Best Cpu for 3060

[Ppump12valve]

hello guys, I am building a sleeper PC inside of a early 2000s dell dimensions 3000 series tower and I have a few questions, number one mainly what CPU do  you guys recommend pairing with a 3060  I am open for AMD or Intel because I haven’t picked my motherboard yet also, this computer was fine with a 1060 in it with be quiet fans but I’m worried about the 3060 putting off a lot more heat considering this thing only really has three fans in it… I was thinking about water cooling the CPU? Or something let me know if you have any ideas thanks !

[RONOTHAN##]

What CPU do you have currently? It honestly might be fine with a 3060.

 

Also, it's a pretty bad time to buy a CPU now. Alder Lake releases it's top end CPUs in just over a week, with their lower end CPUs you should consider coming close after (probably). Last gen stuff has yet to be discounted, and we don't know how far it will be discounted. If you're able to get something like an 11600k for $160 (I doubt it, but anything is possible), that would be a steal to use with a 3060, or they might not drop prices at all. AMD is also rumored to release new CPUs pretty darn soon (not next week soon, but still), and again you'd be able to use them or get a steep discount on last gen CPUs. 

 

As for water cooling, don't. Even in a case with mediocre airflow, a good tower cooler will still keep the CPUs you should consider for this system cool.

[Ppump12valve]

3 minutes ago, RONOTHAN## said:

What CPU do you have currently? It honestly might be fine with a 3060.

 

Also, it's a pretty bad time to buy a CPU now. Alder Lake releases it's top end CPUs in just over a week, with their lower end CPUs you should consider coming close after (probably). Last gen stuff has yet to be discounted, and we don't know how far it will be discounted. If you're able to get something like an 11600k for $160 (I doubt it, but anything is possible), that would be a steal to use with a 3060, or they might not drop prices at all. AMD is also rumored to release new CPUs pretty darn soon (not next week soon, but still), and again you'd be able to use them or get a steep discount on last gen CPUs. 

 

As for water cooling, don't. Even in a case with mediocre airflow, a good tower cooler will still keep the CPUs you should consider for this system cool.

It currently has a i5-4790k in a gigabyte motherboard, i am kinda torn up by the 4 core performance in certain games and would love to upgrade it, but I will watch the current prices like you said. As far as the cooling, i will stick with my current config and see how it fairs but i will consider an AIO if temps are in the redzone, I am not worried that much about noise as it is a sleeper so it makes it more realistic. Thanks for the advise 

[RONOTHAN##]

6 minutes ago, Ppump12valve said:

It currently has a i5-4790k in a gigabyte motherboard, i am kinda torn up by the 4 core performance in certain games and would love to upgrade it, but I will watch the current prices like you said. As far as the cooling, i will stick with my current config and see how it fairs but i will consider an AIO if temps are in the redzone, I am not worried that much about noise as it is a sleeper so it makes it more realistic. Thanks for the advise 

A 4690k is a very capable CPU still. I would feel pretty comfortable putting a 3060 with it. If you want an upgrade, sure, but wait a month or two first to see how pricing, benchmarks, and everything works out with the next gen of CPUs. 

[Ppump12valve]

1 minute ago, RONOTHAN## said:

A 4690k is a very capable CPU still. I would feel pretty comfortable putting a 3060 with it. If you want an upgrade, sure, but wait a month or two first to see how pricing, benchmarks, and everything works out with the next gen of CPUs. 

Ok thank you!