BTier B · Upper mid-range · 1440p

Which CPU for the RTX 3090?

The GeForce RTX 3090 has 24 GB of VRAM and handles maximum settings at 1440p. We pick its CPU at 1080p, where the processor matters most. Below: our recommendation, a table of 47 CPUs with average FPS, and the most common pairings.

NVIDIA
24 GB
2020
Resolution: 1440p
Gaming score: 101

Recommended CPUs for the RTX 3090 (1080p)

From the processors in our configurator. Loss = how much lower the FPS is than with the strongest CPU in our range (the worse of demanding games at Ultra and esports at medium settings).

Sensible minimum
Ryzen 5 5500
AM4 · DDR4 · 6 cores
loss 1080p
−14 %
Good choice
avg. FPS
167
esports
356
demanding games
89
in configurator €90
Build with this CPU
Our pick
Ryzen 5 7500F
AM5 · DDR5 · 6 cores
loss 1080p
−4 %
Ideal pair
avg. FPS
206
esports
462
demanding games
99
in configurator €145
Build with this CPU
No compromises
Ryzen 7 9850X3D
AM5 · DDR5 · 8 cores
loss 1080p
−0 %
Ideal pair
avg. FPS
250
esports
600
demanding games
105
in configurator €490
Build with this CPU

Every CPU with the RTX 3090: FPS and bottleneck

Average of 17 games without upscaling (demanding games at Ultra, esports at medium). Verdict by loss at 1080p; at higher resolutions the CPU matters less.

Every CPU with the RTX 3090: FPS and bottleneck
Processor	Tier	Platform	FPS 1080p	FPS 1440p	FPS 4K	Loss 1080p	Verdict
Ryzen 7 9850X3Dpick	S	AM5 · DDR5	250	195	128	−0 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 9800X3D	S	AM5 · DDR5	247	194	127	−0 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 9 9950X3D	S	AM5 · DDR5	243	193	127	−0 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 9 9900X3D	S	AM5 · DDR5	241	192	126	−0 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 7800X3D	A	AM5 · DDR5	234	189	125	−1 %	Ideal pair
Core i9-14900K	A	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	230	187	124	−1 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 5 7600X3D	A	AM5 · DDR5	230	187	124	−1 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 5 7500X3D	A	AM5 · DDR5	226	185	123	−1 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 9 9950X	B	AM5 · DDR5	224	184	123	−2 %	Ideal pair
Core i7-14700K	B	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	223	184	122	−2 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 9700X	B	AM5 · DDR5	222	183	122	−2 %	Ideal pair
Core Ultra 9 285K	B	Intel LGA1851 · DDR5	220	182	122	−2 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 9 9900X	B	AM5 · DDR5	219	181	121	−2 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 5 9600X	B	AM5 · DDR5	218	181	121	−2 %	Ideal pair
Core i5-14600K	B	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	217	180	121	−3 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 7700	B	AM5 · DDR5	216	180	121	−3 %	Ideal pair
Core Ultra 7 265K	B	Intel LGA1851 · DDR5	215	179	121	−3 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 7700X	B	AM5 · DDR5	215	179	121	−3 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 5 7600X	B	AM5 · DDR5	211	177	120	−3 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 5700X3D	B	AM4 · DDR4	211	177	120	−3 %	Ideal pair
Core Ultra 5 245K	B	Intel LGA1851 · DDR5	210	177	119	−4 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 5 7600	C	AM5 · DDR5	208	175	119	−4 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 5 7500Fpick	C	AM5 · DDR5	206	174	118	−4 %	Ideal pair
Core i5-14400F	C	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	202	172	117	−5 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 5800XT	C	AM4 · DDR4	190	165	114	−8 %	Good choice
Ryzen 5 5600X	C	AM4 · DDR4	189	164	114	−8 %	Good choice
Core i5-12400F	C	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	186	163	113	−8 %	Good choice
Ryzen 7 5700X	C	AM4 · DDR4	186	163	113	−8 %	Good choice
Ryzen 5 5600	C	AM4 · DDR4	184	161	112	−9 %	Good choice
Ryzen 5 8400F	D	AM5 · DDR5	180	159	111	−10 %	Good choice
Ryzen 7 5700	D	AM4 · DDR4	176	156	110	−11 %	Good choice
Core i3-12100F	D	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	167	151	108	−14 %	Good choice
Ryzen 5 5500pick	D	AM4 · DDR4	167	151	108	−14 %	Good choice

Have an older CPU?

We no longer sell older processors, but they belong in the table: they show whether a GPU swap is enough or the whole platform needs replacing. Send us your configuration for a free upgrade quote; old hardware counts as a trade-in.

Have an older CPU?
Processor	Tier	Platform	FPS 1080p	FPS 1440p	FPS 4K	Loss 1080p	Verdict
Core i9-13900K	A	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	229	186	124	−1 %	Ideal pair
Ryzen 7 5800X3D	B	AM4 · DDR4	217	180	121	−3 %	Ideal pair
Core i5-13600K	B	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	213	178	120	−3 %	Ideal pair
Core i5-12600K	C	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	204	173	118	−5 %	Ideal pair
Core i5-13400F	C	Intel LGA1700 · DDR4/DDR5	199	171	117	−5 %	Good choice
Core i7-10700K	D	Intel LGA1200 · DDR4	174	155	109	−12 %	Good choice
Core i7-8700K	D	Intel LGA1151 · DDR4	159	145	105	−16 %	CPU holds it back a bit
Ryzen 7 3700X	D	AM4 · DDR4	157	144	105	−17 %	CPU holds it back a bit
Core i5-10400F	E	Intel LGA1200 · DDR4	153	140	103	−18 %	CPU holds it back a bit
Ryzen 5 3600	E	AM4 · DDR4	148	137	102	−20 %	CPU holds it back a bit
Core i7-7700K	E	Intel LGA1151 · DDR4	143	133	100	−22 %	CPU holds it back a bit
Core i5-9400F	E	Intel LGA1151 · DDR4	141	132	100	−22 %	CPU holds it back a bit
Core i7-4790K	E	Intel LGA1150 · DDR3	110	105	86	−31 %	Serious bottleneck
Ryzen 5 2600	E	AM4 · DDR4	116	111	90	−33 %	Serious bottleneck

Free upgrade quote

Most common pairings with the RTX 3090

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 7 9850X3D

Ideal pair

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 7 9850X3D: 250 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 0 % (ideal pair).

CS2 1080p: 611 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 100 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 87 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 89 FPS

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 7 9800X3D

Ideal pair

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 7 9800X3D: 247 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 0 % (ideal pair).

CS2 1080p: 609 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 99 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 87 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 89 FPS

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 7 7800X3D

Ideal pair

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 7 7800X3D: 234 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 1 % (ideal pair).

CS2 1080p: 592 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 99 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 87 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 89 FPS

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 7500X3D

Ideal pair

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 7500X3D: 226 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 1 % (ideal pair).

CS2 1080p: 575 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 99 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 87 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 89 FPS

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 7500F

Ideal pair

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 7500F: 206 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 4 % (ideal pair).

CS2 1080p: 519 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 97 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 86 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 88 FPS

RTX 3090 + Core i5-12400F

Good choice

RTX 3090 + Core i5-12400F: 186 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 8 % (good choice).

CS2 1080p: 456 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 93 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 85 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 87 FPS

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 5600

Good choice

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 5600: 184 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 9 % (good choice).

CS2 1080p: 448 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 92 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 85 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 87 FPS

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 5500

Good choice

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 5500: 167 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 14 % (good choice).

CS2 1080p: 396 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 87 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 83 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 84 FPS

RTX 3090 + Core i5-10400F

CPU holds it back a bit

RTX 3090 + Core i5-10400F: 153 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 18 % (cpu holds it back a bit).

CS2 1080p: 353 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 80 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 79 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 81 FPS

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 3600

CPU holds it back a bit

RTX 3090 + Ryzen 5 3600: 148 FPS on average at 1080p, the CPU costs 20 % (cpu holds it back a bit).

CS2 1080p: 339 FPS
Fortnite 1080p: 78 FPS
Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 78 FPS
Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS
Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 79 FPS

PCs in stock with the RTX 3090

No ready-built PC with the RTX 3090 in stock right now – we will build one to order in the configurator.

Open the configurator

Other tier B graphics cards

Frequently asked questions

Which CPU is best for the RTX 3090?

From our range we recommend the Ryzen 5 7500F (4 % loss at 1080p, 206 FPS on average). A sensible minimum is Ryzen 5 5500 (14 % loss at 1080p, 167 FPS on average). For the last few percent: Ryzen 7 9850X3D (0 % loss at 1080p, 250 FPS on average). All of them are in our configurator and we build the PC for you.

Is a Ryzen 5 5600 enough for the RTX 3090?

At 1080p the Ryzen 5 5600 averages 184 FPS with the RTX 3090, 9 % less than the strongest CPU (good choice). At 1440p the gap is 3 %. In esports at medium settings (CS2, Valorant, Dota 2) the CPU matters more: 400 FPS on average versus 600 FPS with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D.

What resolution is the RTX 3090 good for?

With maximum settings and no upscaling the GeForce RTX 3090 is a 1440p card: with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D it averages 79 FPS in demanding games (Cyberpunk 2077, Kingdom Come 2, Battlefield 6…) and 474 FPS in esports. With DLSS/FSR you can go one resolution higher.

How many FPS does the RTX 3090 get with the Ryzen 5 7500F?

Without upscaling (demanding games at Ultra, esports at medium): CS2 1080p: 519 FPS, Fortnite 1080p: 97 FPS, Cyberpunk 2077 1440p: 86 FPS, Battlefield 6 1440p: 75 FPS, Kingdom Come 2 1440p: 88 FPS. These are the same numbers the “How many FPS?” calculator shows on every PC.

Does an older CPU like the Ryzen 5 3600 bottleneck the RTX 3090?

Yes, noticeably: at 1080p the Ryzen 5 3600 gives 20 % lower FPS than the strongest CPU (148 FPS on average; in esports at medium settings 6 %). With this card a platform upgrade pays off – send us your configuration and we will quote the upgrade; the old parts count as a trade-in.

Decided? We will build it.

Every recommended CPU and GPU is in our configurator. We build in Olomouc, stress-test and deliver with a 36-month warranty. Your old PC or graphics card counts as a trade-in.

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