My current i7-6700 seems to be holding back my PC, especially in heavily modded Cyberpunk where combat performance feels CPU-limited. I recently upgraded to an RX 5700, so I'm now looking for a stronger processor. I was considering an i7-12700, but I'm worried that it will require replacing my motherboard and possibly other parts. My budget is around $200–$300 AUD, though I could spend more if the performance improvement would be substantially better. What upgrade path would offer the best value?
2 Answers
An i7-12700 won’t work in your current motherboard. Your i7-6700 uses the older LGA1151 platform, while the 12700 needs an LGA1700 board, so you’d need a new motherboard as well. Depending on the board, you could reuse your existing DDR4 memory, but make sure you buy a DDR4-compatible version rather than a DDR5 board. For this budget, a used platform bundle or a Ryzen 5 5600 with a compatible motherboard may be more realistic.
The best value may be a second-hand CPU, motherboard, and RAM bundle rather than buying the processor alone. A Ryzen 5 5600, Ryzen 7 5700X, or a 12th-generation Intel chip could all be worthwhile upgrades, but pricing in Australia will determine which one fits. Make sure to account for the motherboard cost, and check whether your current RAM is DDR4 before choosing a replacement platform.
When people say “DDR4 or DDR5,” they mean the type of memory supported by the new motherboard. DDR4 and DDR5 sticks aren’t interchangeable, so the board, CPU support, and RAM all need to match. A DDR4 board would let you keep compatible existing memory, which could save money.