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The story
With DDR5 memory prices skyrocketing, a thread on 5ch’s Hardware/Industry (Geha) board proposed building a new PC around a still-usable DDR4 setup. The Intel Core i5-14400F emerged as a budget-friendly candidate, but most replies brought up the degradation and instability issues reported with Intel’s 13th and 14th-gen CPUs, citing cases where even microcode updates failed to fix the problem, and urged caution. Meanwhile, posters also noted rising prices for AMD’s Ryzen 5000 series, highlighting just how difficult it’s become to build a DDR4 system at all these days.
What people said
Can't afford DDR5 RAM, so I'm getting a DDR4 motherboard.
What I really want is something like a Ryzen 7700, but that means a DDR5 board.
What I really want is something like a Ryzen 7700, but that means a DDR5 board.
If you've got any other option, stay away from Intel's 13th/14th gen.
Re: #7
But it has to be 13th/14th gen, or you can't use DDR4 memory.
Also, if it's brand new, it shouldn't get degraded by that bug, right?
But it has to be 13th/14th gen, or you can't use DDR4 memory.
Also, if it's brand new, it shouldn't get degraded by that bug, right?
Re: #1
If it's Cities: Skylines II you're after, not the first one, you'd want something like a 14700K–14900K. In that case,
you absolutely have to apply the fix for that infamous issue properly.
If it's Cities: Skylines II you're after, not the first one, you'd want something like a 14700K–14900K. In that case,
you absolutely have to apply the fix for that infamous issue properly.
Re: #8
There's no way I can afford something that ridiculously expensive.
There's no way I can afford something that ridiculously expensive.
If you're not planning on Cities: Skylines II, the 5800X3D is the obvious pick… but Cities: Skylines II, huh…
Re: #11
Isn't that quite a bit older than the 14400?
Is it still the better choice even so?
Isn't that quite a bit older than the 14400?
Is it still the better choice even so?
Isn't the 5000 series even for sale anymore?
Aren't Ryzens usually recommended for a DDR4 build?
Aren't Ryzens usually recommended for a DDR4 build?
Re: #15
Well, the 14400 shouldn't be affected
I believe it's structurally excluded from the bug.
Re: #14
You mean the Ryzen 5000 series?
Is the 14400 really that bad?
Well, the 14400 shouldn't be affected
I believe it's structurally excluded from the bug.
Re: #14
You mean the Ryzen 5000 series?
Is the 14400 really that bad?
Re: #9
There is.
That whole thing happens in the first place because it pushes the microarchitecture way beyond what it was designed for.
There are screams echoing all over the place from people who swapped in a 'fixed' chip and got hit a second time anyway.
The combo of "Fixed with microcode 0x12B!" followed by "Just kidding!" was a thing of beauty.
There is.
That whole thing happens in the first place because it pushes the microarchitecture way beyond what it was designed for.
There are screams echoing all over the place from people who swapped in a 'fixed' chip and got hit a second time anyway.
The combo of "Fixed with microcode 0x12B!" followed by "Just kidding!" was a thing of beauty.
Re: #13
In games it's a bit weaker than the 14900K, especially on minimum FPS.
But the whole 13th/14th gen lineup is basically a time bomb — you never know when it'll fail.
The honest truth is people are only forcing this obviously bad recommendation because of the special case of Cities: Skylines II.
In games it's a bit weaker than the 14900K, especially on minimum FPS.
But the whole 13th/14th gen lineup is basically a time bomb — you never know when it'll fail.
The honest truth is people are only forcing this obviously bad recommendation because of the special case of Cities: Skylines II.
Re: #19
The ones that are 'obviously bad' are the ones like the 600K that are said to fail, right?
Doesn't that have nothing to do with the 400 series?
The ones that are 'obviously bad' are the ones like the 600K that are said to fail, right?
Doesn't that have nothing to do with the 400 series?
You'd get better value and more stable gaming just buying a PS5.
Re: #22
Steam has the biggest game library, though.
Steam has the biggest game library, though.
I can only spend around 30,000 yen.
The Ryzen 7700 is a fantastic CPU and easily affordable on AliExpress at that budget
but it needs DDR5, so that's out.
Searching within that constraint, I landed on the 14400F as my conclusion.
Is there a better option than that?
Re: #22
I already have a PS5, but my PC's motherboard is falling apart, so
I want to replace the motherboard, CPU, and power supply.
The Ryzen 7700 is a fantastic CPU and easily affordable on AliExpress at that budget
but it needs DDR5, so that's out.
Searching within that constraint, I landed on the 14400F as my conclusion.
Is there a better option than that?
Re: #22
I already have a PS5, but my PC's motherboard is falling apart, so
I want to replace the motherboard, CPU, and power supply.
Re: #1
DDR4 is totally fine, but that CPU is a bit too weak.
Here's a 13700 running at 180W:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRXBXf0aUAAjbqx.jpg
If you just swap the GPU you can go as far as you want, but even a 4060 handles everything fine right now.
Runs Gears E-Day with room to spare too
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRXB2nrawAEyKV4.jpg
As for the 14400 you're torn on, it caps out around 120W, so performance will hit a ceiling and you'll be relying on the 4060 alone to carry the load — I think it'll end up just okay.
Though not having to worry about cooling means you won't need to buy a bunch of extra stuff, so that could be a plus.
I spent a fair amount of money cooling my absurdly hot CPU 'quietly' with air cooling.
DDR4 is totally fine, but that CPU is a bit too weak.
Here's a 13700 running at 180W:
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRXBXf0aUAAjbqx.jpg
If you just swap the GPU you can go as far as you want, but even a 4060 handles everything fine right now.
Runs Gears E-Day with room to spare too
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/HRXB2nrawAEyKV4.jpg
As for the 14400 you're torn on, it caps out around 120W, so performance will hit a ceiling and you'll be relying on the 4060 alone to carry the load — I think it'll end up just okay.
Though not having to worry about cooling means you won't need to buy a bunch of extra stuff, so that could be a plus.
I spent a fair amount of money cooling my absurdly hot CPU 'quietly' with air cooling.
Re: #30
The 13th/14th gen really do run scorching hot
as someone devoted to air cooling, I hit my limit with them.
Switching from a 13700K to a 9800X3D made things a lot quieter.
That era was rough.
The 13th/14th gen really do run scorching hot
as someone devoted to air cooling, I hit my limit with them.
Switching from a 13700K to a 9800X3D made things a lot quieter.
That era was rough.
Re: #30
If it's only about 4060-level performance, doesn't that mean the 14400 is fine?
Re: #35
I don't want to pay something like 70,000 yen just for memory, so that's a no-go.
Not happening.
If it's only about 4060-level performance, doesn't that mean the 14400 is fine?
Re: #35
I don't want to pay something like 70,000 yen just for memory, so that's a no-go.
Not happening.
Actually, when I googled it, the Ryzen 5700 and 5800 aren't even in stock and are ridiculously expensive.
Can't really put those on the table as options.
Can't really put those on the table as options.
Re: #34
Did you check Kakaku.com (Japan's price-comparison site)?
Did you check Kakaku.com (Japan's price-comparison site)?
It'll cost more with DDR5, but going the safe route with AM5 is the better call. You'll only need to swap the CPU down the line, and prices will come down eventually.
I looked around a bit and found motherboard+CPU bundle deals too.
If you're not planning to overclock the memory anyway, a stock-clocked 16GBx2 (32GB) A-DATA kit comes in under 70,000 yen.
If clock speed matters to you, you'd be running XMP or EXPO anyway, in which case just buying 64GB from the start ends up being the better deal.
https://www.ark-pc.co.jp/setitem?code=699992005
I looked around a bit and found motherboard+CPU bundle deals too.
If you're not planning to overclock the memory anyway, a stock-clocked 16GBx2 (32GB) A-DATA kit comes in under 70,000 yen.
If clock speed matters to you, you'd be running XMP or EXPO anyway, in which case just buying 64GB from the start ends up being the better deal.
https://www.ark-pc.co.jp/setitem?code=699992005
Like I said, the PS5 is just better — more stable gaming and all.
Re: #39
I already said I have one.
I just want to upgrade my PC because the motherboard and stuff are wearing out.
I already said I have one.
I just want to upgrade my PC because the motherboard and stuff are wearing out.
I figured forget Intel, the cheap 5700X would do
but it's now 27,000 yen.
It was only 11,000 yen last summer.
but it's now 27,000 yen.
It was only 11,000 yen last summer.
Re: #55
Where's it 27,000 yen?
Where's it 27,000 yen?
Re: #58
My bad
AliExpress.
My bad
AliExpress.
Re: #58
Sorry, again
it was actually 22,000 yen on AliExpress.
Sorry, again
it was actually 22,000 yen on AliExpress.
If you're branching out beyond just Skylines, the 5700X is fine.
It's simulation-style games in particular where you just can't compromise on CPU, which is how you end up in this situation.
It's simulation-style games in particular where you just can't compromise on CPU, which is how you end up in this situation.
Re: #69
I actually do more stuff on the PS5
than on the PC.
I just want the PC around for things like YouTube or having a browser window open.
I actually do more stuff on the PS5
than on the PC.
I just want the PC around for things like YouTube or having a browser window open.
Re: #72
If you do more on it, wouldn't a PS5 Pro make more sense?
If you do more on it, wouldn't a PS5 Pro make more sense?
Re: #72
If you're agonizing over price with that kind of usage, just giving up on Cities: Skylines II would be the quickest solution.
If you're agonizing over price with that kind of usage, just giving up on Cities: Skylines II would be the quickest solution.
AMD CPUs were only good in the sense of decent performance for low power draw.
If I were buying now, I'd go Intel.
If I were buying now, I'd go Intel.
There's no point buying DDR4 at this stage.
If you're an Intel person, you'd be better off waiting for the next-gen CPU planned for January 2027
Nova Lake-S (Core Ultra 400 series)
The platform's moving to a new LGA1954 socket too.
If you're an Intel person, you'd be better off waiting for the next-gen CPU planned for January 2027
Nova Lake-S (Core Ultra 400 series)
The platform's moving to a new LGA1954 socket too.
Re: #83
The 'just build with DDR4' idea has been floating around for quite a while now.
The 'just build with DDR4' idea has been floating around for quite a while now.
Re: #83
I'm not particularly an Intel person
I just don't want to buy memory at these ridiculous prices.
Memory really is priced insanely right now.
Re: #84
I'd just like to be able to run Cities reasonably well.
Though it sounds like even on the lowest graphics settings, 100,000 population is about the cap.
I'm not particularly an Intel person
I just don't want to buy memory at these ridiculous prices.
Memory really is priced insanely right now.
Re: #84
I'd just like to be able to run Cities reasonably well.
Though it sounds like even on the lowest graphics settings, 100,000 population is about the cap.
Re: #83
Maybe it's not so much 'buying new DDR4' as 'reusing DDR4 I already have.'
As for so-so DDR4, I've got leftovers like a 2400MHz 2x4GB kit, and 2666MHz 2x8GB and 2x16GB kits.
Pull them out of PCs that are barely used anymore and that's 2-3 more sets.
Maybe it's not so much 'buying new DDR4' as 'reusing DDR4 I already have.'
As for so-so DDR4, I've got leftovers like a 2400MHz 2x4GB kit, and 2666MHz 2x8GB and 2x16GB kits.
Pull them out of PCs that are barely used anymore and that's 2-3 more sets.
Re: #81
Makes no sense.
A guy talking about a low-end chip like the 14400F
calling the 5500X3D 'low performance' — doesn't seem like this conversation is going to connect.
Makes no sense.
A guy talking about a low-end chip like the 14400F
calling the 5500X3D 'low performance' — doesn't seem like this conversation is going to connect.
Re: #89
Well, how would I know?
All I have to go on is CPU performance rankings,
and by those the 5700 and 14400 look about equal, don't they?
Even AI says they're about the same.
Well, how would I know?
All I have to go on is CPU performance rankings,
and by those the 5700 and 14400 look about equal, don't they?
Even AI says they're about the same.
Re: #95
Just remember: X3D chips are exceptionally strong for gaming.
Go ahead and ask AI about that too.
Just remember: X3D chips are exceptionally strong for gaming.
Go ahead and ask AI about that too.
Re: #98
Really?
Does it work great for Cities too?
Then the 5700X3D sounds good.
The 5500 seems to have low raw CPU performance anyway.
Re: #99
I'll reuse the 16GB I already have and add another 16GB.
Really?
Does it work great for Cities too?
Then the 5700X3D sounds good.
The 5500 seems to have low raw CPU performance anyway.
Re: #99
I'll reuse the 16GB I already have and add another 16GB.
Re: #98
Just make sure to mention it only applies to single-CCD models — don't half-ass it, keyboard warrior (エアプ, slang for someone who talks big without ever actually playing/trying it).
Just make sure to mention it only applies to single-CCD models — don't half-ass it, keyboard warrior (エアプ, slang for someone who talks big without ever actually playing/trying it).
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
Regarding Intel’s 13th and 14th-gen CPUs (Raptor Lake), reports of degradation and instability blamed on voltage settings under heavy load began surfacing around 2024, and even after Intel announced a fix via microcode update, many continued to report no improvement. That said, the chips said to be most affected are mainly the higher-end “K” models, with some viewing lower-tier chips like the 14400F as unaffected — and this difference in perception became a key point of disagreement within the thread. Meanwhile, DDR5 memory continues to face shortages and price hikes, which is part of why older, DDR4-compatible builds are being reconsidered on budget grounds. As for AMD’s X3D lineup, it was also pointed out that models with cache split across two CCDs see much less benefit, a point worth keeping in mind when choosing a specific model.
※This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Hardware/Industry [Geha]) thread “Sorry, but I want to build a new PC and I’m stuck with a DDR4 motherboard — how’s the Intel 14400F as a CPU???”.
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