Choose between the Ryzen 7 3700X and the Intel Core i7-9700F based on your needs.
Choose between the Ryzen 7 3700X and the Intel Core i7-9700F based on your needs.
Ignore the 9700k—it’s faulty and lacks a key efficiency benefit. Order the 3700x instead, as it functions better and the 9700k must be purchased separately.
Both options perform well. For high raw FPS numbers, the 9700 offers a slight edge, though not a huge difference. The result also hinges on the specific GPU you choose. A stronger bottleneck in the GPU means the CPU's speed becomes less significant. With a 1080p display and a 2080 Ti, the CPU plays a bigger role, but with a GTX 1060 and a 4K screen, the CPU essentially becomes irrelevant. That’s how it generally works—when the GPU is busy, the CPU’s impact diminishes.
Essentially, all components seem to have issues. Both your 8700k and my 9900k are considered faulty. It doesn’t really make sense not to consider getting a chip, since the product line operates that way. The 9700 lacks HT because Intel aimed to set itself apart in the market, which made the 9900k possible—and that was a smart decision. The 9700 is solid, but the Ryzen 3 caused some problems for Intel’s systems, which was welcome and long overdue. Calling it defective misrepresents the situation and doesn’t reflect the overall picture. Keep in mind, every chip has its flaws, though some are more reliable than others...
From a business-to-consumer viewpoint, the 9700k falls short in today’s market where the 8/16 chip has already been the premium desktop standard for over a year before launch. It’s not performing well, just like other products in its segmented lineup—acceptable, but not impressive. The situation highlights how Intel made a questionable move by integrating a previous i7 feature into the i9 to boost margins, which raises serious concerns.
I don't grasp the reason behind labeling it defective. However, regarding their business approach, it's a valid concern. While I don't share your perspective on the strategy, it makes sense that they made changes to differentiate themselves from competitors using the same 14nm process. The addition of extra cores and removal of HT were likely intended moves given the market conditions. What alternatives would you have considered? Cutting profit margins could limit R&D funding, which might help shift the company's direction away from the current challenges. They aimed for a premium price on the i9, but that strategy led to higher costs in other areas like the HEDT line. It's tough to navigate such decisions. Still, the 9700 remains an outstanding performance chip—among the top gaming processors available, only surpassed by the newer models. If you push for more threading capabilities, AMD’s direction becomes clearer.