Picking the best CPU for your PC depends largely on what motherboard you choose. Going with the excellent ASUS ROG Strix X570-E allows you to install anything from a budget-focused Ryzen 3 3300X up to an impressively powerful Ryzen 9 5950X. We offer several options for the best CPU for the ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming motherboard.
Warning! Please be aware of inflated pricing. You will find most AMD processors listed for more than the original launch price, which is due to heightened demand and the global pandemic. Stay vigilant and spot good deals that actually save you money before giving in to temptation.
Best Overall
It's still a little strange to call a processor with 8 cores/16 threads mid-tier, but in 2021 that's precisely what the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X is. If you're looking for a good bang for your buck and can't cover a Ryzen 9 purchase, this processor is still very fast and great for gaming. It's also excellent on your budget.
Best Gaming
While this may be a step-down from the Ryzen 9 5950X, the Ryzen 9 5900X is still amazing for gaming and software use. It comes with 12 cores and 24 threads, a ridiculous number for consumer-grade applications, but this CPU is also great for gaming. With the best graphics card, you'll be able to enjoy butter-smooth gaming at 1440p and 4K.
Best Value
The Ryzen 5 series of processors are yet more affordable than what we've covered already but still come with plenty of cores and threads for you to throw tasks at. It has 6 cores and 12 threads, making this one amazing value-centric CPU. Paired up with a good GPU, you'll have one capable gaming rig.
Choosing the best processor
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There are plenty of good AMD processors from the 5000 series alone, but this motherboard will also work with 3000-series processors. Just don't go buying an APU (processors with a "G" as a suffix) since these are not supported by the ASUS ROG Strix X570-E Gaming. Our top pick is the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X, which is more than capable of handling demanding games and software.
If you need a little more guts from your CPU, there's always the mightily impressive Ryzen 9 5900X, which is touted as the best gaming CPU from AMD. Then there's the Ryzen 9 5950X, overkill for most PC builds, which is totally awesome if you manage to keep it cooled enough to hit turbo clock speeds.
