I'm considering upgrading my current setup from a Ryzen 5950X with an X570 motherboard to either an Intel i7-14700KF or i9-14900KF, along with a Z790 motherboard that supports DDR4. My goal is to maximize performance while holding off on DDR5 in hopes of eventually moving to DDR6. Is this upgrade a smart move, and are high-end motherboards worth the investment for getting the best performance? If you have any suggestions for boards that offer good value for the price, I'd appreciate that too!
2 Answers
Switching to the 14700KF or 14900KF is really only beneficial if you're aiming for top-tier performance in competitive gaming at 1080p or lower resolutions. If that’s not your primary focus, you might want to stick with your current setup.
I don't think it's worth jumping ship right now. If you're waiting for DDR6, you could be looking at a wait of 4 to 5 years. Plus, there's a risk of CPU degradation with the processors you're looking at. It might be better to hold off until at least the Intel Nova Lake later this year or Zen 6 around mid-next year before making any upgrades.
Yeah, but Nova Lake doesn't support DDR4, right? Honestly, the only way I see a decent upgrade without breaking the bank is snagging a Raptor Lake i7 or i9 if I find a good deal on a 5070 Ti or 4080 Super. But it’s a bummer about the CPU degradation—if it weren’t for that, sticking with DDR4 would be a breeze. The 12900 might be the safest play for me since it scores around 2000 in R23, compared to the 5950X's 1600.