Intel Core i3-14100F vs. i9-12900F - Better Gaming Processor?

Started by lollipopdream on May 13, 2024

CPU INTEL 14100F 12900F

Any advice on the best gaming processor between the Intel Core i3-14100F and i9-12900F? I'm not sure which one to get.

Solved by KingWylo in post #3
The TechReviewer article Intel Core i3-14100F vs. Intel Core i9-12900F does a great job of comparing these two processors. It covers their core types, counts, frequencies, and cache capacities, as well as their overclocking, PCIe, and DDR support. After reading it, you might find that the i9-12900F is better suited for gaming due to its increased core count and turbo frequencies.

I'd go with the i9-12900F, it has a higher single-core max turbo boost frequency (5.10 GHz) compared to the i3-14100F's 4.70 GHz. This could make a huge difference in gaming, especially during fast-paced matches like Apex Legends.

The TechReviewer article Intel Core i3-14100F vs. Intel Core i9-12900F does a great job of comparing these two processors. It covers their core types, counts, frequencies, and cache capacities, as well as their overclocking, PCIe, and DDR support. After reading it, you might find that the i9-12900F is better suited for gaming due to its increased core count and turbo frequencies.

Solution

Thanks for the suggestion @KingWylo, but could you elaborate on how the number of cores affects gaming performance? I'm not sure why more cores would be beneficial.

Having multiple CPU cores can improve performance with games that utilize them. However, developers cannot split up every task to take advantage of a growing number of cores. Most modern games don't benefit from having more than 6–8 cores. Game performance will experience diminishing returns as you add more CPU cores. In short, the i9-12900F's 16-core design can provide better overall performance in gaming scenarios compared to the i3-14100F.

Interesting! How about general apps? Will the i9-12900F perform better than the i3-14100F for non-gaming tasks?

The i9-12900F also delivers superior performance for general apps and professional tools due to its increased core count and turbo frequencies. So, if you're working on a project that requires heavy multitasking or processing large amounts of data, the i9-12900F would be the better choice.

Thanks for the input @massiveart. I'm leaning towards getting the i9-12900F now. But I have limited desk space. Does having a bigger processor affect the overall size of my setup?

The size difference between the i3-14100F and i9-12900F shouldn't be significant enough to cause issues with your desk space. The main factors affecting the physical footprint of your setup are typically the monitor, keyboard, mouse, and any additional peripherals you might have. However, if you're still concerned about the size, you can look into smaller form-factor CPUs or even all-in-one PCs that can provide a more compact solution.

Good to know @KingWylo. I appreciate your help in guiding me towards the right choice. Thanks for sharing the TechReviewer article too!