In this final week of March, Amazon had some good deals, especially on gaming products. Today, we found a deal on a mid-range processor for gaming: the Intel Core i9-12900KF. If you’re thinking about upgrading to improve your PC’s gaming performance, you’ll be interested to know that this processor is on sale for a reduced price on Amazon. It’s a strong candidate against the best CPUs for gaming, with its 8 performance-cores, 8 efficient-cores, and 24 threads offering substantial multitasking capabilities. With that being said, have a look at the best Ryzen CPUs if you want to consider some options from AMD.
Intel Core i9-12900KF Gaming Desktop Processor
- Great value for money, especially at its current price
- PCIe 5.0 interface and DDR5 memory
- Phenomenal performance for gaming
- There’s no integrated graphics, so you’ll need a GPU if you don’t already have one
- You’ll need to buy an LGA1700 motherboard if you haven’t got one
Typically priced at $371.67 on Amazon, the Intel Core i9-12900KF gaming desktop processor is now available for $321.68. Thanks to this 13% limited-time discount, you can save a grand total of $49.99. Let’s take a closer look at its features to see what makes it a good buy at this lower price.
What this Intel gaming CPU offers you
| Technical Details | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Single P-core Max/Base Speed | 5.2/3.2 GHz |
| Single E-core Max/Base Speed | 3.9/2.4 GHz |
| Processor base power | 125W |
| Intel Smart Cache | 30MB |
| Total CPU PCIe lanes | 20 |
| Memory | DDR5 |
| Socket | 1700 |
| Discrete graphics required? | Yes |
The Intel Core i9-12900KF combines performance and efficiency cores for a balance of speed and energy efficiency. Performance cores excel in speed and single-threaded tasks, while efficiency cores are optimized for low power consumption and multi-threading. It features 16 cores, half performance, and half efficiency, and is capable of handling 24 tasks simultaneously. Performance cores use Intel Hyper-Threading for dual threading, and efficiency cores manage a single thread each. Also, the processor’s performance cores start at 3.2 GHz and efficiency cores at 2.4 GHz, with the ability to boost up to 5.2 GHz to meet varying demands.
Equipped with a 30 MB shared cache that utilizes Intel Smart Cache technology, it ensures quick data access and improved performance. Also, the inclusion of PCIe 5.0 compatibility allows for faster data transfers and an improved gaming experience. Additionally, Intel Optane technology support integrates memory and storage, offering users a choice between a fast cache or extensive drive space, enhancing system speed and responsiveness.
What we make of this CPU deal on Amazon
The graph below comes from camelcamelcamel and depicts the price history of this CPU listing on Amazon. It was first released towards the end of 2021, and its price peaked at $689.99. Since then, it has dropped substantially in price, and from around July last year, its price started to fluctuate between roughly $400 and $309.99. As of now, it is at a low point. In fact, this is the lowest price this CPU on Amazon has seen in the last three months. So, given the data that has been provided, it seems like a good time to pick it up while it’s this cheap.
If you’re in the market for a mid-range processor that offers solid performance for gaming and multitasking without breaking the bank, this processor is definitely worth a look. It comes with 16 cores and 24 threads and can boost up to 5.2 GHz, giving you good performance for most tasks. It’ll help you get a higher FPS in popular AAA games. Plus, it comes with the latest tech, like DDR5 and PCIe 5.0, so you’re all set for the future too. It also includes handy technologies like Intel Optane and Turbo Boost Max 3.0, enhancing its efficiency and responsiveness. If it piques your interest, check it out on Amazon soon in case its price shoots up again.
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