Best CPUs for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 in 2025 – our top picks
The RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 have been announced and are set to hit the shelves on 6th March. These are the first GPUs from AMD after they made the decision to stop competing with Nvidia in the high-end GPU bracket, and it seems like AMD made the right call with the pricing of these GPUs as the 9070 XT and 9070 have a $599 and $549 MSRP, respectively.
Priced lower than their competition, the RTX 5070 and 5070 Ti, it means tough competition for Nvidia in the mid-range category. Based on the online reviews, the RX 9070 XT can easily trade blows with the RX 9070 XT, and AMD’s claim that some RX 9070 XT can outperform the RTX 5070 Ti seems to be legit. That being said, it makes sense to carefully choose a processor to pair with these GPUs to get the maximum value.
While we haven't tested the RX 9070 XT or 9070, we have years of experience and test all our recommended products in-house. This gives us a clear idea of which pairing should work best, and based on that, we've selected a couple of processors to pair with the upcoming GPUs.
Once released, we'll test them and update this guide with selections that may be better suited for these cards. If you're wondering where to buy the RX 9070 XT or the 9070, we've got you covered there as well.
Products at a glance
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Best CPU for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070
AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Boost clock speed: 5.2GHz
- Base clock speed: 4.7GHz
- L3 cache: 96MB
- TDP: 120W
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Best mid-range CPU for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070
Intel Core Ultra 7 265K
- Cores: 20 (8P/12E)
- Threads: 20
- Boost clock speed: 5.5GHz
- Base clock speed: 3.9GHz P-core/3.3GHz E-core
- L3 cache: 30MB
- TDP: 125W base/250W max
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Best high-end CPU for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
- Cores: 12
- Threads: 24
- Boost clock speed: 5.6 GHz
- Base clock speed: 4.4 GHz
- L3 Cache: 64 MB
- TDP: 120 W
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Best budget CPU for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070
AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- Cores: 6
- Threads: 12
- Boost clock speed: 5.4 GHz
- Base clock speed: 3.9 GHz
- L3 Cache: 32 MB
- TDP: 65 W
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Best previous-gen CPU for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Boost speed : up to 5 GHz
- Base speed: 4.2 GHz
- L3 Cache: 96 MB
- TDP: 120 W
How we picked
We selected a bunch of processors for the RX 9070 XT and the RX 9070 based on their price, features, platform, and the performance they showcased when we tested them in-house. This allows us to only recommend the best products and also paint a clear picture by showcasing their real-world performance benchmarks. If you're interested in learning how we test various components, our testing lab has you covered.
Our top picks
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Boost clock speed: 5.2GHz
- Base clock speed: 4.7GHz
- L3 cache: 96MB
- TDP: 120W
- Platform: AM5
- Incredible gaming performance
- Now capable of bein overclocked
- Great power efficiency
- Still falls behind in some multi-core tasks
- Priced nearly as much as Ryzen 9 CPU
The best CPU to pair with the RX 9070 XT or the RX 9070 is the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, as it is currently the best gaming processor in the world. While its reign might come to a short end with the release of the 9950X3D, it'll still be a good option to pair with any GPU for 1440p or 4K gaming.
In addition, it can be overclocked, and in our Ryzen 7 9800X3D review, it rivaled the multi-core performance of the Ryzen 7 9700X, which is incredible as X3D processors couldn't compete with “X” CPUs when it came to productivity.
This is why we choose this as the best option, as it can provide excellent productivity and gaming performance. We tested it by pairing it with the RTX 4070 Ti, but it can be easily paired with much more powerful cards like the RTX 5080, as we tested it with this CPU as well.
We ran Cyberpunk 2077 and CS2 to check its gaming output and some benchmarking software to test its synthetic performance. In the Cinebench R23 multi-core test, which gauges a CPUs ability to handle intense loads, we got 22,568 points on normal settings, and with Precision Boost Overdrive enabled, it increased to 22,815 points.
The 9800X3D has unlocked its potential and become the leading processor in the market. The 2nd generation V-Cache gives it the ability to run the CPU core faster and at higher voltages pushing its performance even further over the 7800X3D and on par with non-X3D chips in non-gaming tasks.
PC Guide
For comparison, the 9700X managed 22,475 points in this test, and while it did score higher in other tests, the difference wasn't by a huge margin. So, what this means is that the 9800X3D can deliver excellent multi-threaded output that is crucial for workloads outside of gaming.
As for its gaming results, we got 669 FPS with PBO enabled in CS2 and 334 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 normally. The power consumed by this CPU was 99W and 97W, respectively, with the maximum temperature being 65°C and 62°C.
So, what these results mean is that this processor should work fine with the RX 9070 XT or the RX 9070 in gaming and other tasks. On top of that, this pairing shouldn't cost you more than $1,000, meaning with other mid-range components, you could build a solid gaming PC for $1,300 – $1,500.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the 9800X3D has exceptional performance, value for money, cooling, and stability. One reviewer said: “While my primary focus is gaming, I also dabble in content creation and multitasking. The 9800X3D handles these tasks with ease, showing significant improvements over my previous processor. It's not just a gaming powerhouse; it's versatile enough for various productivity workloads.”
- Cores: 20 (8P/12E)
- Threads: 20
- Boost clock speed: 5.5GHz
- Base clock speed: 3.9GHz P-core/3.3GHz E-core
- L3 cache: 30MB
- TDP: 125W base/250W max
- Platform: LGA 1851 (Arrow Lake)
- Strong multi-core performance against 9700X
- More cost effective for Multi-threaded workloads
- Pretty much on par with the 9900X (multi-core performance)
- Gaming performance leaves much to be desired
- No generational improvement in many scenarios such as gaming
- LGA 1851 motherboards are expensive
The RDNA 4 architecture should bring good improvements in the productivity of the RX 9070 XT and 9070. So, if you want to build a PC focused more towards multi-threaded output with comparatively decent gaming performance, we recommend pairing any of these two GPUs with the Core Ultra 7 265K.
In our Core Ultra 7 265K review, it dominated the 9700X in multi-core tests and Blender, but the 9700X has better single-core performance, and the difference in gaming output also made that apparent. We paired it with the RTX 4070 Ti and got 191 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077, while the 9700X managed 240 FPS, which is a difference of 22%.
However, when it comes to multi-threaded performance, the 265K is leagues ahead of the 9700X. In Cinebench R23, the 265K got 33,465 points, while the AMD's alternative managed 20,184. This is a massive difference and means this processor can handle resource-intensive applications and tasks better than the 9700X.
While the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K doesn't suffer the same performance-hindering issues as the other CPUs that fill the Ultra 200 lineup, it still isn't a desirable chip when compared against the market's alternatives.
PC Guide
So, paired with the RX 9070 XT or the RX 9070, you shouldn't experience any performance issues from the processor, and the gaming output is still good but just comparatively looks bad. 191 FPS at 1080p low is good, and at higher resolutions, the GPU is the one that'll be responsible for churning out more frames; the 265K just has to keep up with it, and it has the hardware to do so.
It has 20 cores and 20 threads, but the cores are divided between 8 performance and 12 efficient cores, which is why it has better multi-threaded performance. However, a downside of this CPU is that you'll have to purchase an LGA 1851 motherboard.
If you're interested in exploring some options, we recommend you check out the best Z890 motherboards for high-end picks or our MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI review for a mid-range option.
Overall, this is a good processor offering a decent uplift over its predecessor, which we can't say for the rest of the Arrow Lake family.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this CPU has good cooling and functionality. One user stated: “It is an excellent processor for productivity, with great capabilities and very good at multi-core tasks. Initially I have used it without a graphics card and it works very well for many games and programs. I am satisfied with its performance and thermal management.”
- Cores: 12
- Threads: 24
- Boost clock speed: 5.6 GHz
- Base clock speed: 4.4 GHz
- L3 Cache: 64 MB
- TDP: 120 W
- Platform: AMD Socket AM5
- Power efficient
- Half-decent single-core uplift
- Yet another 9000 series CPU held back
- Mediocre multi-core performance
The Ryzen 9 9900X is the second most powerful processor in the Ryzen 9000 lineup, and pairing it with the RX 9070 XT or 9070 should make for an excellent combination for productivity in various domains and gaming.
We've tested and reviewed the Ryzen 9 9900X in-house, displaying excellent gaming and synthetic performance. We used the RTX 4070 Ti Super with this processor to test its performance and got 330 and 245 FPS in Cyberpunk 2077 and Days Gone at 1080p.
The reason for running these titles at 1080p is so that it is more CPU intensive, as the GPU can easily render these frames and keeps asking the processor for the next instruction.
However, with the 9070 XT or 9070, it should be easier on the CPU if you're playing games at 1440p or 4K, as high-resolution rendering relies on the GPU's performance rather than the CPU.
The 9900X could have been much better, but it seems that's a running theme with the 9000 series in general.
PC Guide
Besides that, in Cinebench R23 single- and multi-core tests, this processor churned out 2,205 and 31,502 points, respectively. The higher the score is, the better, and these results are very good, meaning you'll get excellent gaming output. And when it comes to work, the same rig should deliver exceptional multi-tasking results.
This output was without enabling PBO, which should give it a good performance boost, but remember that it'll come with an increased power draw and thermal output. We experienced this while testing the 9950X, and our AIO CPU cooler couldn't cool it down sufficiently. So, we recommend using the best CPU cooler for 9900X to keep it from throttling and working optimally.
Overall, this is a great processor that should set you up for years to come and should be able to easily keep up with the RX 9070 XT or 9070 in gaming and professional workflows.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, this processor has top-notch performance, speed, and stability. One reviewer said: “This is my first computer that I built and after long time of research, I went with the brand new 9900X and I had no problems at all. I built my pc back in august 2024 and this cpu is amazing. It is plenty fast and did not run into any issue setting it up. The temps are also amazing.”
- Strong single-core performance
- Better overall performance after BIOS update
- Fairly inexpensive
- Not the best GPU for resource-intensive workflows
- Power draw increased after the BIOS update
The RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 have showcased excellent performance over their Nvidia counterparts, and what makes them even better is that they cost less, meaning better value, performance, and cost per frame. So, if you’re looking to build a gaming PC with either one of these GPUs but want a value CPU that can keep up with them at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K, we recommend you check out the Ryzen 5 9600X.
In our Ryzen 5 9600X review, it displayed excellent generational improvement over the Ryzen 5 7600X in gaming and synthetic benchmarks, and this was pre-update, meaning its TDP was limited to 65W, but now you can ramp it up to 105W for increased output. To test its capabilities, we paired it with the RTX 4070 Ti Super, which, according to some reviews, performs on par with the RX 9070 while the RX 9070 XT outperforms it.
This means that you can expect better values than what we got with this GPU. In gaming, we ran Cyberpunk 2077 and Days Gone at 1080p as they are graphically demanding titles, and lowering the resolution puts more strain on the CPU. We got 325 and 246 FPS, respectively, but the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 should be able to churn out more frames.
The Ryzen 5 9600X does do much better than its bigger brother at fending off the previous generation, but with a new BIOS update looming, it's safe to say we're going to see that gap increase further.
PC Guide
For synthetic testing, we’ll take the results of Geekbench single and multi-core tests, which put the CPU and CPU under stress. This combination managed 3,283 and 14,909 points, respectively, which is much better compared to the 7600X’s 2,955 and 13,236 points.
So, with 65W and paired with the 4070 Ti Super, we got these results, which is pretty great, but with the BIOS update and being paired with the RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, we’d expect better performance even at lower resolutions. However, at 4K, this CPU should also be great, as rendering frames at higher resolutions is more taxing on the GPU, and even a budget processor should be able to keep up.
Overall, this is a solid processor with good performance, and most of all, it is pocket-friendly, meaning you should be able to get the CPU and GPU for under $1,000. If you’re looking for more components for your budget build, we recommend you check out the best motherboards and PSUs for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070, as well as the best CPU cooler for 9600X.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the Ryzen 5 9600X has great performance, value for money, and gaming capability. One reviewer said: “Less expensive than the Intel equivalent but just as powerful. Would recommend. Make sure you flash the BIOS on your motherboard to the latest version to ensure compatibility.”
- Cores: 8
- Threads: 16
- Boost speed : up to 5 GHz
- Base speed: 4.2 GHz
- L3 Cache: 96 MB
- TDP: 120 W
- Platform: AMD (AM5)
- Fantastic gaming performance
- Affordable thanks to age
- Less limited than the previous generation
- Still limited by cache outside of gaming workloads
- No included cooler
- Upgrade to AM5 can be expensive if you don't already have the parts.
The Ryzen 7 7800X3D might’ve lost its title as the best gaming CPU, but there is no doubt about its performance as we’ve reviewed it in-house and were thoroughly impressed by its performance. It can be easily paired with any flagship processor without running into a CPU bottleneck, and if you were looking to build a gaming PC with the RX 9070 XT or RX 9070 and wanted to save cost on a processor, we recommend giving the 7800X3D a shot.
This is an 8-core processor, with each core being hyperthreaded, meaning there are 16 threads to work with. This gives it decent multi-threaded performance, but when it comes to productivity, it isn’t the best CPU to opt for, and we recommend any of the “X” processors from AMD or even previous-gen Intel CPUs.
It has 96MB of L3 cache, which is mounted directly on top of the CPU, reducing the distance the data has to travel, and the added storage allows more game data to be stored on the chip. This means that when the CPU calls for the data of the next frame to be rendered, it is close by, which lowers the access and, in turn, the processing time, resulting in better gaming output.
This CPU will smash through any gaming workload you throw at it, and be able to handle productivity tasks much better then before, although it still is a little limited in that department.
PC Guide
That being said, to test this processor, we paired it with the RTX 4070 Ti Super and ran our standard suite of benchmarking tests. In Cinebench R23 single- and multi-core tests, we got 1,665 and 17,581 points, respectively, which is a huge improvement over the 5800X3D, which managed 1,112 and 10,204 points.
Single-core score is generally used to gauge a CPU’s performance in gaming, and the 7800X3D performs significantly better than the 5800X3D in every test. The same goes for multi-core performance, meaning it can handle multi-threaded workflows much better. However, the weak points of X3D chips are their comparatively low productivity and the lack of overclocking.
However, these issues were resolved with the addition of the 9800X3D, so that is also an option; however, if you don’t have professional workflows to take care of and only want a rig for playing games, the 7800X3D is an excellent processor to go for. If you’re looking for other components for your build, we recommend you check out the best CPU cooler for the 7800X3D to ensure it keeps running cool and optimally.
What users say
According to Amazon reviews, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has excellent gaming performance, value for money, and efficiency. One reviewer said: “Ever since I installed the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, I've been absolutely blown away by its performance. AMD truly outdid themselves with this processor—it demolishes everything I throw at it, delivering insane frame rates and buttery-smooth gameplay. This CPU is worth every penny and a future-proof choice for years to come.”
How to pick the best CPU for RX 9070 XT and RX 9070
To select the best CPU for any graphics card, including these upcoming cards from Team Red, you need to consider a couple of factors, such as usage and budget. These are the main factors, and we'll expand on them to give you a better idea.
Usage
Generally, AMD graphics cards are better suited for gaming and productive workflows, while Nvidia GPUs are more favored. That being said, the RX 9070 XT or 9070 is said to deliver “high-quality 4K gaming,” but seeing how they still feature GDDR6 memory with the RDNA 4 architecture, we'll have to see its performance for ourselves before believing that.
So, for 4K gaming, you don't necessarily need a powerful CPU; at that level, the output primarily depends on the graphics card. However, for 1440p or 1080p gaming, a slow CPU can cause a CPU bottleneck as it won't be able to keep up with the GPU asking for the next frames to render.
Besides that, for professional workflows like video editing or 3D modeling, it is best to go for a high-end CPU as these processes rely on a capable CPU to deliver good output, and you'll also get good gaming performance, but the overall initial cost would be significant.
Budget
The appeal of a flagship CPU is understandable, but for a mid-range GPU, going for a mid-range processor would be better as it'll provide better value. That being said, depending on the task, you might have to spend more on a high-end processor, but if it doesn't call for it and you want to play games at 1440p or 4K, even a budget CPU should be able to deliver good performance at the level.
Will the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT be bottlenecked by older CPUs?
The RX 9070 XT will be bottlenecked by older CPUs, but that depends on which CPU you have. If you’ve got a Ryzen 5 5600X, it shouldn’t bottleneck it, and anything below 5% is acceptable, as there is always a bottleneck in every system, and no system is 100% efficient. However, if you’ve got a Ryzen 5 1600X, the chances of it being bottlenecked at 1080p are considerably higher.
So, if you’re playing FPS games at 1080p or 1440p and want the most FPS out of your GPU and are on the Ryzen 2000, 3000 or using an Intel processor older than the 10th or 11th gen, it would be better to upgrade to a 5700X3D or 5600X3D for the best gaming performance without breaking the bank or running into bottleneck issues.
How does CPU performance impact the AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT in gaming and productivity workloads?
A processor’s single-core performance is related to how it’ll perform in gaming, and its multi-core performance reflects how it’ll handle resource-intensive applications and tasks such as video editing or 3D rendering. So, if you’ve got a budget CPU with fewer cores, it might not have a huge impact on gaming output, but the difference will be felt in productive workloads.
On the other hand, a high-end processor has more cores and threads to work with, meaning better multi-threaded performance resulting in significantly better productivity, and with more power going to the cores, the single-core performance also increases, which means more FPS and little to no risk of bottleneck.
So, depending on the CPU you use with the RX 9070 XT, it’ll be able to deliver more FPS at lower resolution as the CPU can keep up with its calls for the next frame to work on, and in tasks like 3D rendering, it should also experience a significant performance boost.
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