Core i5-14600K + RTX 3090: bottleneck check
Balanced at 1440p.
Well matched at 1440p. The RTX 3090 is the slightly busier part, by about 16%.
By resolution
| Resolution | Limiting part | Severity | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | GPU | 8% | balanced |
| 1440p | GPU | 16% | balanced |
| 4K | GPU | 34% | GPU-bound (normal) |
The RTX 3090 is the limiting part at every resolution, which is the healthy direction, and the gap is small enough that neither part is wasted. Upgrade the GPU first when you want more frames.
Specifications
| Cores / threads | 14 / 20 |
|---|---|
| Max boost | 5.3 GHz |
| Socket | LGA1700 |
| Max turbo power | 181 W |
| Released | 2023 |
| Gaming index | 80 / 100 |
| Multi-core index | 76 / 100 |
| VRAM | 24 GB |
|---|---|
| Board power | 350 W |
| Released | 2020 |
| 1080p index | 51.7 / 100 |
| 1440p index | 46 / 100 |
| 4K index | 40.9 / 100 |
Power supply
CPU 181 W + GPU 350 W + about 100 W for motherboard, memory, storage and fans gives an estimated peak load of 631 W. We recommend a 850 W unit (80 Plus Gold or better) so transient spikes from the graphics card stay inside the PSU's comfort zone. Try other pairs in the PSU calculator.
Upgrade paths
CPUs that remove the bottleneck (LGA1700)
- Core i5-13400F + RTX 3090 (gaming index 70)
- Core i5-12600K + RTX 3090 (gaming index 72)
- Core i5-14400F + RTX 3090 (gaming index 72)
GPUs that use the Core i5-14600K more fully
- Core i5-14600K + RX 7900 XTX (1440p index 66)
- Core i5-14600K + RTX 4080 Super (1440p index 64)
- Core i5-14600K + RTX 5070 Ti (1440p index 62)
Best CPU for the RTX 3090 Best GPU for the Core i5-14600K RTX 3090 PSU requirements
Compare nearby pairs
Same CPU, other GPUs
Indexes are relative estimates aggregated from published reviews; real results vary by game, settings, memory speed and drivers. Methodology.