Are you looking in the market for powerful PC parts to build your dream PC? Well, the chance is, that you must be looking for a powerful GPU for churning out high FPS in games and experiencing smooth workflows in creative suites. One such GPU is The RTX 2080, which despite being last-gen is an absolute beast that can handle almost anything you throw at it without breaking a sweat.
Table of Contents
Best CPUs For The RTX 2080
However, a powerful GPU must be accompanied by a powerful CPU. Choosing a good CPU will help the GPU to not bottleneck and help it give its maximum performance, and therefore, the CPU is as important as the GPU in a high-performance PC build. However, in this huge PC market, choosing a suitable CPU is indeed very challenging. Well, fear not dear reader! This article shall enlist the best CPUs to accompany the RTX 2080, across various budgets and use cases.
1. AMD Ryzen 7 3700X
Cores: 8
Thread: 16
Base Clock: 3.6 GHz
Boost Clock: 4.4 GHz
TDP: 65W
Looking for the safest option for a CPU for all-around performance? Well, the Ryzen 3700x has you covered. It is powerful, efficient, cheap, feature-packed, and is one of the most well-reviewed CPUs by both consumers and enthusiasts. A safe and great choice.
Key Features
- It gives you amazing performance for everyday use as well as gaming
- It has a base clock of 3.6 GHz which can be overclocked to 4.4Ghz with overclocking
- Supports high-speed storage speeds with PCIe gen 4
- It is very power efficient, with a modest TDP of 65W
Pros
- Great all-round performance
- Great efficiency
- Cheap Price
- Great at multitasking
- Includes a fan
- Has hyperthreading
- Good for gaming
- No heating issues despite overclocking
Cons
- Not the most powerful
- No integrated graphics
2.Intel i7 10700K
Cores: 8
Threads: 16
Base Clock: 3.8 GHz
Boost Clock: 45.1 GHz
TDP: 125W
Want more gaming pedigree? Well, the Intel i7 10700K is the one for you. It is astoundingly fast, chews through almost any game, and is value for money.
Key Features
- One of the best CPUs for gaming, due to its 8 high-frequency cores which give an amazing single-core performance
- It has a base clock of 3.8 GHz and can be pushed to 5.1 GHz through over-clocking, for amazing gaming performance
- Intel’s Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technology ensures that the CPU can run at full throttle if needed
Pros
- Great gaming performance
- Great overclocking
- Value for Money
- Great for overclocking
- Low cooling requirements
Cons
- Comparatively expensive
- No included cooler
- Not very efficient due to the old 14nm architecture
- No cooling fan included
- Slower storage due to PCIe gen 3
- Not great for productivity
3. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Core: 6
Threads: 12
Base Clock: 3.7 GHz
Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz
TDP: 65W
Want one of the best CPU deals right now? The Ryzen 5 5600X, is a perfect choice. Its brand new Zen-3 architecture makes sure that it is powerful and trades blows with chips that are way over its price range. It is extremely efficient, and also produces less heat when compared with similar chips.
Key Features
- A very high-performance CPU aimed at gaming, streaming, video editing, and creative work
- Has a base clock of 3.7 GHz which can be overclocked to 4.6 GHz which delivers amazing gaming performance
- It is very power efficient, with a modest TDP of 65W
- Comes with a decent cooling fan
Pros
- Excellent all-round performance
- Excellent efficiency due to a low TDP
- Great for gaming
- Provides hyperthreading
- Includes a fan
- Quite affordable
Cons
- Has no integrated graphics
- Overclocking doesn’t result in much better performance
4. Ryzen 5 3600X
Core: 6
Threads: 12
Base Clock: 3.7 GHz
Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz
TDP: 65W
Want, great gaming performance for cheap? The Ryzen 5 3600, is a perfect choice. Fast, reliable, efficient, smart, feature-packed, versatile, and cheap, this CPU can do it all! It can be a gaming powerhouse, at a fraction of the price of its competitors.
Key Features
- A very high-performance CPU aimed at gaming, streaming, video editing, and creative work.
- Has a base clock of 3.6 GHz which can be overclocked to 4.2 GHz which delivers amazing gaming performance.
- It is very power efficient, with a modest TDP of 65W.
- Uses the PBO algorithm to automatically switch between various levels of performance on the basis of the user’s workflow.
- Comes with a decent cooling fan.
Pros
- Excellent all-round performance
- Excellent efficiency due to a low TDP
- Great for gaming
- Provides hyperthreading
- Includes a fan
- Quite affordable
- Great overclocking capabilities
Cons
- Has no integrated graphics
- Not very powerful for the most intensive tasks
5. Intel Core i5 9600K
Cores: 6
Threads: 6
Base Clock: 3.7 GHz
Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz
TDP: 65W
Want more gaming performance for the price? Well, the Intel i5 9600K delivers on that. With great gaming performance, great efficiency, and a cheaper price than the competition, this CPU quenches your gamer thirst at a low price.
Key Features
- A completely gaming-oriented CPU with 6 very fast high-performance cores
- It has a base clock of 3.7 GHz and can be overclocked to 4.6 GHz
- It is an efficient chip delivering good performance while having a TDP of 65W
- More powerful than the similarly priced Ryzen 7 3700X
Pros
- Best gaming performance at a budget
- Huge headroom for overclocking
- Great efficiency
Cons
- Falls short in other categories
- No included cooler
- Only 6 cores act as a bottleneck
- Stuttering issues in games
- Can be overclocked by limited motherboards
6. Intel i9 10900K
Cores: 10
Threads: 20
Base Clock: 3.7 GHz
Boost Clock: 4.9 GHz
TDP: 205W
Want one of the best gaming performances that money can buy? Well, the Intel i9 10900K is the behemoth you are craving. Insanely powerful, insanely fast, and capable of withstanding anything you throw at it, this CPU is the perfect companion to realize the RTX 2080’s gaming potential.
Key Features
- A gaming behemoth featuring 10 high-performance cores with 20 threads, which makes it suitable for any demanding tasks
- It has a base clock of 3.7 GHz which can be overclocked to 5.3 GHz for ultimate gaming performance
- Intel’s Turbo Boost Max 3.0 technology ensures maximum performance and clock speed
Pros
- One of the best gaming performances on the market
- Suitable for both gamers and professionals
- Excellent for multitasking
- Excellent overclocking abilities
- Consistent performance
Cons
- Extremely expensive
- Has heating issues when overclocked
- No value for money
- It requires a lot of power to run properly
- Requires a robust cooling system to cool it down
- Requires very expensive motherboards to run
- Slow PCIe gen 3 storage
- Still uses outdated 14nm architecture
7. AMD RYZEN 9 5900X
Cores: 12
Threads: 24
Base Clock: 3.8GHz
Boost Clock: 4.6 GHz
TDP: 105W
Looking for top-of-the-line all-around performance? The Ryzen 9 3900X is the one to look for. Amazing gaming performance, speed, and capable of handling any intensive task you put it through, this CPU is for those that want performance in all spheres, especially gaming and content creation. Pair this with the RTX 2080 and you will have a monster for content creation, streaming, and gaming
Key Features
- It features 12 cores and 24 threads, which makes it much more powerful than the competition, especially for content creation and multitasking.
- The base clock of 3.8 GHz which can be overclocked to 4.6 GHz, gives amazing gaming performance.
- Considering how powerful it is, the 105W TDP shows its amazing efficiency.
- PBO and Auto OC technologies ensure that the CPU works at its best, and makes sure that the CPU switches performance modes based on the use case scenario, while also maintaining acceptable temperatures.
- The inclusion of PCIe gen 4, ensures amazing storage speeds.
- Comes with a decent fan for cooling.
Pros
- Amazing all-round performance
- Excellent for content creation
- Excellent gaming performance as well for streaming
- One of the best CPUs for multitasking
- Great power efficiency
Cons
- It is quite expensive
- Gets pretty hot in demanding workloads
- Needs a robust cooling fan to work properly
- No integrated graphics
- Low overclocking capabilities
Buying Guide
While buying a CPU for a powerful build aimed at gaming and professional workflows, the buyer must consider the following factors:
- Core and Thread Count
Generally, the more cores and threads there are, the more powerful the CPU is and the more activities it can handle. However, for gaming setups, you need faster processing speed rather than raw power. Meanwhile, professional work requires more cores and threads to handle intensive tasks.
- Clock Speed
The clock speed of a CPU is another metric of how fast or powerful the CPU is. It is measured in Gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the higher the clock, the faster the CPU. CPU clocks are of two types: Base clock (CPU default speed) and boost clock (CPU maximum speed). The boost clock is always higher than the base clock as that is when the CPU is running at maximum power.
- Overclocking
Overclocking as the name suggests, means increasing the clock speeds of a CPU, for better speed and performance. However, it causes heating issues and also stability issues. CPUs supporting overclocking are recommended only if you want pure performance out of your CPU, and if you have enough cooling to control the chip.
- Thermal System and Power Delivery
To use a CPU properly, especially a powerful one, you need to ensure that you have an adequate power supply to help the CPU run at maximum power. The power consumption of a CPU is measured in TDP. The higher the TDP, the more power it consumes
Along with this, you must ensure that your PC has enough cooling systems to make sure the CPU doesn’t overheat to ensure performance and stability.
- Price
One of the most important metrics while buying CPUs is price. You don’t necessarily need to spend for the best cutting-edge CPU unless you need unmatched performance. Current gen Mid-tier CPUs or even previous-gen CPUs are powerful enough to handle most creative tasks and games yet are relatively cheaper.
FAQ’s
Q1) What is the best processor to pair with the RTX 2080?
Ans: Well, that is purely up to you and your use cases. If you need more gaming power, more clock speed is generally better. If you need something for content creation then go for something that has more cores and threads.
Q2) Is there any warranty on CPUs?
Ans: Yes, CPU manufacturers guarantee a warranty on their products. These are subject to conditions that can be found on the company’s page or on the product page.
Q3) Is fast storage important for good CPU performance?
Ans: Yes, fast storage means faster processing and transfer of information, which increases speed and performance.
Q4) Will more RAM increase CPU performance and efficiency?
Ans: Yes, more RAM results in more speed, performance, and stability of the system. This ensures that the CPU is working at its maximum power.
Q5) Are CPU fans important?
Ans: Yes, CPU fans are very important, especially when the CPU is quite powerful, and therefore, it needs more cooling.
Q6) Can CPU cores die?
Ans: Yes, CPU cores can die, and if they die, the whole CPU will stop functioning properly.
Q7) Are CPUs repairable?
Ans: Yes, CPUs are repairable, but they should only be done by professionals.
Q8) Does a CPU affect gaming performance?
Ans: Yes, a CPU affects gaming performance, and therefore you should have an adequately powerful CPU along with a powerful GPU for good gaming performance.
Q9) Which CPU brand is better AMD or Intel?
Ans: Well, both of these are professional chip manufacturers and therefore any of them is a good choice. AMD leans more towards productivity and raw power, while Intel focuses on snappy cores for amazing gaming performance.
Wrapping Up
Well, that’s it!
These are the list of the best CPUs you can buy for the RTX 2080 to harness all of its performance at the best possible price. Hopefully, you have found this article useful, have understood how to get a CPU according to your needs, and have found the one you need from the given list.
That’s it for now dear reader. Now enjoy the power of modern computing and keep slaying your favorite as well as any digital work that needs your attention.
Kiran Kotte is a 25 years old Youtuber. He is a tech geek and also codes sometimes. He writes on various topics like Technology, Blogging, Web designing, and SEO. He runs various other blogs under various niches.