Question New CPU

[RaidHobbit]

I brought a i7-8700k on the day of release, and I still barely use all its cores.

I want to upgrade following some damage to my PC. I could extract the CPU but cannot find a 1151 socket mobo. Plus its getting old even if its performance is still good. So I wonder what is a good gaming CPU.

I`m not after cores I will not use for several years to come so I`m limiting it at 6-10 cores. Is the i5-12400 good? Is there any real benefit to a i5-12600k, and are there any alternative CPUs for gaming?

All i7s and i9s and other hobbiest replies will be discarded, I don`t need beyond what I require for high quality gaming.

 

[Eximo]

Six cores is pretty much the standard mid-range now. While not all games can use all your cores simultaneously, the core clocks do scale up as you pay more and that is important to gaming.


https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compar...400-vs-Intel-i5-12600K-vs-AMD-Ryzen-7-5700X3D

12600K clocks a little faster and comes with 4 efficiency cores. Basically shunts low priority tasks to the e-cores leaving all six p-Cores to run your games.
An argument could be made for the i5-13400 which is basically the same thing, with a little more cache.

Ryzen 7600X isn't bad, and puts you on the latest AMD socket.

Best bet for gaming on the cheap would a Ryzen 5700X3D. Yes it is an "7", but is also the previous generation and was only recently released as an upgrade path for people who likely have Ryzen 5 chips. Though the 5800X3D can often be found on sale as well.

12700KF also hover around $200 (It is what I have and while again, it is an i7, it is a generation behind with 13th/14th being slightly faster with the additional cache and clock speeds.

I would say just all the parts you intend to keep / re-use and your total budget. People will come up with full builds.

 

[RaidHobbit]

A 12600K is tempting.

Do I stick with my 32GB DDR4 2666 or make the jump to 32GB DDR5 5200?

 

[Eximo]

2666 is a little slow by today's standards, but it would work. I went with DDR4 4000, since it was relatively cheap. Much lower latency then DDR5. But DDR5 6000 CL30 kits are pretty reasonably priced as well.

Right now the cheapest board worth getting is $90 for both DDR4 and DDR5. B760 chipset.
Cheapest Z690 is $125 for DDR4, and $150 for DDR5. All from ASRock.

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/kY...ptide-atx-lga1700-motherboard-z690-pg-riptide

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xwjBD3/asrock-z690-phantom-gaming-4d5-atx-lga1700-motherboard-z690-phantom-gaming-4d5

2x16GB DDR4 3600 CL18 will set you back $68

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/nv...-2-x-16-gb-ddr4-3600-memory-f4-3600c18d-32gvk

2x16GB DDR5 6000 CL30 will set you back $95

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/cC...6-gb-ddr5-6000-cl30-memory-sp032gxlwu60afdeae

Also 5600 CL28 (Which is kind of like DDR4 2800 CL14 effectively, but with the bandwidth gains) $105

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/4b...ddr5-5600-cl28-memory-f5-5600j2834f16gx2-rs5k