A future proof CPU

AdamB1492 · 5 Feb 2022 at 22:54

Hey all,

What would be a good future proof CPU to buy atm? Or at least a future proof architecture?

I have read that new AMD is on the way so is really the option probably an intel 1200/1700?

Current one (i7-5820k) has lasted me very well over the years so would hope to buy something that would do my the same job.

Thank you.

Drumroll · 5 Feb 2022 at 23:24

Not sure how long intel will keep the actual new socket.
AM4 pretty much limited to 5950 as flagship, bring the last possible upgrade if going for a cheaper CPU now.
DDR5 is quite far from its potential, also very expensive at the moment.
Not sure about your needs, but I’m confident a 5900 or 5950 paired to some low timing 3600 DDR4 will last few years. May come a time when a modern/faster CPU may give you more fps, but unless the CPU seriously bottlenecks the GPU, performance will be more dependent on the GPU, anyway.
The new Intel is a good shout. If mainly for gaming, I would be tempted to get a very solid motherboard and some decent RAM, and maybe save a bit on the CPU if needed. Easier to simply swap a CPU when required than the rest of the system.
When I mentioned solid mother doesn’t have to be the ultra expensive ones. Check for one with enough features that will last and extra attention on power delivery. Those CPUs will push the motherboard hard, even more if overclocked.

Joxeon · 5 Feb 2022 at 23:33

The 12700k is what I'd be looking at if building right now as it offers very good price performance while the Z690 platform offers better features than X570 especially with the additional pcie gen 4.0 m.2 slots.

Ayahuasca · 5 Feb 2022 at 23:39

Buying right now then a 12700k. You don't really need to worry about power delivery on any of the z690 boards, even the most basic model will cope pulling 300+w through the chip and very few people are doing that.

Relatively easy to undervolt unless you get a shocking bin. For reference, a 5.2ghz all core OC at 1.2v will only pull around 180w in Cinebench R23.

faceman123 · 6 Feb 2022 at 00:45

Wait for the 5800x 3D it'll be better than the current intel chips whilst saving on ram, saying that if you're taking advantage of multiple cores, without hesitation 5950x/threadripper

Tetras · 6 Feb 2022 at 00:57

What do you use the PC for? Are you referring to the platform or the CPU, or both?

LeMson · 6 Feb 2022 at 01:27

AdamB1492 said:
Hey all,

What would be a good future proof CPU to buy atm? Or at least a future proof architecture?

I have read that new AMD is on the way so is really the option probably an intel 1200/1700?

Current one (i7-5820k) has lasted me very well over the years so would hope to buy something that would do my the same job.

Thank you.

I swapped from a 5820k to a b450 and 3600, rather like the c2d to quad days, one day (or yolo pay day) I'll drop in a 5950x (3d?), at the moment Intel hed like our 5820k's doesn't exist, I do miss my USB and sata ports

, and they change sockets as often as your should change your underwear. AMD will have a new socket out "soon" late this year, so not a great idea to go all in on an eol am4 setup. Not sure I'd fancy being an early adopter to am5 either. I don't think you can future proof buying brand new Intel 12th or am4 5000, so depending on budget and use etc I'd say 3600, 3700 3800.

Power wise the 3600 creams the 5820k setup too, sommot to factor in maybe with use and energy bills :X

Rroff · 6 Feb 2022 at 01:42

LeMson said:
at the moment Intel hed like our 5820k's doesn't exist, I do miss my USB and sata ports

Annoys me quite a lot actually - one of the reasons I've stuck with my V2 X79 platform so long - tons of memory bandwidth, tons of PCI-e lanes, tons of ports, etc.

Vulture · 6 Feb 2022 at 03:53

if i build PC this year i would wait for Zen 4, especially if you want future proof platform.

Holst1981 · 6 Feb 2022 at 09:02

LeMson said:
I swapped from a 5820k to a b450 and 3600, rather like the c2d to quad days, one day (or yolo pay day) I'll drop in a 5950x (3d?), at the moment Intel hed like our 5820k's doesn't exist, I do miss my USB and sata ports , and they change sockets as often as your should change your underwear. AMD will have a new socket out "soon" late this year, so not a great idea to go all in on an eol am4 setup. Not sure I'd fancy being an early adopter to am5 either. I don't think you can future proof buying brand new Intel 12th or am4 5000, so depending on budget and use etc I'd say 3600, 3700 3800.

Power wise the 3600 creams the 5820k setup too, sommot to factor in maybe with use and energy bills :X

Same experience here.

I'm still happy with my b450 3600 set-up that replaced my 5820k (dead mobo)

You could go with a 3800 or 5800 CPU but the 3600 is better value if you need something now and can't wait for AM5.

I might put a 5900x into my current system eventually but for my use I don't really need it.

Joxeon · 6 Feb 2022 at 09:53

While a 3600 was decent a few years ago it now gets blown away by the 12400F which costs less new so it's not really a decent option unless you already own an AM4 board.

ghuk · 6 Feb 2022 at 10:52

Hi OP

I've literally just upgraded from a Core i7 3770k + Gigabyte Z68 to a Core i5 12400f with MSI B660 MAG Tomahawk DDR4.

Have to say now I hadnt realised just how much my gfx card was being held back by my i7 3770k. Also little things like downloading large files seem to take a lot less time now.....oh and my 12400f runs super cool lol

I'm hoping to get at least 5 years of this package, thats the plan anway.......

Hope this helps
George

Journey · 6 Feb 2022 at 11:12

AdamB1492 said:
What would be a good future proof CPU to buy atm? Or at least a future proof architecture?

There isn't one on the market right now, LGA1700 is EOL with Raptor Lake which will offer a small uplift from current Alder Lake, so if you commit to Alder at 12700K, then you would have no real upgrade options. AM4 is also dead in the water now, even with the 5800X3D it isn't future proof if building a new system in 2022, but will allow people with older system to keep them relevant longer, which is very important in this planet of e-waste we live on.

AdamB1492 said:
I have read that new AMD is on the way so is really the option probably an intel 1200/1700?

AM5 is due out later this year, and will more than likely offer at least 2-3 generations of new CPU, but nothing concrete in that respect from AMD, but they did say they 'would like' to offer a similar level of socket longevity if at all possible.

If you are not desperate, if nothing is broken, or you don't need an upgrade for any real reason then I'd hang back until the end of the year for Raptor Lake/AM5 and move to a DDR5 platform which should have come down significantly in price by then.

NinjaCool · 6 Feb 2022 at 13:34

Lisa Su did confirm herself last month that the new AM5 socket will have a similar lifespan to its predecessor!
AMD also claims their upcoming 5800X3D CPU will be the fastest gaming CPU when out in Q2 for the current AM4 socket.

Check AMD's longevity below and you could even add 2022 with their upcoming 5800X3D CPU launch.

Perfect_Chaos · 6 Feb 2022 at 14:00

NinjaCool said:
Lisa Su did confirm herself last month that the new AM5 socket will have a similar lifespan to its predecessor!
AMD also clams their upcoming 5800X3D CPU will be the fastest gaming CPU when out in Q2 for the current AM4 socket.

Check AMD's longevity below and you could even add 2022 with their upcoming 5800X3D CPU launch.

People keep bringing this up but i don't see how it makes any difference, it doesn't mean you can buy a motherboard and then be guaranteed a new CPU 2-3 years later will work with it.

NinjaCool · 6 Feb 2022 at 14:53

No guaranties of course since things can change in the future but having motherboard longevity does give you more options.
Like I had a 3700X that I sold to a friend who was using a 1600, upgraded mine to a 5900X and we both happy with the result.

With motherboard vendors like ASRock starting to add Ryzen 5000 series support for older B350/X370 boards, first gen owners will likely have even more options in the near future.

dvinell · 6 Feb 2022 at 18:52

Journey said:
There isn't one on the market right now, LGA1700 is EOL with Rocket Lake which will offer a small uplift from current Alder Lake, so if you commit to Alder at 12700K, then you would have no real upgrade options.

Huh? Rocket Lake is the older generation.
Raptor Lake will use LGA1700, and beyond that, who knows.

https://www.xda-developers.com/intel-13th-gen-raptor-lake/

Other people have always bought my old mobos/cpus/memory: it takes a while longer before they drop off the bottom of the “useful tech” ladder and end up as e-waste.

Journey · 6 Feb 2022 at 18:55

dvinell said:
Huh? Rocket Lake is the older generation.
Raptor Lake will use LGA1700, and beyond that, who knows.

https://www.xda-developers.com/intel-13th-gen-raptor-lake/

OMG, OMG, sorry I corrected it... I was typing on a tiny phone screen and didn't check my post. I apologise.

MartinPrince · 6 Feb 2022 at 19:30

AdamB1492 said:
Hey all,

What would be a good future proof CPU to buy atm? Or at least a future proof architecture?

I have read that new AMD is on the way so is really the option probably an intel 1200/1700?

Current one (i7-5820k) has lasted me very well over the years so would hope to buy something that would do my the same job.

Thank you.

What exactly do you use your computer for?

As it stands, for something you want to last as long your 5820K without having to upgrade, then I would pick up a 12700K, with DDR4 motherboard and some relatively cheap 32GB of DDR4 (going for around £100 last time I checked). That should last you just as long as your 5820K did.

HangTime · 6 Feb 2022 at 22:38

It's arguably harder to buy a future proof architecture now than it has been for a while with AM4 coming to a close. Best you can do is a 12700k/12900k with DDR5 motherboard, alternative when talking future proof cpus rather than architecture the 5950X is pretty good simply because it has 16c32t so will scale very well if applications get more multi-threaded in future.

Personally I don't think it is worth trying to future-proof right now, you'll often find it is more cost effective to buy something good value (lets say 12400 on B660 with 32GB DDR4, only costs about £375 all-in) and then upgrade again to midrange on a new platform that comes out a couple of years later, when DDR5 should be more reasonably priced. If you try and future-proof today you end up spending a fortune, you get better performance in the short term (when you don't really need it, aka overkill) but worse performance in the long term.