I'm considering upgrading my system from an i5-7400 to an i3-14100f. I have the opportunity to get it for a good price along with a motherboard and 32GB of RAM. I mainly play games at 1080p, focusing on esports titles and some Souls games. I also own a GTX 1070 SC, which I plan to upgrade later this year. I'm curious about the performance of the i3-14100f and whether this upgrade would be worthwhile.
3 Answers
Lots of people recommend the AM5 route for its upgrade path, but if you need to stick to DDR4, the i5-12400F might be a better option. It comes with a decent cooler and it should perform better than the i3. Just make sure to get a compatible DDR4 motherboard. You’ll likely see better performance and longevity with it.
The value depends on the price you’re paying. Generally, the i3-14100f is similar in performance to the i3-12100f and i3-13100f, making it the lowest-end option I’d recommend for serious gaming. While it can handle 1080p gaming decently, I'd advise pairing it with a less expensive GPU like an RX 6600 or maybe a 5060Ti. Also, 32GB RAM might be overkill; I’d lean towards 16GB instead. For just a bit more cash, you could look at the i5-12400f, which offers better performance with 6 cores compared to the i3’s 4 cores.
If you're considering that upgrade, it might be better in the long run to invest a bit more for a CPU with greater longevity in gaming.
That’s a solid point on the RAM. I didn't realize I could get more performance with an i5 for just a little more. Might be worth looking into.
If you're looking to future-proof your setup, consider going with a Ryzen 7500f or 7600 along with a nice motherboard and dual-channel 16GB RAM. The i3-14100f is a decent chip, but you're investing in a platform that may not have many future upgrade options. An AM5 system gives you flexibility down the road while ensuring you have solid performance now.
Yeah, I’ll definitely check out the i5-12400F. Sounds like a better way to go for just a bit more.