock speed will be.

RR Question Mark

Do I Need to Pick Up DDR4 or DDR5 RAM?

The type of RAM you need will depend on a number of different factors. But in terms of compatibility, all of the platforms we’ve mentioned above vary. Intel 12th and 13th-Gen have access to DDR4 and DDR5 RAM, whereas Ryzen 5000 only supports the use of DDR4. For Ryzen 7000 users you’ll need to pick up a kit of DDR5 RAM, as this platform only supports that generation.

RR Question Mark

What Power Supply Do I Need for the RX 7900 XT?

AMD’s website recommend a 750W power supply as a minimum. We always urge consumers to pick a PSU that is 100W above the minimum requirement so that you’ve got some room for upgrades and redundancy.

RR Question Mark

What Motherboard Do I Need to Use?

All of the CPUs that we’ve mentioned come with a different set of motherboards. Intel 12th and 13th-Gen boards are compatible with the entire LGA 1700 socket range, so you can easily upgrade without having to buy a new board. Ryzen 5000 CPUs only work on AM4 socket motherboards, which provides consumers with plenty of options such as X570, X470, B550, and more. Ryzen 7000 CPUs use an entirely new socket, so you can only utilise motherboards from the current generation.

editor
Jay joined Geeka Media in April of 2022, bringing with him a wealth of technical knowledge and a background in Computer Science. Jay is an avid gamer, keyboard-builder and tech wizz with years of PC-building passion under his belt.