What CPU do I need for the GeForce GTX 1070?

In our model the Ryzen 5 1600 is the slowest processor that keeps the GeForce GTX 1070 fully fed at both 1080p and 1440p. Anything faster leaves the card as the limit, which is what you want in a gaming PC.

Is the GeForce GTX 1070 good for 1440p?

Only with reduced settings. It averages around 43 FPS at 1440p on high settings in our model, so it is better suited to 1080p, where it reaches about 61 FPS.

Is 8GB of VRAM enough on the GeForce GTX 1070?

For 1080p, mostly. 8GB is enough at 1080p, but some recent games at 1440p with high textures exceed it, which shows up as stutter rather than a lower average.

Is the GeForce GTX 1070 faster than the Intel Arc A580?

No. The Intel Arc A580 is about 5% faster at 1440p in our model (45 vs 43 FPS).

GeForce GTX 1070 CPU pairing and bottleneck

Model frame rate limits of 61, 43 and 23 FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, assuming the processor never gets in the way.

The GeForce GTX 1070 is an entry-level graphics card in our database and a 1080p card for high settings in most current games.

Its 8GB of memory is the limit to watch: the newest games at 1440p with high textures can exceed it.

Its closest Intel rival is the Intel Arc A580, which is 5% faster at 1440p.

Estimated FPS in Popular Games

Game (settings)	1080p	1440p	4K
Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing)	~50	~35	~20
Fortnite (High, DirectX 12)	~80	~55	~30
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High)	~70	~50	~25
Counter-Strike 2 (High)	~145	~105	~55

Modelled estimates with a processor fast enough not to hold the card back, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Counter-Strike 2 is usually limited by the processor well before these figures. See the methodology for how they are produced.

The slowest CPU that will not hold it back

Resolution	Minimum processor	Estimated FPS
1080p	Ryzen 5 1600	61
1440p	Ryzen 5 1600	43
4K	Ryzen 5 1600	23

Notice how the requirement drops as resolution rises. At 4K this card is working so much harder per frame that a far slower processor keeps up without trouble. The search starts at four cores and eight threads: below that a game stutters whatever the average frame rate says.

The processors it lands closest to

The 24 processors whose frame rate limit sits nearest this card's, fastest first. The tag after each number says which part hits its limit first. For any other combination, use the calculator.

Processor	1080p	1440p	4K
Core i5-11400	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 5500	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i5-10600K	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 7 3800X	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i7-8700K	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 7 3700X	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600X	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i5-9600K	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 3 3300X	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i5-10400	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i5-10400F	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i7-7700K	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 3500X	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 7 2700X	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i3-10100F	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i5-9400F	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 4600G	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i5-8400	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 4500	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 3 3100	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 2600	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Core i3-9100F	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu
Ryzen 5 1600	61 gpu	43 gpu	23 gpu

GeForce GTX 1070 Compared

GTX 1660 Super vs GTX 1070 — The GTX 1070 is about 10% faster than the GTX 1660 Super at 4K and 8% faster at 1440p.

Specifications

Manufacturer	NVIDIA
Series	NVIDIA GTX 10 Series
Video memory	8 GB
3DMark Time Spy (graphics)	6,270
PCI Express	3.0 ×16
Released	2016

GeForce GTX 1070