I'm in the process of building a gaming computer and I'm stuck choosing between a few CPU models. Here are the ones I'm considering along with their prices: 9700X for $295, 9600X for $203, 7600 for $171, 7600X for $187, 7700 for $226, and 7700X for $260. I've heard good things about the 9700X, but I'm starting to wonder if it might be overkill for my needs. Right now, I'm planning to pair it with either a 4070 or 5060 Ti, with plans to upgrade the graphics card in 2–3 years, possibly to something like a 5070 Ti. I mainly play story-driven AAA games. Any advice?
2 Answers
I’d recommend the 9700X. It's a fantastic CPU, and with some tuning and overclocking, it can compete with the 7800X3D since its L3 cache isn't locked like the Zen 3 models.
You might want to go for the 7700. It's pretty much just as fast as the 9700X but at a better price point. Plus, it gives you solid performance for gaming without being over the top.
What about the 9600X? I was actually considering the 7600X, but the 9600X seems to run cooler.