I'm planning a new gaming build in the UK and would like to reuse my existing DDR4 memory because DDR5 pricing is still high. My current system has a Ryzen 5 3600, Radeon RX 6750 XT, and a 16GB 3200MHz CL16 kit. I'm considering either an Intel Core i5-14600K or Core i7-14700K on a DDR4 motherboard, with the i7 costing roughly £100 more.
At 1440p and 165Hz, benchmarks show only a small gaming performance difference, but I'd like to keep the system for several years and wonder whether the i7's additional cores will make the extra cost worthwhile. I'm also considering keeping the Ryzen system as a living-room SteamOS or Bazzite machine, so moving to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D would interfere with that plan despite being another possible upgrade.
I also have a slower 2400MHz memory kit that would increase the system to 32GB. Would it be better to stay with 16GB at 3200MHz, or run all four sticks at 2400MHz for the additional capacity? My monitor is 1440p/165Hz, and I'm planning to use a strong tower cooler such as the Thermalright Peerless Assassin.
4 Answers
I would keep the 3200MHz kit rather than combining it with the 2400MHz modules just to reach 32GB. Mixed memory usually runs at the speed and timings of the slowest kit, and 2400MHz can reduce CPU-limited gaming performance. If you are already running into memory limits, 32GB is worthwhile, but a matched 32GB kit would be preferable. If 16GB is currently enough, keep the faster kit and upgrade to a matched kit later.
The Ryzen 7 5800X3D may be competitive or faster in some games and would be the simplest upgrade because it only requires replacing the CPU. However, if the price is close to a new CPU and motherboard, moving to Intel can make sense if you want features such as front-panel USB-C and want to preserve the existing Ryzen system for a second PC. The decision is more about the whole-platform cost and your living-room PC plan than a major FPS difference.
That’s why I haven’t settled on the 5800X3D. It would perform well, but I’d lose the option of turning the old system into a separate living-room machine unless I also bought another motherboard.
Be careful with the selected motherboard. Some cheaper B760 boards have weak VRM cooling and may limit or throttle a 14600K, especially with long all-core workloads. A board with a properly heatsinked VRM, such as a stronger B760 model or a suitable Z690/Z790 board, would be safer. Check independent VRM testing rather than relying only on the chipset name.
I’ve seen the MSI MAG Mortar recommended for its stronger VRM setup, but availability and pricing are currently poor. I’m trying to find a reasonably priced alternative with good power delivery.
For gaming with an RX 6750 XT at 1440p, the 14600K and 14700K should perform within a few percent of each other. The 14700K’s extra E-cores are more useful for rendering, compiling, streaming, and other sustained multi-threaded workloads than for increasing gaming FPS. Unless you regularly do those tasks, the i5 is probably the better value. Also make sure the motherboard has adequate VRM cooling, and budget for a capable cooler because the 14700K uses considerably more power under sustained loads.
My current memory is 3200MHz CL16, so I’m unsure whether it is fast enough to get the most from 14th-generation Intel. I’m tempted to use the spare kit for 32GB, but I’m concerned that dropping to 2400MHz could hurt gaming performance.
I don’t currently need more than 16GB, so avoiding the slower mixed configuration sounds sensible. I can always replace it with a matched 32GB kit if newer games start using more memory.