- Best CPU for GTX 1070
- GTX 1070 CPU Bottleneck
- How to Choose the Right CPU for You
- GTX 1070 CPU Requirements
- Compare CPUs
- Review Summary
Here’s a deal:
Finding a good CPU for 1070 can feel like being a kid in a candy store.
But with a catch. Everything’s written in a foreign language!
You want the sweet spot, that perfect pick that makes your GTX 1070 sing, not sob.
It’s a bit like matchmaking, really. Will they get along? Will they bicker and argue, slowing down your gameplay?
It’s enough to send anyone into a spiral of “what ifs.”
So let me cut the chase for you. Here’s the best processor for GTX 1070:
- Best Overall: AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
- Best for Gaming: Intel Core i5-12600KF
- Best Performance: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X
Best CPU for GTX 1070
When you’ve dozens of options under the sun — it gets overwhelming to even begin the shortlisting process.
Somehow, after 9 days of shortlisting and 2 weeks of testing 11 processors, I finally have the winners.
These picks are spot-on for anyone wanting to max out their 1070’s potential, whether it’s for gaming marathons or heavy-duty creative work.
- Speeds: 3.7GHz - 4.9GHz
- Cores: 10
- Socket: LGA1700
- TDP: 125W
Now, let’s dig into all of them!
1. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X: Best Overall
Whether you’re streaming, gaming, or creating, this has got your back without burning your pocket.
At its heart, this Ryzen 5 processor packs six cores and 12 threads. Even with a base clock speed of 3.7GHz, it can juggle tasks like a pro.
But that’s not it.
You can push it to its limits courtesy of the unlocked overclocking headroom and the boosted potential of up to 4.6GHz.
- Minimal CPU-GPU bottleneck
- Perfect for multi-threaded tasks
- Packs a Wraith Stealth Cooler
- No integrated graphics
- No PCIe 5.0
The GeForce GTX 1070 is a powerful graphics card and the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is more than an adequate resource to complement the same.
As a relatively affordable processor, the Ryzen 5 5600X strikes the perfect balance between gaming capabilities, streaming potential, and also pricing.
This AMD processor comes with exceptional benchmark results, with a PassMark score of 21,916. The 5600X3D pips it by a few points, showcasing how powerful this Ryzen 5 variant is. But then, paired with the GTX 1070, it is the gaming performance that comes to the fore.
Benchmark levels: PassMark
I played Cyberpunk 2022 1.0 at high 1080p and could only churn out 32 FPS, on average. Valorant performed much better at a high 1080p, letting me hit 125 FPS consistently.
The Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the cooler heads in the market with a manageable TDP of 65W. Your rig, even with hours of gaming, won’t turn into a sauna. The 7nm architecture associated with this processor for GTX 1070 furthers the power efficiency.






Compatibility-wise, this processor can fit into any AM4 socket, preferably the ones associated with the B550 and X570 motherboards. Furthermore, you can add any 3200MHz DDR4 RAM module with this processor.
The processor supports PCIe 4.0, allowing you to connect the fastest possible SSDs.
In case you are still concerned about overheating, there comes an integrated Wraith Stealth Cooler to help you keep things sane.
Plus, with 35MB of cache memory, you can expect top-notch gaming performances, provided you have the GTX 1070 or 1070 Ti by your side. Installing this processor and including the BIOS updates feel smooth, provided you know how to put together the important elements.
But then, if you have a tighter budget, you can even consider the AMD Ryzen 5 5600G, which is also a 6-core/12-threaded option.
You still get a decent boosted potential of 4.4GHz, the Wraith Cooler, and 19MB of cache memory, which works with most games.
2. Intel Core i5-12600KF: Best for Gaming
Ready to play hard WITHOUT playing hard on your wallet? Get this one!
This processor brings in 10 cores and 16 threads. The base clock runs at 3.7 GHz, but boosted; you can push the limits on this one at 4.9 GHz.
Plus, there is room for overclocking, which ensures video editing, gaming, and even some AI-specific tasks can progress without hiccups.
- High frame rates at 1080p
- Strong overclocking performance
- PCIe 5.0 compatible
- 10nm manufacturing process for power efficiency
- Lacks integrated graphics
- May need a BIOS update
Do you want people to ask you about the secret gaming sauce when you blaze past those milestones to set new records?
And do you know that all that is possible without even breaking the bank, courtesy of the Intel Core i5-12600KF processor?
Packed with both performance and efficiency cores, this Intel CPU for GTX 1070 takes games mighty seriously.
There are ten cores for the taking. Six for performance and four for efficiency.
And guess what!
These cores are equivalent to 16 threads, making gaming and multitasking a walk in the park.
This Intel processor can transform your PC into a mean machine with a turbo-boosted potential of up to 4.9 GHz.
And yes, how can I even forget the significance of the KF suffix? This is where the massive overclocking headroom comes to the fore, letting you walk through every task with ease.
Despite not being an i7 processor, the i5-12600KF is insanely loaded, boasting a PassMark score of 27,432, trumping the likes of Ryzen 5 5600X, rather significantly.
Benchmark levels: PassMark
When it comes to the gaming throughput, I specifically tested the 2020-hit Doom Eternal on it, only to see the CPU-GPU setting offer 110 FPS, on average, at a high 1080p. Escape from Tarkov performed similarly at ultra 1080p, helping me experience 90 FPS on average.






Concerned about power efficiency?
Well, the Core i5-12600KF isn’t the most handy processor in that regard, boasting a higher TDP of 125W.
Also, the 10nm process does demand some additional power. As for compatibility, the processor can pair up with most motherboards having the LGA 1700 sockets, preferably the Intel 700 series chipsets.
With PCIe 5.0 in play, this GTX 1070-compatible CPU can handle the newest breed of SSDs.And it also takes care of future-proofing by opening arms to the DDR4 and DDR5 RAM modules.
Installing this processor feels like a plug-and-play gig, and the BIOS updates are easy to work with.
Furthermore, with the HyperThreading architecture, this CPU for GTX 1070 can readily amp up the graphics-specific potential, making your gaming performance reach new highs.
Interested in packing more power into your PC at under $250?
Then, you can ditch the i5 for the Intel Core i7-11700K CPU. Even though it lacks PCIe 5.0 support, it makes up for the same with eight power cores, 16 threads, and a boosted clock speed potential of 5GHz.
3. AMD Ryzen 7 5800X: Best under $250
Whether you’re gaming, 3D modeling, or slicing through video edits, this chip doesn’t just keep up; it leads the charge.
This chipset is a multitasking powerhouse, all thanks to the 8 cores and 16 threads.
Even the base clock speed is a nippy 3.8GHz, which can be boosted to 4.7GHz.
Plus, it is unlocked, priming the users for the overclocking potential.
- Stellar processing performance
- Future-proof
- Massive overclocking headroom
- No dedicated cooler
- Overkill for casual gamers
More of a red team evangelist? Well, you can always get your hands on the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X processor, which takes gaming to a whole new level.
Packed with Zen 3 goodness or, rather, architectural brilliance, this future-proof CPU is the powerhouse your PC needs right now.
This AMD CPU for 1070 8GB shows up as a multitasking ninja, featuring eight cores and 16 threads.
When boosted, the clock speed can rocket to 4.7GHz. Overclocking is possible, with the X-series variant offering enough limit-pushing headroom.
From gaming to 3D modeling to video editing, this all-purpose CPU is a must-have.
This Ryzen 7 processor even blows the 12th-generation KF-series i5 processor out of the water with a PassMark benchmark figure of 27,928.
Benchmark levels: PassMark
As for the gaming performances, the Ryzen 7 works in tandem with the GeForce GTX 1070, letting you reach levels as high as 55 FPS for games like the Ghost Recon Breakpoint at ultra 1080p.
However, I still recommend playing most games at medium 1080p to experience 100+ FPS with this combination.






This processor is a tad more power-efficient compared to the Intel Core i5 processor I reviewed, all thanks to the TDP of 105W.
The 7nm processor is compatible with all AM4 sockets and can accommodate DDR4 memory modules, guaranteeing the sharpest possible responsiveness.
I would recommend going for the B550 motherboards, which are specifically tuned for AMD.
Gaming performances are further heightened by a 36MB cache, which can retrieve most assets like a charm.
And yes, there is no PCIe 5.0 support, but with PCIe 4.0, you can still accommodate a host of new-gen SSDs, unearthing the complete potential of this processor.
GTX 1070 CPU Bottleneck
I’m going to start by saying if you have a 60Hz monitor, you’ll be fine with any modern Core i5 or Ryzen 5 CPU.
That’s because they’ll all be able to hit at least 60 FPS when paired with a GTX 1070 at ultra settings in 1080p.
So even if your CPU bottlenecks 1070 a bit, and your FPS is stuck at 80 FPS even though you could be getting 100 FPS, the real bottleneck is your 60 Hz monitor in the first place.
So if you’re planning on running a GTX 1070 in your rig, I’d recommend upgrading your monitor beforehand anyway.
How to Choose the Right CPU for You
As we’ve already mentioned, the “best CPU” is specific to you and your needs.
If you’re purely concerned with gaming, the Ryzen 5 1600 AF is your best bet.
But if you want to stream those games and maybe edit some videos, using a beefier model like the Ryzen 5 3600 is a better option.
Consider what kind of tasks you’ll be doing, and what kind of performance you’re expecting.
Then you can determine what your budget looks like to meet your needs and purchase a CPU accordingly.
For more information on choosing the best CPU for your PC, read our guide by clicking that link.
GTX 1070 CPU Requirements
The “minimum CPU” depends on how CPU-intensive and GPU-intensive games you want to play.
That’s going to determine how much of an impact CPU usage has on increasing graphics and performance in games.
For example, a game like CS:GO is pretty easy on the CPU, but if you want to play Arma 3 at max settings, you better have the best CPU on earth to run it.
Some features like display resolution, texture resolution, texture filtering, AA, etc. don’t have much of an impact on CPU usage whatsoever but drastically increase the toll on your GPU.
In that case, you should be focusing on the power of your GPU over the CPU.
On that note, your GPU is probably going to be the bottleneck in most games, even at 1080p, if you’re using ultra settings.
There is little point in losing sleep about your CPU being an insane bottleneck on your GPU.
On another side note, meeting your GTX 1070 CPU requirements while ensuring energy efficiency is possible by enabling ErP settings in BIOS.
Overall in a nutshell, here’s what you need to know:
If you plan on building a PC primarily for gaming with a GTX 1070, using a modern Ryzen 5 or Core i5 CPU is your best bet. For some added performance, bump it up to Ryzen 7 or Core i7 chips.
Compare CPUs
If you want to compare different CPUs to help you decide which is best for your 1060, here are some awesome resources for you:
If you’re planning to get a new CPU or a Motherboard for your build, and wondering which RAM type is most suitable for you, check out our article on RAM compatibility here.
Those links should help!
Review Summary
- Speeds: 3.7GHz - 4.9GHz
- Cores: 10
- Socket: LGA1700
- TDP: 125W