9700K or 3800X
9700K or 3800X
I was attracted to the AMD chip, especially the 3700X rather than the 3800X. It seems there might be a future discount that will bring all models together in price. I’d value your advice. Mostly gaming and everyday tasks like email, spreadsheets, etc. No video editing or streaming needed. Thanks!
The locked i9 9900 can run on more affordable boards and cooling options, making it potentially worthwhile if you can adapt it. However, in reality, for your intended use, the R5 3600 matches the 3700X in performance, while the i7 9700K is justified only with a strong GPU like an RTX 2080 Super that won’t limit gameplay. If you’re targeting a budget build, the R5 3600 works just fine for gaming, and a 5700 XT will suffice.
The 3700X or 3800X (when priced similarly to the 3700X as mentioned) offers better long-term performance compared to the 9700K's 8C/8T configuration. Yes, especially when gaming is the primary focus and you're using a high-end RTX graphics card like the RTX2070 Super or higher. If gaming is your main concern, the 9700K might give slightly better frame rates. However, this brings back memories of older generations—back in the 2nd generation Core i5/i7 era—I’d recommend upgrading to an i7 with 4C/8T capability for better performance. Many people dismissed it as overkill, but those who did often found their systems still functional for years. The i5’s 4C/4T models have proven more durable and remain relevant today. Meanwhile, the i5’s 4C/4T is now considered a bottleneck. For a modern setup, pairing a Ryzen CPU with a suitable X570 motherboard and a good B450 PCIe slot would provide solid gaming and productivity results.
Hyper-threading does a lot less that people think. If OP is close to a microcenter then the 9700k is the same price as the 3700x. There is no rational reason to go with the Ryzen CPU when the most intensive thing he will be doing is gaming (at which the 9700k beats out the 3700x).
Not everything revolves around gaming. It's preferable to own it without needing it, rather than desiring it but lacking it. The OP would benefit more from the 3700X. If the OP chooses Intel, it's wise to wait until the 10th generation, when they plan to revive HT in the Core i7s.