Core i7-11700K + RTX 3060: bottleneck check
Balanced at 1440p.
Well matched at 1440p. The RTX 3060 is the slightly busier part, by about 12%.
By resolution
| Resolution | Limiting part | Severity | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | GPU | 3% | balanced |
| 1440p | GPU | 12% | balanced |
| 4K | GPU | 32% | GPU-bound (normal) |
The RTX 3060 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 | 8 / 16 |
|---|---|
| Max boost | 5.0 GHz |
| Socket | LGA1200 |
| TDP | 125 W manufacturer-published TDP — sustained turbo can be higher · Intel ARK |
| Released | 2021 |
| Gaming index | 62 / 100 |
| Multi-core index | 54 / 100 |
| VRAM | 12 GB |
|---|---|
| Board power | 170 W |
| Released | 2021 |
| 1080p index | 29.7 / 100 |
| 1440p index | 24 / 100 |
| 4K index | 19.4 / 100 |
Power supply
The RTX 3060 measured 181 W average while gaming (198 W highest 20 ms spike, TechPowerUp). With the Core i7-11700K at its TDP of 125 W and about 75 W for the rest of the system, the sustained load is about 381 W. A 550 W unit is the safe choice. Details on the RTX 3060 PSU page or try other pairs in the PSU calculator.
Upgrade paths
CPUs that remove the bottleneck
LGA1200Cards that use the Core i7-11700K fully
Best CPU for the RTX 3060 Best GPU for the Core i7-11700K RTX 3060 PSU requirements
Same CPU, other cards
AllSame card, other CPUs
AllIndexes are relative estimates aggregated from published reviews; real results vary by game, settings, memory speed and drivers. Methodology.