Fresh out of CES 2024, the upgraded RTX Super has swooped in as the better and improved 4080, so we’re taking a look at the best possible CPU to pair up with your shiny new 4080 Super.
The 40 Series has been getting a much-needed refresh with the launch of a lineup of Super variants, with the 4080 Super getting more CUDA cores and GDDR6X video memory, offering a significant upgrade over its non-Super predecessor. All of this has left it just second to the 4090 itself – all of which we dived into in our RTX 4080 Super review, where we put the card through its paces.
Needless to say, to make the most out of this GPU, you’ll want to invest in a processor that will enhance its prowess and work alongside it harmoniously for superior performance. So, in this article, we bring you a selection of processors, no matter if you’re looking to work hard or play hard.
Products at a glance
- Best CPU for the RTX 4080 Super
Intel Core i7-13700K
- Best gaming CPU for the 4080 Super
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
- Best high-end CPU for the RTX 4080 Super
Intel Core i9-13900K
- Cores: 24 (8P-16E)
- Threads: 32
- Boost speed : P-Core 5.8GHz / E-Core 4.3GHz
- Base speed: P-Core 3.0GHz / E-Core 2.2GHz
- L3 Cache: 36 MB
- TDP: 253 W
- Best CPU for the RTX 4080 Super for the money
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
- Cores: 6
- Threads : 12
- Boost clock speed: 5.3 GHz
- Base clock speed: 4.7 GHz
- L3 Cache: 32 MB
- TDP: 105W
How we selected the products
To identify the best CPUs for pairing with the RTX 4080 Super, we delve into extensive research, examining publicly available benchmarks and user reviews. This helps us understand how different CPUs perform in real-world scenarios, particularly in gaming and professional applications. After all, you’re likely to keep the same processor for at least a couple of years before you next decide to upgrade.
Of course, while we mentioned our 4080 Super review above, it’s also worth knowing that we’ve done our fair share of CPU reviews too. Where we can, we always make sure to recommend processors that we’ve had hands-on experience with, and that we’ve given our personal seal of approval. Our wide range of reviews also helps with positioning other alternatives on the performance podium.
By synthesizing data from our own benchmarks, reviews from in-house and online, and expert analysis, we ensure that our recommendations are well-informed, trustworthy, and cater to a wide range of needs, whether it’s for high-end gaming or demanding professional work.
However, if you are looking more specifically at the lower end of the price range, we’ve got you covered with some picks of the best budget CPUs.
- Cores: 16
- Threads: 24
- Platform: Raptor Lake-S
- Base Clock Speed: 100 MHz
- Boost Clock Speed: 5.4 GHz
- L3 Cache: 30 MB (shared)
- TDP: 125 W
- Excellent price-to-performance ratio
- Great for gaming and content creation, and can be overclocked too
- Future-proof with DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 support
- Requires a high-quality cooler, as it’s known to run hot
- High power consumption
- Might be overkill for casual users
The Intel Core i7-13700K stands out as an ideal choice for users seeking a high-performance processor that delivers on demanding tasks without straining the wallet. Its innovative hybrid architecture, which merges Performance-cores (P-cores) and Efficient-cores (E-cores), brilliantly balances power and performance, making it a multitasking powerhouse.
Speaking of cores, you’ve got 16 cores and 24 threads, so there are potent multi-thread capabilities combined with a max turbo speed of 5.4GHz (over 5.0GHz for the Core i7-12700K).
This processor is a dream for gamers and content creators alike, offering outstanding game frame rates and effortlessly managing video editing and rendering tasks. For those passionate about tinkering and overclocking, the i7-13700K provides ample opportunity to enhance performance even further.
The Intel Core i7-13700K stands out as an ideal choice for users seeking a high-performance processor that delivers on demanding tasks without straining the wallet.
PC Guide
Its support for DDR5 RAM and PCIe 5.0 positions it as a future-ready investment. It might not have as much multithreaded processing power as its i9 counterpart, but at its price point, it’s a strong value proposition – especially considering the 14th gen hardly added a performance upgrade.
However, it’s worth noting that the i7-13700K demands a solid cooling solution, especially under heavy use, a key factor for those assembling a new PC or updating an existing setup – user reviews are a testament to this thing running hot. Additionally, its higher power consumption is something to consider for those prioritizing energy efficiency.
Nonetheless, for a CPU for your 4080 Super, it’s fair to say that the 13700K can’t be ignored as one of the best options currently out there on the market, and can often be found far below the $400 mark.
What users say
User reviews of the i7-13700K on Amazon are a testament to its flawless out-of-the-box performance and excellent value, although there’s mixed feedback on thermal throttling and power consumption: it will no doubt require “beefy cooling”. However, that’s not the be-all or end-all, as plenty of users picked up on how it excels at “handling everything I throw at it”.
- 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)
- Enormous 96MB L3 cache enhances gaming
- Top-tier gaming performance
- Supports PCIe 5.0 and DDR5
- Not ideal for productivity tasks
- Requires high-end cooling solutions
- Limited support for older DDR4 RAM
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D redefines the gaming experience, emerging as the prime choice for gamers who demand unparalleled performance in their setups. Boasting the advanced Zen 4 architecture with 8 cores and 16 threads, this CPU is engineered to smoothly run the most current and demanding games.
Its impressive base clock of 4.2 GHz guarantees smooth gameplay, providing an immersive experience at high resolutions and settings, and a boost up to 5 GHz is no joke either.
A key highlight of this CPU is its massive L3 cache, which significantly boosts gaming performance by enabling quicker data access – benefitting from the 3D V-cache technology from AMD too.
PC Guide
A key highlight of this CPU is its massive L3 cache, which significantly boosts gaming performance by enabling quicker data access – benefitting from the 3D V-cache technology from AMD too. For gamers whose main concern is top-tier gaming performance, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D stands as the undisputed leader.
Additionally, its compatibility with PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM solidifies its position as a future-ready choice, ensuring a gaming system that remains cutting-edge for years.
However, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D does present certain challenges. Its high-performance nature necessitates investing in costly cooling solutions. Moreover, this CPU’s specialization in gaming implies that it might not be the optimal choice for those seeking a more versatile CPU that excels equally in gaming and productivity tasks.
What users say
The impressive performance of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is highly praised in its Amazon user reviews, in which it received an astounding average of 4.8 stars – someone even went as far as to describe it as “the perfect gaming CPU”. Efficiency is also a commended feature, with users saying that the “7800X3D stays extremely efficient during all workloads”, especially when compared to power-hungry Intel alternatives.
- Cores: 24 (8P-16E)
- Threads: 32
- Boost speed : P-Core 5.8GHz / E-Core 4.3GHz
- Base speed: P-Core 3.0GHz / E-Core 2.2GHz
- L3 Cache: 36 MB
- TDP: 253 W
- Platform: Intel Socket 1700
- Unmatched performance in gaming aside from the current flagship
- Significant overclocking potential for extreme speeds
- Supports DDR5 and PCIe 5.0
- Expensive, despite being part of the previous gen
- Requires advanced cooling, and has high power consumption too
The Intel Core i9-13900K is a juggernaut in the realm of high-end gaming and professional workloads, offering blistering speeds and unmatched multitasking capabilities. It’s particularly suited for users who engage in intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and video editing. Overall, it stands as a well-rounded processor that’s still one of the very best from Team Blue!
Specs-wise, it’s clear that we’ve got a previous flagship on our hands, as the i9-13900K comes equipped with a 24 core (8 performance and 16 efficiency) and 32 thread architecture, with 32 MB L3 cache and a boost speed of 5.7 GHz.
Needless to say, its performance across gaming and productivity is shadowed only by its successor, the 14900K, and that’s something proved in our in-house benchmarks in our 13900K review.
While the Intel Core i9-13900K is no longer the flagship it was at release, generous discounts and high performance still make it an ideal processor to consider in 2024.
PC Guide
Paired alongside a 4080 Super, you should have no problem breezing through the likes of Cyberpunk 2077, CS2, or Days Gone at averages of 342 FPS, 185 FPS, and 261 FPS at 1080p, respectively. Single and multi-core performance for synthetic tasks was found to be equally impressive.
For overclocking enthusiasts, the i9-13900K is a dream come true, presenting substantial scope to enhance performance beyond its already formidable base. Its support for the latest DDR5 memory and PCIe 5.0 empowers users to create a top-of-the-line system equipped with the most advanced components available.
For gamers, the i9-13900K ensures that the CPU will not bottleneck even the most powerful GPUs, ensuring smooth and immersive gaming experiences at the highest settings.
What users say
Just as you might expect from a previous flagship, user reviews of the i9-13900K on Amazon are complimentary to say the least, with 88% of buyers rating the CPU 5 stars. Highlighted features are its performance and versatility, but there’s a bit of a mixed reception of the processor’s thermal management.
For example, one user commented that “its 24 cores offer a level of processing power that’s perfect for gamers, content creators, and professionals seeking exceptional performance”, but another did mention that “like all the reviews you see online say, it puts out some serious heat” so that’s worth bearing in mind.
- Cores: 6
- Threads : 12
- Boost clock speed: 5.3 GHz
- Base clock speed: 4.7 GHz
- L3 Cache: 32 MB
- TDP: 105W
- Platform: AMD Socket AM5
- Excellent value for performance
- Supports PCIe 5.0 and DDR5
- Eco mode to manage power and heat
- Generates significant heat
- Requires effective cooling, so you may end up needing to make an additional investment
The RTX 4080 Super is a powerful GPU, and if you want to go the budget path, you will still need to invest; otherwise, you’ll end up with a CPU that can’t follow the pace. In this case, the Ryzen 7 7600X is the perfect match; it’s an economical choice and still has enough power to handle the powerhouse – it’s proof that 6 cores can still go a long way even in 2024.
Built on the Zen 4 architecture, the 7600X boasts 6 cores and 12 threads, a base clock of 4.7 GHz, and an impressive boost clock of up to 5.3 GHz—high considering its price point. From gaming to productivity, this is a formidable choice. It’s especially suited for users who need a reliable and powerful CPU but are also conscious of their budget.
The Ryzen 5 7600X brings big value for a small price – it performs well in gaming workloads and can hold it’s own in more productive tasks, it seems 6 cores go a long way these days.
PC Guide
Our Ryzen 5 7600X review was a testament to this, too, with our synthetic benchmarks finding it nearly on par with the 7900X: CPU-Z benchmarks found the 7600X bringing fantastic single-core performance of 766 points, and the 7900X only scores 778 in the single-core testing, and that has a core speed 0.3GHz higher than the 7600X. Of course, though, its fewer cores means it won’t be as good for heavy workstation tasks as other alternatives.
Furthermore, its support for the latest PCIe 5.0 and DDR5 RAM is a significant advantage if you want to future-proof your system for upcoming technological advancements. This CPU is an ideal choice for those looking to build a high-performance system that remains relevant for the foreseeable future.
What users say
Similarly to us, users on Amazon reviewing the Ryzen 5 7600X have picked up on its performance, value, and how good it is for gaming in particular. With its 6 cores and 12 threads, it’s no wonder buyers found the 7600X “providing a perfect balance for gaming and multitasking”, and it’s been referred to by some as a “gaming powerhouse”. One user summarised it well, stating that “7600X stands out as an excellent choice for gamers seeking a powerful and cost-effective desktop processor”.
Features and considerations
Here are a few things you need to consider before getting a new CPU for your system –
Clock speed
The ideal CPU should not only match the GPU’s high performance but also ensure that it doesn’t become a bottleneck in your system. A key feature to consider is the processor’s clock speed, as a higher clock speed can handle tasks more quickly and efficiently, making it ideal for gaming and heavy workloads.
Compatibility
Another essential aspect is the compatibility with your existing system, especially the motherboard. Opt for a CPU that fits your motherboard’s socket type to avoid unnecessary upgrades.
Luckily for you, we’ve got 4080 Super PC builders covered with the variety of content we’ve covered surrounding the latest Super series, and you won’t have to worry about compatibility by going with some of our selections for the best motherboard for the 4080 Super as well as the best PSU for the 4080 Super – not to mention, we’ve looked at the best case, too.
Overclocking
If you’re someone who needs to overclock their system to get the most performance, then you should consider getting a processor that can do this. Usually, Intel’s “K” processors come unlocked, and you can overclock them to boost performance. Note that overclocking generates a lot of heat, so you will need to have a good cooling solution in place.
What CPU will not bottleneck an RTX 4080 Super?
A minimum of a Ryzen 5 or Core i5 is required to avoid bottlenecking with the RTX 4080 Super. These processors provide a baseline of performance that ensures the GPU can operate at its full potential. The key is to have a CPU that can keep up with the high demands of the Super card, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks.
