Data analysis based on GamersNexus CPU Benchmarks
Gaming Performance Tiers
Tier S - Elite Gaming ($450+)
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D - $523.56
Gaming Benchmarks
- Baldur's Gate 3: 132.5 FPS avg (77.0 1% low)
- Starfield: 152.9 FPS avg (71.5 1% low)
- F1 24 (1440p): 367.2 FPS avg (234.4 1% low)
- Dragon's Dogma 2: 109.0 FPS avg (55.8 1% low)
Key Features
- 96MB 3D V-Cache provides unmatched gaming advantage
- Best 1% lows in modern titles
- 120W TDP - excellent thermal performance
- AM5 platform with future upgrade path
- Perfect for high refresh rate gaming
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X - $684.42
Gaming Performance
- Baldur's Gate 3: 111.0 FPS avg (65.6 1% low)
- Starfield: 134.5 FPS avg (57.8 1% low)
- F1 24 (1440p): 266.2 FPS avg (138.8 1% low)
Additional Benefits
- 16 cores / 32 threads for exceptional multitasking
- Leading productivity performance
- Best choice for mixed workload scenarios
- Latest AM5 architecture
Intel Core i9-14900K - $512.77
Gaming Metrics
- Baldur's Gate 3: 115.5 FPS avg (74.5 1% low)
- Starfield: 147.0 FPS avg (62.9 1% low)
- F1 24 (1440p): 365.1 FPS avg (237.5 1% low)
Highlights
- 8 P-cores + 16 E-cores for superior multitasking
- 6.0 GHz boost clock - highest in class
- Excellent for streaming and content creation
- Strong platform features with Z790
Tier A - High Performance ($350-450)
Intel Core i7-14700K - $404.57
Gaming Performance
- Baldur's Gate 3: 113.5 FPS avg (77.0 1% low)
- Starfield: 139.9 FPS avg (62.0 1% low)
- F1 24 (1440p): 267.5 FPS avg (147.7 1% low)
- Dragon's Dogma 2: 102.8 FPS avg (55.1 1% low)
Productivity Metrics
- 7-Zip: 174,765/201,042 MIPS
- Blender: 8.9 minutes
- Photoshop: 9,971 points
Key Benefits
- 8 P-cores + 12 E-cores - excellent multitasking
- 95% of 14900K performance at 80% of the cost
- Great thermal performance for its class
- Perfect for gaming + streaming setups
Intel Core i7-13700K - $384.61
Gaming Metrics
- Baldur's Gate 3: 111.8 FPS avg (75.1 1% low)
- Starfield: 139.9 FPS avg (62.5 1% low)
- F1 24 (1440p): 260.2 FPS avg (142.1 1% low)
- Dragon's Dogma 2: 101.3 FPS avg (52.7 1% low)
Productivity Performance
- 7-Zip: 153,060/165,490 MIPS
- Blender: 10.3 minutes
- Photoshop: 9,849 points
Value Proposition
- 8 P-cores + 8 E-cores - great for multitasking
- Mature platform with wide motherboard selection
- DDR4 support for better budget builds
- Often found at discount prices
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X - $494.11
Performance Data
- Gaming Performance:
- Baldur's Gate 3: 108.3 FPS avg (68.2 1% low)
- Starfield: 133.5 FPS avg (59.8 1% low)
- Productivity:
- 7-Zip: 163,309/210,809 MIPS
- Blender: 9.0 minutes
- Photoshop: 10,316 points
Features
- 12 cores / 24 threads - excellent multicore performance
- AM5 platform with upgrade potential
- Great power efficiency under load
Tier B - Mid-Range Sweet Spot ($250-350)
Intel Core i5-13600K - $262.23
Gaming Performance
- Baldur's Gate 3: 104.9 FPS avg (71.2 1% low)
- Starfield: 132.8 FPS avg (60.1 1% low)
- F1 24 (1440p): 242.1 FPS avg (132.3 1% low)
Productivity Metrics
- 7-Zip: 128,837/132,911 MIPS
- Blender: 12.8 minutes
- Photoshop: 9,474 points
Value Analysis
- 6 P-cores + 8 E-cores - great price/performance
- DDR4 support reduces total system cost
- Excellent gaming value at $2.50 per frame
- Strong productivity for price point
Intel Core i5-14600K - $285.86
Gaming Performance
- Baldur's Gate 3: 106.0 FPS avg (72.1 1% low)
- Starfield: 134.2 FPS avg (61.3 1% low)
- F1 24 (1440p): 246.8 FPS avg (135.1 1% low)
- Dragon's Dogma 2: 96.8 FPS avg (51.4 1% low)
Productivity Metrics
- 7-Zip: 129,940/136,914 MIPS
- Blender: 12.6 minutes
- Photoshop: 9,674 points
Platform Benefits
- Newer architecture than 13600K
- Better power efficiency
- Improved integrated graphics
- Latest platform features
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X - $330.15
Performance Data
- Gaming Metrics:
- Baldur's Gate 3: 99.2 FPS avg (65.0 1% low)
- Starfield: 128.7 FPS avg (58.9 1% low)
- F1 24: 340.3 FPS avg (194.4 1% low)
- Productivity:
- 7-Zip: 122,057/142,392 MIPS
- Blender: 13.3 minutes
- Photoshop: 10,850 points
Key Features
- 8 cores / 16 threads - great for multitasking
- AM5 platform with future upgrade path
- Excellent power efficiency
- Strong content creation performance
Tier C - Budget Gaming ($150-250)
Intel Core i5-12600K - $196.96
Gaming Performance
- Baldur's Gate 3: 88.4 FPS avg (58.3 1% low)
- Starfield: 112.5 FPS avg (52.7 1% low)
- F1 24: 289.7 FPS avg (167.3 1% low)
Productivity Metrics
- 7-Zip: 92,728/95,683 MIPS
- Blender: 17.0 minutes
- Photoshop: 8,775 points
Value Proposition
- 6 P-cores + 4 E-cores - good entry-level hybrid design
- Mature platform with affordable motherboards
- DDR4 support for budget builds
- Great entry point for gaming PCs
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X - $289.03
Performance Data
- Gaming Metrics:
- Baldur's Gate 3: 91.7 FPS avg (59.5 1% low)
- Dragon's Dogma 2: 84.7 FPS avg (45.9 1% low)
- F1 24: 262.1 FPS avg (133.2 1% low)
- Productivity:
- 7-Zip: 74,183/89,639 MIPS
- Blender: 24.7 minutes
- Photoshop: 8,175 points
Platform Benefits
- 6 cores / 12 threads - modern architecture
- AM5 platform entry point
- Excellent upgrade path
- Great power efficiency
Intel Core i3-12100F - $94.29
Budget Gaming Performance
- Gaming Metrics:
- Baldur's Gate 3: 70.3 FPS avg (42.1 1% low)
- F1 24: 242.8 FPS avg (132.9 1% low)
- Productivity:
- 7-Zip: 46,483/44,608 MIPS
- Blender: 35.8 minutes
- Photoshop: 6,996 points
Ultra Budget Value
- 4 cores / 8 threads - entry-level performance
- Excellent price/performance for basic gaming
- Most affordable modern gaming CPU
- Low power consumption
Productivity Performance Rankings
Tier S - Professional Workstation ($500+)
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X - $684.42
Professional Workload Performance
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 5.9 minutes (fastest tested)
- Premiere Pro: 10,953 points
- Photoshop: 11,694 points
- Compression/Decompression:
- 7-Zip Compression: 204,872 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 280,406 MIPS
- Scientific Workloads:
- SpecWS FSI: 9.47 points
- SpecWS LAMMPS: 6.93 points
- Chromium Compile: 65.9 minutes
Key Professional Features
- 16 cores / 32 threads - maximum multitasking
- Large L3 cache for complex workloads
- PCIe 5.0 support for professional GPUs
- Advanced memory support for large datasets
AMD Ryzen 9 7950X - $573.99
Workstation Performance
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 6.7 minutes
- Premiere Pro: 10,576 points
- Photoshop: 10,923 points
- Data Processing:
- 7-Zip Compression: 193,532 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 276,072 MIPS
- Chromium Compile: 73.2 minutes
Professional Benefits
- 16 cores / 32 threads with high boost clocks
- Excellent power efficiency under load
- Strong platform features
- Better value than 9950X for most workloads
Intel Core i9-14900K - $512.77
Professional Metrics
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 7.9 minutes
- Premiere Pro: 10,987 points
- Photoshop: 10,273 points
- System Performance:
- 7-Zip Compression: 192,648 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 228,965 MIPS
- Chromium Compile: 74.7 minutes
Workstation Features
- 8 P-cores + 16 E-cores for diverse workloads
- Quick Sync support for video encoding
- Strong single-thread performance
- Excellent for mixed use scenarios
Tier A - High-End Productivity ($350-500)
Intel Core i7-14700K - $404.57
Professional Performance
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 8.9 minutes
- Premiere Pro: 10,427 points
- Photoshop: 9,971 points
- System Tasks:
- 7-Zip Compression: 174,765 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 201,042 MIPS
- Chromium Compile: 81.0 minutes
- Workstation Scores:
- SpecWS FSI: 7.01 points
- SpecWS LAMMPS: 6.54 points
Value Proposition
- 20 total cores (8P + 12E) - excellent multitasking
- 90% of 14900K performance at lower cost
- Better thermal characteristics than 14900K
- Ideal for content creators and streamers
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X - $494.11
Workload Performance
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 9.0 minutes
- Premiere Pro: 10,099 points
- Photoshop: 10,316 points
- System Performance:
- 7-Zip Compression: 163,309 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 210,809 MIPS
- Chromium Compile: 86.7 minutes
Professional Features
- 12 cores / 24 threads - strong multicore performance
- AM5 platform benefits
- Excellent power efficiency
- Good upgrade path
Intel Core i7-13700K - $384.61
Professional Metrics
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 10.3 minutes
- Premiere Pro: 9,993 points
- Photoshop: 9,849 points
- System Tasks:
- 7-Zip Compression: 153,060 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 165,490 MIPS
- Chromium Compile: 91.8 minutes
Value Features
- 16 total cores (8P + 8E) - great multitasking
- DDR4 support reduces overall cost
- Mature platform stability
- Good price/performance ratio
Tier B - Mid-Range Productivity ($250-350)
Intel Core i5-13600K - $262.23
Productivity Performance
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 12.8 minutes
- Premiere Pro: 9,187 points
- Photoshop: 9,474 points
- System Performance:
- 7-Zip Compression: 128,837 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 132,911 MIPS
- Chromium Compile: 112.1 minutes
Value Analysis
- 14 total cores (6P + 8E) - excellent mid-range value
- Strong single-thread performance
- DDR4 platform cost savings
- Best productivity per dollar in its class
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X - $330.15
Workload Performance
- Content Creation:
- Blender: 13.3 minutes
- Premiere Pro: 8,987 points
- Photoshop: 10,850 points
- System Tasks:
- 7-Zip Compression: 122,057 MIPS
- 7-Zip Decompression: 142,392 MIPS
- Chromium Compile: 118.4 minutes
Platform Benefits
- 8 cores / 16 threads - modern architecture
- AM5 platform advantages
- Excellent power efficiency
- Strong single-thread performance
Ultimate Value Rankings 2024
Best Overall Value (All Factors Considered)
1. Intel Core i5-13600K - $262.23
Why It's The Best Value
- Gaming Performance:
- 104.9 FPS in BG3 ($2.50 per frame)
- 93.1 FPS in DD2
- Only 20% behind flagship at 1/2 the price
- Productivity:
- 128,837 MIPS in 7-Zip
- 12.8 minutes Blender render
- Strong content creation capability
- Platform Value:
- DDR4 support reduces system cost
- Wide motherboard selection
- Lower cooling requirements
2. Intel Core i7-14700K - $404.57
High-End Value Champion
- Performance Value:
- 90% of 14900K performance
- Better thermal characteristics
- Excellent gaming and productivity balance
- Feature Set:
- 20 total cores for heavy workloads
- Latest platform features
- Strong upgrade path
3. AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D - $523.56
Premium Gaming Value
- Gaming Excellence:
- Best gaming performance available
- Superior 1% lows for smooth gameplay
- Excellent frame consistency
- Platform Value:
- AM5 socket future proofing
- Lower power consumption than competitors
- Reasonable cooling requirements
- Long-term Value:
- Strong resale value retention
- Upgrade path to future AM5 CPUs
- Gaming performance headroom
4. Intel Core i5-14600K - $285.86
Modern Mid-Range Value
- Performance Benefits:
- Improved efficiency vs 13600K
- Better integrated graphics
- Higher boost clocks
- Value Proposition:
- Latest platform features
- Strong gaming performance
- Good productivity capabilities
5. AMD Ryzen 5 7600X - $289.03
AM5 Entry Value
- Platform Advantages:
- Most affordable AM5 entry point
- Strong upgrade path
- Modern features and efficiency
- Performance Value:
- Solid gaming performance
- Good productivity for price
- Excellent power efficiency
6. Intel Core i3-12100F - $94.29
Ultimate Budget Value
- Cost Efficiency:
- Lowest cost modern gaming CPU
- Excellent price/performance ratio
- DDR4 platform savings
- Gaming Capability:
- 70+ FPS in modern games
- Decent 1% lows
- Good for esports titles
- Basic Productivity:
- Sufficient for everyday tasks
- Good single-thread performance
- Low power consumption
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
Best Choice By Use Case
- Pure Gaming: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
- Productivity Focus: AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
- Best Overall Value: Intel Core i5-13600K
- Budget Gaming: Intel Core i3-12100F
- Mixed Workload: Intel Core i7-14700K
Platform costs should be considered when making a final decision. AM5 (AMD) platforms typically have higher initial costs but offer better upgrade paths, while Intel platforms often offer more budget-friendly entry points with DDR4 options.