I'm planning to upgrade my CPU around late March and I'm leaning towards the AM5 platform. However, I've heard that all AM5 motherboards only support DDR5 memory, and that my current 16GB DDR4 RAM won't be usable. Is that correct? I've also been looking at the i5-14400F, which seems to be a solid choice at about $150, with motherboards ranging from $80 to $120. I'm currently using an i5-9400F and feel it's bottlenecking my RTX 5060 8GB GPU, and I've heard that Size Resizable BAR can improve FPS, but I can't enable that on my current setup. Any advice on what path to take?
4 Answers
If you're looking to stick with DDR4, then LGA 1700 is definitely the way to go since AM5 will not support your current RAM. The i5-14400F is a fantastic upgrade from the 9400F and should fit nicely within your budget. Just keep in mind that while LGA1700 is a more cost-effective option now, it's approaching the end of its upgrade potential compared to AM5, which offers more future-proofing if you can invest in DDR5 later on.
I recently upgraded to a 12600KF while keeping my 32GB DDR4 RAM, and I've been really happy with it. If you can get the 12600KF for a similar price to the i5-14400F, it might be worth considering for the extra performance. Just beware that it might run a bit hotter, so a decent cooler is recommended.
I was in the same boat and opted for the i5-14400F mainly because of the price. It's been performing well and runs cool too. The 12600KF is also an option, but just make sure you have the cooling to handle it; if you don't mind it running hotter for more performance, then go for it. Either way, the 14400 is a solid match for your 5060!
Honestly, I'd suggest going with LGA 1700. You'll get good value now, and in the future, you can upgrade to an i7 if the need arises. Plus, it's still newer than AM4, so compatibility shouldn't be an issue down the line.
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