Comparison of host configurations with a budget of 4,000 yuan
AMD camp
For the AMD camp, the Ryzen 5 7600X is undoubtedly the best CPU choice with a budget of 4000 yuan. As a mid-range product of AMD's next-generation Zen 4 architecture, the 7600X has a 6-core, 12-thread design, with a base frequency of up to 4.7GHz and a maximum acceleration of 5.3GHz, with excellent single-core performance. Paired with the RX 7600 XT, a mid-range graphics card based on the RDNA 3 architecture, it can provide a top-of-the-line 1080p gaming experience, and even run 1440p resolution smoothly in games.
The biggest advantage of this all-AMD setup is that the game performance is strong, and it can maintain a smooth experience at high quality settings in a variety of AAA titles. AMD has always excelled at graphics, and both the 7600X and 7600 XT excel in this regard. The integration of the AMD ecosystem is also worth noting, with synergies between CPUs and graphics cards unlocking higher performance potential.
This high-performance configuration comes at a higher cost. Just looking at the price of CPU and graphics card, it is close to 3000 yuan, plus other components such as motherboard, memory, power supply, chassis, etc., the cost of the whole machine is likely to exceed the budget ceiling of 4000 yuan. The all-AMD plan is more suitable for gamers who are looking for extreme gaming performance and have a budget that allows it.
Intel camp
The Intel camp will be more affordable under the budget of 4000 yuan. Take the Core i5-14600K and Arc A770 duo as an example, although it may be slightly inferior to AMD's flagship combination in pure gaming performance, but it is more cost-effective.
The i5-14600K is a mid-range product in Intel's 14th Gen Core series, using a 14nm process and hybrid architecture design, with a 6+8 core configuration. The base frequency is 3.9GHz, and it can be accelerated up to 5.1GHz, and the single-core performance is excellent. The Arc A770 is Intel's first discrete graphics card with an externally powered design, based on the new XeHPG architecture, and the performance is close to NVIDIA's RTX 3060 Ti.
While this Intel configuration can't compete with AMD's top-of-the-line solutions in pure gaming performance, it has a lot of highlights in other areas. The cost performance is extremely high, the combination price of i5-14600K and Arc A770 is about 2500 yuan, plus other parts can also be built for only 3500-4000 yuan. Intel has always excelled at single-core performance, and has performed quite well in many non-gaming workloads. In addition, the Arc A770 supports emerging technologies such as hardware ray tracing and AI supersampling, and the experience in some games may even exceed AMD's peers.
There are also some flaws in the Intel camp that need to be noted. The stability and compatibility of the Arc graphics driver has always been criticized, and gamers need to pay close attention to the subsequent driver updates. The Intel ecosystem is also far less integrated than AMD, and the synergy between the CPU and the graphics card is not ideal.
Other considerations
In addition to the CPU and graphics card, gamers also need to pay more attention when purchasing other parts. In terms of motherboards, AMD users can consider pairing with B650 or X670 series motherboards, while Intel users can choose B760 or Z790 motherboards. In terms of memory, AMD users recommend DDR5-6000 memory, while Intel users can choose DDR5-5600 or DDR4-3600.
In terms of power supply, the 80Plus Gold power supply of 750W and above is a relatively safe choice, which can reserve enough space for future upgrades. In terms of chassis, the mid-tower chassis is the best choice due to its sufficient scalability and heat dissipation performance. The choice of SSDs, heat sinks, fans, and other components should not be overlooked, and needs to be considered according to actual needs.
Gamers also need to pay attention to compatibility issues between the CPU, graphics card, and other components. There may be some subtle compatibility issues between different brands and models, it is recommended to consult the relevant information in advance, or consult a professional to avoid trouble when the actual installation occurs.
With a budget of 4,000 yuan in 2024, both AMD and Intel have good host configuration options. The all-AMD solution is represented by the Ryzen 7600X+RX 7600 XT, which has the strongest gaming performance but also the highest cost; The Intel solution is represented by i5-14600K+Arc A770, although the game performance is slightly inferior, but the cost performance is extremely high.
No matter which camp you choose, you need to weigh performance and price according to your actual needs. If you have a high pursuit of gaming performance, the all-AMD solution may be a better choice; If you have a limited budget and are looking for cost performance, the Intel solution is more affordable. The selection of other components and compatibility between components should not be overlooked. Only with the right combination can you create a truly satisfying game console.