I'm thinking about upgrading my CPU since I'm still using an i7-9700k, and it's really starting to show its age. With upcoming games, especially late-game eu5, I fear my current setup won't hold up. I was considering switching to AMD, but I just found out that the AM5 socket requires DDR5 RAM, which adds about £180 to my costs. Plus, I might have to invest in a new power supply alongside the CPU and motherboard. Given all that, is it worth it to go for the 14th Gen Intel, considering the extra cost of new RAM, or is AMD still the better choice? Have Intel managed to resolve the issues that plagued their last two generations?
3 Answers
I read a post just a few days ago where someone had to RMA their 14900K due to it failing right after getting a replacement. I personally bought a 12900K to avoid the newer issues and I found it on the second-hand market for around $220. If you're set on keeping your DDR4 RAM, I'd say the 12900K is a solid choice. If you're spending on new DDR5 anyway, though, you might want to lean towards AM5.
It all depends on your budget. For around $500, I managed to upgrade to a 14600K and a really decent motherboard without replacing my RAM, PSU, or other components. The performance boost has been noticeable, and benchmarks show that the Raptor Lake series significantly outpaces the previous generations. Right now, I'm seeing the 14600K for about $209, but with Black Friday coming up, prices might fluctuate. Just keep an eye out during the sales for the best deals!
Honestly, Intel has been a bit dodgy lately. They were pretty quiet about the problems with the 13th and 14th Gen CPUs for a while. Even when they released multiple BIOS updates, many users still felt like it was just a band-aid fix. I'd be cautious about going Intel in 2025; it's starting to feel like they can't be trusted.
I wasn't looking to spend more than £500 either. I was estimating around £450 for a CPU and motherboard, but I see that the 78003dx is still around £380. If I can get an i7-14700F for £289, that's tempting. I heard i5s might not share the same problems, but couldn't find a solid answer. Did you have to update the BIOS for your 14600K?