I'm looking for the cheapest AMD CPU that won't bottleneck my 5070ti while gaming at 4K resolution. Any recommendations?
8 Answers
The 9600X prices are pretty good right now; I got a used one for $128 recently, even new ones are quite affordable.
Keep in mind that bottlenecking isn’t black and white. CPU performance varies across games, so what works for one might not for another. If you want a safe pick, go for the Ryzen 5 9600 or 7600 (non X); they should work for most gamers.
You might want to check out the 7500F from Ali Express. Priced around $130, it's a solid choice and performs closely to the 7600.
Isn’t that on the AM4 platform? I haven't heard much about it.
While 'never' is a strong word, I'd suggest the Ryzen 9600X. It's sufficient for most gaming situations at 4K, keeping your setup well-balanced.
There’s always exceptions, but I get your point!
Thanks for your input!
The 7500F from Ali Express could also be a good option since it’s budget-friendly.
Tried the 9600X and ran into bottlenecks at 1440p; switched back to my 14700K instead. 😩😂
Either the 7600 or the 9600X would be great options, though there are rare cases where you might hit a bottleneck. Still, it should be a good match for 4K gaming.
Just a heads up, I’d prefer having a bit of headroom with my CPU to avoid running into any issues down the line.
There are also some decent deals on the Ryzen 7700 on Ali Express.