Best CPU for RX 7900 XTX in 2024 – our top Intel and AMD picks

First off, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the best AMD CPU goes well with the best AMD GPU. That said, there is a reason this is the best AMD CPU and its specifications and performance should attest to that claim.

This processor has a total of 16 cores and 32 threads. What this means is that it should be able to effortlessly handle multitasking of any nature as well as exceptionally perform single-core tasks such as gaming. On top of that, it has a base clock speed of 4.5 GHz, which can be taken to 5.7 GHz. These clock speeds are really fast, and you shouldn’t feel your system or processes lagging or experience any in-game disruptions due to bottleneck issues. However, it does come unlocked for overclocking, and you should be able to take it beyond the maximum frequency for even better performance. That said, it isn’t recommended to push any chipset beyond its recommended limit as, realistically speaking, there isn’t any real-world scenario where you’d need 6.0 GHz clock speed, and any damage that occurs during the overclocking process is not covered by the warranty.

As far as its power draw is concerned, you know what they say: with great power comes a high TDP, and this CPU has a default TDP of 170WPa. While this doesn’t mean that it’ll always be drawing in 170W, it could go above that, depending on how much load it’s under. Another factor in this equation is its temperature. The more power it draws, the more heat it will generate, and it will need a better cooling solution. It is also recommended by AMD that you use a liquid cooler with this CPU, and to that end, we’ve got you covered with our best AIO water cooler guide, which has the top picks.

The Ryzen 9 7950X sits on top of the latest AM5 socket, which works with the PCIe 5.0 express configuration. What this means is that it requires a motherboard with an AM5 socket and other components that are built for the next generation such as DDR5 memory. It is compatible with a maximum of 5200 MHz RAM, so check whether your motherboard can support those speeds before making a purchase. That said, to help you cut through the clutter, we’ve put together the best AM5 motherboard guide, which has the top picks available.

Lastly, it has a 64 MB L3 and 1 MB L1 cache. Previously, we’ve seen a maximum of 512 KB of L1 cache, which is a massive jump. How cache’s work is that the closer they are to the CPU, the faster they are and have a lower number. So, L1 is the fastest, and L3 is the slowest, but it can hold the most data. That is important because caches also act as repositories for all cores to access the data. So this means that more data can be accessed and processed quickly with this CPU, which should lead to better general and in-game performance.

Overall, this CPU is a powerhouse that should deliver exceptional performance without any bottleneck issues while future-proofing your build. You should easily be able to game in 4K with this pairing, but it comes at a premium and is definitely an enthusiast pick.

If you’re looking for the best Intel CPU to pair with your RX 7900 XTX, we recommend the i9-13900K.

Before we begin, let’s address the elephant in the room. The Intel 14th-generation CPUs are making headway, so why should you settle for this CPU? Well, according to our hands-on review of the i9-14900K, we found the difference to be minimal but you can check it out for yourself and make a decision that best suits your budget and requirements.

For starters, the i9-13900K boasts a total of 24 cores and 32 threads, meaning that its multi-core performance should be able to handle parallel processing without a hitch. However, that doesn’t mean its single-core performance is lacking, as it should be able to handle any level of gaming you throw at it.

Regarding its cores, those are divided into eight performance cores and 16 efficient cores. How this division works is that the performance cores do the heavy lifting and process resource-intensive tasks while the efficient cores handle minor and background tasks that don’t require a lot of muscle. What this does is provide a balance between performance and efficiency and also help keep the power draw and temperatures under control.

For example, if the performance cores are running at all times, they consume more power, ramping up the chip’s temperature. So, when demanding tasks aren’t in the queue, the efficient cores take over and keep the power draw to a minimum.

This processor’s maximum clock speed of 5.80 GHz should be more than enough to handle any real-world tasks. However, if you’re a PC enthusiast who likes to push your setup to the limit, this CPU comes unlocked for easy overclocking. This means you can squeeze out even more performance from this CPU.

So, as far as in-game performance is concerned, this CPU shouldn’t leave anything on the table, as the performance cores should kick in and work with this powerful GPU to deliver the best frame rates and reduced lag so you can have the best experience possible.

If you’re looking for the best AMD processor to go with your RX 7900 XTX, then the Ryzen 9 7900X3D might be the option for you.

Let’s kick things off with some specifications. This CPU is powered by 12 cores, 24 threads, and features a base clock speed of 4.4 GHz, which can be increased by up to 5.6 GHz. What this translates to is that by pairing this CPU with the RX 7900 XTX, you should get amazing in-game, video editing, rendering, and general performance. The 24 threads should be able to handle vast amounts of multitasking, while the powerful cores should deliver a top-notch gaming experience whether you’re gaming at 1080p, 1440p, or even 4K.

On top of that, its maximum clock speed should be fast enough to deliver swift processing and access times. However, this CPU doesn’t come unlocked from the manufacturer, but you could overclock it by other means, but that isn’t recommended as there are chances of the chip getting damaged and that isn’t covered in the warranty. Furthermore, this CPU has a massive 128 MB L3 cache, which should also help speed things up in gaming and general tasks. This is because caches act as libraries that hold data, and the cores can access that data instead of taking the long way around. So, the more data there is, the less time the cores spend looking for it, resulting in reduced access time and faster processing.

This CPU, like our top pick, also rests on the latest AM5 socket and requires components that are compatible with the PCI 5.0 express configuration. That said, the latest generation of components offer faster speeds and processing, so opting for those isn’t a bad idea, as you might not want your build to be held back by a slower RAM or SSD. To that end, we’ve got your back in that domain as well with our best DDR5 RAM guide that has the best picks.

However, that’s not all. The Ryzen 9 7900X3D also has the AMD EXPO Memory Overclocking technology, which enables you to easily overclock your RAM to higher frequencies, leading to better overall performance. So, while the maximum support RAM for this CPU is 5200 MHz, you could possibly take it above that, but be sure not to overdo it.

Lastly, the great part of having an all-AMD build is that the Smart Access Memory comes into play. What this does is basically remove the middleman from the CPU and the GPU and let them communicate and share data directly, which leads to faster data transfers and better performance.

All in all, this is one of the best CPUs for the RX 7900 XTX. While it may have a premium price tag, its features and functionalities more than justify it, and it should future-proof your build for years to come.

If you’re looking for a processor that doesn’t cost as much but still won’t hold back the RX 7900 XTX, the i7 – 13700K might be right up your alley.

First, this processor has the “K” moniker, which means it can be overclocked to go above its maximum frequency of 5.40 GHz. This should result in faster processing for various tasks such as editing, gaming, and everyday tasks.

On top of that, it features 16 cores and 24 threads. The cores are divided into eight performance and efficient cores. This design should be able to handle multiple applications running in parallel, while the cores should deliver good performance in single-core tasks such as gaming. The division of performance and efficient cores should make sure that you’re getting exactly the amount of processing you need for any particular task. For example, if the task you’re running requires more juice, the performance cores will step up, and the efficient cores will take the back seat. After handling that, the performance cores will tune down and let efficient cores handle minor tasks. This results in a good balance between performance and value and should also keep your costs under control.

So, when it comes to gaming, you shouldn’t experience lag or reduced CPU consumption as these pairings complement each other well and should be able to handle 1440p and even 4K gaming.

One good feature of this CPU is that it is compatible with PCI 4.0 and 5.0 express configurations. This means you can put this processor on a previous-generation motherboard with its components, and it’ll work perfectly fine without any compatibility issues. This should help you keep costs down, as you won’t have to purchase a new motherboard, RAM, and other components, which can be quite pricey.

Overall, this is one of the best processors for pairing with your RX 7900 XTX, and its price and backward compatibility make this deal even sweeter.