AI PCs have become a focal point for many companies on both mobile and desktop platforms.
With the second quarter of 2024 fast approaching, there is much to be excited about, especially following the conclusion of the Computex 2024 in Taipei, China. It is now known that AMD's upcoming Ryzen 9000 series desktop processors, featuring the brand-new Zen 5 cores, will be hitting the market by the end of this month (July 31st). In addition to this, AMD has recently significantly reduced the prices of its Zen 4 (Ryzen 8000) processors. Intel still needs to catch up with its 14th or 13th generation Core series processors, but from a cost perspective, AMD is currently in a more advantageous position.
Since the release of our last guide, the only CPU worth noting is Intel's specially binned Core i9-14900KS, which not only boosts the clock speed to 6.2 GHz but is also the last processor to adopt Intel's iconic Core i-series naming convention. Another significant piece of news in the CPU sector comes from Intel, with the company issuing a statement urging users to use Intel's default specifications on its 14th and 13th generation processors, which ultimately limits performance compared to the published data.
Advertisement
Although the CPU market has been relatively calm so far this year, things are expected to pick up once AMD's Zen 5 and Intel's Arrow Lake desktop chips are fully released. With the price drop of AMD's Ryzen 7000 series processors, much of the guide reflects this, as the performance of AMD and Intel is on par in many use cases, but cost is undoubtedly an important factor in choosing a new CPU. As we move into the remainder of 2024, the CPU market seems poised for the rise of the "AI PC," which by the end of 2024, appears to be a key focus for many companies on both mobile and desktop platforms.
Best Gaming CPUs of July 2024
Sometimes, choosing a CPU can be challenging. In this CPU guide, we have selected some of the best processors for you and provided data from the author's reviews.July 2024 CPU Market Overview: Zen 5 to Hit the Market in July
Before delving into the current CPU market, the biggest update in the guide comes from AMD. AMD's latest Ryzen 9000 series processors based on Zen 5 are expected to be launched next month, and AMD has also significantly reduced the prices of its Zen 4 processors (non-G series). This is a typical move that not only undermines Intel's current pricing but also makes AMD chips more attractive from a value perspective, and can clear as much of AMD's existing inventory as possible before the launch of Zen 5.
AMD Launches Desktop Ryzen 9000 CPU, Zen 5 Becomes the Focus of Computex 2024 in Taipei.
Despite the price drop, Intel and AMD still maintain a good competition in the high-end market (in terms of performance), with Intel's 14th generation Core series and AMD's Ryzen 7000 and 8000 series dominating the flagship products. This is not only beneficial to the progress and innovation of CPU architecture and its added features but also good for prices as the two companies fiercely compete for the top performance position. However, this is good for consumers because companies must innovate and improve processes to provide products for users who want the latest and best desktop processors.
The high-end market is still dominated by Intel Core i9-14900K (8P+16E/32T) and AMD's Ryzen 9 7950X (16C/32T), but the Intel Core i9-14900KS adds another exciting element to Intel's 14th generation family; to match this special 6.2 GHz binned CPU, at least a high-end 360mm AIO is recommended.
Although the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D (16C/32T) is also considered a flagship chip, it is mainly aimed at gamers. It uses a 3D V-Cache packaging, providing gamers with 96 MB of L3 V-Cache on one CCD and 32 MB of L3 V-Cache on another CCD. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D is a more value-oriented chip, providing gamers with 96 MB of 3D V-Cache, and it has all the gaming advantages of the Ryzen 9 7950X3D, but at a price that is not as high as the flagship product.
Similarly, still at the high end of the CPU market is the Core i9-13900K (8P+16E/32T), which, although it comes from Intel's previous 13th generation series, is almost identical to the new 14900K except for an increase in core frequency. All three processors, including this processor, Core i9-14900K, and Ryzen 9 7950X, are quite matched in terms of computational performance. Compared to each other, the only "real" advantage between them is in AVX-512/AVX2 workloads, as AMD's Ryzen 7000 does support these instruction sets. Beyond this, it is very competitive in the top market.
Mid-range (Core i7/i5 and Ryzen 7/5) processors provide good computational performance and, when paired with a high-performance discrete graphics card, can fully meet gaming needs. A major discussion point is the latest Intel Core i7-14700K (8P+12E/28T), which has a significant upgrade from the previous Core i7-13700K (8P+8E/24T) and makes the 14th generation Core i7 closer to the i9 series than ever seen before. Given that the Core i7-14700K ($382) and Core i7-13700K ($330) represent Intel's mid-range market, they certainly have a certain value for gamers pursuing performance and value.When deciding which chip to use for upgrading or building a new system, users can find a lot of value in the previous generation products from Intel and AMD (the 13th/12th generation Core series and Ryzen 5000). These processors now offer unprecedented cost-effectiveness, and some high-performance CPUs in these previous generation lines can be paired with more affordable DDR4 memory, which has significantly dropped in price since the launch of DDR5. In addition, both Intel and AMD are actively reducing prices as they shift their focus to promoting their latest cutting-edge technologies and architectural advancements. Although the pricing of Intel's 13th generation has not changed much since the launch of the 14th generation, we expect these price reductions to occur in the coming months as retailers look to clear old inventory.
Therefore, potential buyers can take advantage of the irregular, continuously fluctuating, and declining prices. One notable choice is AMD's Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which features 8 cores and 16 threads, as well as 96 MB of L3 cache with 3D packaging. This CPU is particularly suitable for gaming and applications that are optimized to take advantage of its unique 3D V-Cache in games that support more L3 cache. The performance difference between Intel's 14th and 13th generations is not significant, making the 12th generation more attractive in terms of value. Let's look at the current market trends, and as we approach the last month of the second quarter of 2024, the author will select the best products representing each category.
High-Performance Options
Although Intel's Core i9-14900K ($549) and the newer, faster Core i9-14900KS (with essentially the same performance) ultimately provide higher computational performance, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D is the preferred choice for users who play games, while the Intel Core i9-13900K is an eye-catching alternative. Recently priced at $492, according to Amazon's current retail price, it is not only slightly cheaper than Intel's 14th generation i9 products, but also a wise choice for AMD in games that can utilize the 96 MB L3 3D V-Cache.
However, the similar Ryzen 9 7950X has also dropped to $487, which is more than $60 cheaper than Intel's 14th generation Core i9 series. However, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D stands out with its 96 MB 3D V-Cache on the CCD, optimized for gaming, and priced at only a fraction of it, making it a better choice for gamers. This configuration transforms it into a powerful 8-core, 16-thread processor with 96 MB of L3 cache during gaming, especially when Microsoft's gaming mode is enabled and the relevant AMD drivers are installed. In terms of gaming, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D with 96 MB L3 3D V-Cache is the winner in favorable situations, while the Ryzen 9 7950X has a slight edge in computational performance.
As can be seen from the POV-Ray benchmark test results, Intel's Core i9-14900K tops the list with a slightly faster clock speed, while the Core i9-13900K comes in second, and the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D lags about 17% behind the Core i9-14900K but still performs well. In tasks such as our V-Ray rendering, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D slightly outperforms the Core i9-13900K by about 2%, and in the long-duration Barbershop test using Blender 3.3 for rendering, the 7950X3D leads by about 23 seconds. Of course, both processors have excellent rendering and encoding capabilities, and overall, in our suite, the Core i9-13900K outperforms the Ryzen 7950X3D in most CPU test suites. However, in more computationally intensive scenarios, the Ryzen 9 7950X can still compete with the 13900K.
As for gaming performance, the AMD Ryzen 7950X3D has an advantage in games that can utilize the additional L3 cache because they implement and execute the 3D V-Cache packaging. In most other games that do not benefit from a large amount of L3 cache, the situation is much closer. This is a very specific use case that AMD is leveraging. However, as we mentioned in our Ryzen X3D series report, if the games you play do not use the L3 cache, its advantage in the real world is not significant compared to the competition.In addition to the aforementioned advantages of 3D V-Cache, the competition is fierce, and ultimately depends on the use case, the type of workload, and the programs and applications used. Neither AMD nor Intel's flagship products have made significant mistakes in computationally intensive tasks and gaming. However, if power consumption is a concern, AMD's efficient Zen 4 cores will elevate power consumption to another level, or rather, to a lower level in terms of total power consumption. AMD's Ryzen 7000 series chips produce much lower power levels under full load than Intel's 13th generation Core series; the Ryzen 9 7950X3D with 16 Zen 4 cores consumes much less power than Intel's 14-core Core i5-13600K. The Intel Core i9-14900K consumed over 428W of power under maximum load with the MSI MEG Z790 Ace Max motherboard, but after retesting with the ASRock Z790 Taichi Carrara motherboard, the power dropped to just under 376W; still high, but faster clocks and greater power will effectively increase the power range.
Overall, when primarily involving gaming, upgrading the graphics card offers much more benefit than simply focusing on the processor, especially at higher resolutions such as 1440p and 4K. Although there has been much controversy over current GPU pricing and how companies like Nvidia position their product lines (such as the latest RTX 4000 Super series launched earlier this year), it is no secret that Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4090 is a beast. Even AMD's Radeon RX 7900 XTX/XT caters to users with high-resolution and high-refresh-rate displays such as 144 Hz at a slightly lower price, and at resolutions below 4K, it is unlikely that anyone would tolerate frame rates below 144 Hz with any of the aforementioned options.
Another issue to consider is, what are you upgrading from? If the answer is Ryzen 5000 or Intel's 12th generation Core, then you are more likely to notice a greater improvement in performance by upgrading the graphics card. Of course, any of the latest and best chips can get the job done. Even a CPU like the Core i5-13600K ($294) can provide sufficient computational power in almost all games, except for those crazy CPU-intensive games (such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020). Even here, upgrading to a more powerful graphics card will increase the frame rate to levels that no processor can achieve. There are reasons why many users choose the previous generation of CPUs: price reductions make them more attractive, and their overall performance is still excellent.
Nevertheless, the author chose the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D ($492) as the best gaming CPU of the current generation (so far) and with 128 MB (96+32 MB) of 3D V-Cache, it does perform exceptionally well in games that can benefit from it. Even in terms of computation, the 7950X3D has enough power, and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D did not perform as well when it was first launched. The Intel Core i9-14900K ($549) and Core i9-14900KS ($650) come in second and are faster in most scenarios, but AMD has a clear advantage in terms of power consumption and performance per watt. That being said, the Core i9-14900K and the previous Core i9-13900K can be used with the previous Intel 600 series chipset, reducing the overall cost of the system and pairing with cheaper DDR4 memory, while still providing a high level of multi-threaded performance.
With PCIe 5.0 SSDs quickly hitting the market, both options also address the issue of future-proofing. However, in comparison, the prices of PCIe 4.0 x4 M.2 drives have dropped, and there are many storage bargains available. Nevertheless, due to its combination of computational and gaming performance, as well as its price, the AMD Ryzen 9 7950X3D is now harder to beat.
Smart Choice (Price and Gaming Performance)
Considering the current market has a plethora of mid-range options, including Intel's 14th and 13th generation Core i7/i5 chips and AMD's Ryzen 7/5 series, this is not an easy task. Many options in AMD's Ryzen 7000 and 5000 series can meet this criterion. For example, the Ryzen 7 5700X with 8 cores is priced at $167, which is very enticing, making it an outstanding value choice under $200. Additionally, considering the price reductions of AMD's previous Ryzen 5000 series, it is worth noting that the Ryzen 7 5800X3D (now priced at $317) is a very good choice for gamers with limited budgets.
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D Review: Simplified Version of V-Cache for Gaming
Although the Ryzen 7 7800X3D benefits from the latest Zen 4 cores, the overall system construction cost is higher due to the combination of more expensive AM5 motherboards and reliance on higher-cost DDR5 memory. Despite everyone completely overlooking the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, one reason users might want to consider it is that, under a strict budget and the current economic environment, the additional premium of AM5 motherboards and DDR5 (compared to AM4 and DDR4) can quickly increase the total price of the system. This is where AM4 and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D can offer a low-cost alternative, although with an older CPU architecture (Zen 3 vs. Zen 4), which does mean slightly lower overall performance, but the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is generally a better choice overall.The benefits of additional L3 cache are not particularly consistent across games - among other things, you need to be CPU-limited from the start to truly enjoy them. Nevertheless, coupled with affordable AM4 motherboards and DDR4 memory, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D remains noteworthy for buyers who are not solely focused on gaming performance. Take Borderlands 3 at 1080p with the highest settings, for instance; the L3 cache does indeed benefit performance, and there is not much difference between the flagship Ryzen 9 7950X3D ($492) and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D ($385). Most games that can benefit from a large L3 cache are like this, thanks to AMD and TSMC's 3D V-Cache packaging technology. In games that do not utilize the L3 cache, the more powerful and robust CPU will take the lead, especially in scenarios that are not primarily CPU-limited.
Other CPUs in a similar price range excel in compute-centric scenarios, such as the Intel Core i5-13600K ($318). Nonetheless, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D ($298) still holds its own, and while there are trade-offs in balancing compute and gaming performance, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D's performance across various games undoubtedly makes it a very worthwhile product. Even the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, priced at $385, does not lead by much in terms of compute performance, which is why the cost savings from choosing Zen 3, AM4, and DDR4 make it even more affordable.
Let's talk about the cost savings associated with choosing the Ryzen 7 5800X3D. It is compatible with the AM4 platform and can be paired with a set of quality DDR4 memory for optimal performance. Pairing it with a relatively inexpensive B550 motherboard, which is much cheaper than current AM5 motherboards, can save some extra money for a better dedicated graphics card, which, although cheaper than before (thank goodness), are still not particularly cheap. There are also the benefits of the eight Zen 3 cores to consider, as this means that cross-platform games from game consoles (using an eight-core Zen 2 CPU) will not lack CPU cores.
Even in games and scenarios that require faster cores, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D remains competitive, and the responsibility lies more with the graphics card than the processor. This actually means that the money saved with the 5800X3D compared to AMD/Intel flagship products can be used to purchase a better graphics card, thereby further increasing frame rates. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D ($385) wins in all scenarios, but the increased cost makes it a case of "choose it if you have the extra money." If the budget is limited, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D ($298) is overall more affordable and still very powerful.
It's worth noting that both the Ryzen 7 7800X3D and the Ryzen 7 5800X3D require a dedicated graphics card to perform. Last-generation CPUs, such as the Ryzen 5000 and Intel's 13th generation, are cheaper due to the introduction of newer counterparts last year, and even the newer chips are actually a bit cheaper than last year. As game developers' requirements for specifications continue to rise, with them creating games on the latest game engines and poor optimization for console ports, it is increasingly difficult to recommend playing games on integrated GPUs. Although GPU prices are still high compared to last year, even in the mid-range, they are not as bad as during the mining craze, and if users are willing to look around, they can still find some bargains.
Best Overall Value Gaming Choice
The final choice aims to reflect the best value that can be pursued in terms of gaming performance. Although there is a debate between low-end dedicated graphics cards + Core i3-14100 ($130) and one of AMD's APUs, we chose the latter. AMD recently launched the Ryzen 8000G series APUs, including the Ryzen 7 8700G (8C/16T) and the Ryzen 5 8600G (6C/12T). The most prominent for us is the Ryzen 5 8600G, currently priced at $181 on Amazon.AMD Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G Review: Zen 4 APUs with RDNA3 Graphics
For gamers with tighter budgets who prioritize gaming above other options, maintaining a value-oriented approach to balance performance and affordability is crucial. The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G, priced at $181, combines the performance and efficiency of the AMD Zen 4+ mobile CPU architecture with the latest RDNA3-based mobile integrated graphics. Although based on a mobile platform designed for power-constrained environments, the Accelerated Processing Unit (APU) has long been based on such a design, as we have seen in previous versions (such as the AMD Ryzen 7 5700G with 8C/16T), and everyone knows that choosing an APU brings a lot of value.
Budget gaming performance is the main reason for choosing the Ryzen 5 8600G ($181), as shown in the chart above. The former king of budget APUs, the Ryzen 7 5700G with Zen 3 and Radeon Vega graphics, has finally met its match. In the still popular Grand Theft Auto V, the Ryzen 5 8600G with Zen 4+ and RDNA3 graphics easily outperforms the Ryzen 7 5700G ($165) by about 15%, which is an impressive performance improvement. It is similar in other 720p games, where the newer Ryzen 5 8600G consistently and easily outperforms the previous Zen 3-based APU. Even at 1080p, where the situation is more intense, the Ryzen 5 8600G still dominates with its powerful RDNA3 mobile graphics.
In computing-related scenarios, the situation is closer, such as in the Blender 3.6 benchmark test, where the Ryzen 5 8600G and Ryzen 7 5700G compete with each other, even though the 5700G has 2C/4T more than the latest Zen 4+ based APU. If users want stable value performance, including stable computing and gaming performance, the Ryzen 7 8700G ($299) is more expensive, but the combination of Zen 4+ and RNDA3 has 8C/16T. Considering the focus on value here, taking into account the additional cost of Zen 4, the Ryzen 5 8600G reaches a better sweet spot at a price of $181, which is more acceptable to users.
Let's talk about the differences in the required configurations for Zen 4. AMD's AM5 platform is a DDR5 dedicated platform, so the cost of adopting it is indeed higher compared to the AM4 platform that previously used DDR4 memory. It can be said that the Ryzen 7 5700G, currently priced at $170 on Amazon, paired with a cheaper AM4 motherboard and DDR4 memory, can provide higher value because the overall cost will be lower.
The author prefers the newer Ryzen 5 8600G because the gaming performance (especially the integrated graphics) is much better overall. Considering that the AM5 motherboard (such as the affordable B650 model with DDR5 memory) makes more sense, as the integrated graphics cannot be upgraded, and users who want higher gaming performance than what the Ryzen 7 5700G offers will need a discrete graphics card option.
*Disclaimer: This article is the original creation of the author. The content of the article is his personal opinion, and our reposting is only for sharing and discussion, does not represent our approval or agreement, if there are any objections, please contact the backstage.
Leave a Reply