Question Upgrading My Gaming Computer, Should I Switch To AMD Or Stick With Intel? I'm In A Dilemma About This

[Cassius101]

My Computer specs right now.

i7 12700kf​

Veetroo V240 White CPU Liquid Cooler​

Corsair T500 Masterbox White​

Gigabyte AERO G Z790 Motherboard​

Western Digital Black SN850x 2TB​

16gb DDR5 4800mhz/5200mhz Kingston ram​

White AsRock Taichi 7900XTX​

I purchased a i9 13900k new from a person on facebook market place for 500$, he hasn't provided me any receipt for it and hasn't responded on facebook to send any screen shot of his purchase. I also purchased the AsRock Z790 STEEL LEGEND motherboard (12th,13th,14th gen)

At the time I had no idea that 50% of intel 13th and 14th gen CPU's were defective.

Now I really don't know what to do, I am thinking about selling my components to buy the AMD 7800X3D and this AMD motherboard but at the same time I might not wanna do that.

https://www.newegg.ca/asrock-b650e-...oards - amd-_-asrock-_-13162081&source=region

I am curious if my i9 13900k CPU is defective or not and I am wondering how long it would last. Supposedly the microcode update will fix CPU's that haven't been used yet.

I am probably going to buy the 5090 around May 2025. I am skipping Zen 5 and 15th gen intel and I will likely build a new gaming computer around January-March 2026 with a Zen 6 or 16th gen intel CPU, buying which ever is the best for gaming. Still, the CPU's are almost tied for 4k performance depending on the game so I will likely switch to AMD (if I keep my intel i9) or go back to Intel if I switch to AMD now.


Upgrades
AsRock Z790 STEEL LEGEND (might sell it)
i9 13900k (might sell it)

Sama 38Pin addressable RGB Power cables White
SAMA SM360 Gaming Water Cooler White 360mm AIO CPU Cooler with LCD Display
ASUS ROG Herculx Graphics Card Anti-sag holder RGB Black
G.SKILL Trident 64GB (2x 32GB) Z5 Royal 6400MHz CL32 RGB Silver

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B08M1B62XX?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details And these, 4 of them I will use with 3 being placed vertically facing the internal components inside the computer.

This isn't my TD500 masterbox gaming computer but I am hoping I can put 3 crystal RGB fans vertically inside the computer where the red circles are.

 

[Tech Junky]

Why would you spend $500 for a single gen upgrade? I would cancel that purchase and get a refund or charge it back to the CC you used (hopefully).

The AMD stuff is in flux right now with the new stuff coming out right now. However, it's a better bet than sinking more money into Intel.

Switching to the X3D is a lateral move though. Even the 9000 versions aren't much better than the current 7000 series. As to the new boards if you went with a X870E the only perk is the 40gbps USB ports mandated by AMD.

What do you expect from an upgrade though? The X3D just adds more ram to the CPU but, I suppose it's a perk for gaming at some point.

I would up the actual RAM though to 32GB either way. It's simple upgrade for under $100 and will keep the system happy in the long term.

As to the other stuff you can just move it over to an AMD setup. There's nothing special between AMD / Intel that locks you into using the HW in either system. The only potential hiccup would needing a different cooler bracket to match up tot he holes on the different mobo. Brackets usually come for both but you can also get them after market for under $15 And if you're doing either a contact frame is a good idea for securing things and some additional dissipation.

 

[daveybrat]

I would just stick with the 12700KF until your next build. Wait for the 9700x3D before making a purchase as it's not too far away.

 

[Tech Junky]

9700x3D

That's one thing to consider..... If things port like 7900X > 9700X it's not a huge jump unless AMD decides to deviate from their prior releases.

The other thing to consider is the VAT in CA prompts for more $$$$ being spent unless they take a trip across the border to get some relief.

It's all a waiting game to save $$$$ though. I jumped from a 12700K setup to my current 7900X. The ground up rebuild cost me $900 moving over just the OS drive since everything else had to be swapped from DDR4 > 5 and I couldn't find the brackets for the cooler to convert it to AMD but picked up a PA120 for ~$35 and got the case for free when Amazon sent me someone else's return by mistake. Though my use/motivation to switch isn't gaming but more of a tinkering / storage setup and it's on 24/7 as my router and other functions w/ 5G WWAN currently as the ISP method.

I absolutely wouldn't give Intel any money until we see what ARL does. ADL/RPL are the same damned thing other than more E cores on the revisions and not worth the upcharge. Not to mention Intel has been using the same 10nm process for a decade now. Doesn't matter how many times they rename it and tweak it.

 

[Cassius101]

Why would you spend $500 for a single gen upgrade? I would cancel that purchase and get a refund or charge it back to the CC you used (hopefully).

The AMD stuff is in flux right now with the new stuff coming out right now. However, it's a better bet than sinking more money into Intel.

Switching to the X3D is a lateral move though. Even the 9000 versions aren't much better than the current 7000 series. As to the new boards if you went with a X870E the only perk is the 40gbps USB ports mandated by AMD.

What do you expect from an upgrade though? The X3D just adds more ram to the CPU but, I suppose it's a perk for gaming at some point.

I would up the actual RAM though to 32GB either way. It's simple upgrade for under $100 and will keep the system happy in the long term.

As to the other stuff you can just move it over to an AMD setup. There's nothing special between AMD / Intel that locks you into using the HW in either system. The only potential hiccup would needing a different cooler bracket to match up tot he holes on the different mobo. Brackets usually come for both but you can also get them after market for under $15 And if you're doing either a contact frame is a good idea for securing things and some additional dissipation.

It is worth it for me in my opinion because a game I play regularly, Battlefield 2042, I am pretty sure the i9 13900k or 7800X3D will get me at least 10 additional fps.

 

[BoomerD]

It is worth it for me in my opinion because a game I play regularly, Battlefield 2042, I am pretty sure the i9 13900k or 7800X3D will get me at least 10 additional fps.

What graphics card are you running?

FWIW, I think many of us here are gamers...or have been in the past...and I doubt many of us would make such a drastic expenditure for 10 FPS.

 

[Tech Junky]

10 FPS

I put a $100 GPU in my AMD setup to get QSV for converting media and get over 1K fps for that task now.

For gaming though the fps is mostly tied to the GPU not the CPU. Sure the CPU needs to be able to handle the overall system but, games push the load to the GPU and CPU sits mostly idle. The key is to make sure there's not a bottleneck due to the mobo/GPU/RAM.

 

[Cassius101]

What graphics card are you running?

FWIW, I think many of us here are gamers...or have been in the past...and I doubt many of us would make such a drastic expenditure for 10 FPS.

AsRock Taichi White 7900XTX. It is too late now, I am probably gonna use what I have, only got 1 message trying to sell the i9 13900k and they won't respond now.

 

[Cassius101]

I put a $100 GPU in my AMD setup to get QSV for converting media and get over 1K fps for that task now.

For gaming though the fps is mostly tied to the GPU not the CPU. Sure the CPU needs to be able to handle the overall system but, games push the load to the GPU and CPU sits mostly idle. The key is to make sure there's not a bottleneck due to the mobo/GPU/RAM.

Some games are more CPU intensive than others. I will likely just use the 13900k since I am having trouble trying to sell it, will be selling my 12700k and the Gigabyte AERO G Motherboard.

 

[Tech Junky]

@Cassius101

Patience young padiwan. Sell whatever you want but realize not everyone is going to respond in two seconds.

Spend the time waiting doing some more research on parts to come up with a solid game plan. Chasing small gains isn't productive or good for the wallet. AMD would be good for the CPU side since they don't use the hybrid cores. You'll get full performance from the cores.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Why would you spend $500 for a single gen upgrade? I would cancel that purchase and get a refund or charge it back to the CC you used (hopefully).

The AMD stuff is in flux right now with the new stuff coming out right now. However, it's a better bet than sinking more money into Intel.

Switching to the X3D is a lateral move though. Even the 9000 versions aren't much better than the current 7000 series. As to the new boards if you went with a X870E the only perk is the 40gbps USB ports mandated by AMD.

What do you expect from an upgrade though? The X3D just adds more ram to the CPU but, I suppose it's a perk for gaming at some point.

I would up the actual RAM though to 32GB either way. It's simple upgrade for under $100 and will keep the system happy in the long term.

As to the other stuff you can just move it over to an AMD setup. There's nothing special between AMD / Intel that locks you into using the HW in either system. The only potential hiccup would needing a different cooler bracket to match up tot he holes on the different mobo. Brackets usually come for both but you can also get them after market for under $15 And if you're doing either a contact frame is a good idea for securing things and some additional dissipation.

My sentiments exactly, even as I read through subsequent posts.

People have different time-horizons with this business. If I were a gaming enthusiast, I wouldn't dump a processor not yet three years since release so I could jump on the Raptor Lake. But if you want to do it, it's a choice.

I"m in the situation of having more than one Gen 7 or Gen 8 system -- all working tip-top. At first, when I was examining the Raptor Lake flagships, my focus was on cooling. After the recent news, I've redefined my options: build a rig with the processor in Cassius' good looking box; build a Ryzen 7 9700X system, or wait for Arrow Lake to arrive in October.

You can read my just-posted thread about being unwilling to embrace more compact and cheaper options, and my call for a 12-step-program for tech-veterans stuck in a rut.

I'm sorry about Cassius' regrets about his Raptor Lake purchase. It would be even more regrettable if the seller already knew about Intel's dirty little secret about gen 13 and 14.

I could speculate his mistake arose for upgrading too frequently or hurriedly, but I can't really judge.

 

[Cassius101]

@Cassius101

Patience young padiwan. Sell whatever you want but realize not everyone is going to respond in two seconds.

Spend the time waiting doing some more research on parts to come up with a solid game plan. Chasing small gains isn't productive or good for the wallet. AMD would be good for the CPU side since they don't use the hybrid cores. You'll get full performance from the cores.

I am not a "padiwan" , I have extensive knowledge about conspiracy theories, aliens, spirituality, astronomy, war, history, alternative history but this is another topic.

I have gotten more messages about buying my i9 13900k, I really don't know what to do. Every time I get a message I contemplate really selling it. No one has messaged me to buy the motherboard though so either way I have wasted 300$ on a MOBO since I will need to buy a AMD MOBO if I really do sell it.

 

[Tech Junky]

MOBO

Just put them into an auction together and set a reserve that's decent enough for you to accept. It's going to be a loss either way but, at least you'll get something back.

 

[lakedude]

Not hearing good things about Intel RL or the new AMD 9xxx stuff. Something appears going on with 9xxx and Windows. I'd wait till they get the bugs out or pick up last gen if they go on a clearance sale.

 

[Tech Junky]

Not hearing good things

Well, Intel is doing a microcode patch and AMD is upping the power for the budget models. Also, the higher tier options just released 9900/9950X.

There's always the option to wait it out for the x3d or ARL versions.

 

[BTRY B 529th FA BN]

tl:dr

Was the intel box sealed when you bought it? Might have a chance to sell it before you open it, honestly it's a huge risk to open it and use it and then try n sell it later on. All those 13th and 14th gen chips will never sell with confidence on the second hand market.