CPU Upgrade Decision

BillHicksRIP · 16 Apr 2025 at 15:02

I'm upgrading my lad's rig which is currently running a GTX 1080 and an i7-7700k, so, really in need of a refresh. He uses it mainly for gaming and school stuff. I've picked up the bits below from MM and elsewhere but I genuinely don't know which way to go with the CPU. I'm wondering if the i5-12600 might be underpowered for running with a 3080 and if I should go with an i5-14600K for £200 for future-proofing purposes? I'd be buying it new from OcUK but the degradation issues has given me pause for thought. Any recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.

i5-12600 (non-K)
MSI VENTUS 3X RTX 3080
MSI Z690 Edge WiFi DDR4
Team Group 8Pack Ripped Edition DDR4 3600 C14 (4 x 8GB)
Seasonic Focus PX-650 Platinum PSU

Cooler <undecided>
Case <undecided>

Tetras · 16 Apr 2025 at 15:19

If you already own the 12600 I'd just go with that, it is fine for a 3080 and like you said, avoids the potential for 14th gen shenanigans.

There are some circumstances the CPU will hold you back (some games more than others), but it'll get most of the performance so I have no concern in using it.

mickyflinn · 16 Apr 2025 at 18:08

Tetras is spot on just pick a case and cooler and your good to go.

Budget for each please , RGB or not ?

tamzzy · 16 Apr 2025 at 18:12

BillHicksRIP said:
Cooler <undecided>

You just cannot look past the Peerless Assassin 120 or Phantom Spirit 120 if you're going for air cooling. At £30 or so, their cooling performance and value puts every other cooler to shame

BillHicksRIP said:
Case <undecided>

Get your lad to pick his choice of poison for this one

BillHicksRIP · 16 Apr 2025 at 18:21

Thanks for the replies. He's not bothered about RGB and wanted a solid side panel so have gone with an Antec Flux SE (Black/Walnut). Cooler is going to be either a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Black Dual Tower CPU Air Cooler or an Arctic Freezer 36. Cheers.

Tetras · 16 Apr 2025 at 18:25

BillHicksRIP said:
or an Arctic Freezer 36

One thing to keep in mind with this cooler, is that for Intel only you have to fit a custom contact frame (see THG's review), which isn't too appealing unless you were planning to anyway.

tamzzy · 16 Apr 2025 at 18:28

Tetras said:
One thing to keep in mind with this cooler, is that for Intel only you have to fit a custom contact frame (see THG's review), which isn't too appealing unless you were planning to anyway.

this

and if you balls up the install you'd void the warranty of the mobo (esp if you damage the LGA pins)
i'd just get the PA120/PS120 if this were me tbh

pastymuncher · 16 Apr 2025 at 19:00

I had a very similar set up to that, same cpu, same motherboard, same memory albeit 2x8Gb and it was a good match for my 7900GRE which is more powerful than a RTX 3080 (I had a RTX 3070 originally). None of it ever struggled with anything I threw at it. I only upgraded because I fancied a upgrade and wasn't going to touch Intel because of the 13th/14th gen issues and high power draw. If you are not having a window just get the cheapest version of the Peerless Assassin (I had one on my 12600) or the Phantom Spirit with the extra heatpipe. There is no point in paying a extra £15 for the black version, it doesn't cool any better and if you have no window you won't see it anyway.

BillHicksRIP · 16 Apr 2025 at 19:33

pastymuncher said:
I had a very similar set up to that, same cpu, same motherboard, same memory

Yeah, it was me who bought that from you!

Was waiting till a graphics card within budget appeared which I've got now. Peerless Assassin it is! Thanks to all for the suggestions.

tamzzy · 16 Apr 2025 at 19:38

pastymuncher said:
I had a very similar set up to that, same cpu, same motherboard,

BillHicksRIP said:
Yeah, it was me who bought that from you!

guess who's the goldfish :cry: