3800x vs 9700k
3800x vs 9700k
I’ve repeated my thoughts on this several times. It brings back memories of the early 2nd generation Core era. At that time, the i5 4T/4C was typically suggested over the i7 4C/8T. The i5 was preferred since it performed well with overclocking, and games at the time didn’t demand more than four cores. I’d usually go for the i7 only if the price allowed it, because even with a strong i5 overclock, it couldn’t match the extra threads offered by the i7. People often criticized me for suggesting the i7, but buyers generally stuck with the i5. I remained confident that i7 processors were more future-proof—after all, higher clock speeds and SMT help them handle longer over time.
I own a 4C/8T 4770K and a 6C/12T 3960X setup that’s still running smoothly with newer titles. My 3960X was assembled between late 2011 and early 2012, which explains the initial build delays. While the 9700K is definitely faster in raw framerate, it doesn’t offer much more than the 3800X/3700X for most uses. For overall performance—like productivity and streaming—the 3700X or 3800X would be a better choice.
6ghz processors aren’t feasible with silicon because the material resists speeds beyond about 5ghz. Switching the underlying substrate would be necessary. Multithreading simply boosts performance only when most users rely on it, which isn’t always practical. Threading is somewhat inefficient compared to true multitasking. The main reason it was introduced was Microsoft’s poor multitasking history, prompting a shift toward threads—though they’ve since become less effective overall. A 9700k would still outperform a 3800x in multitasking scenarios, but these chips aren’t designed for typical PC workloads.
I've discussed this in several threads already, but currently AMD seems the better option for long-term performance. Ignoring security issues, core count and thread support are now key factors since we're hitting practical limits on clock speed. Developers will need to move beyond single-core optimization and make full use of every core if they aim to advance games into the next generation. Many upcoming titles I'm tracking explicitly mention leveraging multiple cores, suggesting core numbers could even influence performance by 2020. Intel may shift to a new socket for its next-gen chips, while AMD is likely to stick with AM4 for the foreseeable future. This remains speculation, but if you're considering upgrading without replacing your motherboard, AMD appears more reliable at the moment. Regarding the 3800x vs 3700x, with Black Friday approaching, it looks like a 3800x could be a viable choice now, especially if power consumption isn't a concern.
Only occasionally does someone express frustration over excessive CPU usage, yet it's common to hear complaints about insufficient resources.