These are Intel processors from the 10th, 11th, and 12th generation series.
These are Intel processors from the 10th, 11th, and 12th generation series.
It seems these three generations all emerged very recently, maybe within a short span. Everything seems okay right now, but it doesn’t really boost confidence when considering a new CPU purchase. Will generation 12 still matter in six months? And how fast can the operating systems adjust to Intel’s changes, especially with chipset support coming out of the box so quickly?
I see my 8700K still holds value. Everything I require is covered—14nm matches the 11th generation, and the 12th will definitely be quicker thanks to a smaller die and updated design. Technology advances so rapidly. Imagine just over two decades ago, dual-core processors were brand new and impressive, while single-core units struggled. Most devices remain functional for at least five years before needing an upgrade, even though most parts are engineered to last up to 10 years or have a reliability of 100,000 hours with solid components.
Technically it spans three generations, but the 11th generation didn't perform well, so I don't feel that way. You're also confusing the term "relevant" by setting the bar too high. What you're really asking is if you want to stay at the top—yes, because following the trend of three quarters per CPU generation since the 10th generation means the 13th should arrive in Q3 2022, which is more than six months away.
Currently popular Intel processors for modern gaming include the 8700K, 9700K, 9900K, 10400, 10600K, 10700K, 10850K, 10900K, 11400, 11600K, 11700K, 11900K, 12600K, 12700K, and 12900K. When overclocked, you might find 8600K and 9600K still functional. Going back to Q4 2017 means you could purchase a CPU that runs most games smoothly with today’s graphics cards. If you're always seeking the newest options, you'll likely remain unsatisfied. Still, a solid 6-core, 12-thread chip from the latest generation is sufficient for a great computing experience.
These chips fall into the same category, just with more cores and improvements each time. They all run on Skylake++. This was a very gradual upgrade; it didn’t really require big changes during that phase. Until Ryzen 5000, their rivals lagged in IPC and overall performance for most tasks. Their main competitor kept falling behind in gaming performance until the Ryzen 5000 arrived. The 8700K still outperformed all Ryzen options in games until the Ryzen 5000 came along. The 11th generation marked a shift, but it was a step backward compared to the 10th. It lagged behind most benchmarks and was inferior to the Ryzen 5000 in many areas. The 12th generation brought real progress—faster than Skylake++ and much better than previous Skylake models. Thanks to its stronger IPC and modern support, it’s expected to stay relevant for a long time beyond the 6th to 10th generations. Most tests showing only minor gains over the 11th and Ryzen 5000 are due to GPU limitations. This pattern repeated in 2017 when they compared the 8700K to the Ryzen 1000 series using a 1080Ti. If you’re investing in Intel’s 12th gen today, you’re supporting the first significant architectural shift since 2015. You’ll have more confidence now than during the 9th and 10th generations. It also backs newer standards. For those choosing the Ryzen 5000, it represents AMD’s first CPU line that genuinely outperforms their then-current Intel rivals over the next decade or more. This technology will remain valuable for a long time, supporting standards like PCIe 4.0 and delivering strong performance. Regarding Intel 12th gen and its OS, it appears they collaborated closely with Microsoft for Windows 11 to optimize support for this new architecture. There’s no cause for concern here—significant investment is being made in this direction.
It was especially impressive for its time, standing out as the top performer within its price category (and possibly still does today).