Intel Core i5-14600K vs. Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Which CPU should y…

AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D has been the undisputed best gaming processor since it came out. Thanks to the power of AMD’s 3D V-Cache, this CPU works in most games, but it may not be the best choice for productivity.

On the other hand, Intel makes well-rounded chips, but can the new Core i5-14600K keep up with the Ryzen 7 7800X3D? We’ve tested both of those processors, and we’re here to share some in-depth benchmarks to help you decide.

Pricing and Availability

After a long wait, the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D was revealed on April 6, 2023. This chip is a direct follow-up to AMD’s Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which is another excellent CPU, and despite technically belonging to a “dead” platform it still remains popular. Finally, AMD has moved to AM5 with the Ryzen 7000 lineup.

Intel’s Core i5-14600K processor belongs to the Intel Raptor Lake Refresh lineup, although technically it’s a whole new generation of its own. It hits shelves on October 18, 2023.

In terms of price both the chips are close to each other. The Core i5-14600K has a recommended list price (MSRP) of $330, while the Ryzen 7 7800X3D can typically be found for $400 or less, although its initial MSRP was $450.

Glasses

It’s no news that AMD and Intel come with their fair share of differences, but looking at these two chips in particular these differences can be quite glaring.

However, before we break them down, it’s worth noting that the Core i5-14600K’s specs are almost identical to the Core i5-13600K, although we’re getting a slight upgrade in clock speed. Meanwhile, AMD makes a few upgrades with the 7800X3D, while retaining the same core count as the 5800X3D.

Compared to AMD, Intel offers many additional cores – only eight to 14. It also has a hybrid core architecture, which means that six of those cores are performance (P), and eight are efficient (E). AMD has a straight eight-core, 16-thread configuration.

The difference in cache size is huge, and this is what gives AMD’s 3D V-Cache such an edge. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D has a combined cache of 104MB. Meanwhile, Intel lags behind with 44MB. AMD also has an edge in terms of increasing power consumption, but its clock speed is lower.

Display

When we test some of the best processors offered by Intel or AMD, we take a closer look at both productivity and gaming. In terms of the Core i5-14600K and the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, it’s safe to say there should be a clear winner for both of those use cases – let’s see if that’s true.

Historically, AMD’s 3D V-Cache processors have struggled to compete against Intel in productivity applications and benchmarks. In fact, the Zen 4 chips managed to improve on this, but they’re still not where they should be.

The chart above shows how Intel’s new chips performed against some of AMD’s most popular options, including the Ryzen 9 7950X and Ryzen 5 7600X. However, we also tested the Ryzen 7 7800X3D separately, which you can see in our review.

Interestingly, the Core i5-14600K lags behind its predecessor in the multi-core Cinebench R23 test. Its performance is much better than the Ryzen 9 7950X, but it easily beats the Ryzen 5 7600X. For comparison, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D scored 18,188 points in this test, which puts it a full 5,000 points behind the Core i5-14600K. Make no mistake – Intel is still doing well in productivity.

Handbrake is another application that scales well with higher core counts, and it shows here. The Core i5-14600K is noticeably slower than the Ryzen 9 7950X, but a full 10 seconds faster than the 7800X3D in our own testing.

The Core i5-14600K also performed better in Blender. While the generational advantage is small between the 13600K and 14600K, it still managed to outperform the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Intel’s top render score peaked at 157, but AMD was still behind with a score of 134.

As you can see, the Intel Core i5-14600K is a better choice for productivity-oriented tasks, but that’s not really a surprise. The move to gaming gives us an unbiased look, although now, the scales may be tipping in a different direction.

Gambling

AMD’s Ryzen 7 7800X3D may not be the world’s fastest gaming CPU in every single game, but it’s almost up there. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D is its only real competitor, but as the chart above tells us, the difference is almost negligible.

We tested the Core i5-14600K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D at 1080p and higher settings. This is the best place for CPU testing, because at higher resolutions, the graphics card steps up to handle a lot of the workload.

Across our entire gaming suite, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D averaged 239.3 frames per second (fps). However, in Time Spy CPU testing, the lower core count proves quite limiting. The 7800X3D only achieved 13,455 points, but the Core i5-14600K achieved 18,574 points. This doesn’t necessarily mean higher FPS.

Let’s take a look at this gaming test hitman 3 dartmoor, It’s easy to see the Ryzen 9 7950X3D shooting ahead, but the Core i9-14900K is far behind. The Intel Core i5-14600K averages 192.2 fps here, but the Ryzen 7 7800X3D has no problem beating it by a wide margin, reaching 229.2 fps. That’s also just inches behind the 7950X3D.

F1 2022 One of those games that favors Intel, and the new Core i9-14900K manages to reach an eye-watering 400 fps in this title. The Core i5-14600K is less impressive with 335 fps, but that’s still more than anyone will need. But wait, there’s more – the Ryzen 7 7800X3D actually matches Intel’s new flagship in this test, averaging 400.4 fps and leaving the Core i5-14600K in the rearview mirror.

moving on to far cry 6, We’re once again seeing the lead for the 7800X3D. It destroyed the Core i9-13900K, so it’s no surprise that it also outclassed the Core i5-14600K (203 fps vs. 173 fps).

Just as we’ve seen wins for Intel in productivity, we’re now seeing the opposite in gaming scenarios. But does this make the Core i5-14600K a bad choice for gaming?

It depends on your preferences

The release of Intel’s Raptor Lake refresh did nothing to disrupt AMD’s dominance of the gaming portion of the processor market. Not that any of these new 14th generation chips are bad – not at all. It’s just that they’re not as powerful as AMD’s 3D V-Cache, which has shown time and again that it’s a huge asset in gaming scenarios.

That said, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D may not improve productivity significantly. If you use your computer for more than straight-up gaming, the lower core count may feel limiting. Eight cores are honestly on the low end these days, but that might just be because Intel keeps adding more of them, while AMD hasn’t boosted the core count over the past two generations.

In terms of price, the Core i5-14600K is the clear winner over its predecessor, but also from AMD. You’re getting a solid processor for all types of tasks, whether it’s video editing or gaming, for $330. The Ryzen 7 7800X3D can sometimes be found on sale for as low as $350, but it’s usually about $400 more expensive, and it’s not as good at productivity as Intel. However, in gaming scenarios, it is completely unmatched. Only the 7950X3D can hope to compete, but that CPU is quite expensive.

What’s better between Core i5-14600K and Ryzen 7 7800X3D? If you’re a gamer, it’ll always be the 7800X3D – no competition. However, if you are looking for a good-value processor that offers good performance across a variety of tasks, the Core i5-14600K should be your new friend. Just don’t expect this to be a huge upgrade from the 13600K, because it’s not.