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CPU

4 Best CPU-GPU Combos for Gaming & Workstations

October 23, 2020 by Alex Leave a Comment

Matching a processor and a graphics card may seem easy, but when you want to maximize your performance at a certain budget, there are ideal pairings to be made. For example, a demanding gamer won’t need a high number of cores, but someone working on video editing or 3D content creation might.

We’ve compiled 4 pairings to match most peoples needs and budget, but note that new CPU lineups from AMD are coming (Ryzen 5000 series), along with new GPUs from Nvidia (RTX 3070, RTX 3060) and AMD (Radeon 6000 series). So if you’re not in a hurry, it can be smarter to wait for them, whether it’s for the generational performance boost or the consequential price drop of the current generation.


Best – CPUs/ GPUs combinations our selections

Entry-level Gaming: Ryzen 3 3100 + Radeon RX 5500 XT

Want a desktop PC that doesn’t break the bank and still holds his ground in e-sports titles and other not too demanding games? Pairing a Ryzen 3 3100 ($99) – a 4 cores/8 threads CPU that rivals with Intel’s i3 lineup—with a RX 5500XT will give you great performance for 1080p gaming

Why not Intel’s own i3-10100 or i3-9100f you ask? While they have similar performance and can often be found for less money, going with AMD Ryzen gives you access to a more future-proof platform: the AM4 socket will support Ryzen 5000 CPUs and an upgrade to those will be more beneficial than Intel’s offerings.

I would have ideally recommended a Ryzen 3 3300X, more powerful for only $20-30 more, but it’s often out of stock and impossible to find at the moment. If you ever find one though, it is totally worth the price increase.

The Radeon RX 5500XT ($199), while not as known as Nvidia GPUs, dominates the low-end like AMD usually do. It offers awesome performance for 1080p gaming, only matched at this price point by the usually more expensive GTX 1660. Be sure to get a 8GB VRAM model though, as games are becoming more and more demanding on memory.

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Mid-range Gaming: Ryzen 5 3600 -RTX 2070 Super

AMD Ryzen 5 3600

A pairing that can satisfy most gamers: the Ryzen 5 3600 is simply the best value CPU out there, offering great gaming performance and even 6 cores/12 threads to please streamers and content creators. For a while gamers wanting to maximize performance had to get CPUs over $400 to max their GPU, but now this $199 value-king won’t limit yourself even at 1440p 144Hz, so that’s more money to put towards a better GPU.

Want more? It only has a TDP of 65W, and includes a Wraith Stealth aircooler, good enough to match most $30 coolers on the market. It’s not the most silent, but unlike Intel’s default cooler it’s actually good.

User considering heavy content creation can opt for the Ryzen 7 3700X ($329). With 8 cores/16 threads, it won’t offer more gaming performance until games get optimized for more cores, but multi-thread workloads will run faster, and its TDP is still 65W.

With a price around $400, the RTX 2070 Super still holds the crown of best mid-range GPUs. For 1080p 144Hz gaming, it’s simple, you don’t need more than that at the moment. If you’re tempted to play at 1440p 144Hz, you might want to upgrade to a RX 5700XT or a RTX 2080 , or wait for the upcoming series from Nvidia and AMD. But with a bit of compromise, a 2060 Super can get you running even at that resolution.

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High-end Gaming: i5-10600k + RTX 3080

Users playing e-sports titles at more than 200Hz or heavy AAA titles might be the only ones limited by Ryzen’s current lineup, but Intel has them covered: the i5-10600k ($262) will offer them more single thread performance than a R5-3600, which is enough not to limit the beefiest graphics cards on the market and squeeze every frame out of them.

Intel sadly don’t provide a CPU cooler with this one, so you have to get your own. Make sure it’s good enough to handle its 125W TDP or you could find yourself in throttle territory.

If you’re targeting 4K gaming, even a Ryzen 5 3600 ($199) might actually do the trick. That resolution put less stress on the CPU, and every CPU on the market ends up having similar performance. However if you play on 1440p or 1080p, the gap increases on single-core performance, so Intel’s current lineup is best fitted until we see some Ryzen 5000 CPUs on the market.

The RTX 3080 ($599), if you can get your hands on one, is THE best GPU on the market right now, and will easily handle every game you throw at it at 1440p or 4K with high refresh rates and even provide a decent RayTracing experience (finally) if you’re into that. It has given gamers a once-in-a-decade performance increase over previous generation and makes every previous high-end GPUs irrelevant.

Its 10 GB VRAM are enough for every games on the market in 2020, and there’s a good chance it will be for a long time. It however has a 320W power draw, so make sure your PSU can handle that.

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High-end Gaming Workstation: Intel i9-10900kf + RTX 3080

Intel Core i9-10900k

If you want a no compromise machine that allows you to both edit 4K videos and play at high refresh rates, look no further. The Intel i9-10900kf ($472) is a 10 core, 20 threads CPU, or should I say a workstation beast, that will not flinch on the most demanding workloads. While it’s overkill for gaming, it offers a significant gain in most content creation software like the Adobe CS suite or Solidworks.

Intel’s 14nm process, while not as efficient as AMD’s 7nm, is refined to near excellency and provide an appreciated gaming performance boost over AMD’s Ryzen 3900X. It’s hard to cool down though, so make sure you have a proper aircooler or AIO cooler to match.

I however highly recommend waiting for the Ryzen 9 5900X or 5950X, which should release on November 5, to maximize your performance especially if you deal with heavy multi-threaded workloads. But if you need a PC right now that’s extremely powerful in gaming AND content creation, the i9-10900kf is your best bet.

As for the GPU, we again find the RTX 3080 ($599), which has no real competition at the moment. For gaming it has unmatched performance, and for work it outperforms both the Titan RTX and 2080Ti on every rendering benchmark there is. Only the RTX 3090 is more powerful, with roughly a 15 to 20% overhead on rendering (and 140% more VRAM with 24GB), but its price is significantly higher and gaming performance between the two is similar.

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Filed Under: CPU, Graphics Cards, Guides, RTX 3080, Ryzen 3 3100, Ryzen 5 3600

4 Best CPUs to Pair With The RTX 3080

September 23, 2020 by BuildPicker Leave a Comment

best cpus for rtx 3080 builds

Nvidia has captivated the gaming and PC world with the announcement of the hotly anticipated new line of Ampere processors. Amongst this line, Nvidia announced a release date of September 17th for their flagship GPU the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080.

Not only is the RTX 3080 reported to clock speeds nearly twice as fast as previous models like the RTX 2080 and perform considerably better than the top of the range old generation models like the RTX 2080 Super. But the RTX 3080 also has a slew of impressive performance benchmarks; like the new GPU which boasts 10GB of GDDR6X memory and a 1.71Ghz boost clock. 

These impressive hardware feats are coupled by a number of new and improved technologies like that of the second generation ray-tracing cores – which will allow ray tracing enabled games to run much smoother than ever before. The advancements seemingly made in this new GPU offering not only surpass older models but allows the RTX 3080 to eclipse the likes of the RTX 2080 Ti for a reasonable $699. 

Even if all these hardware and technological advancements don’t do it for you. Something has to be said for the sleek design of the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080. Elements like the seamless integration of the heat sink within the GPU, allow this model to really look the part in any serious gaming setup. 

It’s hard not to see the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080 as truly representing the next generation in graphics technology. Centrally, however, to utilize the full power of such a GPU, you will need appropriate accompanying components, that don’t throttle performance.

To ensure that your system is RTX 3080 ready. Here are our custom recommendations, for the most seamless pairing to allow you to get the most out of Nvidia’s flagship GPU.

Best CPUs for RTX 3080 Builds – Our Selections

Best Enthusiast Gaming CPU for RTX 3080 – Intel i9-10900K

Intel Core i9-10900k

If you want to pair up your top of the range RTX 3080 with a CPU worthy of being placed in the same high echelon of tech performance, then look no further than Intel’s recently released ‘Comet Lake’ i9-10900k. This CPU pushes the boundaries of processing performance forward. Boasting an eye-watering 5.3 boost clock and 16 cores, which allows the CPU to boast the single highest output of any current CPU on the market. 

Coupled well with the RTX 3080 this CPU will provide the key components to jaw-dropping 4k 144Hz is possible at serious frame rates. If you feel like you need to juice even more power out of this processing monster, the CPU offers the option to overclock further, with better OC potential than its AMD counterpart. However, to facilitate this you’ll need a high-end cooling solution.  This being said the i9-10900k boasts Intel’s own ‘Thermal Velocity Boost’ interface, in order to raise boost clocks when temperatures permit. Even if you’re not a fan of overclocking your CPU Intel also provides a custom safe overclocking ‘Thermal Velocity Boost’ system which allows the CPU to hit even higher levels of performance.

As the key components of any top-end gaming PC, the i9-10900K is the current top of the range option. If paired with the RTX 3080 and other central components like that of a 4k 240Hz monitor and a capable Z490 motherboard – this setup will handle any triple-A title with jaw-dropping frame rates and a smooth seamless picture.  As such the i9-10900K is our choice for the best option for an ultimate no holds barred, gaming PC with the RTX 3080.

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Best High-FPS Gaming CPU for RTX 3080 – i7-10700K

core i7 10700k

If you are looking to pair up the RTX 3080 with a processor able to handle high frame rate gaming, then the 8-core i7-10700 is worth a look in. This processor has a 3.8GHz base clock and 5.1GHz boost clock, making this processor more than capable of handling high frame rates and smooth picture.   Importantly, pairing this impressive GPU and CPU to a reliable and a capable Z490 Motherboard with a decent feature-set and VRM. Will allow you to enjoy high-performance frame rates and smooth images. A high frame rate is essential to competitive high-level FPS gaming, as it enables you to see the run of play in real-time and often before your competitors.

Paired with integrated technologies like that of Nvidias ‘lag reduction’ that has been reported to be integrated within the new line of GPUs  and Nvidia’s commitment to giving serious gamers the best experience possible. 

If you are looking for competitive FPS gaming. The combination of the RTX 3080 paired with the i7-10700k provides a lethal setup for any high-stress FPS games that will draw your competitor’s envy.

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Best VR-Gaming CPU for RTX 3080 – Ryzen 7 3800X

Ryzen 7 3700X

In the last few years, virtual reality gaming has progressed from a gimmicky side attraction and moved towards something that has gandered gamers’ attention worldwide. Namely, the release of games like that of Half-Life Alyx, a game that received stellar reviews from across the board. Releases of huge triple-A titles continue to support the idea that VR represents the future of gaming.  Further, the release and popularity of headsets like that of the Oculus Rift S, only further support the idea that VR gaming is the way in which gaming is heading. 

Virtual Reality gaming, however, places a unique demand on any PC. Despite the  Nvidia RTX 3080 being a model that is a worthy match for HD VR gaming, you’ll need a worthy CPU that can match up to the high demands of VR gaming. That is why we recommend the Ryzen 7 3800X as the appropriate processor to meet your VR needs. Stats like that of an 8-core and additional 16 thread CPU, offers killer performance along with impressive boost clocks of up to 4.5GHz.  

AMD has also managed to future proof their systems with the seamless integration of PCIe 4.0 slots on their motherboards. Meaning that you can utilize their forward-thinking in order to integrate NVMe SSDs to your setup, in order to allow fast transfer of data compared to the previous generation PCIe 3.0 devices.  On top of this, the Ryzen 3800 goes for a modest $320 dollars, making it a much more affordable option than the processors previously talked about in this list. 

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Best Content-creation CPU for RTX 3080 – Ryzen 9 3950X

While the majority of talk about the new release of the Ampere line has generally focused on the ability of the GPUs to handle games. Something has to be said for just how useful this new line of GPUs could be for content creators. Just looking at the advancements that the RTX 3080 provides in sheer computation power and rendering, it is hard not to see the benefit for the world of content creation.

Nevertheless, if you are looking to really render the power of such an impressive GPU, to really take your editing, rendering or 3D imaging to the next level. Then the Ryzen 3950x is our CPU recommendation for you.

Supported by stats like he 3950x  eye watering stats like that of a 16 core 32 thread system, that will make high stress tasks like that of 3D rendering and high-quality video rendering much easier than before. Importantly, AMD’s seamless integration of PCIe 4.0 slots for integration of high end NVME SSDs will make transferring large files something that eclipses that of storage on older hard drive models. 

Combined with the power of the RTX 3080 the Ryzen 3950 would go well in the arsenal of any content generator to perform a large amount of 3D animation or rendering and priced at a modest $400, it really is one of the best options on the market for content creators.

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Filed Under: CPU, Guides, RTX 3070

4 Best CPUs for RTX 2080 Super Builds

April 16, 2020 by BuildPicker Leave a Comment

best cpus for rtx 2080 super

The RTX 2080 Super is one of the newest members of the RTX Turing lineup by NVidia, as well as being one of the most welcome.

Acting as a significant stop gap between the RTX 2080 and the RTX 2080 Ti, this is the GPU for those RTX fans that don’t want to shell out the extra money to afford a Ti, but still want a good amount of the same processing power.

Thanks to the newer architecture and even better speeds, there is basically no reason now to buy an RTX 2080 over the RTX 2080 Super unless you find it monstrously cheaper.

However, picking out an RTX 2080 Super is really only the first step to the process; you might have found the perfect GPU for your setup, but what about your CPU? What is the best CPU to pair with your new RTX 2080 Super?

Here are some of the very best CPUs for 2020 that will work best with the RTX 2080 Super, whether through build effectiveness or just their price similarities.


Best CPUs for RTX 2080 Super – My Recommendations

1. Ryzen 7 3700x

AMD Ryzen 7 3700X

When it comes to finding the right CPU for your newfound GPU, you need to consider the balance of both price and value. It is all well and good finding the most powerful CPU possible, but what does it matter if you can’t afford it? After all, though the RTX 2080 Super is certainly well priced for its effectiveness, you still might find yourself with not quite enough money left over for a monster of a CPU.

However, you still need to make sure you get one that can work effectively and utilize the computational might of your GPU.

For those looking for a cheaper, but still powerful enough CPU, then you should consider the Ryzen 7 3700x. While it is more expensive than the Ryzen 5 3600x, it more than makes up for its increased price for its extended computational power.

With a decent boost clock potential of 4.4 GHz and a standard core clock of 3.6, this CPU will be able to handle the power of your new RTX 2080 Super without leaving it waiting.

Perhaps one of the best reasons to consider this CPU is because of its low TDP; needing only 65 watts means that this processor is not only cheaper than the others on this list, but it requires less power to run efficiently as well.

But what about if you want something with a bit more cores and threads, and are willing to spend a bit more money to get it?

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2. Ryzen 9 3900x

AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

While the smaller, less powerful Ryzen 7 3700x might be good enough for most people, if you are looking for a stronger performance, you should move up to the Ryzen 9 3900x. This 12 core, 24 thread CPU is able to handle just about anything you can throw it. It can certainly handle the RTX 2080 Super, and more expensive GPUs besides.

The key advantage with this CPU is its 24 threads, allowing you to be able to utterly annihilate any competition when it comes to handing multithreaded programs. For those that plan on editing or rendering videos, this is the CPU for you.

With its boost clock of 4.6 GHz and its multitude of threads, this is the CPU for anyone planning on working with video or perhaps has aspirations as a full time streamer.

Sadly, it is the price that usually stops most people short of picking one up, as this CPU can set you back upwards of $450 if you aren’t looking for bargains.

Still, it is capable of beating out any other CPU available on the regular market, as long as you are making sure to stick to programs that can make use of its hyper threading.

But what about for those Intel fans? Which Intel CPUs work best with the RTX 2080 Super?

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3. Intel i7 9700K

Intel Core i7-9700KF

The Intel i7 9700K is the CPU that you should definitely consider as being the beginner Intel CPU for any serious PC builders. While you can certainly get all manner of lighter, less powerful Intel CPUs, it is really only the 9700 K, at a minimum, that will allow you to fully utilize the power of your RTX 2080 Super.

While it only is able to work with 8 cores, it is still able to deliver incredible performance with your RTX 2080 Super, as well as operating well when supporting 1080p gaming.

The main thing to consider with this Intel CPU is its somewhat lacking cooling capacity. Instead of being able to operate at a super cool temperature like many other CPUs, this one lacks some of the useful cooling architecture that allows it to really shine.

So, you either need to pair it with a really expensive cooler / fan setup, or you can spend a bit more to get the next tier of Intel CPUs.

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4. Intel i9-9900K

Intel Core i9-9900K

If you really like the base architecture of the 9700 K, but feel like it is really missing out on additional threads, then this is the CPU for you.

With built in hyper threading capability, this CPU can work with up to sixteen threads, giving it great multicore performance.

While not as incredibly potent as the Ryzen 9 3900x when it comes to hyper threading, it is still an excellent choice for those looking to use their PC for video editing or recording.

The main problem with this CPU is its increased price point – costing up to 50% more than the previous Intel iteration, this CPU might future proof you for a good few years, but it might also bankrupt you as well.

While the cooling infrastructure is still better than the 9700 K, you would do well to pair the Intel i9 9900 K with a pretty decent cooling system all the same. It won’t be as at risk of overheating, but if you really start putting those threads to work, you might find it starting to burn out without you realizing.

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Filed Under: CPU, Guides, RTX 2080 Super

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