Thanks to some significant architectural modifications and a more energy-efficient node, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 4080 is a significant improvement over the previous generation RTX 3080. Although it costs less than the RTX 3090 Ti, it performs better.
Our favorite graphics card for 2024 is the “Super” version of the RTX 4080. Thanks to additions like DLSS 3 and robust ray tracing support, PC gamers who want an amazing 4K experience—with the potential to slay 1440p (QHD) as well—can get what they need with the RTX 4080. Whether you choose AMD or Intel and how much you want to pay will ultimately determine which CPU is best for your RTX 4080.
To get you started, we’ve have compiled a list of the top six CPUs for the RTX 4080, all of which we have examined at Windows Central or have enough expertise with to offer a reliable suggestion.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D received a positive review from everybody, praising its “amazing gaming performance” and good power management. AMD fans should have a lot of luck with the RTX 4080, whether they want to play games in 1440p or 4K. It typically costs about $459 and uses the AM5 socket, which AMD will continue to support for years.
Intel Core i7-13700K
Our assessment of the Core i7-13700K referred to it as the “top CPU for gaming.” Additionally, you can save some money on the 13th Gen CPU and still enjoy an amazing PC gaming experience with the RTX 4080, given that the newer Core i7-14700K really does not represent much of an advance. It frequently costs less than $400 and utilizes the LGA 1700 socket.
Intel Core i9-13900K
Although the 14th generation hardware is more costly without significantly increasing power, the Core i9-13900K that we examined is no longer the newest high-performance Intel CPU. This LGA 1700 CPU is more than capable of handling 4K gaming if you want to go all out with an Intel machine. It frequently drops to about $400 with frequent discounts.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
In contrast, AMD’s Ryzen 9 7950X3D, which has 16 cores and 32 threads, is a high-performance CPU. It will completely destroy 4K gaming with an RTX 4080, supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0, and utilizes the AM5 socket that AMD intends to support for years to come. Given that it typically costs around $650, you would want to think about whether it is necessary for your purposes.
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
In addition to being a productivity beast, AMD’s Ryzen 9 9950X is also a fantastic gaming processor. With 16 cores and 32 threads, this Zen 5 processor supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 and operates at a 170W TDP. It is undoubtedly priced for the enthusiast market, as it is often available for around $700.
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Even when paired with the expensive RTX 4080, the affordable CPU—dubbed a “6-core beast” in our evaluation of the Ryzen 5 7600X—is a fantastic choice. It can be overclocked if you require a little more power, and it supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0. It operates on the AM5 socket. It is typically available for about $200, which is ideal if you overspent on a new GPU.
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
Best deal
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Intel Core i7-13700K
Intel Core i9-13900K
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
AMD Ryzen 5 7600XFinding the NVIDIA RTX 4080’s ideal CPU
Our first choice for a CPU to go with the RTX 3080 is the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D, at least until the more recent Ryzen 7 9800X3D that we evaluated comes back into stock. Although its productivity performance lags below Intel’s, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D offers unique 3D V-Cache improvements to improve performance in games. It costs roughly $459 without a discount.
We recommend the Core i7-13700K if you would want to use Intel. For the asking price, Intel’s 14th generation hardware is not much better. According to Rich Edmonds, a former senior editor of Windows Central, the Core i7-13700K is “everything you need for a capable PC.” It supports DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0, using the LGA 1700 socket, and is typically available for less than $400.
Your RTX 4080 can work well with any of the other CPUs in this collection, and the pricing range should suit the majority of consumers. While budget consumers who spent all of their money on the RTX 4080 might want to look at the Ryzen 5 7600X, enthusiasts and power users will probably be content to pay more on something like the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D or Intel Core i9-13900K.
We advise you to hold off on purchasing an AMD Zen 5 chip until the Ryzen 7 9800X3D is back in stock. As an alternative, enthusiasts who are interested in more than just gaming should consider the Ryzen 9 9950X, which typically retails for about $700.
Should you hold off until Cyber Monday or Black Friday?
We have been tracking Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales for more than eight years, and the best offers on CPUs and GPUs are almost always found at the end of November. Major businesses appear to have set aside the entire month of November for Black Friday, which occurs on November 29 and Cyber Monday, which occurs on December 2, 2024. In the event that you wish to begin shopping right away, some even offer price protection.
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is my preferred CPU to use with the RTX 4080, at least until the Ryzen 7 9800X3D comes out sans scalpers. Since the release of the Ryzen 9000 processors this year, prices have fluctuated greatly, but as of this writing, they have stabilized at roughly $459.
That is a little over MSRP, and the CPU’s price history indicates that it was as low as $320.38 in 2024. It is worth waiting to see if you can save some money, even though the CPU might not be on sale on Black Friday or Cyber Monday due to its popularity and apparently limited supply.
At the time this update was written, Intel’s Core i7-13700K and Core i9-13900K were already on sale. With the Core i7-13700K selling for roughly $284 and the Core i9-13900K selling for about $401, Amazon is the greatest place to shop.
Although the former CPU has decreased to $250 in 2024, it is the lowest price I have ever seen for the latter. At $401, I would be tempted to buy the Core i9, but I would wait to see if the Core i7 dropped any lower.
The Ryzen 9 9950X is the best option for enthusiasts that prioritize more than just gaming if you are looking for one of AMD’s newest Zen 5 CPUs. Even though Newegg is offering a $90 discount, the chip is still roughly $100 more expensive than the $598.87 price I briefly saw earlier this year.
In summary, as Black Friday and Cyber Monday draw nearer, you ought to be able to locate the finest deals. I do not anticipate anything different this year; that is how it has been in the past.
