12700K vs 9700X
12700K vs 9700X
Why does the power consumption matter? In gaming, the 12700k shouldn't draw too much. The upgrade route on the AM5 platform is massive! You can reach 10800X3D later and stay in good shape for a while. DDR5 isn't much better than DDR4 for gaming performance—it's slightly faster, but switching just because of DDR4 vs DDR5 isn't worth it.
It's not just about DDR4 versus DDR5. I'm focused on power consumption since high usage can add up. I want confidence that it won't consume too much energy for heavy tasks like CPU encoding or Handbreak. Most importantly, I value the benefit of upgrading later without major issues.
It depends on your choice. I use AM5 while gaming, and my 9800X3D draws about 70-90w during intense sessions. Switching to AM5 seems like the most popular upgrade option. The 9700X performs better in games than a 12700k, though the difference isn't massive. Watch the video carefully before deciding.
The performance gain between the two CPUs will be small, something I wouldn’t prioritize unless I was a serious gamer. If I were focused on framerate or competitive play, I’d probably opt for the X3D CPUs. DDR5 offers a similar benefit when your CPU is constrained, but I wouldn’t intentionally upgrade for it unless necessary. The 12700K provides decent power efficiency compared to higher-end models like the 14900K, particularly since Ryzen tends to be less efficient during idle or light usage—something noted in the TPU reviews. If power settings were a concern, adjusting them could help keep performance within ideal ranges.
In most situations it's a minor upgrade. A 4090 offers only a tiny difference—about one digit—at 1080p. To mimic a GTX 1660 at 1080p, you can review RTX 4090 performance in 4K. The difference is less than 1%. Unless you need something more, and confidence isn't a factor, it's better to wait for a real upgrade in 1 to 5 years if needed.