Nvidia's RTX 4060 Ti was released in 2023 to a mixed reception from consumers and enthusiasts alike, with many praising its efficiency, but criticizing its performance gains (or lack thereof) in rasterization. Its pricing pits it as a direct replacement of the RTX 3060 Ti, although it is noticeably more expensive than a GPU that it beats by a margin of 10-15% in most benchmarks.
That being said, the RTX 4060 Ti does have its own, somewhat obvious advantages. It is part of a newer architecture, based on Nvidia's Ada Lovelace that handles Nvidia's newer DLSS3/3.5 tech considerably better than its predecessors, in addition to packing new RT cores and a larger L2 cache that allows for better performance at lower resolutions in particular.
It will also likely see more driver-based support down the line than its predecessors given it being a relatively new release with optimizations being often targeted towards the latest GPUs by Nvidia versus their legacy counterparts, a factor that should be taken into account while purchasing an RTX 4060 Ti over its relatively older competition.
If users have purchased an RTX 4060 Ti, or are about to, they might also be interested in pairing it with a more modern CPU. This is particularly true if they want to upgrade or start fresh with a new PC build to avoid a significant bottleneck or eke out the highest possible performance from Nvidia's latest mid-tier GPU.
Updated on June 27th, 2024, By Muhib Nadeem: Ever since its release in 2023, the RTX 4060Ti has gone from being one of the most hated cards of the year to a viable option for budget gamers. During this journey, its price has stabilized, and with newer architectures in play, choosing a viable CPU has become easier than ever. This guide was updated in light of the current economic conditions to reflect accurate changes to the prices of the listed CPUs.
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Things to Consider When Buying a CPU for the RTX 4060 Ti
These key features make a huge difference in the outcome of your choice of CPUs:
- Price-to-Performance Ratio: One would ideally want to pair a CPU that offers matching performance to the RTX 4060 TI. Since the RTX 4060 TI is currently priced at $400 and has SKUs that do trade for lower, a matching CPU would at least see an outlay of $100-150 or more to avoid bottlenecking the GPU itself meaningfully when it comes to processing power.
- The CPU's Underlying Tech: Having access to newer tech such as Resizable BAR (ReBAR) support as well as PCI-E 4.0 support is key to allowing the RTX 4060 TI to perform to the best of its ability, even as newer game engines and productivity tools make use of the extra bandwidth on offer. It's also important to consider the lower latency afforded by newer technology when it comes to leveraging new RTX 4000 series GPUs.
- Efficiency: The RTX 4060 Ti is known to be a relatively efficient GPU for most productivity workloads. Assuming one is factoring in gaming for long hours or productivity use cases, such as rendering, as a primary factor behind a CPU's purchase, it might be prudent to pick a more recent, energy-efficient CPU option in 2024 in the face of rising energy costs, especially for sustained workloads.
Game ZXC's Picks for the Best CPUs to Pair With the RTX 4060 Ti
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Hexacore Juggernaut
Gamers interested in upgrading to a newer CPU from Team Red will find the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X to be of spectacular value thanks to its high single-core performance, efficient hexacore architecture, and compatibility with newer technology such as PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 memory. It also abandons AMD's AM4 design, going for a pin-less processor offering by moving them to the motherboard instead.
- Brand
- AMD
- CPU Model
- Ryzen 5 7600X
- CPU Socket
- AMD AM5
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- PCIe 4.0 Support
- PCI-E 5.0 and lower
- Base Clock Speed
- 4.7 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 5.3 GHz
- Cache
- 6MB L2 + 32MB L3 Cache
- RAM
- Up to 128 GB DDR5 5000 MHz
- TDP
- 105W
- iGPU
- 2-Core AMD Radeon Graphics
- Extremely power efficient for gaming and productivity
- Supports the new AMD AM5 socket for better upgradeability
- Excellent Value for money
- Offers better single-core performance than most competitors
- Offers Integrated Graphics unlike its older AM4-based sibling
- Significantly slower
- More expensive than Intel's LGA 1700 alternatives
- Does not come with a stock cooler
The AMD Ryzen 5 7600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor that is great for most modern games, offering better single-core performance than its predecessors and decent multicore performance at a price point that can arguably be considered superior to the competition. The hexacore processor is an excellent alternative to Intel's beefier mid-range CPUs.
While it is somewhat slower than the competition in multicore performance, it does turn the tables on Intel's Raptor Lake offering in single-core (and more specifically games), thanks to its excellent Zen 4 core efficiency and higher clocks. This makes it the CPU users should be getting if they decide to go AMD this generation, or if they simply want to game primarily on a brand-new system.
Intel Core i3-12100F
Quad-Core Value Performer
The 4-Core, 8-Thread Intel Core i3-12100F processor is an entry-level contender from Intel's 12th generation that can handle today's games to a moderate level without bottlenecking and offers a path to upgrade to a faster processor by allowing users to build on an Intel 600 or 700 series motherboard.
- Brand
- Intel
- CPU Model
- Core i3-12100F
- CPU Socket
- LGA 1700
- Cores
- 4
- Threads
- 8
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.3GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 4.3GHz
- Cache
- 12MB
- TDP
- 89W
- iGPU
- N/A
- Has a stock cooler as part of its package
- Doesn't require an expensive chipset
- Excellent single core performance
- Offers similar cores to the 13th and 14th generation Core i3
- A Quad Core CPU feels dated
- No integrated graphics
- Multi-threaded performance isn't very competitive
Despite being one of the cheapest Alder Lake CPUs, the Core i3 12100-F is as capable as some of the older mid-range Zen 3-based AMD CPUs. With 4 performance cores that offer 8 threads, it does come up as an important contender for PC builds that are significantly limited when it comes to budget. Even though it's a locked chip without any headroom for overclocking, its boost clock speed of 4.50 GHz will make sure the games get all that horsepower to push those framerates as high as possible.
Even being short on cores compared to options like Ryzen 5500 and Ryzen 5600, it still delivers comparable performance in some games while offering an easy path to upgradeability, thanks to the LGA 1700 platform that supports Raptor Lake Refresh CPUs and the insanely fast DDR5 memories. Combining it with the RTX 4060 Ti and an entry-level motherboard with the stock cooler will make sure users get a high value out of each dollar spent.
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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X CPU
Hexacore Zen 3 Offering
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is a mid-range CPU, excellent for gaming setups. This is the fastest six-core AM4-based processor from AMD and features 12 processing threads. According to the company, the processor can deliver 100-plus FPS performance in the world's most popular games. The processor supports DDR4 memory with a sweet spot of 3600MHz.
It offers 4.6 GHz boost clock speeds out of the box with overclocking potential in tow, coupled with 35 MB of cache. This model comes bundled with a quiet and capable AMD Wraith Stealth cooler.
- Brand
- AMD
- CPU Model
- 5600X
- CPU Socket
- AMD AM4
- Cores
- 6
- Threads
- 12
- PCIe 4.0 Support
- PCI-E 4.0
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.7GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 4.6GHz
- Cache
- 3MB L2 + 32MB L3
- Graphics
- N/A
- TDP
- 105W
- iGPU
- N/A
- Excellent value for money hexacore CPU
- Offers decent multicore performance versus the competition
- Has plenty of choices in terms of memory and motherboards
- Overclockable even on budget chipsets like B450/B550
- Lackluster single-core performance
- Limited upgrade options
- No integrated graphics
AMD's Ryzen 5 5600X is one of the most balanced CPUs in the market currently with its 6-core, 12-thread offering being a balanced, yet affordable offering for gamers and content creators alike. Based on the AMD socket AM4 platform, there is no shortage of motherboard options for the AMD Ryzen 5 5600X and DDR4 memory has never been cheaper, making for a well-rounded offering this summer for users inclined to upgrade or build a new PC altogether.
The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, while superior to Intel's similarly-priced Core i3 14100F processor in terms of core count and multicore performance, does have weaker single-core performance in tow, which is crucial for gaming performance, making it a decent upgrade to pair with the Nvidia RTX 4060TI, but one that can be a situational upgrade for most thanks to Intel's better single core offerings in the same price range.
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Intel Core i5 14600KF 14-Core, 20-Thread CPU
Core i5 14600KF is the newest addition to the Raptor Lake Refresh family. While it isn't significantly faster than the 13600KF, it is still a little better in gaming when compared to the latter. With 14 cores and 20 threads, users are no longer going to lack the horsepower they need to maximize RTX 4060 Ti's potential.
- Brand
- Intel
- CPU Model
- Core i5 14600KF
- CPU Socket
- LGA 1700
- Cores
- 14 (6P + 8E Cores)
- Threads
- 20
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.5 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 5.3 GHz
- Cache
- 20MB L2 + 24MB L3 Cache
- Architecture
- Raptor Lake Refresh
- Process
- Intel 7 (10 nm)
- Graphics
- N/A
- Power Draw
- 181W (Turbo)
- 14 Cores/20 Threads for crazy gaming/productivity performance
- Supports both DDR4 and DDR5 memories
- Features higher boost clock speeds compared to its predecessor
- No integrated graphics
- High power consumption
When it's about who has the better specs, the Raptor Lake Refresh comes out to be the greatest lineup at the moment. Replacing the i5 13600KF, the 14600KF brings identical specs except for the higher clock speeds that result in a noticeable increase in performance. While not an ideal upgrade for users who already own a Raptor Lake Core i5, it is hands down the best mid-range overclockable CPU for elite gaming performance.
Even though the gap between the gaming performance of the Ryzen 7600X and Core i5 14600KF isn't significant, the latter outperforms the former decisively in most games and annihilates it in multitasking and productivity applications. For the RTX 4060 Ti, it might be overkill, but it would be one of the finest choices for future-proofing the system.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
The Best Gaming CPU Bar None
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD's latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.
The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.
- Brand
- AMD
- CPU Model
- Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- CPU Socket
- AM5
- Cores
- 8
- Threads
- 16
- PCIe 4.0 Support
- Yes, Supports up to PCI-E 5.0
- Architecture
- Zen 4
- Process
- 5nm
- Base Clock Speed
- 4.2GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 5.0GHz
- Cache
- 8MB L2 + 96MB L3
- TDP
- 120W
- iGPU
- Yes, Integrated Radeon 2 Core
- The fastest gaming CPU money can buy at the time of writing
- Much more power efficient compared to the competition
- Offers some level of overclocking support
- Can be handled by most mid-range CPU coolers with ease
- The octa-core offering is relatively underwhelming
- Somewhat identical to the Ryzen 7 7700X
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is currently the fastest consumer-grade CPU money can buy for gaming, and it also happens to be one of the most efficient ones on offer at the highest end. The 8-core, 16-thread offering from Team Red decimates most games with ease thanks to its significantly larger, stacked L3 cache as part of what AMD calls 3D V-Cache technology.
As the fastest CPU out there, it isn't really the first one that comes to mind, especially when users consider pairing it with Nvidia's Mid-range RTX 4060 TI (or alternatively, the RTX 4060) but it is the most capable CPU out there currently for gaming, and users will almost certainly be GPU-bottlenecked in any game with the RTX 4060TI long before you get bottlenecked by AMD's current king of the hill while gaming.
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Intel Core i9 14900K 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU
24 Cores To Crunch Numbers
The Intel Core i9 14900K 24-Core, 32-Thread CPU is Intel's highest-end 14th generation CPU and offers the highest boost clocks for a consumer-grade CPU from Intel to date, clocking in at an impressive 6 GHz natively.
It succeeds the limited-release Intel Core 13900KS as the first mainstream 6 GHz CPU, even as it brings a large power draw and thermal requirement to reach said clock speed.
- Brand
- Intel
- CPU Model
- Core i9 14900K
- CPU Socket
- LGA 1700
- Cores
- 24 (8P + 16E)
- Threads
- 32
- Architecture
- Raptor Lake (Refresh)
- Process
- Intel 7 (10 nm)
- Base Clock Speed
- 3.2 GHz
- Boost Clock Speed
- 6 GHz
- Cache
- 32MB L2 + 36MB L3 Cache
- TDP
- 253 W
- The fastest single-core performance CPU
- Cheaper than AMD's 16-core Ryzen 9 7950X3D
- Can push even higher performance in certain games and apps
- Has significant thermal requirements to run at full capacity
- Considerably worse power efficiency
For those unwilling to compromise on raw multi-threaded performance, even at the cost of efficiency in some cases, the Intel Core i9 14900K 24-Core, 32-thread CPU provides a compelling CPU upgrade to pair with the Nvidia RTX 4060 Ti for productivity-based workloads. It also works with both high-end DDR5 and cheaper DDR4 memory, even as it favors the former considerably.
The Intel Core i9 14900K offers excellent gaming performance and exceptional value-for-money throughput when it comes to productivity, as it is as much as $50-75 cheaper than its nearest AMD alternative. It can also push past the much-vaunted 6 GHz marker, thanks to Intel offering an AI-driven XTU tool, even as it uses APO scheduling tweaks to carve itself an advantage in titles that integrate it in 2024.
With 24 cores in play and a cost price that is below $550, the 14900K (or the slightly cheaper KF variant) does have its perks, even if it comes at the cost of high-end cooling requirements and lower power efficiency at its core. Neither of those factors keep it from being one of the best productivity-centric consumer-grade CPUs in the market though, considering it brings significantly better gaming performance than most of its peers in 2024.
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FAQ
Q: What is the best CPU to pair with the RTX 4060 and RTX 4060TI for gaming?
Both the mid-range AMD Ryzen 5 7600X and the Intel Core i5 14600KF are excellent gaming CPUs that would pair well with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 and RTX 4060TI. If limited to just one, however, most users should probably lean towards the cheaper Ryzen 5 7600X given its better efficiency, value for money, and slightly better single-core performance.
Q: What is the Nvidia RTX 4060 TI performance equivalent from last generation GPUs?
The closest Nvidia GPU to the RTX 4060TI is the RTX 3070 in terms of raw performance (DLSS3/3.5 performance notwithstanding). Both offer a 10% performance uplift compared to the last generation Nvidia RTX 3060TI.