Best CPU for RX 6800 XT in 2023
One of the best things about the previous gen of GPU is the price-to-performance balance. This is especially true with AMD, and even more so with the RX 6800 XT.
When a new generation comes out, it’s normal to hunt for great previous-gen deals. If you’ve bought or are considering building a rig based on the RX 6800 XT, we’ve brought you the best CPUs for the 6800 XT.
Whether you’re a gamer, content creator, or simply looking to upgrade your system, we’ve got you covered. We’ll guide you through the key factors to consider and present our top picks for the best CPUs that will ensure your RX 6800 XT delivers its maximum performance.
Choosing the right CPU to pair with your high-performance AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT graphics card can be overwhelming, but with our help, you’ll find the perfect match in no time.
Products at a Glance
How do we pick the best CPU for RX 6800 XT?
In this article, we consider options that were compatible with the 6800 XT speed and power. There are just too many options from the previous generation of AMD or Intel. However, we decided to give room to the new generation. The 6800 XT is a powerful GPU capable of matching the power of great new-gen CPUs. So we checked the specs and benchmarks of some of them and filtered for our list.
Best CPU for RX 6800 XT in 2023
- Great price
- Overclockable
- Ready to upgrade
- Great performance
- Supports DDR4 and DDR5
- It has cooling requirements
- High power consumption
One of the best characteristics of Intel’s new gen is backward compatibility. Thanks to that, you can easily update to the new-gen CPUs using the 1700 socket type of older motherboards.
As you probably have one of those, this upgrade will be great for you. The Intel i5-13600K is a powerful CPU. That’s comparable with some of the best high-end units from the previous gen.
The Intel Core i5-13600K is one of the best CPUs to pair with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT. The i5-13600K has 14 cores and 20 threads, providing ample processing power for demanding applications and games. Its base clock speed of 3.5 GHz and turbo boost speed of 5.1 GHz ensures smooth and fast performance, even with demanding tasks.
The i5-13600K is also compatible with the LGA 1700 socket, which is compatible with a wide range of motherboards, making it an ideal choice for those building a new system or upgrading an existing one.
In terms of power consumption, the i5-13600K has a TDP of only 125W, making it an efficient and stable choice for the RX 6800 XT’s 300W TDP. And, with a relatively affordable price point, the i5-13600K offers great value for its performance.
Overall, the Intel Core i5-13600K is an excellent choice for those looking to pair the RX 6800 XT with a powerful and efficient CPU.
- Great performance
- Feature-rich CPU
- Overclockable
- Good power efficiency
- High entry cost
AMD’s new gen is also a great choice. With the Ryzen 7 7700X, you’ll have a powerful unit to deploy all the 6800 XT power. At 1440p and 4K gaming, you’ll find a great match. Moreover, if productivity is your goal, this CPU is also great.
The strong new cores, with higher efficiency, will run smoothly through any task. The only thing to consider is that you will need a new AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM to enter this generation.
The Ryzen 7 7700X is an 8-core, 16-thread CPU from AMD’s Zen 4 architecture. With a base clock speed of 4.5 GHz and a boost clock speed of 5.4 GHz, the 7700X offers impressive performance for demanding applications and games.
The Ryzen 7 7700X also features 32 MB of L3 cache, which helps to reduce latency and improve overall system performance. This makes it an ideal choice for those who are looking for a high-performance CPU to pair with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT.
The TDP of the Ryzen 7 7700X is only 105W, making it an efficient and power-saving choice compared to some other high-performance CPUs on the market. This can help to reduce power consumption and lower the overall cost of running a system.
Overall, the Ryzen 7 7700X is a powerful and efficient CPU that offers excellent performance for those looking to pair it with the RX 6800 XT.
- The best gaming performance CPU
- Great price
- Low power consumption
- Great support
- No overclockable
- Not the best for productivity tasks
For those who are looking for a powerful gaming setup, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the ideal choice for pairing with the RX 6800 XT. This CPU is designed specifically for gamers and offers advanced 3D V-cache technology for enhanced performance in demanding applications, including games.
With its large, high-speed cache optimized for 3D rendering and other GPU-intensive tasks, the 5800X3D allows the GPU to access data more quickly and efficiently. This results in improved performance, especially in games with complex 3D models and textures.
In addition to its gaming capabilities, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D also features advanced power-saving technologies, including the 3D V-cache. This reduces the number of times the GPU has to access the main system memory, reducing power consumption and providing a more efficient gaming experience.
Overall, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is the best choice for those who are looking for the ultimate gaming performance and don’t have any other productivity needs in mind. With its powerful performance and advanced features, this CPU is sure to deliver an exceptional gaming experience when paired with the RX 6800 XT.
- High IPC
- Fast frequencies
- Multi-threaded Performance
- Overclockable
- No integrated graphics
- No PCIe Gen 5.0
You can also build a great rig under a budget. If you’re not interested in upgrading to the new GPU and all you want is a great powerful rig for gaming or productivity, the Ryzen 7 5800X is all you need!
The Ryzen 7 5800X is a budget-friendly CPU that is capable of delivering great performance for the RX 6800 XT. It has 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base frequency of 3.8 GHz and a boost frequency of 4.7 GHz. The TDP (thermal design power) of the CPU is 105W, and it has 32MB of L3 cache, split into 2x16MB.
This combination of cores, threads, and cache makes the Ryzen 7 5800X a powerful option for budget-conscious gamers who want to maximize their gaming experience with the RX 6800 XT. Additionally, the Ryzen 7 5800X supports advanced features such as PCI Express 4.0 and AMD’s Precision Boost 2 and Precision Boost Overdrive, which provide improved performance and overclocking capabilities. Overall, the Ryzen 7 5800X is an excellent budget CPU for the RX 6800 XT that offers a great balance of performance, features, and affordability.
Features and considerations
When choosing a CPU to pair with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT GPU, there are several key factors to consider. One of the main factors is the clock speed. A CPU with a high clock speed will provide better performance for demanding applications and games. The RX 6800 XT has a boost clock speed of 2.25 GHz, so a CPU with a similar clock speed or higher would be ideal.
Another important factor to consider is core count. The more cores a CPU has, the better it will handle multiple tasks and demanding applications. A CPU with at least 8 cores would be recommended for the RX 6800 XT. Additionally, the thread count is also important as it indicates the number of tasks a CPU can handle simultaneously. A CPU with a high thread count would be ideal for content creation and multitasking.
Finally, it is important to ensure compatibility and consider the power consumption and budget. Make sure the socket type of the CPU is compatible with your motherboard. Also, the TDP of the CPU is similar to or lower than the RX 6800 XT’s TDP of 300W, to ensure stability and avoid overloading the system.
And, of course, ensure the CPU you choose fits within your budget while still delivering the performance you need. By considering these key factors, you can find the best CPU to pair with the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT and enjoy maximum performance and stability.
Our Verdict
The best CPU for the RX 6800 XT would depend on an individual’s specific needs and preferences. You may want a high-end GPU for power, a CPU for productivity, you might want to enter the new generation, or maybe all you need is a gaming rig.
For those looking for high-end performance for demanding applications, the Intel -5-13600K is the best option. It is a new-gen CPU that’s backward compatible with older motherboards, so the entry cost is not too high. With this CPU you definitely have butter-like performance in a lot of tasks, as well as gaming.
The Ryzen 7 7700X is another great new-gen option. It will give you better performance than the one before, but you’ve got to keep in mind that this CPU requires newer motherboards and RAM models. So, getting into the new tech will be more pricey. If you don’t care about the cost, go ahead and purchase this one.
For those who want a more budget-friendly solution that still offers solid performance, the Ryzen 7 5800X is a great option. You won’t have the taste of the new-gen but you’ll end up with a very powerful rig. If you like gaming 1440p – this unit is exceptional.
Finally, if gaming is the only thing you care about, you can’t let the Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU pass. This is one of the strongest CPUs for gaming that has ever been built. Even now it compares to great new-gen CPUs in the gaming fields. It will soon be shadowed by its siblings: the new X3D generation but still, this CPU kills it at gaming.