Intel Core i7-12700 vs. i7-11700 Performance Differences?

I'm looking to buy a new CPU and I'm debating between the Intel Core i7-12700 and the i7-11700. Can anyone help me understand the performance differences between them?

The 12700 has more cores and threads (12 cores, 20 threads) compared to the 11700 (8 cores, 16 threads). This might provide better multitasking and performance in certain workloads.

That's right, but the base frequency of the i7-11700 is higher at 2.50 GHz compared to the i7-12700's 2.10 GHz. Could this have an impact on performance?

Another significant difference between these two CPUs is their memory support. The i7-12700 supports DDR5 at 4800 MHz, while the i7-11700 only supports DDR4 at 3200 MHz. This could affect your overall system performance and future upgrade possibilities. You can find a detailed comparison in this TechReviewer article: Intel Core i7-12700 vs. Intel Core i7-11700.

That's really useful information. So for gaming, does having more cores help? And what about the difference in memory support?

For gaming, both CPUs perform well with high-performance CPU coolers. However, having more cores can be beneficial when playing games that require heavy multitasking or have complex physics and AI systems. The i7-12700's DDR5 support could also provide faster data transfer rates for smoother gameplay.

It's worth mentioning that the 11700 has a larger L3 cache (16 MB) compared to the 12700's 25 MB, which might be beneficial in some applications that require large amounts of temporary data storage.

Wow, there are so many factors to consider! Any other major differences between these two CPUs?

Both CPUs lack overclocking support, but they do have different PCIe and DDR support. The i7-12700 supports PCIe 5.0, while the i7-11700 supports PCIe 4.0. This could make a difference when using high-speed SSDs or graphics cards.

Thank you all for your input! It seems like both CPUs have their own advantages and disadvantages. I'll definitely need to think more about my specific needs and preferences before making a decision.

You're welcome, @KCAdamE1. Just remember that the best CPU for you will depend on your specific use case and budget. Good luck with your decision!