I'm in the market for a new CPU and have my sights set on two options: the i7-12700KF and the Ryzen 7 5700X. I've been checking benchmark sites and it looks like the i7-12700KF tends to perform slightly better. Right now, I'm upgrading from an i7-7700K, and my current setup includes a GPU that's a 4070s and 32GB of DDR4 RAM. The pricing is also something I'm considering, with the i7-12700KF priced at $189 and the Ryzen 7 5700X at $146 (it usually goes for $299). I keep hearing that the i7-12700KF is the superior option, but the Ryzen seems significantly more expensive when it's not on sale. While I know price isn't everything, I'm primarily going to use this desktop for gaming and general use.
5 Answers
For gaming, the i7-12700KF isn’t just a little better; it’s significantly better. In fact, it’s quite comparable to the Ryzen 7-5700X3D, which is the next tier up from the 5700X for gaming.
I highly recommend the Ryzen CPUs. I'm using a Ryzen 5800X, and it still runs like a champ. Plus, if you ever want to upgrade, you can move up to a 5900 within the AM4 family. If you look on eBay or similar sites, you might find used CPUs at great prices!
That's a great idea about checking out other sellers. Thank you so much for that and the experience!
Just keep in mind the cost of the motherboards too! If you're sticking with DDR4 and looking for price efficiency, the Ryzen 5700X3D might be a good fit, or you could save a bit with the Ryzen 5800XT for $161. It won't match the 5700X3D but it's still decent.
If I were you, I'd lean towards the i7-12700KF, especially if you're looking for performance in gaming. I’ve had solid experiences with Ryzen too, so I don’t think there's really a bad choice between these two.
That's reassuring. I've been learning a lot from reading about the processors and trying to decide. Thank you!
Honestly, if you're considering value, I'd suggest skipping both and looking at the R5-7600 instead, if it fits your budget. The Ryzen 7-5700X hasn't been above $200 in a long time, making the original MSRP kind of irrelevant.
That makes a lot of sense. Thank you!
That's great, thank you.