I currently have a small form factor (SFF) build with an Intel i7-13700K, an RTX 4080 Super, and 32GB of RAM. I'm trying to decide which CPU to upgrade to. I primarily game with friends on a 2K OLED monitor with a refresh rate of 240Hz, and I also do programming, video editing in Premiere, and Photoshop work. I want to know if switching to an AMD CPU, like the 9800X3D or 9950X, will offer me a significant performance boost compared to my current 13700K. I've recently acquired an Asus B850I motherboard and some AMD RAM, so my focus is now on finding the right AMD CPU for this setup.
3 Answers
Upgrading from a 13700K right now might not be the best move. If you're predominantly gaming at 1440p, your current setup is pretty solid. You could save your cash for a future upgrade instead.
Really, unless you're concerned about potential stability issues with the 13700K due to Intel's voltages, I wouldn't expect a massive upgrade. I just switched from a 13700K to the 9800X3D, but the difference in real gaming performance isn’t as dramatic as I thought it would be. It was more about future-proofing myself—especially since I'm using a high-end GPU.
If you don’t game too heavily, going for an X3D CPU might not be the best investment either. Honestly, your 13700K should still serve you well for programming and video editing, so unless you're facing issues, sticking with it seems wise.
I want to upgrade mainly because I've always kept my CPU stock and updated the BIOS, but since I've got a new motherboard and RAM, I feel it's a good time to switch to AMD.