Whether you’re building your very first gaming PC or upgrading your current one, choosing the right processor for it is the most important and complex decision you’re going to make.
With so many options to choose from it’s easy to get overwhelmed and confused about which one you should buy. And which CPU is the right fit for you.
What is the best CPU for Radeon RX 6800 XT?
The Best CPU for AMD Radeon RX 6800XT is Ryzen 9 5950X.
Fortunately for you, I did all the research and compiled the best CPUs in the market for a high-end gaming setup that I’ll be sharing with you in this post.
So sit tight and find out which CPU fits your setup and can best compliment your Radeon RX 6800XT graphics card.
List of Best CPUs For RX 6800 XT
- Best performing desktop processor: Ryzen 9 5950X
- Best multicore CPU: Ryzen 9 5900X
- Best single-core performance CPU: Core i9-11900K
- Best low TDP CPU: Ryzen 7 5800X
- Best value intel CPU: Core i7-11700k
- Best budget CPU: Ryzen 5 5600X
- Best value CPU: Core i5-11600K
The demand for a great processor for a gaming setup is manifold. Be it for gaming or productivity these CPUs can handle anything and satisfy the consumer.
Here are the best CPUs for RX 6800 XT:
1. Ryzen 9 5950X
Team red’s new Zen 3 architecture has really set the benchmark for high-end gaming performance and productivity. And the Ryzen 9 5950X delivers the best performance to date.
Here are the Ryzen 9 5950X specs:
- Cores – 16
- Threads – 32
- Lithography – TSMC 7nm
- Base clock – 3.4GHz
- Boost clock – 4.9GHz
- L3 Cache – 64MB
- Memory support – DDR4 3200MHz
- Socket – AM4
- TDP – 105W
- Cooler – None
With these specs, this CPU can handle gaming at any resolution comfortably. With this paired with an RX 6800XT, your gaming experience will be like nothing else.
With its 16 cores and 32 threads, this is a monster that will crunch anything you throw at it. You can do 3D rendering, video editing, or any other serious task and it will handle it with ease. Its multicore performance beats all of its competitors.
And with a base clock speed of 3.4GHz and a boost clock speed of 4.9 GHz keeps everything is snappy and smooth.
The thermals are also very good on this one. With a good cooler, you got nothing to worry about. And with its low TDP of 105W, it’s also very efficient. So you can get a lot of performance at a low TDP.
This processor is currently the best performing processor you can buy. The only downside to this is the price. At $799 it is a bit expensive. If you’re only using it for a game then you might be better off with something like a Ryzen 9 5900. But if you’re going to use it for productivity like rendering and editing then it’s absolutely something you should consider.
Pros:
- Great gaming performance
- IPC gain, boost frequencies
- Multi-threaded Performance
- Overclockable
- Power efficiency
Cons:
- A bit expensive
- No bundled CPU cooler
2. Ryzen 9 5900X
AMD’s new Zen 3 architecture has pushed Intel back with its whole lineup. The Ryzen 9 5900X offers excellent performance and value. It’s the fastest CPU you can get at its price point of $500. A great compliment to Radeon RX 6800XT.
Let’s take a look at the Ryzen 9 5900x specs:
- Core – 12
- Thread -24
- Base – 7 GHz
- Boost Clock – 4.8 GHz
- Sockets – AMD AM4
- Lithography -7 nm
- L3 Cache – 64 MB
- TDP – 105 watts
- Integrated Graphics – None
- Bundled Cooler – None
When you have the most advanced processor to date everything from gaming to doing CPU-intensive work is just a breeze. That’s exactly what happens with the Ryzen 9 5900X CPU.
It’s just as good in single-threaded tasks as it is in multithreaded tasks. Its 12 cores and 24 threads give a great performance.
Its 3.7GHz base clock speed combined with its 64MB L3 cache improves gaming performance manifold.
Another win for this CPU is its low TDP. It draws way less power compared to the competition. And still delivers amazing results.
And AMD has finally caught up with intel on single-core performance. If you were concerned about its single-core performance I’m glad to tell you that you won’t be disappointed with AMD this time.
If you’re planning on building a high-end gaming pc the 5900X should be high on your list. It can do 4k gameplay easily. Especially paired with a Radeon RX 6800XT makes it a formidable combo.
It can also handle productive tasks without sweat. It’s now the fastest mainstream processor. It also offers great value for what it’s offering. So if your primary goal is to game then the Ryzen 9 5900X is the one for you.
3. Core i9-11900K
Old school gamers have a soft spot for intel processors, for its reliability and name value. Even though the 11th gen is a rather unimpressive upgrade and is having a tough competition with AMD, the core i9- 11900k still manages to hold its ground and deliver a modest performance.
Notable features and specs of the i9 11900k are:
- Core Count – 8
- Thread Count – 16
- Base Clock – 3.5 GHz
- Boost Clock – 5.3 GHz
- Socket – Intel LGA 1200
- Lithography – 14 nm
- L3 Cache Amount – 16 MB
- TDP – 125 watts
- Integrated Graphics – Intel Iris Xe (UHD Graphics 750)
- Integrated Graphics Base Clock 350 MHz
- Bundled Cooler None
Despite Intel’s current market state and its getting replaced by AMD’s Zen 3 processors, the i9 11900k has a lot going for it. Its single-core performance is as good as ever.
Intel ditched its previous generations’ 10 core i9 for just 8 cores. By reducing the cores they improved its single-core strength. For games, it’s not a huge deal because games currently don’t use more than 8 cores. But productivity programs do benefit from more cores.
It handles 1080p gaming really well without any problem. In select games, it edges out and gets higher frame rates compared to its AMD counterpart. But for the price, it lags behind its competitors in terms of price to performance. And it also gets quite hot.
If it was priced a bit more aggressively then it would’ve been a banger. If you’re someone who will only buy an intel chip it’s the one for you. It’s still plenty fast and if you’re just going to game on it then it’s a good choice.
Pros
- Fast single-threaded speeds
- Frame-rate records in select games
Cons
- Like-priced AMD processors simply outpace on multi-threaded tasks
- Early stumbles in BIOS
- Runs hot and power-hungry
4. Ryzen 7 5800X
The Ryzen 7 5800 X is a solid choice if you’re looking for a great CPU and not break the bank. This CPU has received a lot of improvements in speed and efficiency over its previous generations.
Here are the specs for Ryzen 7 5800X :
- Core – 8
- Thread – 16
- Base Clock – 3.8 GHz
- Boost Clock – 7 GHz
- Unlocked Multiplier? Yes
- Socket – AMD AM4
- Lithography – 7 nm
- L3 Cache – 32 MB
- TDP – 105 watts
- Integrated Graphics – None
- Bundled Cooler – None
This CPU makes its way to the sweet spot list. Being a balance price and performance.
Its 8 core 16 thread CPU is more than adequate in handling 1080p or 1440p gaming. The processor’s plenty fast for doing productive tasks such as video editing or rendering. It’s not the fastest CPU by any means but for the price, you can’t go wrong. Paired with a good GPU such as a RX 6800XT it’s going to outlive the current-gen consoles
The support for PCIe 4.0 makes it a future-proof chip that’s going to last you years. Which is looking like a great deal.
The main focus of this CPU is improved gaming performance. And it delivers on its promise. It beats the i9 10900k in gaming performance. And dominates this price range with its excellent performance.
So if you’re mainly going to play games then this is a great option. It’s going to enable the strongest performance even with a powerful graphics card without bottlenecking it.
So overall the Ryzen 7 5800X is a well-rounded processor that has a lot to offer without breaking the bank.
Pros
- Stellar multithreaded performance for the price
- Single-core performance hits new highs for Ryzen
- Most gaming results match or beat Core chips
- Low TDP
- Socket AM4 compatible
Cons
- Minimal overclocking headroom
- No bundled cooler
5. Core i7 11700K
Intel’s Rocket Lake CPUs are Intel’s last attempt in squeezing out its 14nm architecture. Even though the 11 gen core i7 11700k offers a rather moderate improvement over the previous-gen it’s still no slouch.
Let’s check out the specs for this CPU :
- Cores – 8
- Threads – 16
- Base clock – 3.6
- Max Turbo clock – 5.0
- Cache – 16MB
- Process – 14nm
- Socket LGA -1200
- TDP – 125W*
- Memory Support – DDR4-3200
- PCIe Specification – 4.0
There are a lot of reasons to consider this CPU. This is a very solid choice for gaming. And if you want to do things like live streaming and content creation benefit from having 8 cores. And its high clock speed helps deliver high frame rates on 1080p gaming.
It also offers the latest Resizable Bar technology which gives a noticeable performance in gaming. And the support for PCIe 4.0 indicates future-proofing.
This CPU runs hot. And if you don’t use a good aftermarket cooler you will face thermal throttling issues. So using a good cooler is recommended. Invest in a good quality air cooler or go for water cooling.
Though it’s not a huge improvement over last-gen and AMD does beat intel at most things. The i7 11700k handles 1080p gaming just fine. Especially if you pair it with a Radeon 6000 line GPU. Such as the Radeon RX 6800XT. Average users won’t even notice the difference.
But the price is Intel’s biggest problem here. Though it comes with premium pricing it doesn’t offer a lot of premium features. It’s going to come down in price like Intel’s last-gen CPU. And at a bit more competitive price point it will be a very good option.
Pros
- Fast single-threaded speeds
- Frame-rate records in select games
Cons
- Like-priced AMD processors simply outpace on multi-threaded tasks
- Runs hot and power-hungry
- Requires (not-included) liquid cooling for optimal operation
6. Ryzen 5 5600X
The Ryzen 5 5600 is a beast in the midrange market. Providing excellent value for money. Making it the sweet spot CPU for a budget or a midrange build. a complete bang for the buck.
Some of the features and specs of the Ryzen 5 5600 :
- Cores – 6
- Threads – 12
- Lithography – TSMC 7nm
- Base clock – 3.7GHz
- Boost clock – 4.6GHz
- L3 Cache – 32MB
- Memory support – DDR4 3200MHz
- Socket – AM4
- TDP – 65W
- Cooler – Wraith Stealth
The Ryzen 5 5600x takes the midrange market by storm by providing the best performance in the segment. A great 1080p CPU.
But the lower price comes with lower cores and lower threads. Don’t write it off just yet. It’s basically a six-core shredder that rips its way through 1080p gaming. Though gaming on it is no problem with more serious workloads 6 cores aren’t quite enough.
It has a low TDP of 65 W. Which is very low for a modern CPU. It also means it has some room for overclocking. And its included Wraith cooler is surprisingly good. You can push your CPU and still have thermals with the included cooler.
The last thing to note is that the AMD official supports up to 3,200MHz DDR4 RAM, although you’ll be able to run much faster memory without issue. The Infinity Fabric runs at 1,800MHz by default, so pairing it with 3,600MHz DDR4 makes sense.
Overall if you’re looking for a great CPU that won’t break the bank then this is the one for you.
Pros
- Strong performance in content creation and productivity tasks
- Dominance in gaming benchmarks
- Low TDP
- Compatible with Socket AM4
- High overclock ceiling
Cons
- Price creep versus last-gen Ryzen 5
- No integrated graphics
- Overclocking didn’t translate to actual major performance gains
7. Core i5 11600K
Intel’s 11th gen Rocket Lake CPUs have faced a lot of debate for their negligible performance gain over the previous generation. But among them the core i5 11600k makes a compelling offer. A real strong competitor.
Let’s take a look at the specs of the i5 11600k :
- Cores: 6
- Threads: 12
- Base clock: 3.9GHz
- All-core boost: 4.6GHz
- Single-core boost: 4.9GHz
- Smart cache: 12MB
- TDP: 125W
- Memory support: DDR4-2933 (Gear 1), DDR4-3200 (Gear 2)
This is the only new intel CPU that should interest gamers in 2021. If you’re going to build a pc with an Intel CPU and don’t want to spend too much on it then this is something that you should take a look at.
In gaming, it deals blows with its competitor the Ryzen 5 5600 with a few frames here and there. I don’t need to say it but it handles modern triple-A titles very well. It has sufficient power to handle your games and tasks so you don’t have to worry about it getting in the way of your graphics card.
It’s also unlocked. So you can overclock it and squeeze out every bit of power you can. And the support for PCIe 4.0 is also a compelling offer. Makes it a lot more future-proof.
But this i5-11600K really gives AMD’s 5600X a bang for the buck. I’m a calculative guy when it comes to PC builds, and I am assuring you, the price and performance value of the Rocket Lake chip gives it the edge.
Sure, it’s more power-hungry than the Ryzen chip., but to be honest, that doesn’t really matter, does it?
Pros
- Undercuts 5600X on price
- High-end gaming performance
- Solid multithreading chops
Cons
- Weak PCIe 4.0 support
- Power-hungry
Final Words
So which CPU caught your interest. I included a CPU for every person. A complete powerhouse that’ll crush any task you throw at it or a budget king that does everything you expect it to do flawlessly.
This generation around AMD is without a doubt leading the market.
And AMD’s Smart Access Memory technology makes it a very interesting offer paired with a Radeon graphics card. So if I had to pick one I’d probably go with the Ryzen 9 5800X. But the Ryzen 9 5950X is the clear winner here.
