I'm looking to upgrade my gaming rig since I've been playing at 1440p for a while, and now I want to jump to 4K. I just got an Asus 4K OLED monitor and swapped my old 1080 GPU for a 5080. However, I'm noticing a bottleneck with my current CPU, which is an i7-8700K. I'm primarily gaming, focusing on shooters like COD and Battlefield, but I also enjoy some story-driven games like The Last of Us and Red Dead Redemption. My main goal is to ensure the best performance for 4K gaming. There's a Micro Center nearby where they offer CPU, motherboard, and RAM bundles, and I've found that the 9800X3D is about $100 more than the 14700K. Given my needs, which CPU would provide better performance for 4K gaming?
4 Answers
My experience with the 14700K has been great; I got it for a steal and it handles 4K beautifully. Just remember that it pulls more power—up to 100W while gaming, whereas AMD tends to be more efficient overall. If you’re cool with the cost difference, go for the AMD.
I'd say go for the 9800X3D. It’s currently the best gaming CPU out there, especially since both the 13th and 14th gen Intel chips have issues with overheating and reliability. The performance difference at 4K is noticeable, especially when gaming.
That’s fair, but the 9800X3D has had its share of sudden failure problems too, so it's worth researching which motherboard to pair it with.
True! However, if you're looking for the absolute best, the 9850X3D is slightly better, though it might hurt your wallet more.
Definitely get the 9800X3D if the price difference is only $100. Unless you're really saving on DDR4 by going with the 14700K, that extra cash is worth it for better gaming performance.
Totally agree! LGA1700 CPUs lag in performance with DDR4; it'd be smarter to invest in an AM4 setup for similar performance at less power consumption.
Honestly, unless you find the 14700K at a steal, your best bet for gaming is AMD. Plus, with the AM5 socket, you’re set for future upgrades. Intel is pretty much at the end of the line unless they make a significant comeback.
That makes sense, but realistically, most people might not upgrade from the 9800X3D for a while, which is a pretty solid choice.
Right? But keep in mind, performance-wise, they should be pretty close at 4K with DDR5. The 9800X3D gives you more flexibility if you decide to upgrade your GPU later.