Discussing whether upgrading the CPU is worthwhile for your SFX build.
Discussing whether upgrading the CPU is worthwhile for your SFX build.
I spend my free time gaming, streaming, and editing videos, but during work I dive into 3D modeling, rendering, and game development using Unreal Engine—especially UE5 with ray tracing. A CPU upgrade could really boost performance in live editors, Blender, Maya, Substance Suite, and DaVinci Resolve. I’m unsure which model would make the biggest difference, but focusing on the parts that matter most will help decide. Your current setup includes a high-end i7-12700K, a solid build with ample RAM and storage, and a decent GPU. The upgrade should target the CPU to ease render times and improve overall responsiveness.
The options really limit themselves to a few notable upgrades: 12900K, 13700K, 13900K and possibly 13600K. Only the 12900K and 13900K seem like real improvements. The 13900K appears to be the best value, though you might hit thermal limits. You probably won’t see big gains, making it hard to gauge exactly. Alright, so it could become clearer soon. Thanks @Agall
Because I focus on efficiency, using the 13900k at its maximum capacity while keeping power draw under 105W or 120W would be ideal. This configuration offers a noticeable boost of about 50% in multithreading speed, even with the TDP restriction. Single-threaded performance also improves noticeably.