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The GTX 1070 Ti is a 2017-era mid-range card, so almost any CPU from the last several generations avoids bottlenecking it at 1080p or 1440p — the goal is picking one that’s still currently manufactured and easy to buy new, rather than chasing older-generation chips that Intel and AMD have since discontinued. Every option below is a currently sold, in-production CPU (we skipped older picks like the i7-8700K and Ryzen 5 2600X, which were officially discontinued in 2020 and are used-market only now).
| # | Product | Price | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600 | $95-$120 | Amazon · eBay |
| 2 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | $130-$160 | Amazon · eBay |
| 3 | AMD Ryzen 7 5700X | $150-$185 | Amazon · eBay |
| 4 | Intel Core i5-12400F | $120-$150 | Amazon · eBay |
| 5 | Intel Core i5-13400F | $180-$210 | Amazon · eBay |
| 6 | Intel Core i3-14100F | $100-$120 | Amazon · eBay |
The picks, in detail
AMD Ryzen 5 5600
A current-production AM4 chip that comfortably outpaces what a GTX 1070 Ti can push, at one of the lowest prices for a 6-core/12-thread part.
- 6 cores / 12 threads
- Up to 4.4 GHz boost
- AM4 socket
- Comes with a stock cooler
- Excellent price-to-performance for a card in this GPU’s tier
- AM4 has the cheapest motherboard options available
- No integrated graphics
AMD Ryzen 5 5600X
A step up from the 5600 with higher boost clocks, useful if you also do CPU-heavy work alongside gaming.
- 6 cores / 12 threads
- Up to 4.6 GHz boost
- AM4 socket
- No bundled cooler
- Higher clocks than the base 5600 for CPU-bound titles
- Still widely available new
- Marginal gaming gain over the 5600 specifically for a 1070 Ti’s performance ceiling
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X
An 8-core AM4 option for builders who want extra multi-threaded headroom (streaming, editing) alongside 1070 Ti-tier gaming.
- 8 cores / 16 threads
- Up to 4.6 GHz boost
- AM4 socket
- No integrated graphics
- Extra cores useful for streaming/multitasking, not just gaming
- Still in current production on AM4
- More CPU than a 1070 Ti alone needs for gaming-only use
Intel Core i5-12400F
Widely regarded as one of the best budget gaming CPUs of recent years, and comfortably enough for a GTX 1070 Ti.
- 6 cores / 12 threads
- Up to 4.4 GHz boost
- LGA1700 socket
- No integrated graphics
- Excellent gaming value, frequently recommended pairing for mid-range GPUs
- Current-generation, easy to find new
- Needs a discrete GPU (no iGPU on the F chip)
Intel Core i5-13400F
A slightly newer, faster alternative to the 12400F with more cores for a modest price premium.
- 10 cores (6P+4E) / 16 threads
- Up to 4.6 GHz boost
- LGA1700 socket
- No integrated graphics
- More cores/threads than the 12400F for a moderate price bump
- Current-generation platform
- Costs more than the 12400F for a gaming gain a 1070 Ti won’t fully expose
Intel Core i3-14100F
The most budget-focused pick here — a current-generation 4-core chip that’s still enough to avoid bottlenecking a GTX 1070 Ti in most games.
- 4 cores / 8 threads
- Up to 4.7 GHz boost
- LGA1700 socket
- No integrated graphics
- Lowest price of any current-gen chip on this list
- Strong single-core performance for the price
- Fewer cores could limit performance in newer, more CPU-hungry titles
Buying tips
- At a GTX 1070 Ti’s performance tier, differences between these CPUs will barely show up in gaming benchmarks — pick based on platform (AM4 vs LGA1700) and whether you need extra cores for non-gaming work.
- Skip older-generation “great value on paper” chips like the i7-8700K or Ryzen 5 2600X — both were officially discontinued in 2020 and are used-market only now, with no manufacturer warranty on new stock.
- If you’re building fresh rather than upgrading an existing board, AM4 (Ryzen 5000 series) currently has the cheaper motherboard options of the two platforms listed here.
As an Amazon Associate and eBay Partner, toptenpick.com earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are subject to change.