Intel® Core™ 14th Gen Processors Build Guide - High-Power Mid-Range Gaming!

MicroCenterOfficial

Written by Sean Mekinda

Intel's new 14th Gen processors have arrived and with them comes some big changes to their i7-14700K. While all chips do see some improvement (check out our benchmarks here!), the i7-14700K gets a pretty big boost thanks to increased thread and core counts. Compared to last gen's i7-13700K, the 14700K has four more E-Cores and an additional four threads, bringing it up to an astounding 20 cores and 28 threads. So how do you make the most of that? With a high-powered build!

Processor: Intel Core i9-14700K

The i7-14700K saw some big changes from 13th Gen, with Intel adding an extra four E-Cores and four threads to an already powerful CPU. The result is significant performance increases for multi-threaded workloads - perfect for gamers and creators! It also includes Wi-Fi 7 compatibility, which is perfect for our....

Motherboard: Gigabyte Z790 AORUS Elite X WiFi 7 Intel LGA 1700 ATX Motherboard

You could theoretically use a DDR4 motherboard with Intel 14th Gen, but you'd be sacrificing a lot of potential to do so. DDR5 provides the most power and speed, ensuring you're not bottlenecking your build. It's also equipped with Wi-Fi 7, the latest and greatest in Wi-Fi technology for stable connections and high-speed browsing and gaming.

Graphics Card: Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti Windforce Overclocked Triple Fan 12GB GDDR6X PCIe 4.0 Graphics Card

If you're looking to build a mid-range system at the upper end of the power potential, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is a great choice. The 4070 Ti delivers stellar 1440p performance (and we've got the benchmarks to prove it!) and doubles as a great creator GPU for video editing and streaming. OF course, if you want more power, you could opt for a GeForce RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 for the ultimate in gaming!

RAM: G.Skill Trident Z5 Neo RGB Series 32GB (2 x 16GB) DDR5-6000 PC5-48000 CL30 Dual Channel Desktop Memory Kit

If you're building a modern system, you owe it to yourself to use DDR5 RAM especially if you're working with Intel 14th Gen processors. You could, theoretically, get by with DDR4, but your PC would be noticeably slower than a similar build utilizing DDR5 RAM.

Storage: Samsung 990 PRO 2TB Samsung V NAND 3-bit MLC PCIe Gen 4 x4 NVMe M.2 Internal SSD

We've talked at length about why an M.2 is important for the speed of your system (they boot your OS and games a lot faster than traditional HDDs), but a stealth benefit is the absolute lack of cables. Stop worrying about hooking up SATA and power cables, let along where to put your hard drives for optimal cable management!

Power Supply: Corsair RMx Series RM1000x 1000 Watt 80 Plus Gold ATX Fully Modular Power Supply

While you could get by with a bit lower wattage - 800 watts or so - springing for a bit of extra headroom can give you some wiggle room if you choose to upgrade later in the future. Plus, as a fully modular PSU, you can pick and choose the cables you want to use. No need for HDD power cables if you don't have an HDD!

Case: Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO Tempered Glass ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case - Gray - Micro Center Exclusive Model

Lian Li makes incredible cases, and their 011 Dynamic is no exception. Not only does the Dynamic feature the stellar air flow and build quality that you'd expect from Lian Li, but it is completely reversible, so you can choose which side you want to feature! The Harbor Gray model is a Micro Center exclusive, adding a spark to your build that you won't find anywhere else!

The full parts list can be found on our Custom PC Builder:

https://www.microcenter.com/site/content/custom-pc-builder-intel.aspx?load=cc36dcb8-28e8-4c56-90cc-d5cbfaaea38f

Intel's new line of 14th Gen processors are available now at Micro Center. Be sure to check out our Intel 14th Gen Overview for all the new specs and benchmarks!

Ian

Looks like a solid build for those looking to get the new Intel processors!

ChaosDTV

these intel processors seem like a huge powerhouses in the game. cant wait to see how amd responds

ricardo_ortega

I like the build specs here provided. Definitely a great use for a reference if one needs some recommendations. 

tbarggs

This is a great build, especially for the money!