RX 580 is one of the most powerful graphics cards for gaming. However, this GPU alone cannot excel in performance if you don’t pair it with the right CPU. A high-end processor will improve your FPS while playing games on higher settings.
Choosing the best CPU for RX 580 GPU leaves you with top lineups from both Intel & AMD. CPUs with a minimum of 4 cores can do a good job with RX 580 unless you are playing more power demanding titles.
However, if you are pairing your RX 580 for content creation purposes, then 4 cores will do the job. For gaming, AMD RX 580 might need a CPU with at least 6 cores to avoid bottlenecking.
Our comparison chart includes gaming processors from both Intel & AMD that fall under your budget. Even if you are on a budget, we don’t recommend you to waste your money on Core i3s or Ryzen 3s. Therefore, we haven’t included any of these CPUs due to their poor performance with RX 580.
Although you can pair inexpensive CPUs with RX 580 to save some bucks, it will inevitably affect the overall gaming performance. There we advise you to choose a high-end, affordable processor for RX 580 GPU if you want smooth performance.
Top 5 Best CPU for RX 580
Here are some of the highly compatible CPUs to pair with AMD RX 580 GPU. We will start with the famous Ryzen 7 lineup and then move on to the Intel’s most reliable gaming CPUs.
1. AMD Ryzen 5 3600 | Best Value for the Money CPU for RX 580
Key Specs
- Socket AM4
- 6 Cores / 12 Threads
- CPU Cooler Included
- Overclock to 4.2 GHz Max
- 35 MB Cache
Although the Ryzen 3 3600 is not a high-end CPU when it comes to gaming, sill it is worth buying to build a low budget gaming PC. This CPU is tested with the RX 580 on different gaming platforms on the web.
In terms of performance it packs 6 cores and 12 threads to deliver smooth FPS in gaming. Obviously, you can overclock this processor to get the most out of it. Boosting the speed up to 4.2 GHz will keep eliminating the threat of bottlenecking your RX 580.
It’s a mid-range CPU with considerable performance in the content creation department as well. Its low cost let you save money that you might invest in buying 8GB version of RX 580.
Moreover, AMD’s Wraith CPU Cooler is way better than many low budget CPU coolers in the market. One of the great things about this processor is the 32MB of L3 cache. This plays a considerable role in CPU performance when it comes to gaming or editing videos.
Overall, it is a budget-friendly CPU to pair with AMD RX 580 GPU to boost gaming performance. It has low power consumption and overclocking edge at a low price.
2. AMD Ryzen 5 2600 | Highly Compatible CPU for RX 580
Key Specs
- AM4 Socket
- AMD SenseMI
- 6 Cores / 12 Threads
- 3.9 GHz Base
- Overclocking
Ryzen 5 2600 is one of the most ideal CPU in the gaming industry. It is an exact combination of performance and budget at one spot. The 2600 chip stands out when it comes to improve your gaming performance, especially when you have a high-end GPU like RX 580.
The standard 2600 chip from AMD is not that much different from the 2600X version. Both of them come up with six cores and 12 threads to take care of power demanding tasks. The only difference between the two models is the base and max clock speed.
The Ryzen 5 2600 comes with 3.4 GHz base speed with overclocking up to 3.9 GHz. And the 2600X comes with 3.7 GHz with overclocking up to 4.2 GHz. Another main difference is the lower TDP of 2600 as compared to the 2600X.
In terms of performance, the Ryzen 5 2600 chips easily handle the mid-range gaming titles. With the RX 580, this CPU allows you to play most of your favorite games at 40+ FPS (Settings at High). However, if you push the setting to 4K, you might need to throttle up the speed of your CPU.
In terms of single-core performance, this CPU isn’t that good. So if you are buying this CPU for music production, you may find it a bit slower while editing your music. However, in terms of gaming, it might be your best bet to save some cash for other peripherals like ram and PSU.
3. AMD Ryzen 7 2700X | Most Reliable CPU to Pair with AMD GPU
Key Specs
- Socket AM4
- 8 Cores / 16 Threads
- Overclock to 4.3 GHz
- 20 MB Cache
- AMD SenseMI
- Ryzen Master Utility
The AMD Ryzen 7 2700X stands out in the performance when compared with the latest gen processors from Intel. Even at the 8 core counts, this CPU comes under an affordable price range.
The higher clock count on AMD processors has given a tough to the Intel’s high-end gaming CPUs in the past. The Ryzen 7 2700X outperforms many tops of the line chips of its own family as well.
It is an ideal CPU with 8 cores and 12 threads with a base speed of 3.7 GHz and max clock up to 4.3 GHz. With higher frequencies, this CPU gets more advantage over competitor units like Core-i7 8700K.
This multi-core CPU shines out when it comes to multi-core performance in gaming. Especially, when you hook this CPU with gaming GPUs like RX 580, you will see a boosted performance in FPS.
To us, the Ryen 7 2700X is the winner with more cores and affordable price tag. On the same price, there won’t be possible for you to find a decent CPU from Intel with similar specs.
If you are overclocking your Ryzen 7 2700X with RX 580, then you might need to throw away the stock cooler that comes with it. You may check out some affordable CPU coolers for Ryzen 7 2700X to enjoy higher clock speeds.
Ryzen 7 2700X is no doubt one of the best CPU for RX 580 that justifies its affordable price tag. This CPU has proven its worth in the gaming and video editing department. The Ryzen 7 2700X CPU is highly compatible with gaming GPU from AMD due to its higher clock speed.
4. Intel Core i5-8400 | The Choice of Gamers
Key Specs
- Compatible with Intel 300 Series
- 6 Cores / 12 Threads
- Max Turbo 4.0 GHz
- Intel Optane Supported
This CPU is genuinely meant for some who are low on budget and looking to get the bang for the buck. Intel Processors are great at achieving higher frame rates when it comes to gaming. If you pair this processor with your RX 580, you will see the difference by yourself.
The Intel Core i5 8400 comes at a lower base clock speed which is something not worth mentioning at this point. But the 6 cores & 12 threads work handle multi-core intensive tasks pretty easily.
Now the i5 8400 is not matched to the Ryzen 7 2700X when it comes to performance, but it will save a lot of money to invest in other components. We highly recommend using the Z370 motherboard to get the most out of this CPU.
If you are buying a CPU for a mid-level gaming rig, which you can then pair with RX 580 at some point, we highly recommend this CPU. For a smooth gaming experience, overclock all the six cores to 3.8 GHz and you will see an amazing performance.
This CPU is truly meant for affordable gaming PCs paired with high-end graphic cards. We tested this CPU while playing GTA V on AMD RX 580 (4GB GPU) and 8 GB of DDR-4 ram. It was highly playable with settings at 1080p.
However, our tests with Witcher 3 dropped down the performance with all cores clocked at 3.8 GHz. There was a bit of stuttering while playing Witcher 3, but this might be due to the 8GB of DDR-4 ram that we installed on our rig.
5. Intel Core i7-4790K Processor | The Old True Performer
Key Specs
- LGA 1150 Socket
- Z97 Motherboard Compatible
- Improved Gaming Performance
- 4.0 GHz base speed
- 4 Cores
We are taking a leap back in the time with the Intel’4th generation CPU that worked perfectly with RX 580. The Intel Core i7 4790K delivers smooth performance with games that need multiple cores and threads.
Although it is a superb CPU to have in your custom gaming build, it has lost its true place due to the arrival of more powerful chips in the Intel lineup. If you looking out for RX 580 8GB compatible CPU, then i7-4790K keeps up to your expectations at this point.
The reason we included this CPU to our list is that all of its cores are clocked at 4.0 GHz. This is not the case with any other processor on our chart. We like Intel for making the best CPU with single core performance to shine in the content creation and gaming department.
However, with just 4 cores clocked at 4.0 GHz, you might not see that much performance with applications that depend on more than 4 cores. But this is acceptable and you won’t see that much difference while playing games.
Conclusion
Finally, these were some of the best CPUs to pair with RX 580 to play games or edit videos. If you are an AMD lover, we recommend you to keep up with the Ryzen 7 2700X for best performance. It is an affordable processor with more core counts to keep up with the power of RX 580.
For Intel fans, the Core i5 8400 will save you more bucks without compromising on the performance. But again, you cannot expect the performance that the Ryzen 7 holds at that point.
