New questions about processors: i5 14600K and 9900X

[talvikko]

I apologize for posting in a different thread about processors, but I've started considering new options (due to my budget and other planned computer needs) and want to make a decision relatively quickly.

1. I have a question (I know I'm asking about a cheaper and less powerful processor than the one most users use), but I assume this processor has a good price/performance ratio in my budget, so I'd like to be sure: Will using an Intel Core i5 14600K 3.5-5.3 GHz processor (working with an RTX 5700TI 16GB graphics card) significantly reduce performance in DCS?

2. One more (additional and more expensive) option: Will using a Ryzen 9 9900X 4.4-5.6 GHz be a significantly and noticeably better choice?

I don't plan on using VR (I plan to play at lower resolutions)

[mkel2010]

With the Intel chip you'll only get 20 PCie lanes versus 24 with the AMD chip. The number of PCie lanes in an important consideration, particularly with the video card you plan to use and any nVMe drives you plan. Depending on the motherboard and the configuration you chose, you could be in a situation where your video card is running at x8 vs x16 when coupled with nVMe drives. You're planning to spend money on a good video card so you don't want to box yourself into using half its capabilities at the very start (with the Intel chip.) An advantage to using the AMD chip is the motherboard socket. Intel boards change sockets every few years while AMD has stuck with the AM5 socket for a number of years and apparently has no plans to change it. What that boils down to is if you want to upgrade your CPU in a couple of years, you only need to buy the chip and not a whole system.

[BitMaster]

 

 

Know what kind of drives you want/need and lookup the Block Diagram of the mainboard you choose AND understand it. Without knowledge, the Diagram tells you nothing.

It's not the CPU or the chipset that defines how PCIe lanes are switched and routed, it's the board and it's Bios, and many differences are among boards with the same chipset.

For example, I can run 4 NVMe at 4x without sacrificing GPU bandwidth, THEREFOR I had to give up 2 of 6 Sata and a PCIe slot.  I knew I wont need another card but I want multiple I/O drives. Others may favor even more drives and are willing to sacrifice GPU as they use  iGPU, so there are another 16 lanes and Bifurcation options....  you just need to know first what you want and THEN look for the board that has THAT layout that doesnt close doors but keeps them open.

 

 

edit:   regarding CPU

...and why would you choose the 9900X ?  For gaming it doesnt make any sense, just for productivity if you need all those cores for certain work.

I would aim for 9800X3D or less money for 9800X or 9700X even 9600X. Given the 5070ti, all those will max out the GPU with ease.

With AM5, you can upgrade to another CPU in 2-3 years, not so with Intel sockets.

 

* just building 9 PC's....didnt even think of considering Intel for 1 second.  All Ryzen 9600X based Office rigs

Edited Wednesday at 07:00 PM by BitMaster

[Aapje]

From his comment, I took that he also uses productivity software that benefits from lots of cores. Intel can be a good choice for a mixed use machine, since AMD strictly segments its lineup by the number of cores, so there are no cheap many-core options, while that is the case for Intel.

 

I don't know the relative performance of these chips in DCS specifically, so I don't know what advice to give though.

[talvikko]

Thanks for the advice and replies, and for saving me from making a bad purchase. I agree that buying the 9900X would be pointless. But now I'm considering another processor:  7800X3D (4,2-5,0 GHz). Maybe that would be a better choice? Considering the price-to-performance ratio, it looks interesting.

[mkel2010]

19 minutes ago, talvikko said:

Thanks for the advice and replies, and for saving me from making a bad purchase. I agree that buying the 9900X would be pointless. But now I'm considering another processor:  7800X3D (4,2-5,0 GHz). Maybe that would be a better choice? Considering the price-to-performance ratio, it looks interesting.

That CPU apparently has 24 PCie lanes, so coupled with the right motherboard, you should be able to have one nVMe and still take full advantage of 16 lanes for graphics. And with the AMD AM5 socket you'd be able to eventually upgrade the CPU without needing to change out the motherboard.

[Aapje]

9 hours ago, talvikko said:

Thanks for the advice and replies, and for saving me from making a bad purchase. I agree that buying the 9900X would be pointless. But now I'm considering another processor:  7800X3D (4,2-5,0 GHz). Maybe that would be a better choice? Considering the price-to-performance ratio, it looks interesting.

It's the second best choice purely for gaming (the 9800X3D being the best).

It's weak relative to the price for multithreaded productivity software, if you use that.