5 Best CPU for 2080 Ti in 2025 (Guaranteed No Bottleneck)

• Best CPU for RTX 2080 Ti
• RTX 2080 Ti CPU Bottleneck
• Is the RTX 2080 Ti better than the 1080 Ti?
• How to Choose a CPU for 2080 Ti Card?
• Best CPU for Other Graphics Cards
• Review Summary

Here’s the deal:

You’re looking for the best CPU to pair with 2080 Ti.

I feel you bro, the last thing you want to do is screw yourself by making the wrong decision.

Choosing the right processor will make or break your build.

Spend too much, and you’ll waste money. Spend too little, and you’ll be plagued by bottlenecks.

The importance of getting your CPU selection just right cannot be overstated.

So here are my top 3 recommendations for you:

1. Best AMD Chip: AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
2. Best Intel Chip: Intel Core i9 9900K
3. Cheapest Option: AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Best CPU for RTX 2080 Ti

As for the tests, I didn’t just just rely on running benchmarks; I used them as you will — gaming, creating, and getting things done.

I also kept an eye out for how they performed, and whether they were power hogs or not.

Rest assured, my picks are grounded in real use in about dozens of builds and a solid understanding of what you need in a processor to match RTX 2080 Ti.

03/23/2025 08:35 am GMT

Now without further adieu, let’s discuss the top 5 compatible CPUs for RTX 2080 Ti:

1. AMD Ryzen 7 3700X: Best Overall

This is the go-to AMD chip for those eyeing solid performance without emptying their wallets, making it a good CPU for 2080 Ti.

While AMD Ryzen 7 3700X may not be the fastest one on the entire market, what’s lacking in terms of power is more than made up for in value.

It balances power, efficiency, and ease of use, making it a smart pick for gamers and creators alike.

With a base clock speed of 3.6GHz that you can push to 4.4GHz when needed, the Ryzen 7 3700X runs on a sleek 7nm process. This means it’s not just powerful with its eight cores and 16 threads, but it’s also efficient, keeping power use and heat down.

It nails a Geekbench 5 single-core score of 1624. When you crank up the settings on games like COD: Warzone 2.0 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, you’re still looking at smooth 1080p gameplay with 75 fps and 62 fps respectively.

Efficiency is a big win with this CPU, boasting a modest 65-watt TDP. It’s compatible with AM4 socket motherboards, including A300 and A320, ensuring you’ve got options. Plus, it supports DDR4 RAM up to 3200 MT/s, covering all your needs.

Setting it up is a breeze thanks to the AM4 platform’s user-friendly design. And if you ever feel the itch to overclock, the Ryzen 7 3700X is ready with an unlocked multiplier just for you.

Throw in a three-year warranty and PCIe gen 4.0 support for your extra gear, and you’ve got a solid partner for your RTX 2080 Ti.

2. Intel Core i9 9900K: Beast Performance

If you want absolutely the best chip to tie with your 2080 Ti card and you support Blue Team, this is the one.

The Intel Core i9 9900K boasts some of the highest performance numbers we’ve ever seen from a consumer chip.

This insane performance is a direct result of Intel having to “step it up” due to their AMD competition.

Just like our top pick, this CPU comes with eight cores, 16 threads, and a base clock of 3.6GHZ.

But where this chip separates itself from the pack is its boost clock. It can boost up to 5GHZ stock!!

It was not long ago that those kinds of speeds were only attainable with liquid nitrogen cooling.

The other main attraction of this CPU is its overclocking potential.

If you win the “silicon lottery” there’s a chance you could use this CPU to run stable at 5GHz, all the time.

But even if you don’t get that lucky, almost all 9900Ks will overclock to at least 4.6GHz.

But there are two reasons why this chip isn’t our number one pick.

The first one is cost – coming in just over 500 US dollars, the i9-9900K is best for a super expensive build. Otherwise, Ryzen 9 will give you 90% of the performance for almost $200 less.

The 2nd reason we gave the Ryzen the number one spot is because of the motherboards that the i9 requires.

The Z390 chipset is pretty expensive. They are also not nearly as backward compatible as the AMD motherboards.

Overall, the Ryzen 9 line is probably a better choice for the money, but in terms of raw performance, you can’t argue with the i9-9900K.

3. Intel Core i5-10600K: Best for Gaming

This is ideal for gamers on a budget, blending solid performance with overclocking chops that won’t break the bank.

Recently invested in a powerful graphics card — RTX 2080 Ti — and now searching for the best CPU to pair it with? Well, the Intel Core i5-10600K might just be the perfect option for under $200, provided you are interested in a better overclocking potential and a high-performance baseline, all thanks to the K-series.

Gaming-wise, the on-paper bottleneck of the i5-10600K might be a tad higher than expected with the 2080 Ti card.

However, in reality, it can perform really well, with the average 1080p gaming FPS going as high as 162 fps. I tested the combo for playing “Shadow of the Tomb Raider,” and could churn out close to 110 fps at 1440p.

Another element of the RTX 2080 compatibility has to be the manageable TDP levels at 125W.

As for the socket, the LGA 1200 variant is supported across motherboards, followed by compatibility with DDR4 memory modules — dual-channel ones, to be precise.

Based on my tests, the heat output was consistently low. The processor is built using Intel’s 14nm process, which accounts for the slightly high on-paper TDP level.

While installing, I paired it with the ROG Maximus XII Hero motherboard and didn’t face any issues.

Even BIOS updates weren’t needed, and the machine started without any hiccups. However, if you have plans of pairing a cooler, it is crucial to set aside some case-specific space beforehand.

Plus, the Intel Core i5-10600K boasts Hyper-Threading support and features PCIe 3.0 functionality for pairing high-speed components. Overall, this chipset adheres to all the 2080 Ti requirements.

4. AMD Ryzen 5 3600: Best under $150

Up next is a no-brainer if you’re looking to get the most bang for your buck with top-notch gaming and multitasking performance under $150.

If you prefer AMD’s cost-effectiveness, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 comes across as one of the most advanced processors around.

Besides being a good CPU for 2080 and similar setups, it even makes a strong case across other CPU GPU pairings, courtesy of its high-end multi-threaded performance.

For starters, this best AMD CPU for gaming packs 6 cores and 12 threads. The base clock speed stands at a respectable 3.6 GHz, whereas the max boost support can go as high as 4.2 GHz.

When it comes to gaming benchmarks and performance, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 can easily hit 100+ FPS for titles like COD: Warzone and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1440p.

But the most fun part has to be the lowest possible TDP level of 65W, which feels lower with the integrated Wraith Spire Cooler in play. Also, it supports the PCIe 4.0 lanes on the X570 motherboards, underlining the presence of a future-proofed processor.

As for the user experience associated with installation, I tried pairing the same with the ROG Strix X570 E-Gaming chipset.

The compatibility with the advanced socket AM4 platform stood out, allowing easy pairing. However, a BIOS upgrade was needed to get all the drivers in place.

Even though the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is a loaded piece of hardware, its simultaneous multithreading capability, followed by the sizable game cache, makes it pip some of the similarly priced Intel counterparts with ease.

5. Intel Core i7-9700K: Premium Pick

Want a premium performance with its 8 cores? This is a great option if you’re willing to invest a bit more for your rig

If you prefer AMD’s cost-effectiveness, the Intel Core i7-9700K

Even though the Intel Core i7-9700K supports overclocking, this K-series processor can easily handle most games and tasks without needing the overclocking juice.

Based on the power, this processor is more than enough for all your 1440p gaming needs. It is also the best CPU for 2080 Ti GPU, provided you do not mind a 9th gen variant.

When it comes to the gaming potential, the Intel Core i7-9700K can easily handle the likes of Fortnite and Battlefield V at 1440p, letting you hit rates like 135 FPS and 120 FPS rather consistently.

Even though the i7-9700K is known to be weaker as compared to the RTX 2080 Ti, the gaming performances at 1080p hardly justify the criticism.

At 95W, the TDP levels are manageable. However, for high-demand gaming scenarios, it is necessary to pair all the adequate cooling options.

As for the RAM support, the i7-9700K can work easily with the dual-channel DDR4 memory modules up to 4400MHz.

I tested the processor with the Maximus XI Hero motherboard and was happy to see how accommodating the LGA 1151 socket was toward the CPU.

The BIOS interface was friendly, which should be more than enough for a beginner trying to install a processor for the first time. Plus, the motherboard’s AI Suite III software helped with the performance tuning.

Unlike some other CPUs on the list, the Intel Core i7-9700K comes equipped with a resourceful integrated graphics card in the UHD 630.

While hyperthreading isn’t supported, the support for Optane Memory helps with faster gaming performances and accelerated system responsiveness for users who still stick to the HDDs.

RTX 2080 Ti CPU Bottleneck

Bottlenecking is a term commonly heard in the gaming PC world. It means one piece of a system is causing the others within the system to slow down.

For example:

Imagine you pair a 2080TI with an Intel Core 2 Duo E4500. Even though the 2080 TI is an amazingly fast card capable of 100s of FPS, you might only get 30 FPS. This slowdown is because the E4500 is bottlenecking the GPU, making the whole system run slower.

The 2080TI is a mighty card and needs a powerful CPU to go with it. For this reason, I would not recommend going with any CPU slower than the Ryzen 5 2600 or the Core I5-9400.

Any slower CPU will cause a significant drop off in performance, and you won’t be using your GPU to its full potential.

Is the RTX 2080 Ti better than the 1080 Ti?

Simply put, yes it is

But the long answer is the 2080ti is about 30% faster than its last-gen counterpart and includes Nvidia’s new Ray-Tracing.

Ray-Tracing is a sophisticated new technology that makes the lighting in some games appear infinitely better but at a steep FPS penalty.

How to Choose a CPU for 2080 Ti Card?

Choosing a CPU is an essential part of any build as it will affect what kind of motherboard, RAM, and even storage you’re going to buy.

Here are three factors to consider:

Price – When planning a build, I would say a CPU should account for about 15-35% of your total budget. If it’s gaming performance that you’re after, remember that you’re better off spending more money on the GPU than you are buying a better CPU.

Core Count – Having extra cores is always a good thing because they allow you to run more applications at once.

For example, if you plan on gaming, streaming, and listening to Spotify at the same time, then it’s probably wise to look for a CPU with at least eight cores. If you’re purely gaming, however, six or even four cores should suit you just fine. The other thing you see on most CPUs is the thread count.

Threads are very similar to cores. Most CPUs have hyperthreading, which means that they have twice as many threads as they do cores, but some have the same amount of cores and threads.

Clock Speed – The speed of a CPU is essential to its performance, and there are a few key specs you need to consider.

The first is the base clock; this is the speed the CPU is rated to perform in most light workload situations. The 2nd is the boost speed, which will always be faster than the base clock. The boost clock is the speed the CPU can ramp up to for a short time when it’s under a heavy load like gaming, streaming, or editing.

Overclocking – Lastly, consider whether your CPU is overclockable. Overclocking your CPU can make it run a lot faster and give you way more performance in games and rendering.

There are a few drawbacks to overclocking, however. It produces more heat, makes the system more unstable, and uses more power. The faster you go, the worse these side effects get.

Best CPU for Other Graphics Cards

Check out our other CPU recommendations:

CPU	Image	Guide
Best CPU for GTX 1070		Read the Guide
Best CPU for GTX 1060		Read the Guide
Best CPU for GTX 1080 Ti		Read the Guide

Compare CPUs

If you want to compare different CPUs to help you decide which is best for 2080 and 2080 Ti, here are some awesome resources for you:

• UserBenchmark
• CPUBoss
• CPU Benchmarks

Those links should help!

Review Summary

Choosing the best processor for 2080 Ti isn’t a cakewalk, but I sure can make your path easier with my top recommendations based on my build experience:

03/23/2025 08:35 am GMT