NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 is still an incredibly graphics card (GPU) for mid-range gaming PCs, capable of covering 1080p and 1440p resolutions in your favorite titles.
A GPU is a processor (CPU) to correspond to its functionality and its prices, which is why I presented AMD’s Ryzen Five 7600X. You spend too much at around $207, and it will stick smoothly to the RTX 3060.
The Ryzen 5 7600X might not quite be what you’re looking for, and I’ve also included five other options from Intel and AMD — many of which we’ve reviewed here at Windows Central — with different levels of performance, hardware compatibility, and pricing.
January 22, 2025: These CPUs remain the best to pair with an RTX 3060. I’ve updated pricing and availability info to help you find the right option. — Cale Hunt
Better in general
The Ryzen Five 7600X is a four -wire zen -scores processor and a spice watch up to five. 3 GHz. Use the AMFive platform (still used through new Ryzen 9000 chips), reducing the probability of complete formula update When you need to update it. The value I have discovered is approximately $ 197, which makes it a very productive correspondence for RTX 3060.
Update AMD Choice
Need more remediation power? The Ryzen 7 7700X can deliver thanks to two additional cores and 4 additional cables compared to the Ryzen 5. 7600X. It also uses AM5 Grip for less difficult upgrades in the future, and at around $300, you still don’t spend the RTX 3060.
AMD to the future
The Ryzen 5 9600X is from AMD’s latest Zen 5 lineup, released in August 2024. It boasts six cores, 12 threads, and a boost clock up to 5.4GHz, all at a modest 65W TDP that sucks less power than its predecessor. You’ll spend more at about $239, but it’s a great option if you want the latest (and most future-proof) option from Team Red.
AMD budget
The RTX 3060 offers some of the best value for money in the graphics card space, and the Ryzen 5 5600X does the same for processors at only about $124. It’s a great choice for a 1080p system, but do note that it’s still on the AM4 platform. If you upgrade to a newer AMD chip in the future, a motherboard swap will be required.
Best Intel
The Intel Core IFIVE-12600K is an average range processor that exceeds the oldest Ryzen Five competition in the maximum references. The DDRFive RAM and PCIE Five. 0 control is still there with the same LGA 1700 Socket. For around $ 164, this will make a correct agreement with the RTX 3060 if you get it with Intel.
Intel update
The i7-12700K beats older Ryzen 7 chips in maximum references, but will pay around $208. DDR5 RAM and PCIE 5. 0 have set it up for the future, but you’ll want a motherboard to accommodate the LGA 1700 socket. It’s a little harder than for the RTX 3060, but the value is fair.
I have been building and obtaining better desktop PC and games for two decades, with great delight in the tests and review of AMD, Intel and Nvidia hardware. If you want a new processor for your NVIDIA RTX 3060, you cannot pass with the six possible options that I have collected here.
I use the NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU on my game PC, and manage all my favorites native to 1440p or with a little DLSS magic. Choosing a processor that lace is simple because I have tried a lot over the years.
In particular, I built a modest game workplace with the NVIDIA RTX 3060 graphics card because I don’t play too demanding. My monitors do not exceed 1440p resolutions, they can succeed in up to 240 Hz. While I matched my RTX 3060 with an Ryzen Five600X, the new generation of AMD Ryzen Five 7600X is now the chip is essential for maximum people.
In our AMD Ryzen 5 7600X review, former Windows Central Senior Editor Rich Edmonds remarked:
“If you are going to build a new game PC or a device to make paintings and navigation websites, the Ryzen Five 7600X AMD offers a more than enough functional margin. A higher watch speed while you have a cooling good enough.
The chip might run a bit hot and it requires an AM5 motherboard — an upgrade if you’re coming from a Ryzen 5000 CPU — but at about $203 it’s a perfect pairing for the RTX 3060.
AMD’s Ryzen 7 7700X is a step up if you want more processing power. It only costs about $100 more than the Ryzen 5 7600X, and it adds a couple of cores, four threads, and a slightly higher boost frequency. We reviewed the Ryzen 7 7700X, with Edmonds noting:
“If you do take the plunge and pick up the AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, you won’t be disappointed. The performance is amazing. Pair it up with a capable AIO and a 240mm radiator and you’ll have one impressive gaming machine.”
Be sure to associate the Ryzen 7 7700X with an adequate RAM for the results.
The Ryzen Five Five600X and the Ryzen Five 9600X are also on the list, and are inclined to other users. The first is wonderful if you need to spend as little as you can imagine and it does not bother you to stay on an old AMD, configuring in the long term for around $ 240.
Intel acknowledged in July 2024 that it had found the root cause of 13th and 14th Gen desktop CPU instability, which had been plaguing users for years. The issue caused the chips to draw too much power, resulting in irreversible degradation leading eventually to complete failure.
Intel’s correction began to move to motherboard dealers in August 2024, and this turns out to have avoided the challenge of continuing with unlimited processors. Possibly does not have a challenge, especially after the solution, but you can also find similar challenges. In all cases, the 12th Core I5-12600K and Core i7-12700K generation remain forged characteristics that use the LGA 1700 socket, and will remain without problems at RTX 3060 in their favorite games.
The Windows Central Chief Editor, Daniel Rubino, reviewed the Intel Core I5-12600K, saying:
“Designed for an all-around good gaming PC, the Core i5-12600K is a superb choice. It’s unlocked, allowing you to push the processor further if allowed by the motherboard and cooling capacity.”
It is difficult not to mention AMD Ryzen processors with V-Cache 3-D discussion in the discussion of PC games. Chopes with the V-Cache 3-D of AMD, such as the Ryzen 7 9800x3d that we review, offers an impressive game functionality thanks to the stacked L3 cache. , possibly you would not see many improvements outside the doors of the games.
Something like the Ryzen 7,7800x3d lately costs around $566, which is much higher than its recommended costs due to inventory shortages. The Ryzen 7 7800x3d (and the recent high 9800x3d) is definitely overdone for the RTX 3060.
Nevertheless, its use of the AM5 socket means you won’t have a tough upgrade route for AMD’s more recent chips, and it could serve as a great placeholder while you wait for a big GPU deal.
NVIDIA’s RTX 3060 is perfectly capable of playing games at 1440p even more than three years after its launch. However, there are some caveats.
You’re not going to be able to max out in-game settings, especially in demanding titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, but with some tweaks in less demanding titles, you’ll be able to enjoy triple-digit framerates. That’s especially true when you can take advantage of NVIDIA tech like DLSS.
The RTX 3060 comes in 12GB and 8GB VRAM variants, so if you’re concerned about current and future memory demands, I’d spend a bit extra on the 12GB model. Games are increasing their demand for VRAM all the time, so the extra 4GB shouldn’t go to waste.
Former chief editor Rich Edmonds reviewed the NVIDIA RTX 3060, saying:
“It’s more than capable of managing PC games to exceed parameters and 1080p, even some at 1440p, however, you’ll see the limits of slower reminiscence and fewer hearts to manage easier tasks, especially if you turn on the design rays. “
Cale Hunt brings to Windows Central more than eight years of experience writing about laptops, PCs, accessories, games, and beyond. If it runs Windows or in some way complements the hardware, there’s a good chance he knows about it, has written about it, or is already busy testing it.
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