The Intel Core i7-9700K is a heavy-duty CPU that can handle Metro Exodus at the highest settings and resolutions, and it provides all the processing power that the best GPUs out right now need. It's expensive as far as CPUs go, but it's ultimately worth it in the long run since you won't need to worry about upgrading for a long time.
Who should buy this CPU?
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The Intel Core i7-9700K is best suited for people who want to play Metro Exodus on its absolute best-looking settings and resolutions, as well as for people looking to future proof their systems and not worry about upgrades for a long time. It's worth mentioning that it may not be worth it for people using low or mid-tier GPUs, though, since the less-impressive graphics card will lead to the bottlenecking. Therefore, it's best to pair the i7-9700K with a high-quality GPU.
Is it a good time to buy this phone?
Absolutely. Right now, there's not much competition aside from some of Intel's earlier models, which offer a noticeably lower performance despite being very similar in pricing, and a couple of AMD models. Due to this, it isn't likely that this CPU will drop in price in any significant way any time soon, so there's no reason to avoid buying now.
What makes the Intel Core i7-9700K amazing?
Right now, the Intel Core i7-9700K is the cream of the crop when it comes to processing power, and it doesn't look like that's going to change anytime soon. Any high-end GPU, such as the pricier variants of NVIDIA's new line of RTX cards, benefit significantly from a strong CPU as they effectively tell the GPU what to do. This is where the immense capabilities of the i7-9700K really shine, as it fully enables graphics cards like the RTX 2080 Ti to work their magic.
The Intel Core i7-9700K is the cream of the crop when it comes to processing power
On top of this, a beefy processor also makes your system run much faster in general, which will be an improvement you'll notice and subsequently love when doing work tasks or browsing the internet.
That being said, a juggernaut like the i7-9700K can become handicapped by weaker GPUs that aren't as advanced as recent high-end models. Therefore, you may wish to consider some alternative options if you own a graphics card like this and are planning on playing Metro Exodus on settings underneath the maximum.
Alternatives to the Intel Core i7-9700K
While the Intel Core i7-9700K is the best option, it's also expensive. If you have a budget or worry about a GPU bottleneck, it may not be the best choice for you. Thankfully, there are two great alternatives.
The Intel Core i5-8400 is a middleman pick between the weaker i3-8100 and the beefy i7-9700K. It won't be able to handle Metro Exodus at its Ultra or Extreme settings with higher-than-standard resolutions, but it can smoothly run the game at High settings on 1080p, making it fantastic for the average gamer using a mid-range system.
The i3-8100 is the best option for gamers on a budget, as its processing power, while not amazing, is still enough to comfortably run Metro Exodus on Medium when paired with a decent GPU. It's far from an amazing visual experience, but Metro Exodus still looks great even on its lower settings like Medium, which means you'll still have a wonderful time with the game.
Bottom line
At the end of the day, the Intel Core i7-9700K is the best CPU on the market right now, offering amazing power that you're going to need if you want to play Metro Exodus at its best-looking settings. It's expensive, but it's overall worth the investment since you'll be future-proofing your PC and giving yourself the absolute best experience possible.
