10900K...Purchase or skip? :-/
10900K...Purchase or skip? :-/
I understood you were looking for reassurance that this older 14 nm chip could keep up with the 3900X, especially under heavy multi-core tasks. It would really make a noticeable difference given its outdated specs.
Up to 250W available right now. If it behaves similarly to any previous Intel CPU design, performance will rise significantly when you adjust voltages. To clarify, for fans who prefer Intel, this represents a strong boost in multicore performance compared to the 9900K, especially with manual overclocking—likely giving them an edge in games and maintaining that premium position against Ryzen, though the latter only shines around 240Hz. Additionally, these new chips offer better value at their MSRP than older models, matching the performance of the 10-series X299.
I understand your points; however, I’d like them to move beyond simple upgrades and introduce some innovation. While I favor Intel, I’m growing concerned about their current offerings. I hope this 14 NM chip becomes significantly more competitive compared to the 3900x than I anticipate. Gaming is a priority for me, but PCs can deliver much more. I’m convinced this will be a superior gaming/streaming processor with additional cores.
I stand out in this space, I don’t focus much on the process node. Intel’s offerings are more exciting for me—back when I had a 2700X on a Crosshair VII Hero with a Vega Frontier Edition, I switched to an X58 setup with a 1080 Ti, and their Sandy-Ivy 32nm/22nm chips plus 22nm/14nm Haswell-Broadwell chips were quicker than the older 12nm/14nm Zen/Zen+ chips before Spectre/meltdown issues. Intel’s current 14nm is still on par with AMD’s 7nm in terms of performance, so it doesn’t really matter much. The process details don’t compare directly, to be honest—mostly AMD’s 7nm matches Intel’s (though the 10nm IIRC didn’t quite make it). I don’t care about heat or power use; I’ve got a powerful Noctua, an AIO/CLC, and a custom loop to handle the heat. High wattage PSUs plus cheap power means power usage isn’t a big deal. I don’t do anything that demands massive cores (my plan is to get a 6950X soon just for the best socket chip in X99, not because my current 5960X can even use its cores/threads). For me, AMD’s options are really appealing right now if you’re looking at benchmarks per dollar. If not, stick with quality gear you know—both platforms have a lot to offer depending on your needs.
I recommend keeping it. For gamers or content creators, opting for a 9700K or 9900K makes more sense since prices will likely drop after the 10900K release. If your setup demands 10 cores with 20 threads, you'll probably need hardware beyond what mainstream chipsets offer—like extra PCI-E lanes or ECC memory support. In such cases, LGA2066 or even LGA3647 would be the better choice. A mainstream 10-core CPU with more than 200W power consumption doesn't seem practical right now.
I find this product lineup intriguing, more than I anticipated from Intel (which wasn’t much!). It’ll be worth watching how this “up to” concept holds up and whether they can deliver a solid high-core overclock. The mix of top gaming performance, the highest clock speeds, and genuine overclocking potential is what keeps these chips relevant. I recall hearing a lot about the 9900k being a waste of money—poor value for money—but it never sold well. Then all those creators featured the 9900k in every max gaming rig they posted, and it still stays above its MSRP today. Many dismissed it as a gimmick, but it actually sold out quickly. Now it’s hard to find anything priced below a 200% markup. The appeal of being “best in gaming” and overclockable remains the key selling point, even if it’s still functional. I expect the same trend with the upcoming 10900k. Content creators will likely build custom setups using SLI 2080ti or soon 3080ti alongside a 10900K (or KS), while mid-range i5s could make a comeback if they’re well-optimized for overclocking. AMD’s next release might really shake things up, making this lineup even more unpredictable. I’m eager to see how these machines perform under real-world stress.
True. Power POUT equals VR VOUT multiplied by current output. CPU package power isn't a precise measurement since it relates to VID times output, not just VR. VID differs from VR and can be adjusted via AC loadline, DC loadline, and IMON settings. Typical average POUT is around 9900K/KS for most users, yielding 150-200W. Adding two more cores brings it to 200-250W based on a 25W/core rule. Someone reported ICCMAX at 245 amps, likely from Japanese or Chinese sources discussing power stages or VRM specs. This aligns with the 193A rating seen on 24A/core configurations. Note: the link points to Intel's 10th-gen Core Comet Lake S compatibility info.