I'm in the market for a new CPU and I've narrowed it down to two options: the i7-12700KF and the Ryzen 7 5700X, both of which I have in my cart. I've checked some benchmark sites, and it seems like the i7 generally performs a bit better. Currently, I'm upgrading from an i7-7700K, and my GPU is a 4070s. Plus, I've got 32GB of DDR4 RAM.
The i7-12700KF is priced at $189, while the Ryzen 7 5700X is listed at $146, originally $299. I'm feeling a bit torn because all the info I find seems to suggest that the i7 is the superior choice. However, the Ryzen is significantly chaper when not on sale. I know that price doesn't always reflect quality, but I'm trying to understand if it's worth paying more for the i7 given that I'll primarily be gaming on this desktop. Any advice would be appreciated!
8 Answers
Don’t forget to factor in the cost of the motherboard when you're calculating your total! That can change the equation a bit depending on what you choose.
Between just the two options you listed, I'd go for the i7-12700KF without a doubt. That said, if you're buying new and can stretch your budget, there might be even better choices out there. Just something to keep in mind!
Honestly, the i7-12700KF is much better for gaming than the Ryzen 7 5700X. It's quite comparable to a 5700X3D, which is the next upgrade tier after the 5700X. If you're focused on gaming, the i7 is the way to go!
That's great, thank you.
The i7-12700KF competes closely with the Ryzen 7 9700x in multicore tasks, making it an excellent choice if you're looking for top performance. Definitely no-brainer in this head-to-head!
I've always had good luck with Ryzen CPUs. They tend to perform well, and I own both a Ryzen 5600 and an i5-12500, and both work great. So, honestly, there isn't a wrong choice here. It just depends on what you prefer!
That's reassuring. I've been learning a lot from reading about the processors and trying to decide. Thank you!
If you're leaning towards the Ryzen, I suggest considering the Ryzen 5800XT for $161. It might not be as powerful as the 5700X3D, but it’s more budget-friendly. If you can, going for DDR5 would be a solid long-term investment, but make sure you’re ready for the slight extra cost because that can really help with performance!
If it were me, I'd skip both the i7-12700KF and the Ryzen 7 5700X and consider the R5-7600 instead if your budget allows for it. The Ryzen 7 hasn't been priced over $200 in quite some time since its MSRP isn’t really an indicator anymore. Just my two cents!
That makes a lot of sense. Thank you!
I highly recommend the Ryzen CPUs. I've got a 5800x, and it runs beautifully. You can also upgrade within the AM4 family all the way to a 5900 if needed. Check out platforms like eBay for used CPUs; you might find some great deals!
That's a great idea about checking out other sellers. Thank you so much for that and your advice!
Thank you!