When you’re seeking to construct a strong gaming PC on a good funds, then you definitely’ll need to snap up this newest Intel CPU deal, which will get you a Core i7 CPU, full with eight P-Cores and 4 E-cores, for simply $199.99. The value of the Core i7-12700KF is now on the most cost-effective value we’ve ever seen for this 12-core titan, costing lower than half its unique $430 launch value.
Don’t be postpone by the 12 originally of the mannequin quantity, because the Intel 12th gen Alder Lake structure is similar to the structure used In Intel’s newest 14th gen Raptor Lake CPUs, such because the Core i9 14900K, which you’ll find on our greatest gaming CPU information.
The Core i7 12700KF offers you 12 cores, which is a incredible provide for the present value. Importantly, you get eight P-Cores, that are those that depend for gaming, plus you get an additional 4 E-Cores to assist out in multi-threaded workloads, similar to video encoding.
In the meantime, the enhance clock tops out at a wholesome 5GHz in evenly threaded workloads, and you probably have a motherboard with a Z-series chipset, such because the Z690, then you’ll be able to overclock this CPU too. I’ve had this chip fortunately working with all of its P-Cores working at 5GHz, quite than simply a few them, giving it a strong enhance in multi-threaded workloads.
That ‘F’ within the mannequin title means this processor doesn’t have an built-in GPU, which is why it’s a bit cheaper than the Core i7 12700K, however that doesn’t matter if you happen to’re utilizing a separate graphics card, which you’ll need to do if you happen to’re constructing a gaming PC anyway.
By way of efficiency, in my very own benchmarks, the Core i7 12700KF is barely faster than the 12-core Ryzen 9 5900X in multi-threaded work, and effectively forward of it in single-threaded software program, due to its 5GHz enhance clock. It’s not as fast as the brand new Ryzen 9 7900X, however you don’t get every thing for $199.99.
What you lose by going for this CPU, in comparison with the brand new Core i7 14700K, is clock velocity and E-Cores. The brand new Core i7 has 12 E-Cores, in comparison with simply 4 on the 12700KF, however E-Cores are largely irrelevant for gaming. The Core i7 14700K does have the next clock velocity, although, boosting to five.6GHz in evenly threaded workloads, similar to gaming.
Even so, at a value of $199.99, this 12-core Intel Core i7 CPU is a steal if you happen to’re seeking to assemble a strong gaming rig on a good funds. When you’re new to the world of PC constructing, then be sure to additionally learn our full tutorial on easy methods to construct a gaming PC, the place we information you thru all of the components you want, and each step of the construct course of.
