Honestly, I am not going to lie to you. There is no denying that the RTX 2080 is regarded as one of the best GPUs out there. It is true that there are faster GPUs available on the market now, but that doesn’t mean the GPU isn’t good enough and that it does not manage to deliver the best performance it can.
It has been my pleasure to use the RTX 2080 and 2080 Ti, and I can tell you they are excellent graphics cards. You’re in for a lot of issues like performance degradation, bottlenecking, and whatnot if you don’t have a good CPU along with a powerful GPU.
Hence, I decided to write my review of the best CPU for rtx 2080 ti. This should be helpful to those still trying to find the right CPU.
You won’t have to worry if you are on the Intel or AMD side, because I will include some great processors from both camps.
Reviewing the Best CPU for RTX 2080
The CPU market has saturated to such an extent that if you are looking for the best CPU for RTX 2080, you don’t need to worry as we have put together a list of the best CPUs for your upcoming build, so that you don’t have to worry. We shouldn’t waste any more time and just get started.
Our Top Best CPU to Pair with RTX 2080 ti Reviews
1. Intel Core i7-12700K
It should not come as a surprise to anyone that I will talk about the first CPU. Several people, including myself, were confused and worried when Intel released their 12th generation processors, assuming this would follow the same pattern as previous Intel processors and we might not get the same experience. When the processors were released and the reviews started pouring, all doubts were cleared away.
Among the finest processors on the market, the Intel Core i7-12700K is one of the best. In my roundups, I have featured this review several times before, and every time I do, I still find that it delivers excellent performance and experience, and that is something you should take into consideration.
It is amazing how often you don’t see CPUs priced at that level. This is something that we definitely will see this time around.
Based on performance, I am more than happy to report that the Intel Core i7-12700K is capable of easily matching the much more expensive and hotter i9 12900K, which is not something you can accomplish easily. And if you have been concerned about this, this isn’t the case you’re going through. Also, there aren’t many caveats, so if you’re worried, this won’t happen.
If I were to talk about performance here, you would be happy to know that the CPU has excellent performance, both single-threaded and multi-threaded, which is great for those who enjoy gaming and some creative work as well. Almost everything can be handled by the CPU, so you won’t have to worry about any problems that may arise.
As well as PCIe 5.0 and DDR5, the Intel Core i7-12700K supports the latest and greatest standards. The best part is that the CPU overclocks very well, making it a great choice, and on top of that, its power efficiency is also dramatically improved in comparison to some of the older CPUs.
I don’t have any complaints about the Intel Core i7-12700K at this point, but I should note that the CPU draws more power than the competition, so I would recommend pairing it with a power supply that is of good quality.
The Intel Core i7-12700K is one beast of a CPU that can more than complement your RTX 3080. The best thing you can do if you are looking for a solid CPU is to get your hands on this CPU and you will not regret it at all because it does deliver on its promises.
Pros
- An excellent price.
- Can easily match i9 12900K in terms of gaming performance.
- The single and multi-threaded performance is excellent.
- Supports PCIe 5.0 as well as DDR5.
- Can easily be overclocked.
- The power efficiency is greatly improved.
Cons
- Draws more power than the competition.
2. Intel Core i5 12600K
This time around, we are looking at a CPU from Intel, and this time, most would describe it as the best gaming processor on the market, and that is because Intel has managed to come a long, long way from where it started and has been delivering excellent CPUs all along the way. Generally, the Core i5 lineup is considered the best for anyone seeking a mainstream gaming PC that delivers great performance.
It is definitely one of my favorite CPUs, so I am using the Intel Core i5 12600K on my bench. Investing in this CPU is more than enough if you do not want something that is expensive and high-end, and you will be surprised by the price you pay. This CPU is an excellently priced CPU, and I cannot recall seeing one like it in a long time.
While the Intel Core i5 12600K does not come close to matching its legacy, it delivers ground-breaking performance in almost every case, so much so that you won’t have any problems using it, either. You won’t be disappointed if you purchase this processor if you’ve been searching for something good. I tested a lot of games and other tasks with it and it never failed me. Proving itself over and over again.
One of the things I found surprising was that in terms of overall performance, the Intel Core i5 12600K beats the i9 11900K by a mile. It’s not something we see every day, but Intel has obviously done a superb job on this, and you won’t regret it either. It is definitely the right decision for you to buy this processor if you’re looking for something good and solid overall.
As a consequence, I am also impressed with the fact that the Intel Core i5 12600K is both future-proof and more powerful than some of the other CPUs on the market. Hence, if you are interested in upgrading to a higher-end and faster motherboard without spending more money, you can do so easily.
As for performance, this processor is more than satisfactory, but if you intend to overclock it, the overall power draw will increase.
Overall, the Intel Core i5 12600K serves as perhaps one of the best gaming CPUs you can buy. This CPU will not disappoint if you have been looking for top of the line performance without flinching for even a second. If you are seeking top of the line performance, this is the CPU for you. This is an amazing offering that I would wholeheartedly recommend.
Pros
- Unbeatable value for money.
- Great overclocking potential.
- Massive performance increase over the previous generation.
- Future-proof platform.
Cons
- Power draw increases significantly when overclocked.
3. AMD Ryzen 9 5900X
The next processor we’ll examine is something special from AMD. Following a tumultuous period, AMD has quickly risen up and become one of the top companies in the CPU industry. It is true that AMD’s earlier Ryzen CPUs did go through some ups and downs, but in recent years, AMD has become a force to be reckoned with. For those looking for truly exceptional products, AMD is the right choice.
In case you’re wondering, AMD released the Ryzen 9 5900X processor a long time ago, and it’s actually one of their best CPUs in a while. Many argue that this CPU isn’t quite up to par with some of the other offerings, but what’s great about it is that you’re still getting great value for money and a good price to performance ratio as well.
This CPU has 12 cores and 24 threads, so it delivers class-leading performance in games as well as productivity and creativity tasks. In other words, if you are working on some rendering, you’ll be pleased to know that the performance in all of these tasks is excellent, and it does not show signs of sluggishness.
Aside from that, you’re getting a great deal of power efficiency with the CPU, so if you’ve been afraid you won’t get the experience that you’re looking for, you won’t be disappointed. It doesn’t matter whether you run a single-core or a multi-core task, the CPU will be sufficient to handle those tasks.
This CPU is also very power efficient, which AMD has done an excellent job at ensuring, and you do not even need a new motherboard or software platform.
Honestly, I don’t really have a lot of problems with the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X in terms of its downsides. I believe it is the best CPU on the market today. In order to adequately cool this one down, you will need a good cooler, and if you would like more overclocking headroom, you might not want to choose this model.
There’s no question that the AMD Ryzen 9 5900X provides great performance across the board and doesn’t come at a high price, either. For anyone who is looking for something good and powerful, this is the right CPU to get.
Pros
- The performance remains amazing.
- Great single and multi-core scores.
- The power consumption is not a lot.
- You can still use your existing AM4 motherboard.
Cons
- Requires a decent cooler.
- Hot a lot of overclocking headroom.
4. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
Here is something from AMD that will satisfy anyone who is looking for something good and performing well. A great thing about the company is that it has realized the potential to release some amazing processors in the past couple of years.
We have AMD Ryzen 5 series processors that offer exceptional performance at a reasonable cost, just like the Intel Core i5 series.
So, with that in mind, let me present you with the legendary AMD Ryzen 5 5600X processor, which brings excellent value to the table just as the Core i5 12600K does. Moreover, we are not going to lie, the performance here is on par with some of the finest processors on the market, so if you are looking for some great performance, this is the processor for you.
Having said that, I am pleased to inform you that AMD Ryzen CPUs are no longer hampered by poor performance, as the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X excels in gaming performance and does so with ease. Also, both single-threaded as well as multi-threaded applications work flawlessly, and we didn’t encounter any problems with the CPU in general.
The CPU manages to remain cool even under pressure, so if you are concerned about generating a lot of heat, then there is no need to worry about it. In addition, cooling it is not that hard since it is a lot easier to cool than one might expect. Additionally, AMD has done a great job with the overall power efficiency of this CPU, so if you were worried that you might not have the right experience, that will not be the case.
As far as that is concerned, you are safe in that regard as well, as you get support for PCIe Gen 4 and other stuff like bundled coolers.
However, manually overclocking the Ryzen 5 5600X is not as easy as one would think. On the bright side, the Ryzen 5 5600X serves as one of the best CPUs that you can buy.
The Ryzen 5 5600X is a high-performance, budget-friendly CPU that delivers good performance and great value for money. If you are looking for high performance and great value, this is the CPU for you.
Pros
- Unbelievable value for money.
- Great speeds in all tasks.
- Easy to cool.
- Modern connectivity and hardware support.
Cons
- Manual overclocking is not as easy.
5. Intel Core i5-12400F
Honestly, the last CPU we’re looking at is quite special. The 12th generation of Intel processors has made a major impression on the market, and I can already tell you that for people who want good value for money and great performance. Getting Intel processors is the right thing to do because they won’t let you down, to be honest. Therefore, if you want something good, getting an Intel right now is the best decision.
The processor in question is the revered Intel Core i5-12400F, which is an excellent budget-oriented option that is able to handle all games and tasks you throw at it. Honestly, this CPU is not disappointing.
One of the best things about this CPU is that it might be the best bargain I’ve seen for a long time when it comes to price to performance. For those who want to go the single-threaded route, there are some massive gains in performance. In addition, you will get excellent energy efficiency, so you shouldn’t have to worry about it.
Besides its low temperatures, the CPU supports DDR4, DDR5, and PCIe 5.0, and it’s made using a 10nm process, which further increases efficiency.
It is hard to find any faults with this processor except that multiplier-based overclocking will not work since this is not a K series processor.
It is cheap, affordable, runs cool, and provides great performance at the same time. In conclusion, the Intel Core i5-12400F is among the best processors that you can buy today.
Pros
- The value for money is unbeatable.
- Great performance in games and other applications.
- Very, very easy to cool.
- Supports all modern standards.
- Easily available.
Cons
- Multiplier-based overclocking is locked.
ConclusionÂ
If you’ve been looking for something that genuinely is good in terms of overall performance, this list of the best cpu to pair with the RTX 2080 ti will help you get the most out of your experience. I understand that finding a good GPU is a difficult ordeal, and that’s not a good experience for anyone.
Because of this, I have put together a roundup of the best CPUs for RTX 2080 you can find. The CPUs on this list cover a wide range of price ranges, so you do not have to worry about buying a CPU that simply isn’t good enough, since we’ve only listed the best ones out there.