[SOLVED] Best CPU for Gaming and a Workstation?

[happy4pizza]

I am looking to build a PC that will excel as a workstation and gaming rig. I know it is not the best time to build a PC with supply chain shortages and price gouging but my current PC is hampering my work. I plan to use the new PC for virtualization, rendering, and 3d modeling but I want it to keep up with the most recent titles. I have the dilemma of having more cores for virtualization or a high clock speed for gaming. My current rig, that I built in 2014, uses an Intel i7-5820K CPU @ 3.30GHz, boosted to 3.6GHz, 3301 Mhz, 6 Core(s), 12 Logical Processor(s). The 6 cores are just not enough.

I am looking for something around 16 to 32 cores so I am allocate more cores to the hypervisor. I was looking at the AMD Ryzen Threadripper 3970X due to its 32 cores, 64 threads and boost clock of 4.5 GHZ. I also heard that during gaming the Threadripper uses less cores for a higher clock speed. Is this a good option? Is it overkill? What are some other options that would work?

 

[Karadjgne]

Games usually tend to only use 6-12 cores at most, it's all they are coded to use, so the cpu (especially Ryzens) will have ample unused cores, which use less overall voltage, which reduces thermal loads and allows those used cores to boost higher, upto the thermal/voltage limits per core.

TR isn't cheap, parts are harder to come by, cooling options are more limited, board options are more limited etc. You might want to look into a 5950x instead, 16 cores/32 threads, unless it's actual core power you want and a full 32 cores, which means TR.

Much of TR issue is higher ram capacity, to get the 64/128Gb often requires lowering clock speeds to 2933MHz/3200MHz, which can affect gaming performance. Still good, but not as good as what can be used with a 5950x.

 

[Why_Me]

Not the best but by far not the worst. For more cores look at the i9 12900K or the Ryzen 5950X.

https://www.newegg.com/intel-core-i7-12700f-core-i7-12th-gen/p/N82E16819118359
Intel Core i7-12700F $318.99

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/u...2700f-processor-25m-cache-up-to-4-90-ghz.html

Review of that cpu w/benchmarks.

https://www.techspot.com/review/2391-intel-core-i7-12700/

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydgN4W97Esk&t=708s