Buying Guide
The Best CPUs for 1440p Gaming
From the Ryzen 9 7900X to the Core i7-14700: three processors ranked on L3 cache and boost clock, with who should skip each one.
By Alex Morgan, PC Hardware Editor
11 min read3 products evaluated
At 1440p, cache and boost clocks still matter with a fast GPU. Every pick has 32MB+ of L3 and a 5.2GHz+ boost, ordered by cache.
We sorted these picks by L3 cache, max boost and cores / threads, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips rated power, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Which of the 3 picks to look at first. Tap a name for the full analysis.
Lowest Price Here
AMD Ryzen 9 7900XUndercutting the Ryzen 9 9900X on price when we checked.
Best for: Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 9 9900X the next step up.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
AMD Ryzen 9 9900XThe Zen 5 architecture.
Best for: Buyers who want Zen 5 architecture.
Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Highest Core Count
Intel Core i7-14700The highest core count here (20 cores).
Best for: Buyers who put core count first.
Check price for Intel Core i7-14700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it stands out | Best for | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the Ryzen 9 9900X on price when we checked. | Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 9 9900X the next step up. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 7900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The Zen 5 architecture. | Buyers who want Zen 5 architecture. | Check price for AMD Ryzen 9 9900X on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
| The highest core count here (20 cores). | Buyers who put core count first. | Check price for Intel Core i7-14700 on Amazon (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
The Ryzen 9 7900X has 12 Zen 4 cores on AM5.
Best for
- Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 9 9900X the next step up.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO.
Why we like it
It is a cheaper way to the same thread count as the 9900X, at a higher power rating. It matches the Ryzen 9 9900X on L3 cache (64MB). It matches the Ryzen 9 9900X on boost clock (5.6GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 9 9900X at 12 cores. Like the Ryzen 9 9900X, it has an AM5 socket, while the Core i7-14700 uses an LGA1700 socket. It also comes with the Zen 4 architecture, a 5nm process and PCIe 5.0 support on AM5.
It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; check the board's CPU support list for the minimum BIOS version. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Ryzen 9 9900X was closest.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 64MB
- Max boost
- 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads
- 12 cores
- Rated power
- 170W
- Threads
- 24
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- 170W rating calls for a large air cooler or a 280mm-plus AIO
- No cooler in the box
The catch
What it gives up: no cooler in box, unlike the Core i7-14700; by contrast, the Core i7-14700 has it.
Also Consider2 of 3
AMD Ryzen 9 9900X
The Ryzen 9 9900X steps down to 12 cores on Zen 5.
Best for
- Buyers who want Zen 5 architecture.
Skip if
- Pass on it if no cooler in the box rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It leaves plenty of threads for an encoder alongside a game, with a lower power rating than the 16-core chips. It matches the Ryzen 9 7900X on L3 cache (64MB). It matches the Ryzen 9 7900X on boost clock (5.6GHz).
On core count it ties with the Ryzen 9 7900X at 12 cores. Like the Ryzen 9 7900X, it has an AM5 socket, while the Core i7-14700 uses an LGA1700 socket. It needs an AM5 board (A620, B650, B850, X670 or X870 series) and DDR5 memory; a 600-series board may need a BIOS update first, so check the maker's CPU support list for the minimum version. Budget for a dual-tower air cooler or a 240mm-plus AIO, since none is included.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 64MB
- Max boost
- 5.6GHz
- Cores / threads
- 12 cores
- Rated power
- 120W
- Threads
- 24
- Socket
- AM5
- Memory
- DDR5
- Cooler in box
- No
- Integrated graphics
- Yes
Pros
- 64MB of L3 cache
- 5.6GHz maximum boost
- 12 cores for encoding and background work
- Integrated graphics for display output without a graphics card
Cons
- No cooler in the box
- Core count trails the Core i7-14700 (20 cores)
- Costs more than the Ryzen 9 7900X at the time of writing
The catch
Core count is its weakest area, and the Core i7-14700 covers it better at 20 cores.
Highest Core Count3 of 3
Intel Core i7-14700
What the Core i7-14700 brings to the table is 8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores, plus an Intel Laminar RM1 cooler in the box.
Best for
- Buyers who put core count first.
Skip if
- Skip it if L3 cache matters most to you; the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 64MB.
Why we like it
It also offers a 33MB L3 cache and offers a 5.4GHz boost clock. Its 33MB L3 cache is the smallest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 64MB. Its 5.4GHz boost clock is the lowest in this group; the Ryzen 9 7900X leads at 5.6GHz.
Nothing else here matches its 20 cores core count; the Ryzen 9 7900X comes closest at 12 cores. No other pick in this guide offers an LGA1700 socket; compare the Ryzen 9 7900X, which has an AM5 socket. It fits LGA1700 boards (600 and 700 series) with either DDR4 or DDR5, depending on the board; 600-series boards may need a BIOS update for 14th-gen chips. Only the Ryzen 9 9900X came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks.
Key specs
- L3 cache
- 33MB
- Max boost
- 5.4GHz
- Cores / threads
- 20 cores
- Socket
- LGA1700
- Cooler in box
- Yes
Pros
- 20 cores for encoding and background work
- Wraith Stealth cooler in the box
- 8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores
- Intel Laminar RM1 cooler in the box
Cons
- L3 cache trails the Ryzen 9 7900X (64MB)
- Boost clock trails the Ryzen 9 7900X (5.6GHz)
- No published rated power
The catch
It gives ground on L3 cache, where the Ryzen 9 7900X offers 64MB.
How We Chose
Alex Morgan compared the manufacturer specifications, connectivity, warranty terms and compatibility of every pick. Figures come from the makers unless a third-party source is named; we did not test these products ourselves.
- The figures behind the order
- We compared three processors on L3 cache, boost clock, core count and rated power, using each maker's published specs. These are research figures, not bench results: 1 of 3 picks leave out rated power.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the Ryzen 9 7900X to the Core i7-14700, state L3 cache, boost clock and core count.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Core i7-14700 gives no rated power; the Core i7-14700 gives no threads.
- Price range
- From the Ryzen 9 7900X to the Core i7-14700, all sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked.
What to Look for in a CPUs for 1440p Gaming
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
L3 cache across these picks
Here L3 cache runs from 33MB on the Core i7-14700 to 64MB on the Ryzen 9 7900X, a 94% spread. If L3 cache is your first filter, the Ryzen 9 7900X sets the ceiling at 64MB.
Boost clock
The Ryzen 9 7900X tops boost clock at 5.6GHz and the Core i7-14700 sits lowest at 5.4GHz; 2 picks share the top figure. Start with the Ryzen 9 7900X if boost clock decides it.
A desktop CPU seated in its motherboard socket with the retention frame open Core count
Across these 3 picks core count spans 12 cores (the Ryzen 9 9900X) to 20 cores (the Core i7-14700). Start with the Core i7-14700 if core count decides it.
Cooler in box
The Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 9 9900X go without; the Core i7-14700 has it. Sort out cooler in box before price: it splits 3 stated picks into groups of 2 and 1.
Features beyond the spec table
The Ryzen 9 7900X: a 5nm process. The Ryzen 9 9900X: the Zen 5 architecture. The Core i7-14700: an Intel Laminar RM1 cooler in the box.
How to Choose a CPUs for 1440p Gaming
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spending as little as possible, with the Ryzen 9 9900X the next step up | Ryzen 9 7900X | Undercutting the Ryzen 9 9900X on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want Zen 5 architecture | Ryzen 9 9900X | The Zen 5 architecture |
| Buyers who put core count first | Core i7-14700 | The highest core count here (20 cores) |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Ryzen 9 7900X leads on L3 cache at 64MB, ahead of the Ryzen 9 9900X at 64MB. "Not listed" marks rated power where the Core i7-14700 leaves the figure out.
| Processor | L3 cache | Max boost | Cores / threads | Rated power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 9 7900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 170W |
| Ryzen 9 9900X | 64MB | 5.6GHz | 12 cores | 120W |
| Core i7-14700 | 33MB | 5.4GHz | 20 cores | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Ryzen 9 7900X compare with the Core i7-14700 on core count?
Between the top two, it is 20 cores on the Core i7-14700 against 12 cores on the Ryzen 9 7900X, a 67% difference.
Is the Ryzen 9 9900X ahead of the Ryzen 9 7900X on rated power?
The Ryzen 9 9900X comes out best at 120W, with the Ryzen 9 7900X at 170W. The Core i7-14700 doesn't state a rated power figure, so it sits outside this comparison; 2 of 3 picks are ranked.
Is the Core i7-14700 worth paying more than the Ryzen 9 7900X?
On paper it adds core count (20 cores against 12 cores). It does not win everywhere: the Ryzen 9 7900X still leads on L3 cache (64MB) and boost clock (5.6GHz). Both sat in the $250 to $500 tier when we checked, so the gains in core count cost little extra by tier.
What makes the Core i7-14700 the Highest Core Count?
It earns the label for the highest core count here (20 cores). The Ryzen 9 7900X is next on core count at 12 cores, so this pick's 20 cores is 67% further out. It gives up L3 cache (33MB against 64MB) and boost clock (5.4GHz against 5.6GHz) to the Ryzen 9 7900X, the cheapest pick. It makes sense for anyone who puts core count first.
Do the Ryzen 9 7900X and the Core i7-14700 differ on socket?
The Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 9 9900X use AM5; the Core i7-14700 uses LGA1700.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Ryzen 9 7900X and the Ryzen 9 9900X apart?
The Ryzen 9 7900X: the Zen 4 architecture. The Ryzen 9 9900X: the Zen 5 architecture. The Core i7-14700: 8 P-cores plus 12 E-cores.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Ryzen 9 7900X, chosen for undercutting the Ryzen 9 9900X on price when we checked. Look at the Ryzen 9 9900X for the Zen 5 architecture and the Core i7-14700 for the highest core count here (20 cores) if those matter more to you.
X3D chips shine at high refresh 1440p.
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About the author
PC Hardware Editor
Alex covers PC hardware, monitors, components, upgrades and peripherals for The PC Journal, with a focus on helping readers understand specifications, compatibility and meaningful product trade-offs.
Covers: Monitors, Graphics cards, Processors, PC components, Peripherals, Upgrades and compatibility
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