Get guidance on pairing a CPU with a motherboard.
Get guidance on pairing a CPU with a motherboard.
Looking to boost your gaming setup. You're considering moving from an i7 9700k to either a 12700k or 12600k for better single-core performance. Your current CPU struggles with demanding mods like Sims 4 or Stellaris, so this upgrade should help. For the motherboard, aim for DDR5 support and ensure it has enough NVMe slots—2-3 would be ideal. A solid VRM setup is a plus. You mentioned no need for WiFi cards and are okay with aesthetics, so keep it functional and efficient.
I've extensively customized games too, but running at 5ghz with my i9 9900k feels like a rough ride. The 5800x works just fine now, while the 5900x handles everything smoothly. For non-modded titles, the i9 11900k is unnecessary—it doesn’t improve on the i9 10900k and is more expensive than the 5800x. My rig uses TVB to hit 5.3ghz when needed, mainly smoothing out single-threaded modded games. I chose the i9 11900k over the i9 12900k because of my Windows 10 and Skyrim experience. It took two years for Windows 10 to support over 4GB VRAM in a 32-bit game. Next year I’ll upgrade to a next-gen i9, expecting better support from Intel and Microsoft. The 5800x is still the best value. For single-core performance, the i9 11900k outperforms Ryzen 9s, though the 12700k or 12600k are decent upgrades over the 9700k. It lets you run more mods longer.
For motherboards, I prefer ASUS Heros or AORUS Masters. With ASUS, I won’t settle for anything less than a Hero due to past stutter issues with modded games. For AORUS, I’ll go for an Ultra only if it matches the Master’s VRAM. PCIe 4 SSDs are worth it—they cut down on load-in lag. Stutter was a major problem for me back in 2007 with modded Oblivion; a 10,000rpm HDD helped, and I used them until SSDs became cheaper. Now I’ve moved past SATA SSDs to PCIe 3 M.2s, so I’ll stick with PCIe 4 or better moving forward.
I haven't found much info on 12900k versus mods, but from what I've noticed with Win11 it seems similar to Win10 in games I've played. I was thinking about upgrading my PC next year, but the lag in some modded titles is really frustrating. With a GPU, I can wait for the RTX40 series since frame rates aren't a problem. But when the CPU is at full speed and it takes seconds to respond, I'd rather invest now. I'm planning to go with the 12900k, hoping it will last longer than the 12700 or 12600 models. Also, I need help finding a bracket for my Kraken x70 that fits an LGA 1700 socket. Thanks!
Thanks for the details. It’s why I stopped using my i9 9900k for gaming, even though it works with standard titles. Some modded experiences require more than 12GB of VRAM, which is why 3090s are essential. My OLEDs now support 4K at 120Hz, so I no longer need 40-series cards. For my modded games, I’ve consistently used the PassMarks single-thread benchmark to evaluate CPUs. As you can see, the 12900k stands out as the top choice. My i9 11900k is still decent but ranks lower, leaving room for more future modding needs.