I'm building a new PC to upgrade from my i9 9900KF with a GTX 1080. I'm considering the new GPU options and looking at the RTX 5080. However, I'm torn between the i9-14900K and the 9950X3D for my CPU. The prices where I live are quite different: the 9950X3D costs $1100 while the i9-14900K is only $660. Since I mainly do video editing in Premiere, After Effects, and Photoshop, and only occasionally play lighter online games like League, CS2, Valorant, and Apex, I'm not sure if the 9950X3D is worth the extra $400. Plus, I typically stick with my builds for a while, and I know the socket for the 14th gen will soon be outdated. Should I spend the extra cash on the better CPU, or would it be smarter to invest that $400 in Gen5 storage and more RAM instead?
5 Answers
Since you don't game much and mostly focus on editing, I wouldn't bother with the 9950X3D. Instead, check out the 9950X or other options like the 7950X or even stick with the i9-14900K. The X3D is mainly for gaming anyway, and the 9950X performs better overall in your workload. Just make sure you factor in the price difference so you can decide what's best for your budget.
If gaming is a rare occurrence for you, skip the X3D and go for the 9950X. It's cheaper and has great performance for editing. You might even want to look at some comparison tests between the 9950X and 14900K to see how they stack up for your needs.
Don't bother with the X3D if gaming isn't a big deal for you. Even a previous-generation CPU like the 9900X would work just fine for your needs. And honestly, I'm not a fan of Intel either, but it's your call!
Definitely consider the 9950X instead of the X3D. The X3D is geared towards gaming, which doesn't seem relevant to you. The 9950X is actually quite a bit better in full-load scenarios. Plus, you'd enjoy lower power usage and a cooler setup, which is a big plus for your editing tasks.
Honestly, I'd take the 14900K over the others, especially since you're not focused on upgradability right now. With the $400 you save, you could put that towards a better GPU, which will give you a way bigger boost in performance for your editing and light gaming. Just remember that prices can vary a lot!
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