Is there a processor (used/new) that's competitive with the 12100 at price

[okkee]

Looking to get a new processor around August (moving up from a 4790) and noticed that many of the used options e.g a 3700x aren't really all that better than the i3 (unless I'm greatly mistaken). The newer processors are mostly i5 competition which is a bit out of the budget, unless I wait till Christmas. So yeah, am I missing something or is the i3 really just the value option?

[porina]

Use case?

 

I only recently got a 12100F to play with myself, later it will go into a file server. While "only" a quad core, they're a lot faster than older quad cores. 3700X might be differently better depending on how you use it.

[okkee]

8 minutes ago, porina said:

Use case?

 

I only recently got a 12100F to play with myself, later it will go into a file server. While "only" a quad core, they're a lot faster than older quad cores. 3700X might be differently better depending on how you use it.

Mostly just gaming. Whatever I'm upgrading to is getting paired with a 5600xt tho.

[Motifator]

All the Intel CPUs on the low end, ranging from the 7W N90-N100 to the i3 series, laptop and desktop, are quad cores.

I wouldn't recommend a quad once and truly at this time and date for heavy gaming purposes. Sounds to me like you're saving up for a basic upgrade, if this be the case again in the future (budget), it'll be long for you to sit on a quad core.

I'd aim for at least six cores if you can.

[Tetras]

57 minutes ago, okkee said:

Looking to get a new processor around August (moving up from a 4790) and noticed that many of the used options e.g a 3700x aren't really all that better than the i3 (unless I'm greatly mistaken). The newer processors are mostly i5 competition which is a bit out of the budget, unless I wait till Christmas. So yeah, am I missing something or is the i3 really just the value option?

The i3 is a good value gaming CPU and the improved IPC makes it generally superior (or at the least similar) to 6/8 core CPUs with more cores like the 2700X or a 10400F, but I personally would not buy this CPU if you have a 4790. I'd have a look for either a 12600K or 12600KF, as they're often on offer for good prices (around $150), or maybe a 7500F bundle.

 

The AMD alternative is the 5500, but that's generally slower than the 12100 in gaming. The 5600 is usually more expensive (though not by much) and has very, very similar performance to the 12400F (TPU had them within 1% overall).

[okkee]

36 minutes ago, Tetras said:

The i3 is a good value gaming CPU and the improved IPC makes it generally superior (or at the least similar) to 6/8 core CPUs with more cores like the 2700X or a 10400F, but I personally would not buy this CPU if you have a 4790. I'd have a look for either a 12600K or 12600KF, as they're often on offer for good prices (around $150), or maybe a 7500F bundle.

 

The AMD alternative is the 5500, but that's generally slower than the 12100 in gaming. The 5600 is usually more expensive (though not by much) and has very, very similar performance to the 12400F (TPU had them within 1% overall).

Yeah. Ideally an i5 or equivalent would be great. But the costs would just be a lot more. Decent cooling + a proper mobo and all that. But I think the i3 now and then maybe the i5 or i7 a year or two later is probably the right move.

[Somerandomtechyboi]

used 5600(x) can be found ~80$ depending on where you live, otherwise theres the 5500 new and yes the halved cache can be compensated for with a ram oc albiet 4400+ (ideally ~5000 for 1:1 fclk but good luck getting a cheap board and unbinned djrs/rev e thatll do that freq)

 

am4 also has good used boards as youll usually be able to find midranger b3/450 like the tomahawk or equivalent around the 50$ mark

[Tetras]

35 minutes ago, okkee said:

Yeah. Ideally an i5 or equivalent would be great. But the costs would just be a lot more. Decent cooling + a proper mobo and all that. But I think the i3 now and then maybe the i5 or i7 a year or two later is probably the right move.

It is your money ofc, but personally I just wouldn't bother with the 12100, since you already have a high-end quad core and I don't see a point in buying another one.

 

Unless you have a high-end graphics card, I doubt your gaming performance will be overall much different. The 12100 is a great CPU for someone with a low-end PC that only has 4 or fewer threads, like a i5-4570 or i3-6100, but in your case there's less value in it.

 

If you got the 12400F or 12600KF, it would last you longer and especially for the 12600KF likely avoid a future upgrade being needed entirely and at least in my country, they're not THAT much more expensive. If they cost e.g. $200, then I'd get it, but they're around $120-$160.

 

If you're on such a tight budget right now that you can only afford the 12100 and your current PC still works fine, I'd just hang onto it.

 

On the other hand, if your current PC is broken and you're just getting the i3-12100 as a stopgap until you can buy a used 13600K or something like that, I suppose I can see the logic, but by that time AMD and Intel will have new CPUs out and the i3-15100/i5-15400 or Ryzen 9500F could be a big step up.

 

In terms of cooling/motherboard, a phantom spirit or peerless assassin (or even the junior versions) can handle a 12600KF fine, and the i3-12100/i5-12400 come with an acceptable cooler in the box. Any B660/B760 motherboard can handle a 12400F/12600KF in gaming, except for the very lowest-end and I doubt you want to buy something terrible if you're going to the trouble of a platform upgrade..