Consider switching to a higher wattage LED if you want better performance.
Consider switching to a higher wattage LED if you want better performance.
You're evaluating three CPU options—3700X, 9700K, and 3800X—with price differences around $40 AUD each. You're aiming for top gaming performance and want to decide which offers the best balance. If you prefer more cores and can manage background tasks, AMD might be a good fit. Let me know if you'd like more details!
Choose the 3700X for maximum performance and top value. Look for 3600MHz CL16 RAM if you're on a budget. For serious gaming, the 4790K works well too.
Choose the 3700X for long-term reliability. The 9700K lacks hyperthreading, making it less suitable for sustained use. While the i7 offers slight speed gains in many games, it falls short in multi-threaded tasks by over 30-40%. AM4’s advantages and PCIe 4.0 support further weigh against it. Only the 9900K or KS make sense due to hyperthreading benefits, but they don’t match the performance of newer options. The 3700X and 3800X are better choices, especially with SMT-enabled 8 cores, which will keep up with future consoles.
I base my thoughts on real usage where I had a 4.3ghz 4770K paired with 1080ti gaming at 1440p with high refresh rates. Upgrading to a 6-core/12-thread CPU or better would definitely boost the gaming experience noticeably...my 8700K runs much smoother. If you play at 60hz or use a less powerful GPU, it might not be as beneficial. Oh—and if I had to pick right now, I’d choose a Ryzen 3700X and X570 board.