Top 65W gaming CPU for Mini-ITX builds

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slayer__is
Senior Member

521

11-19-2019, 07:16 PM

#1

Hey everyone, what’s the top choice for a 65W TDP CPU suited for gaming? My setup is a mini-ITX case with limited cooling, so I’m restricted to around 65W. I currently run an i5-9400F paired with a RTX 2070, streaming to a 4K TV. Back then I thought the 4K display would be the main bottleneck, but at lower settings I’ve managed about 60-70 FPS. Now that I’m back into Call of Duty after Black Ops 3, I’m seeing around 60-70 FPS even at the lowest settings. The GPU is handling most of the work, so it’s not the CPU limiting things anymore.

Looking at options, the Ryzen 7 3700X and the i7-9700F are both around $330 each. The Ryzen is factory unlocked, which could give a performance boost, while the i7-9700F is a bit pricier but also strong. Compared to my current i5-9400F, both CPUs should offer noticeable gains. The Ryzen’s unlocks might let it squeeze out more frames, especially during intense moments.

My goal is to upgrade to something that can keep up with the GPU’s capabilities, and I’m considering the i7-9700F since it fits easily. With a 650W power supply, I should be able to support the extra heat from any overclocking. What do you all think?

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Rxnger
Member

198

11-19-2019, 08:56 PM

#2

In the long run, adding more threads on a 3600 or 3700 model would increase available space. But for immediate results, the 9700F offers superior gaming performance.

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Hydroforce33
Senior Member

550

11-20-2019, 10:28 PM

#3

Choose an R5 2600 or 3600. A 120mm AIO provides around 125-150W, but those TDP figures alone don’t tell the whole story. The R5 3600 with 3600mhz CL16 RAM will match the performance of Intel’s CPUs.