5 best CPUs to pair with RTX 4060 (2024)
The Nvidia RTX 4060 is the most affordable RTX 40 series GPU, but don't let its lower price fool you. It's a little beast inside that can play any game at 1080p with high graphical fidelity. It also supports Nvidia's DLSS 3 upscaling and Frame Generation for higher performance. However, a lot depends on the CPU. Without the right processor, this graphics card could get bottlenecked, or worse, it may not get enough bandwidth.
The RTX 4060 needs PCIe Gen 4 support, without which the GPU could become bandwidth-starved. Online benchmarks have demonstrated how badly the older PCIe Gen 3 system can affect the graphics card's performance. Only modern processors have PCIe Gen 4 support.
Note: This list is subjective and is ranked top to bottom based on their performance.
List of the best CPUs to buy for RTX 4060
1) Intel Core i5-14600K
Price: $299
The Intel Core i5-14600K is the most powerful CPU on this list. It will utilize the RTX 4060 to its fullest and deliver the best performance in any game. It has a total of 14 cores, so it won't be slowed down by anything. The P-cores can boost to 5.3 GHz, which combined with fast DDR5-5600 RAM kits, allows for some amazing performance.
This processor has another feature called Application Optimization (APO), which can further boost the performance of some games. This is a per-game optimization process that maximizes the performance of that game.
Pros
- Higher clock speeds lead to better performance in games.
- Will get the most out of the RTX 4060.
- APO will deliver even more performance in supported games.
Cons
- It is quite costly.
2) AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Price: $174
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is AMD's latest and the best mid-range processor in the market as of writing this. It only has six cores, but they are enough to deliver a solid gaming experience. It is close to the level of Intel Core i5-14600K's performance but at almost half the cost.
Its lower price tag makes it incredibly attractive to budget gamers. After all, the RTX 4060 is a budget GPU, and buying an expensive CPU for a budget graphics card doesn't make a lot of sense. However, people use their computers for more than just gaming, and the Ryzen 5 7600X may not be well-suited for other tasks comparatively.
Pros
- Has a solid gaming performance.
- Is quite efficient and uses less power.
- Is cheaper and provides more value in gaming.
Cons
- Is slower in productivity applications compared to other processors on this list.
3) Intel Core i5-13600KF
Price: $210
The Intel Core i5-13600KF has a great price-to-performance ratio. It is priced around the $200 mark but has the same number of cores and threads as the more expensive Intel Core i5-14600K. It even has the same DDR5-5600 memory speeds. The only differences are slightly lower clocks and the lack of tuned APO support.
However, this chip can be overclocked to perform similarly to the 14th Gen CPU. After all, the 14th processors are just overclocked and more optimized versions of the 13th Gen chips. Therefore, the Intel Core i5-13600KF is just as powerful and can be a great companion to the RTX 4060.
Pros
- Equipped with faster DDR5 memory speeds out of the box.
- Has a solid performance in both gaming and productivity applications.
- Has a decent overclocking potential.
Cons
- Lacks verified APO support.
4) Intel Core i5-12700KF
Price: $172
The 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12700KF is the perfect budget CPU to pair with the RTX 4060. It has a total of 12 cores that are quite powerful and are complemented by fast DDR5 memory for the best performance. You cannot ask for more from a processor that just costs $172.
This processor has a clock speed of 4.9 GHz, which is enough for most games and won't bottleneck the RTX 4060 GPU. However, you can easily reach 5 GHz with a tiny overclock, which may help deliver even more performance.
Pros
- Can be a great CPU to pair with the RTX 4060.
- Packs a ton of performance for the price.
- Has support for DDR5 memory.
Cons
- The DDR5 memory speeds are lower out of the box.
5) AMD Ryzen 5600X
Price: $113
The Ryzen 5 5600X is the best CPU you can buy for a mid-range budget computer build. It just costs $113, yet it will deliver a decent performance for the RTX 4060. It is also a great processor for budget gamers since its supported motherboards are available at dirt-cheap prices now.
Also, it doesn't have DDR5 RAM support, which can be both good and bad. It means you won't be forced to buy expensive DDR5 RAM kits, which can be a great decision for budget users but not so much for others.
Pros
- Has a total of six high-performance cores.
- Available at a cheaper price.
- Its compatible AM4 motherboards are available at dirt-cheap prices.
Cons
- No support for faster DDR5 memory.