Consider your needs and budget before investing in a higher-end CPU.
Consider your needs and budget before investing in a higher-end CPU.
It's essentially a refreshed version of the 12900k. Unless the 12900k is very affordable and under 13700k, it doesn't make sense to purchase it. It's mainly about showing off the i9 badge.
Consider choosing the i7-13K instead, as it may not require a BIOS upgrade when paired with a 13th generation chip.
you were focusing on performance beyond just the core names. For gaming, the real value comes from clock speed and efficiency, not just the number of cores. The 9000s are usually fine for most tasks, but the 12600k is more about raw power than practicality. You’re right that 10 or 20 tc can be nice, but they don’t always translate to better experiences. The 10850k still has its place if you want a balance of speed and efficiency.
The prices for those CPUs vary by location. While the chips are quite alike, the i7-13700K generally edges out the i9-12900K in performance per cycle. If top performance matters most, go with the 13700K. For better value, you might find the i9-12900K more affordable than the 13700K. Have you picked a specific board model yet? Are there any newer alternatives you're thinking about?