I'm new to building PCs and I have an older gaming rig from 2016 equipped with a GeForce GTX 1060. Unfortunately, the current CPU isn't compatible with Windows 11. I'm looking for Intel CPUs that would work well with my GPU and are compatible with Windows 11, allowing for casual gaming. By the way, I have an MSI Z170A Gaming M7 motherboard. Any help would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Your motherboard is designed for 6th and 7th generation Intel CPUs, so anything from the 8th generation onward won't work. If you decide to stick with Intel, you'll want those older CPUs. On the AMD side, you'll be looking at the Zen 2 (3000 series) or newer processors for compatibility. Just keep in mind the GTX 1060 is still a decent card for casual gaming, so you should be good with either route!
For Intel, you might want to consider the i5-11600K or the i7-11700K—they're both solid choices and work well with your GTX 1060. Just a heads up, if you're looking to overclock, you'll need a Z490 or Z590 motherboard for those. If you're open to AMD, the Ryzen 5 3600 or 5600X are great options too, and if you want something more powerful, go for the Ryzen 7 5800X or 5800X3D. They all pair nicely with a GTX 1060 and won’t hold you back, especially at 1080p. Plus, they’re all compatible with Windows 11!
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