Safe option ?

[Abdd_Akour]

Hey so im confused between 9700k and 9700, ive Asus prime b360m-k motherboard, i know i should go for the locked CPU but they are the same price here, so my question is it safe to use the unlocked CPU ? if not does running it at base clock help ? since ill buy Z390 motherboard after couple months.

 

[newtekie1]

It will be fine using the unlocked CPU, you just won't be able to overclock it until you get a Z390 motherboard.

 

[Abdd_Akour]

It will be fine using the unlocked CPU, you just won't be able to overclock it until you get a Z390 motherboard.

Maybe but ive seen couple of people on YT running high end CPUs on budget motherboards while VRMs heat exceeding 90C.

 

[evernessince]

Maybe but ive seen couple of people on YT running high end CPUs on budget motherboards while VRMs heat exceeding 90C.

Hardware unboxed did a test with budget Z390 motherboards and a 9900K

Given that B class motherboards typically use lower end VRMs than Z class. Hardware Unboxed keeps their studio at a fixed 72f so really it will only get worse during summer. Your motherboard will likely throttle before any damage is caused but I really don't think always running them at their max is good either.

If you are going to get a Z class motherboard, I think it should be fine to get the 9700K, just make sure it's a good Z class motherboard. Otherwise get the 9700.

 

[newtekie1]

Maybe but ive seen couple of people on YT running high end CPUs on budget motherboards while VRMs heat exceeding 90C.

This is why PL1 and PL2 power states exist. The motherboard knows how much power it can deliver and will throttle the CPU to stay inside the power capability of the motherboard. The B360M-K has a really bad VRM, so chances are if you fully load the 9700K, it will throttle down to the base clock after a few seconds. It might even go below the base clock. But the real question is, how often do you plan to fully load the CPU? Most people rarely fully load an 8-core CPU.

 

[Jetster]

Get the unlocked one, better resale value. The 9700K is not the 9900K and uses less power. You will be fine

 

[Abdd_Akour]

This is why PL1 and PL2 power states exist. The motherboard knows how much power it can deliver and will throttle the CPU to stay inside the power capability of the motherboard. The B360M-K has a really bad VRM, so chances are if you fully load the 9700K, it will throttle down to the base clock after a few seconds. It might even go below the base clock. But the real question is, how often do you plan to fully load the CPU? Most people rarely fully load an 8-core CPU.

Get the unlocked one, better resale value. The 9700K is not the 9900K and uses less power. You will be fine

I think I'll get the 9700k and keep it at base clock or reduce the numbers of cores and threads.