Choose between Intel or Ryzen processors.
Choose between Intel or Ryzen processors.
I know that this is a very controversial topic. I’ve been doing research and seeing that the I-9 processor has better performance in gaming. But the ryzen 7 3800x Looks just as good about. So all of my friends have been telling me that the I-9 isn’t as good and then I should just stick with Ryzen. What should I go for for gaming?
Resolution and refresh rate details, GPU selection, and game titles all requested.
Intel remains the top choice for premium gaming performance. If you're investing in a high-end GPU and want maximum power without skimping, Intel is the best fit. However, this comes with certain compromises. The i9 processors are extremely demanding on cooling systems. AMD processors offer strong competition, better efficiency, and simpler cooling solutions. From a future perspective, AMD is more reliable, thanks to higher thread counts that provide broader capabilities. Additionally, AMD sockets tend to last longer, allowing for easier upgrades—Ryzen 4000 models still use AM4.
I think generally the 9900k performs marginally better in gaming. But: (1) the advantage is minimal, (2) the 3800x offers a lower price, (3) AM4 boards are more affordable, (4) you receive a stock cooler from AMD, and (5) most importantly, you support the company that introduced innovation and much-needed competition in the CPU market.
In pure numbers, the i9-9900k outperforms all Ryzen options for gaming. Some titles show almost no gap, while others notice a noticeable difference. Relatively speaking, it doesn’t justify the cost or other limitations compared to Ryzen setups. Generally, it won’t alter your gameplay, but from a technical standpoint, the 3700/3800x is slower. Still, since you’re likely using a 2080ti—which isn’t a good deal—opt for the 9900k to get the best value from your 2080 ti.
Even at 1440p, your graphics card will likely slow things down constantly, whether from the CPU or the more basic 3700x, and you probably won’t need a high-end cooling solution.
Others have noted that a 9900K offers marginally higher performance compared to a couple of FPS levels. But the downsides are noticeable in other areas and it costs more than AMD options. My Ryzen 9 3900X with 12 cores was less powerful than an 8-core 16-thread 9900K and only slightly better than the 9700K, which is just an 8-core 8-thread model. Also remember that X570 boards support PCIe 4.0, which isn't very helpful right now but will improve in the future.