Is Intel Ultra 270K Plus the only viable desktop CPU right now?

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IWillAssFuckYou@reddit

They're not on par exactly though the 270K Plus is better value. The 9950X3D is generally superior.

But what are you trying to do with the CPU? Do you really need all of those cores?

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teclast4561@reddit

source, saying it's better doesn't make it better. All benchmarks shows 270k is better.

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Between single core and multithreaded performance, you find mixed results. But look at any game benchmark. The 270K Plus is inherently inferior due to the lack of 3D cache or what Intel will eventually call it in Nova Lake, bLLC.

https://gamersnexus.net/cpus/not-waste-sand-ultra-7-270k-plus-cpu-review-benchmarks

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-ultra-7-270k-plus/19.html

In games where there is little difference, the X3D chips often come on top. And because of the 3D cache, you get significantly better 1% lows.

Definitely not worth upgrading to this for gaming unless you already have an LGA1851 board. Total waste of a CPU otherwise considering Intel's promises for Nova Lake. Any Intel CPUs without bLLC cache are going to be inferior to AMD's X3D chips in the majority of games.

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teclast4561@reddit

ok then maybe only for games, everything else is same or better for half the price. Paying twice the price for a few single digit FPS increase.. I don't understand the hype of ****x3d

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IWillAssFuckYou@reddit

You don't have to pay twice the price for better FPS. Even a 7800X3D would be better in gaming and it's not double the price.

And you also get another two generations of AM5, meanwhile LGA1851 is a dead end socket. I get it about the bitching people make about the dead-end socket point, except it's valid right now: It's actually really important and it's really a terrible time to upgrade to Intel when they're promising a significantly better CPU next generation on a new socket. Idk about you but if you really think about it, the 270K Plus is hard to buy if you know anything about Nova Lake. I would agree dead end socket wouldn't matter if the next gen was a small uplift, except it isn't nothing or a small uplift.

If you're like me and on a platform right now that performs decent, just wait until 2027 and see which ends up being better, Zen 6 or Nova Lake. I'll happily keep my 12900k system and wait for the next generation and for the prices to come down (hell even 12600K can wait too since it's hardly a significant difference from mine in games).

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PriorityEastern6668@reddit

does anyone actually play 1080p anymore? assuming a person has a decent gpu they can play at 1440 or 4k. 1440p screens are dirt cheap now days. and 9950x3d are not cheap and if you have that kind of monitor then you can afford to buy a new monitor. but yeah, thats a good point you made.

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IWillAssFuckYou@reddit

Absolutely! Steam reports 52% of gamers play on 1080p. 1440p is about 21% of gamers.

The problem is that going to 1440p means a loss in framerate and extra VRAM required. Yes, these GPUs could do 1440p, but they'd have to drop their settings to make it run well. And also keep in mind, the most common GPU according to Steam is an RTX 3060 (at 4% of users, largest held by all GPU models recorded). This means your average gamer isn't running an RTX 4070/5070 or higher. They're running cards that are designed for 1080p.

But even if you have a nice 5090 and a 9950X3D, there is still a point in running 1080p if you're a highly competitive gamer that needs the highest refresh rates possible (like 500fps) but if you're like me, we don't see the point in that because it makes little difference to us, but those highly competitive gamers are much more sensitive to framerate than your average individual.

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mawopi@reddit

What about an 11700K?
I'm looking and don't know what to do. I have 64GB of DDR4RAM at 3200... that all would need to be changed, new motherboard etc... I feel like I'm bottlenecking with the 11700. I don't game, really (I play fortnight once a month, and baldurs gate once a month) - I currently have 160 tabs open across 4 browsers (that's just how I work *shrug*) and usually 1-2 3d design software open (I only actively work in one at a time i.e. only one file loaded)...

What's my move? 270K+ ? 7800? 9850? X3d? 14700K?

or even a 14600K?!?!

Basically, I see a lot of CPU+RAM+MB bundles of 270K+ or 9850X3d under $800

but I could also get a 14600K+MB and bring my DDR4 over, for $400+

and use that $400 to go from a 3060 to a 5070???

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IWillAssFuckYou@reddit

See what you can buy. I would go LGA1700 for sure. It's quite difficult to leave 64 GB RAM once you have it (as 64 GB DDR5 as you know is ABSURDLY expensive). You'll likely be buying used for the motherboard because new demands high prices.

Imo, 12900k or 13600k+ is where you will want to be. I'm doing amazing on my 12900k/5070 Ti/64 GB 3600 setup.

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Codys_friend@reddit

If you get the 9950x3d, you will be on the AM5 platform. AMD is launching Zen6 cpu's next year, the successor to the 9950x3d will be among them. The Zen6 cpu's are going to have amazing performance: up to 24 cores, up to 7ghz speed, support for faster memory. AND, Zen6 will be on the AM5 platform! If you go with the 9950x3d now, you can upgrade to a Zen6 cpu at your choosing. The 270k does not offer this upgrade path

The 9850x3d is the best consumer cpu on the market today, it is at the tip in both gaming and productivity.

A few things to mull over.

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ZoxxMan@reddit (OP)

That's a good point. But if I'm getting a flagship CPU, I expect to use it for at least 4 years. Do you think AM5 will still be relevant by then?

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Codys_friend@reddit

Zen6 is coming out on AM5. There are reports from good sources that Zen7 will also be on AM5. If you go with the 9950x3d, or the 9800x3d, you'll be able to drop in a Zen6, possibly a Zen7 cpu.

Zen6 will offer up to 24 cores with clock speeds approaching 7ghz. Significant performance improvements over Zen5. To take advantage of this, all you'll need to do is update your bios and drop in a new cpu.

The AM5 socket will be relevant for many years. For people who build their pc's, the longevity and upgradability of parts is important. Go with an AM5 cpu.

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Important_Concern_62@reddit

Zen 7 is going to have 32 cores 😱

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Codys_friend@reddit

The more the merrier!

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eatingpotatochips@reddit

Nobody can be sure, including all the people who think socket longevity matters. Socket longevity has long been used as a cudgel for people who want to ignore the fact that the 270K is quite competitive with AMD's offerings.

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GaseousEmission@reddit

Not to mention all the people who say you can just resell such and such, like how many people actually do that? I hate selling shit secondhand.

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G00oner20@reddit

Factsss, what would i do wiht a intel system when i want to upgrade , make a second rig? Maybeee? Sell it? Fuck no 😭

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RumbleTheCassette@reddit

Long been used? The 270k came out three weeks ago.

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eatingpotatochips@reddit

Long been used? The 270k came out three weeks ago.

Let's not be disingenuous here: this criticism has been leveled at Intel since at least LGA 1200 in 2019. Intel has been only keeping the same socket for 2-3 generations since then.

LGA 1200 covered 10th and 11th gen, LGA 1700 12th to 14th gen, and LGA 1851 covered Arrow Lake and its refresh, but will be supplanted by LGA 1954 expected with Intel's upcoming Nova Lake-S CPUs.

None of this really matters because people don't upgrade CPUs like iPhones, but the AMD stans on this sub ignore any Intel performance gains and always lead with "but it's a dead socket".

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G00oner20@reddit

Am not saying that the 270k isnt goated, or how amd cant make a competition for similar price , but just needing to update the bios to upgrade a cpu is such a bliss 😭🙏.

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AshleyxAffliction@reddit

AM4 came out in 2016 and the 5500X3D came out in 2025 for most regions. That's a 9-year lifespan from the previous socket.

AM5 came out in 2022, so if it follows the same trend it'll be around until 2031.

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Codys_friend@reddit

Yes it will. There are strong indications that Zen7 will also be on AM5.

If you want a cpu that can do it all, and do it extremely well, and the platform has a future, get the 9950x3d.

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DuuhEazy@reddit

No.

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Both-Explanation8598@reddit

But, for getting a full advantage of Zen6 over Zen5(like full CUDIMM compatibility) you will need to buy a new X970E mobo. Because X670/X870 are not supporting CUDIMM memory in a full efficient way.

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Important_Concern_62@reddit

I think MLID said that the X970E isn't real

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Hungry_Freaks_Daddy@reddit

7ghz, really? Crazy times we live in

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Codys_friend@reddit

Exciting times! Cpu performance is amazing! And so are ram and ssd prices! We get the good with the bad

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Hungry_Freaks_Daddy@reddit

I think my first computer cpu ran at 16mhz

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Codys_friend@reddit

I was so happy I got an 8086 instead of an 8088 processor. Back then, I didn't even pay attention to cpu speed or ram speed. I was just happy to have 640k of ram, with a 5mb hdd! Those aren't typos! 640 k of ram! 5mb hdd!

The pace of computer innovation is extraordinary!

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Hungry_Freaks_Daddy@reddit

That’s prob close to what I had. I have a vague memory of 512k of ram, 10mb hard drive or thereabouts. Even dos games would run slow because of the clock speed sometimes

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Codys_friend@reddit

And those games were text games. Beyond Zork anyone?

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Hungry_Freaks_Daddy@reddit

Memory unlocked.

I played that Spider-Man dos game too, and air jump and micro man and a bunch of others I don’t remember. My dad would get cds in bundles in the mail and with other computer purchases and they’d have “50,000 free games”

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Codys_friend@reddit

Ah the days of shareware on 5 1/4" floppies.

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Pumciusz@reddit

On par in what? Because it's still not that close in gaming to x3d CPUs.

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__fez@reddit

isn't it a better value when you calculate $/frame though?

let's not forget that 270k plus is still almost half the price of 9850x3d

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terror_alpha@reddit

if you are spending $700-$1000 on a GPU (9070xt or 5070 ti), hundreds more on RAM and SSD, it's dumb to penny pinch and kneecap your expensive investment. comparing it to a 9850x3d is a strawman argument, you don't need the newest, shiny-est 9850x3d. 7800x3d is still very capable and still faster in gaming than anything intel has.

i will still buy a 270k plus, but it will go in my unraid NAS.

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LincolnOsirus420@reddit

Using a 270k for a NAS is such nonsense...

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dioxin-screes-01@reddit

Making such a blanketed statement isn’t just wrong but ignorant.

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DessertFox157@reddit

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣤⣶⣶⣤⡀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡄⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⠁⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠉⠉⠉⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣿⣦⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢠⣿⣿⣿⣿⡿⣿⣿⣧⣀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⢺⣿⣿⣿⣿⣧⣬⣻⢿⣿⣿⡦ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⠻⠿⢿⣿⣿⣿⣿⡏⠛⠁ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⣀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣽⣿⡿⠁⠀⠀ ⠀⢀⡠⣿⣷⣤⡀⠀⢸⣿⣿⠃⠀⠀⠀ ⠰⠿⠿⠿⠿⠿⠇⠀⠿⠿⣦⣤⠀⠀⠀⠀ $ money $

... apparently

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Pumciusz@reddit

Probably, 7800x3d would be closer to that.

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ZoxxMan@reddit (OP)

I was looking at benchmarks on PassMark: https://www.cpubenchmark.net/compare/7114vs6549/Intel-Ultra-7-270K-Plus-vs-AMD-Ryzen-9-9950X3D

9950X3D seems to have marginally better multi-threaded performance, while the 270K Plus wins on single-threaded performance.

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aragorn18@reddit

Passmark is a synthetic benchmark. It would be better to compare performance in the actual applications you use.

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ZoxxMan@reddit (OP)

Do you know any good benchmarks that are more focused on productivity or programming?

It's hard to pinpoint bottlenecks in my daily use cases. Some examples would be compiling C++, using IDEs and Git with large projects, etc.

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axtran@reddit

Phoronix might have what you're looking for.

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xenocea@reddit

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/intel-core-ultra-7-270k-plus/

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aragorn18@reddit

What specific application do you use that you're most concerned about for CPU performance? Search for " benchmark".

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dertechie@reddit

Passmark’s suite of tests does not show particular gains from the X3D cache. As such, while it’s a pretty good general comparison tool it is not a great gaming benchmark.

That being said, the 270K Plus games just fine for most people, especially at 1440p or higher.

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EiffelPower76@reddit

Intel Core Ultra 7 270K is a very good processor

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bluntedAround@reddit

I have a 12900k now on a Z690 with my RTX 5090 running 4k. My buddy just bought me a Intel 270k CPU worth it for me to pay for a motherboard over current setup?

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X3m9X@reddit

If you already have ddr5 ram, go for it ig

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G00oner20@reddit

At 4k not really, if you dont mind the hasle and expending on a motherboard, i would do it , why not.

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Apart_Paramedic_238@reddit

I mean there is Ryzen 5 9600x which is cheap and will not bottleneck on almost any workflow

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sleep_eat_recycle@reddit

I am on the same boat, people asked me if I use the PC for gaming, yes of course, and it is the main activity as well, however I am not addicted to gaming and just a casual gamer, and I don't always play AAA open world. I would love my PC to perform whatever I need.

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G00oner20@reddit

Yea, if you want a cpu that excels at everything, gaming and productivity, 270k does it at the lowest price in the market, pretty goated.

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sleep_eat_recycle@reddit

End up I didn't choose 270K but 9600X, I chose something with less power consumption (less heat)

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G00oner20@reddit

You didnt need to break my heart like that 😭😭(i have the same one)

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sleep_eat_recycle@reddit

HAHA ><

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ReasonableMortgage11@reddit

You have no idea what you talk about. Openworld AAA titles are mostly not cache heavy so you will be fine with any decent modern cpu. Competitive titles are where X3D has a massive advantage

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ReasonableMortgage11@reddit

Saying it is on par is absolutely and entirely ridiculous. It is not. It is similar for productivity but it doesn't even come close in gaming performance. Especially high fps competitive titles that are less hard on the gpu and more CPU heavy.

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slojanko1@reddit

So 10% better gaming performance is worth 100% increase in price? Okay bro

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ReasonableMortgage11@reddit

It isnt 10% ... 270k plus still only has 36mb cache. 9950x3d has 128MB - that's over 50% more frames in some games. And no price to performance is way better on the intel, no one can debate that. Saying the performance is equal is wrong tho . It isn't, in some cases not by a long shot

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G00oner20@reddit

Mf wiht a 9950x3d arent playing at 720/1080p low setting lmaoo😭😂.

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ReasonableMortgage11@reddit

You are right, they play escape from Tarkov xD.

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AceLamina@reddit

Unless you want to spend 300 more for a a little bit of a fps improvements in games, yes
People have been hating Intel since their micro code issue that's been fixed was a thing, but it's still my highest recommendation if you're doing productivity more than gaming, your use cases is actually exactly like mine, I'm in college for software development and I do a lot of productivity, programming, and gaming on the side

My current chip is the i7 12700k and it's more than enough for what I do, getting the current gen like you're doing wouldn't make sense if Intel's prices wasn't this godly, I would definitely go for it, you'll definitely notice the performance improvement with the extra cores

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ZoxxMan@reddit (OP)

I'm still on i7 6700 😭

Not gonna lie, 9950X3D's massive cache is very tempting, but it's difficult to justify paying twice as much for it. I just want a fast CPU, I don't care much about a few extra FPS in games.

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AceLamina@reddit

Then the obvious choice is Intel AMD is mostly better in games now

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G00oner20@reddit

For the price , i say the 270k its just so good at everything, great deal, also x3D matter so much less at 1440/4k. I really wish the plataform wasnt already dead, and that amd would offer just as good of a cpu at 270k price.

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xenocea@reddit

It’s not a little bit more. It’s a lot more fps.

https://www.techspot.com/review/3107-intel-core-ultra-7-270k-plus/

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bigburgerz@reddit

The 270k is the sweet spot for sure - it’s blazing fast for everything!

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DuuhEazy@reddit

Get the i7

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EiffelPower76@reddit

It's not an i7

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DuuhEazy@reddit

If you can't figure it out, you're brain damaged.

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EiffelPower76@reddit

Intel Core Utra 7 270K Plus is not an i7

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DuuhEazy@reddit

No shit Sherlock, yet you understood. Touch some grass.

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EiffelPower76@reddit

i7 is over, don't live in the past

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1FriendlyPainter1@reddit

isnt just rebranded i7 series or is there like a noticeable difference?

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EiffelPower76@reddit

Intel Core Ultra are completely different

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SIDER250@reddit

7800X3D costs the same if not less and its faster. Besides, Intel doesn’t have upgrade path so that sucks.

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Beji-boy@reddit

Not so many people need upgrade before new platform is released. Even now people with LGA 1700 font needs upgrades for next 3-5year.

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Frexxia@reddit

faster

Only if gaming is the only thing you care about

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SIDER250@reddit

true, but OP didn’t specify what he needs a cpu for. If it is for productivity, then yea.

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ZoxxMan@reddit (OP)

Ty for the reminder, edited my post to add extra context. Gaming is definitely part of the picture, but my main use cases are productivity and programming.

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JayyMuro@reddit

I got a 9950x3d and it performs so well in both gaming and productivity to me its a no brainer to get it for your use case.

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f1rstx@reddit

it's far worse value compared to 270k though

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JayyMuro@reddit

I could agree with you if he didn't want to also play games on it. The X3D on the games I play far have out performed any non X3D cache cpu.

Unless its different now and this CPU renders X3D useless, which I don't see that happening, to me the X3D is better chip to have on my desktop.

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f1rstx@reddit

unless you play strategies or sim games - it's not that big of a deal, x3d cpus are highly overrated

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JayyMuro@reddit

I have one and have seen how well it performs. Best case example is Escape from Tarkov. Unoptimized games which there are a lot these days really benefit from it.

Lets be honest here though, he will get a 270k Ultra Plus and be like man I love this thing and glad I went with it. Same with 9950X3D, he would be like dude this thing is great and I am happy with it.

So really if he wants to save a few bucks or spend a few, both are going to be amazing. I personally love my 9950X3D and for several reasons don't like Intel anymore.

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f1rstx@reddit

Reality is if you playing some AAA games, having midrange gpu from 5060ti/9060xt to 9070XT/5070Ti and have 144-240HZ display - humble 7500F is absolutely enough for it. X3Ds are good in sims, esports titles with your 600Hz display or when you have something like 5080/5090.

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JayyMuro@reddit

Sure if you can drive your gpu to 99% that would be all you need for a non cpu intensive game.

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DuuhEazy@reddit

Expect you are paying double or more.

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JayyMuro@reddit

I paid $580 for mine and am happy with how it performs. It destroyed the 285k when my coworker and I tested in against each of our applications. It especially dominated in physics applications, rendering and compiling code.

Without a doubt it smoke everything when playing games. So if you want to save a few pennies on something not only you make money with but also have fun with sure, so with the Intel.

For me though I am an AMD X3D believer now.

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Pitiful_Apricot8314@reddit

Yes he did

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anon6_5@reddit

Not having hardly any upgrade path is still detrimental to the intel releases.

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f1rstx@reddit

upgrade path is irrelevant argument

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anon6_5@reddit

Zen 4 to zen 6 will be a big jump for millions of users.

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Perfect_Replacement1@reddit

Well the 9800x3d can be found at a good price, I just got mine from AliExpress for 335 euros. I think that's the best money/value right now.

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MrPeru21@reddit

And it was ok? Not a box with a brick inside? Thats 100 EUR cheaper

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Perfect_Replacement1@reddit

Yes it's genuine and I ran all kinds of tests and everything is fine. Usually I wouldn't buy something so expensive from AliExpress, but the seller had a lot of sales and good reviews and the price was just too good so I went for it.

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Cammerv8@reddit

It depends, you always have to look at the overall system in order to compare. If you can get a ryzen kit from microcenter or Newegg it may be more cost effective than the Intel unit

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jedidude75@reddit

Depends on the exact use cases. The 7800x3d is faster in gaming and cheaper than the 270k right now, $345 versus $350, and has a viable upgrade path which the 270k lacks. If you mainly just game that's the route to go.

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Pitiful_Apricot8314@reddit

9950x3d2 for sure is a better cpu for gaming, also dont have issues with E-cores and P-cores used wrong.

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SaunaApprentice@reddit

For high raw multi-core performance yea there is no question about the current best value CPU. For gaming the 270K is decent too. I bought the 265k for productivity last December, comes with a ”free” igpu for video workloads (tons codecs with hardware decode/encode).

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xenocea@reddit

Passmark is not a good source to look at performance.

Look at actual Tech review sites. The 270k’s gaming performance is a fare deal behind the 9800X3D let alone the 9950XD

Scroll down to the gaming benchmark here

https://www.techspot.com/review/3107-intel-core-ultra-7-270k-plus/

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