Intel 12th Generation processors
Intel 12th Generation processors
I’m evaluating three options: i5-12400F/i5-12600KF/I7-12700F, i5-12600KF+Z690 DDR4, and i5-12600KF+Z690 DDR5. With a 1000$ budget for four components, I need to decide on CPU, motherboard, RAM, and M.2 drives. M.2 Z boards are expensive locally, so I’m leaning toward DDR4 over DDR5. Let me know if you’d like more details!
Throughout this, particularly if you wait a month for the rumored B660 DDR4 board that supports BCLK overclocking on non-K CPUs, unless you take action that truly requires higher memory bandwidth, the performance gap between DDR4 and DDR5 doesn't justify the price difference. Unless you opt for a 2x16GB DDR5 package at a low cost, it's better to skip DDR5. Crucial P5, WD SN750, Samsung 970 Evo (Plus) are all excellent options—choose the capacity you need and go with the most affordable one. There are many other good drives out there; I haven't really focused enough on memorizing their model numbers, so these are the ones I currently have.
No, it's not bad. The ASUS STRIX B660A DDR4 is a solid choice for its performance and features.
It's quite costly for the performance you receive. The board lacks BCLK overclocking features found on models like the Strix B660-G and B660-F, and it generally offers similar capabilities to more affordable B660/H670 variants such as the H670 Prime D4. For those aiming to boost speeds, look for B660 boards with built-in clock generation; a few are reportedly in development but aren't available yet. Purchasing a board priced similarly to entry-level Z690 boards doesn't seem justified given the current market situation.
The Z boards are quite expensive, so I prefer to avoid them. I also don’t enjoy overclocking; I just want things to work smoothly. By the way, I’m planning to upgrade to an i7-12700F+B660 MOBO, a GTX 1060 with 6GB RAM, a 1TB M.2 SSD with 250GB SSD, a 1TB HDD, an NZXT Kraken X62 from my previous setup, plus two 120mm fans and RGB strips. Is my old Seasonic S12 620W 80+ Bronze sufficient?