I9 12900KF - DDR4 4000mhz or DDR5 4800mhz?
I9 12900KF - DDR4 4000mhz or DDR5 4800mhz?
Hey, you're thinking about your next build carefully. It seems DDR5 might not be the best choice yet because it's still expensive and newer tech. You're wondering if buying the cheapest DDR5 now and upgrading later makes sense, or if sticking with the best DDR4 for longer could work. You mentioned seeing high-speed DDR4 didn't really help Intel much, but it seemed better for Ryzen. Since the 12900K supports DDR5, you might still get good performance with a high-speed DDR4 setup. Regarding the 12900K versus 12900KF, apart from the GPU difference, there aren't many other differences—cooling and power usage are similar. As for cooling, the K model should be cooler than the K because it lacks the integrated GPU.
It varies by game; certain titles run better with DDR4 while others excel on DDR5. The 12900KF lacks Quick Sync support, whereas the 12900K does.
The iGPU remains present but is currently faulty or turned off. Regardless, it won’t add heat or power draw unless you’re using it, so its impact is minimal. It offers a backup option if your dedicated GPU fails. Many games prefer lower latency over higher bandwidth. Currently, it’s simpler and more affordable to achieve low latency with DDR4. Expect improvements as DDR5 develops. Check the games you play and see if benchmarks compare DDR4/5 performance.
Top DDR4 options that offer good value and solid performance are Ballistix 3000/3200. Expect around 4600+ MHz with a 1.6V supply on a decent board with an IMX chip. If you want to skip the long explanations, a 4000 MHz model at 1.5V is also viable. For the absolute best, Samsung B-DIMM options like 3200 CL14, 3600 CL16 (16-16-16), 4000 CL18, 4400 CL19 are available. However, buying them mainly for show isn't worth it unless you're okay with lower performance. If you go overclocking, don’t be too strict with voltages—below 1.6V can cause issues unless your cooling setup is perfect. Running at ~1.75V or higher is fine if you’re comfortable risking potential IMX degradation. You might see some PPI drops if you push it that far, but you could still get good results. Stress testing shows the CPU (X5660) and IMX (1.48V) haven’t shown signs of wear yet under those conditions, though long-term effects are still unknown. If you decide to go high-voltage, take the risk—my hardware is cheap and easy to swap out. Just be very careful.