Updated December 12, 2022 10:13 am

The RTX 3060 is one of the most powerful budget GPUs currently available. The 3060 brought high FPS 1080p gaming into the hands of even the most frugal PC gamers. But as we know every GPU needs a good support system, so we ask. What is the best CPU for RTX 3060?
Now read: Best CPU for RTX 3050
It’s not just about finding a CPU that’s compatible with the 3060, it’s also about finding one that works well with the hardware. The last thing you want is a CPU bottlenecking that new GPU you just acquired.
So, without further delay, let’s examine which CPU is the best choice for the RTX 3060.
Best CPU for RTX 3060
Now we’re going to reveal the best CPU to pair with the RTX 3060. And as a surprise to probably nobody, we recommend the Ryzen 5 5600X.
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Ryzen 5 5600X

AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the best value for money CPUs on the market. The Ryzen 5 5600X has 6 cores and 12 threads to work with, meaning it can handle some of the less demanding multi-core workloads. However, it can still hold its own in single-core scenarios.
The core speed of 4.6GHz ensures that the 5600X can handle games, as we all know core speed is directly related to gaming performance. This is a CPU that is ideal for pairing with the RTX 3060 as it doesn’t cause CPU bottlenecks and thereby slow down the GPU.
The 5600X really is an efficiency beast, handing out a surprisingly large amount of processing power for a remarkably small 65W TDP, which is almost 200W less than some of the leading CPUs out there. The performance ratio of the Ryzen 5 5600X is almost unbeatable.
With the 5600X, you don’t have to worry about upgrading your hardware. This is because the 5600X belongs to the AM4 socket standard. AMD has been using this motherboard socket for many years and has inhabited motherboards for the last 6 years or so.
Best budget CPU for RTX 3060
While we recommend sticking with the CPU we recommend, we mostly recommend the I5-12400f. If you can find this CPU for a good price, consider one.


Core i5-12400F
Base clock speed:
2.50GHz
Increase clock frequency:
4.40GHz
This CPU is something to watch out for, it offers about the same performance as the 5600X but is much more commonly available for sale. If the 12400F isn’t on sale, don’t worry. If you don’t already have an Intel system, you’re probably better off. It would be cheaper for you to lose the CPU than to upgrade to accommodate the new CPU.
Last word
No matter which CPU you choose from this list, both will serve you very well. Whether you’re AMD or Intel, we’ve got you covered. We hope you found what you were looking for in this article on the best CPU for RTX 3060.