With Black Friday approaching, I'm curious if there's a chance the Intel i5 13400F or 14000F CPUs will see a price drop. I'm currently considering going with a Ryzen 5 5600, but if I opt for the 13400F, I could still build my system with DDR4 and upgrade to DDR5 later on. What do you think about the pricing trends for these processors?
5 Answers
Honestly, don't focus too much on future upgrades for the system you're selecting right now. DDR6 could be out as soon as 2027. Get what you need for your current build, and worry about future updates later. Most upgrades typically necessitate new motherboards and CPUs anyway.
I saw the i5 14600K at Walmart for just $166 the other day. If you've got a compatible motherboard and DDR4 already, it could be a solid deal. Otherwise, I'd suggest looking at AMD options. They've been pretty reliable for performance.
It’s unlikely we’ll see significant drops on in-demand processors. Prices often get hiked up just to be 'discounted' later, so be wary of that when shopping around.
If you're looking at upgrading to DDR5 later, be aware that you'll need a new motherboard since DDR4 and DDR5 use different pins. It might not be worth it to invest in a platform that's already been out for a while, like the 12th or 13th Gen Intel. Consider sticking with AM4 for now and whether you might want to wait for AM5 or even AM6 eventually.
If you can snag a good deal on the i5 13400 or 14400F, I’d say go for it. You don’t really need DDR5 right away, especially if you already have 32GB of DDR4. I just upgraded from a 10400F to a 13400F and saw a nice performance jump without needing to spend too much.
I'm interested in the 13400F and 14400F, but it seems like their prices have gone up a lot recently.
You're right, and I've heard AM5 requires DDR5 RAM, which can be pricey. If you're patient, you might get a better value out of waiting for AM6.