> torn between the i7-14700K and the i9-14900K. Honestly, the Intel Core i7-14700K 3.4 GHz 20-Core LGA 1700 is probably your best bet here. It has 20 cores and that extra bump in E-cores over the 13th gen really helps with heavy timeline scrubbing. You wont notice a massive difference in real-time playback compared to the i9, tho the i9 does export slightly faster. The Intel Core i9-14900K 3.2 GHz 24-Core LGA 1700 is a beast but the heat is no joke. Unless you're running a high-end cooler like the Arctic Liquid Freezer III 360 AIO, itll likely thermal throttle during long renders. Since you're on a deadline, the i7 is way more stable and easier to manage. Both use QuickSync which is basically magic for 4K. Put the saved money toward fast storage or RAM. You'll finish that project just fine.

I've been feeling pretty burned by these latest Intel chips lately, ngl. I actually picked up one for a studio build a few months back and it was a nightmare with stability issues during long exports. Its really disappointing because we used to rely on Intel for that rock-solid performance, but now it feels like you're constantly fighting the thermal limits and power draw just to finish a render. If you haven't yet, you really need to go look at the Puget Systems hardware articles for video editing. They have specific charts for multicam playback and timeline scrubbing that might change your mind about which tier you actually need for 4K. Quick question tho... what NLE are you actually using? Premiere and DaVinci Resolve handle those e-cores differently so it matters for your specific workflow. Also, what kind of case and cooling are you reusing from the dead rig? If your airflow is mid, even the i7 is gonna throttle and drive you crazy.

Same here!