Holiday CPU Buyers Guide - 2019

[Emily Young]

2019 has been a golden year for CPUs, and now it’s time to pass judgment – Which CPU should you buy for your holiday upgrade?

 

 

Buy an Athlon 3000G:
On Amazon: TBD
On Newegg: TBD

 

Buy a Ryzen 3 2200G:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/g53B
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/qfIK9

 

Buy a Core i3 9100F:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/VbTMG
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/QpZAE

 

Buy a Ryzen 5 2600:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/mF8OVI
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/2t1ly

 

Buy a Core i5 9400F:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/xFUbGl
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/Q3D1X

 

Buy a Ryzen 5 3600:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/wLru
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/Q74QD

 

Buy an Ryzen 7 2700:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/gjhCOHa
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/R6GzV

 

Buy a Ryzen 7 3700X:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/holLIo
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/0HTqN

 

Buy a Core i7 9700KF:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/yISY
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/fmatN

 

Buy a Ryzen 9 3900X:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/gEitWY
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/3FiKI

 

Buy a Core i9 9900KF:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/AKAoRi3
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/JRw6C

 

Buy a Ryzen 9 3950X:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/s2wov
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/DOacl

 

Buy a Threadripper 3960X:
On Amazon: https://geni.us/jBOV
On Newegg: https://lmg.gg/3i5n1

[danielkp1234]

16 minutes ago, GabenJr said:

2019 has been a golden year for CPUs, and now it’s time to pass judgment – Which CPU should you buy for your holiday upgrade?

-snip-

Very nice description 

Edited December 14, 2019 by LogicalDrm
-snip-

[scottg96]

Wow, I was LITERALLY just thinking to myself how nice it would be to have a LTT video guide on CPUs - looking to upgrade my 2012 build:

 

 

Thanks for the video! Watching now

[Egg-Roll]

Ok who brought the sick Linus into work with them? You're now on Santa's Naughty List for doing that.

 

I myself got the 3800x on Black Friday for $400 Candy-cane American Dollars

[LukeSavenije]

thanks for the reference again

[Computernaut]

The beginning of this video made me painfully aware that there needs to be an LTT mug.

Also, I'm glad Linus has finally come to terms with the fact that his segways are awkward. (When will someone make a Linus segway compilation? That would be great.)

[amdorintel]

these types of videos are always a good filler video for this time of year, especially if there is a link to a great deal somewhere.

[Otto_iii]

Good video, but sorry *****, i already bought a thermos from YETI, you aren't gonna convince me that easily 

[xnamkcor]

The fact that you need to upgrade the firmware or buy an x series chipset board kinda excludes any 3000 series AMD cpu from any series budget build.

[redbread123]

8 hours ago, Otto_iii said:

Good video, but sorry *****, i already bought a thermos from YETI, you aren't gonna convince me that easily 

tsk.

[amdorintel]

4 hours ago, xnamkcor said:

The fact that you need to upgrade the firmware or buy an x series chipset board kinda excludes any 3000 series AMD cpu from any series budget build.

lots of great value mobo's available that have support

[Otto_iii]

13 hours ago, xnamkcor said:

The fact that you need to upgrade the firmware or buy an x series chipset board kinda excludes any 3000 series AMD cpu from any series budget build.

any B450(m) Pro4 with "Ryzen 3000 Ready" on the box.  Good mobo for up to OCing a 8core, running a 12 core stock, at MicroCenter for 50$ with combo discount (with purchase of cpu),at worst 80-90$ on amazon and new egg when available (with pre-applied Zen 2 bios), hard to find boards in general that capable for 80$ for anything outside of weird aliexpress xeon stuff

[amdorintel]

17 minutes ago, Otto_iii said:

hard to find boards in general that capable for 80$

totally not worth buying those mobo's

the cheap ones like $105 Tomahawk MAX are the lowest I'd go

[Otto_iii]

24 minutes ago, amdorintel said:

totally not worth buying those mobo's

the cheap ones like $105 Tomahawk MAX are the lowest I'd go

Its same VRM quality as tomahawk, not that Tomahawk doesn't have some QOL advantages, but its kinda perfectly fine for budget build. 

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1d9_E3h8bLp-TXr-0zTJFqqVxdCR9daIVNyMatydkpFA/htmlview?sle=true#gid=639584818
 

Spoiler

Older model b350 with same VRMs already thoroughly tested by Hardware Unboxed, not good idea for any type of OC on 3900x but capable of handling one stock no problem, more then capable for 8 core OC or not. 

Spoiler

yes im biased cause i went for this board, originally for R7 2700 before nice lady at MC showed me they had pre-updated version, but likewise i can report in comparison to this specific b350 model and whatever its BIOS was in this test, the b450s with current BIOS don't have the same issues running 3600 speed ram. 

Point being for most people just building budget Ryzen with on R5 3600, R7 3700x-3800x its more then enough to happily and safely get into Ryzen 3000 on the cheap, fits the bill so long as you can find pre-updated one, you don't have to spend $100+

[xnamkcor]

5 hours ago, Otto_iii said:

any B450(m) Pro4 with "Ryzen 3000 Ready" on the box.  Good mobo for up to OCing a 8core, running a 12 core stock, at MicroCenter for 50$ with combo discount (with purchase of cpu),at worst 80-90$ on amazon and new egg when available (with pre-applied Zen 2 bios), hard to find boards in general that capable for 80$ for anything outside of weird aliexpress xeon stuff

That would be a great tip if I could see the box.

[Mr.Steve]

21 hours ago, xnamkcor said:

The fact that you need to upgrade the firmware or buy an x series chipset board kinda excludes any 3000 series AMD cpu from any series budget build.

Not really, because there are plenty of B450 boards that are 3000 series ready and with the latest bios update.

[xnamkcor]

48 minutes ago, Mr.Steve said:

Not really, because there are plenty of B450 boards that are 3000 series ready and with the latest bios update.

With no easy way to know if they are without buying them and trying to install the CPU.

[Astroid]

Wrong thread

[amdorintel]

On 12/16/2019 at 7:14 AM, xnamkcor said:

With no easy way to know if they are without buying them and trying to install the CPU.

that is why you look at the specifiations of the motherboard and look at reviews from reputable sites.

 

 

[Otto_iii]

On 12/16/2019 at 5:54 AM, xnamkcor said:

That would be a great tip if I could see the box.

you can usually see it in the ad (usually there is picture of the box), or in the description, but okay, fool proof alternatives then, sure. 

99$ MSI B450 A-Pro MAX, good for up to OC on 8core, should be fine for stock 12 core
https://www.newegg.com/msi-b450-a-pro-max/p/N82E16813144268?Description=MSI B450-A Pro&cm_re=MSI_B450-A_Pro-_-13-144-268-_-Product

($)Or if you are outside North America then this is another option worth searching for, B450m Mortar MAX
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-B450M-MORTAR-MAX-Motherboard/dp/B07WC6LLB6

75$ MSI B450 PRO-VDH MAX, good for any 6 core application,stock 8 core, or could OC a 8 core with proper case ventilation. 
https://www.newegg.com/msi-b450m-pro-vdh-max/p/N82E16813144265?Description=MSI B450-A Pro&cm_re=MSI_B450-A_Pro-_-13-144-265-_-Product

 

[xnamkcor]

8 hours ago, Otto_iii said:

you can usually see it in the ad (usually there is picture of the box), or in the description, but okay, fool proof alternatives then, sure. 

99$ MSI B450 A-Pro MAX, good for up to OC on 8core, should be fine for stock 12 core
https://www.newegg.com/msi-b450-a-pro-max/p/N82E16813144268?Description=MSI B450-A Pro&cm_re=MSI_B450-A_Pro-_-13-144-268-_-Product

($)Or if you are outside North America then this is another option worth searching for, B450m Mortar MAX
https://www.amazon.co.uk/MSI-B450M-MORTAR-MAX-Motherboard/dp/B07WC6LLB6

75$ MSI B450 PRO-VDH MAX, good for any 6 core application,stock 8 core, or could OC a 8 core with proper case ventilation. 
https://www.newegg.com/msi-b450m-pro-vdh-max/p/N82E16813144265?Description=MSI B450-A Pro&cm_re=MSI_B450-A_Pro-_-13-144-265-_-Product

 

Pictures of boxes are typically of "a" box. Not "the" box the item you are actually receiving is in. So, if there is some sticker someone slapped on it to let you know it's been updated, it doesn't mean the one you receive will. It just means they happen to be the same model.

 

99 USD for a B450? I might as well get a X470 or X570 and be sure it supports 3000 series. The whole point of sticking with B450 was to save money.

[ShadoKitteh]

I've been wanting to upgrade my i7 2600k build from 2011 for a while now.

 

So in terms of performance. Could the Game On™ build handle VR on a Valve Index and regular 1440p 120+Hz gaming?

 

 

[amdorintel]

5 hours ago, ShadoKitteh said:

Could the Game On™ build handle VR on a Valve Index and regular 1440p 120+Hz gaming?

what are the specifications of the Game On (TM) build?

[Otto_iii]

17 hours ago, xnamkcor said:

99 USD for a B450? I might as well get a X470 or X570 and be sure it supports 3000 series. The whole point of sticking with B450 was to save money.

you can be sure, they're all MAX models, there is no MAX model that doesn't.  Motherboards aren't witchcraft, they work as they're designed to, you aren't gonna get a MAX board that just randomly doesn't work. 

[ShadoKitteh]

8 hours ago, amdorintel said:

what are the specifications of the Game On (TM) build?

• CPU: Ryzen 7 3700X
• RAM: 2x16GB TridentZ Neo DDR4-3600 (C16)
• Motherboard: Gigabyte X570 AORUS ELITE (wifi)
• GPU: Geforce RTX 2070 Super
• PSU: Corsair RM 2019 / RMx 2018 650W

I've left out the case, cooling and storage.

 

I imagine that a beefier GPU might be needed but I'm not sure.