Intel Core i9-12900KF
“Intel Core i9-12900KF will help you push your gameplay to new heights while secondary apps run seamlessly in the background, all thanks to Alder Lake hybrid architecture.”
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The raw performance of an Intel i9 doesn’t always need to be gated behind a massive price tag. Simply look at generations past, and you can get a top-tier CPU for next to nothing compared to its MSRP. Take this Intel Core i9-12900KF deal, for example. It’s the cheapest that the processor has ever been and it’s still a complete powerhouse.
Taking 23% off, Intel Core i9-12900KF is $279.99 on Amazon US. Fortunately, this isn’t a North American exclusive. A 10% reduction makes the same processor €394.34 on Amazon France. It’s never been lower on either, even beating out its Black Friday 2023 price tag. If you want something similar in the UK, then your best bet is 12900F instead, which sports a hefty 44% discount down to £322.99.
If you’re still on the fence because it’s an older CPU, rest assured that 12900KF still runs like a dream. Intel’s 12th Generation brought sweeping changes across its CPUs, introducing the hybrid architecture Team Blue still uses today. To paint the picture, that means this 16-core CPU splits itself equally between eight dedicated performance cores and eight separate efficient cores. The former are great for gaming and rendering, while the latter handles low-overhead tasks like web browsing without wasting energy.
There’s even an upgrade path if you pair this with the correct motherboard. Sure, it works with DDR4 if you want to keep costs as low as possible. Put 12900KF with a DDR5 motherboard, however, and its LGA 1700 socket means you could eventually climb up the 13th or 14th Gen ladder. Just make sure to check compatibility before you buy.
With the suffix letters, ‘K’ means you can overclock the processor, making use of the 5.2GHz boost clock. Of course, it’ll run just fine with the 3.2GHz base frequency, but who doesn’t like a big performance boost? The ‘F’, on the other hand, means the CPU doesn’t have integrated visuals. You’ll need to run this in tandem with a dedicated graphics card for your system to work.
Keep in mind that this processor once cost $620, and today’s price is an absolute steal. You can put your hard-earned savings towards the best CPU cooler instead.
Don’t just take my word for it, though. You can try it out for yourself without risk using Amazon’s 30-day return window. If you’re not happy in the month you buy it, you can send the CPU back for a full refund.
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