You can't be blamed if you think the current CPU landscape is a mess. Intel has done damage control over the last two generations of hardware, and AMD disappointed enthusiasts with the introduction of the Ryzen 9000. Things didn't go particularly well for either the blue or red teams. Buying the latest and greatest isn't always the best value for money, and that's the case now more than ever with CPU platforms. Here are three reasons why you shouldn't bother switching to a new CPU platform – at least not yet.
4 You probably need a new motherboard and RAM
Switching to a new platform is always a bit more expensive, but especially with recent versions, there's a chance you'll need to update several parts of your build. In the case of Intel's Arrow Lake, you'll need at least a new motherboard, and if you're not using DDR5, you'll have to be prepared to dig into your wallet. If you're already running on an AM5 board, this won't be a problem for you unless you're planning on switching to the blue team.
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3 AMD's Ryzen 7000 series is a proven performer
You know what you're getting
Source: XDA Developers
Okay, Zen 5 is definitely not a “last generation” platform, but the Ryzen 7000 series desktop processors have been a hit in both productivity and gaming workloads. It's hard not to recommend them, especially given the disarray on the blue team.
Although it may be the new AM5 platform, enough time has passed to fix all the issues and users no longer have to worry about instability with the 7000 series. You can have your cake and eat it too; You benefit from what is likely to be a long upgrade path to AM5 and now you also have something that works well. Buying newer products just isn't as strong a value proposition, especially if you're a gamer.
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2 Intel Arrow Lake isn't a compelling buy
As it stands, it's just not worth it
Intel has hedged its new Arrow Lake architecture for efficiency, so many of those gains are lost to the end user, at least for now. While Intel has objectively improved in terms of efficiency, it still can't keep up with AMD's performance. The previous instability debacle of the 13th and 14th generation processors doesn't exactly inspire much confidence either.
Looking at the Core Ultra series through a performance lens doesn't do it any favors either. It's not bad by any means, but it doesn't blow away the previous generation. Spending money on a completely new motherboard and RAM is certainly not justified. Future driver updates could change for the Blue Team's latest offering, but as it currently stands, Arrow Lake simply doesn't bring enough improvements over last-gen processors.
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1 New AMD X3D chips on the horizon
Wait and see as prices fluctuate
If you're mostly into gaming, it's definitely worth waiting to see how the new X3D series shakes up the landscape. If you believe the leaks, the 9800X3D could be a big step forward for AMD.
Of course, rumors and leaks are not always reliable, but they claim that the reason for the huge increase in performance is due to the way the 3D V-cache is implemented on the chip. To put it simply: the cache of previous X3D chips was located on other components of the chip due to heat sensitivity. With the new implementation, the cache can sit much closer to the socket, theoretically allowing for higher clock speeds and memory speeds. While that's a pretty simplistic explanation, it means this isn't just a new coat of paint from AMD.
Even if you decide to purchase the Ryzen 7000 series mentioned above, you'll likely find one at a cheaper price than you currently have. Intel's last-gen offerings are also likely to fluctuate during the holiday season. It's worth pumping the brakes when purchasing if your goal is to achieve high frame rates.
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Just wait a little longer, it will be worth it
The current situation isn't great for those looking to upgrade, but a lot can change in a matter of weeks. Depending on your workload, waiting a little longer can be very valuable. Prices for older components will drop, and newer components will receive much-needed care after release.