Intel i5-12400F vs. i7-11700K: Best for Gaming?

I'm looking to buy a new CPU for gaming and am confused between the Intel Core i5-12400F and i7-11700K. Can you help me decide which one is better for gaming? Any advice would be appreciated!

Both are good options for gaming, but they have different specs. The i5-12400F has 6 performance cores, a base frequency of 2.50 GHz, supports DDR5 with a max stock speed of 4800 MHz, and PCIe 5.0. However, it doesn't support overclocking.

On the other hand, the i7-11700K has 8 cores, a base frequency of 3.60 GHz, supports DDR4 with a max stock speed of 3200 MHz, PCIe 4.0, and allows overclocking. Its superior specifications might give it an edge for gaming.

I'd recommend reading the TechReviewer article Intel Core i5-12400F vs. Intel Core i7-11700K to get more insights into these CPUs' performance in games. It compares their core types, counts, frequencies, cache capacities, overclocking, PCIe, and DDR support.

@Caturday69,@HelloMisterOwl,@GlugYolo: Thanks for your input! So the i7-11700K seems to have better specs for gaming, but is it worth paying more for it? Also, I'm not sure about my requirements. Do I really need overclocking or PCIe 5.0?

It depends on your budget and specific needs. The extra power of the i7-11700K could be beneficial if you're playing graphically intensive games or have a high-end GPU. However, the i5-12400F should still provide good gaming performance with an efficient cooler.

@AltairFTB0333: If overclocking is important to you and you can afford it, go for the i7-11700K. PCIe 5.0 offers faster data transfer speeds but isn't crucial unless you plan on using high-speed SSDs in your build. Consider your budget and what you value most in a CPU.

@AltairFTB0333,@Caturday69,@HelloMisterOwl: I've read the TechReviewer article Intel Core i5-12400F vs. Intel Core i7-11700K as suggested, and it seems that the i7-11700K has an edge in gaming performance. However, the i5-12400F also offers good overall performance. It might be worth considering if you're on a budget or don't need to overclock.

@GlugYolo: Thanks for your help! I'll weigh my options and decide based on my specific needs and budget. I appreciate everyone's input!

No problem, happy to help! Good luck with your decision, and let us know if you have any more questions!