I'm in the process of building a new PC with an RTX 5070 12GB and I'm debating which CPU to go with. Currently, I'm looking at the Intel i5-14600KF, which has 6 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores, totaling 20 threads with a 5.3 GHz clock speed and 24 MB cache. However, I'm also considering stepping up to the i7-14700F, which boasts 8 performance cores and 12 efficiency cores for a total of 28 threads, runs at 5.4 GHz, and has 33 MB cache.
I want to know at what point the i7 would actually make a difference in my gaming experience. Is the i5 good enough for 1440p or even 4K gaming? Or does the i7 provide enough of a performance boost in the long run to justify the upgrade? Thanks for your insights!
3 Answers
The difference you'll notice really depends on what games you play. Some newer games can take advantage of those extra cores in the i7, but for most gaming, the i5 should be more than sufficient. If you plan on staying with AAA games and pushing for high settings, consider the i7 down the line if you find your performance slipping.
Just a heads-up, while the i7 does give better performance in certain scenarios, the i5 should manage well for the majority of games out there. Unless you're into heavy multitasking or plan to run more demanding software, I'd say stick with the i5 for now. It's a solid choice!
Honestly, I'd steer clear of Intel altogether right now. AMD Ryzen chips like the 9600X or 9700X give you more value and better performance in gaming. The 14700F is nice, but it costs more and the upgrade path is limited with the current Intel socket. I'd focus on AMD options if I were you.
Thanks for the quick insights! What if I decided to look at AMD instead? Is the Ryzen 9 7900X too much compared to the 9700X? That would be for games like GTA 5 Online or AC.