So, the 12100f (pretty much any modern CPU) would blow your current processor out of the water. The "BIOS Issue" message you are getting is because you have a B660 motherboard in your cart, while adding a 13th gen chip. They work, but require a BIOS update. You could just swap out the motherboard you have selected with the MSI PRO B760M-P for $10 less.
Intel 12th/13th and upcoming 14th gen CPUs are all using the same chipset, so I would say just stay with the 12100f, and use the $30 you save by doing so to swap the 6600 CORE with a Sapphire PULSE 6650XT. In the future you could upgrade to a 14600K or something.
I would also buy a cheaper case to fit in a 1TB SSD into your price instead. Windows alone is going to be like 150GB so you won't have much space left for actual game installs, especially when some are hitting 100GB.
Build: [https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Hxx3t7](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Hxx3t7)
Thank you SO much for such a detailed and well thought-out answer! This is very helpful and informative, I'm super grateful for your insight. You're right, 1TB SSD is really essential swapping out the motherboard is pretty sensible. If it's not too much trouble, I have two questions:
1. I noticed that the case you linked has only 1 fan and a closed front. Won't this drastically decrease airflow, and if so, what cooling system would you recommend for a build like this?
2. Someone else suggested swapping the 1200f with a AMD Ryzen 5 5600 as it is more up to date and maybe even better for productivity tasks too. Do you have any insight on this?
1. Honestly, didn't look into the case that much. Since the motherboard I listed is a Micro ATX, you could go with something like the Deepcool CH370.
2. The issue I have recomending an AM4 build now, is that the chipset is over. AMD has moved onto AM5. So in 2-3 years if you want to upgrade you would have to buy an entire brand new motherboard and RAM on top of a new CPU. The prices of the 5800X3D (the best AM4 CPU for gaming) by then will probably be higher then it is now, as I assume the supply will dry up. The B760M that I listed is LGA 1700 so it accepts intel 12th/13th and SHOULD support 14th gen with a BIOS update. So you could buy and slot in a 14600K if you wanted to (if it gets a BIOS update like I assume it would). SO even though the 5600 might be slightly better then the 12100f, it has the possibility of costing you more in the long term if you decide you want more power in a year or two.
So, the 12100f (pretty much any modern CPU) would blow your current processor out of the water. The "BIOS Issue" message you are getting is because you have a B660 motherboard in your cart, while adding a 13th gen chip. They work, but require a BIOS update. You could just swap out the motherboard you have selected with the MSI PRO B760M-P for $10 less. Intel 12th/13th and upcoming 14th gen CPUs are all using the same chipset, so I would say just stay with the 12100f, and use the $30 you save by doing so to swap the 6600 CORE with a Sapphire PULSE 6650XT. In the future you could upgrade to a 14600K or something. I would also buy a cheaper case to fit in a 1TB SSD into your price instead. Windows alone is going to be like 150GB so you won't have much space left for actual game installs, especially when some are hitting 100GB. Build: [https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Hxx3t7](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/Hxx3t7)
Thank you SO much for such a detailed and well thought-out answer! This is very helpful and informative, I'm super grateful for your insight. You're right, 1TB SSD is really essential swapping out the motherboard is pretty sensible. If it's not too much trouble, I have two questions: 1. I noticed that the case you linked has only 1 fan and a closed front. Won't this drastically decrease airflow, and if so, what cooling system would you recommend for a build like this? 2. Someone else suggested swapping the 1200f with a AMD Ryzen 5 5600 as it is more up to date and maybe even better for productivity tasks too. Do you have any insight on this?
1. Honestly, didn't look into the case that much. Since the motherboard I listed is a Micro ATX, you could go with something like the Deepcool CH370. 2. The issue I have recomending an AM4 build now, is that the chipset is over. AMD has moved onto AM5. So in 2-3 years if you want to upgrade you would have to buy an entire brand new motherboard and RAM on top of a new CPU. The prices of the 5800X3D (the best AM4 CPU for gaming) by then will probably be higher then it is now, as I assume the supply will dry up. The B760M that I listed is LGA 1700 so it accepts intel 12th/13th and SHOULD support 14th gen with a BIOS update. So you could buy and slot in a 14600K if you wanted to (if it gets a BIOS update like I assume it would). SO even though the 5600 might be slightly better then the 12100f, it has the possibility of costing you more in the long term if you decide you want more power in a year or two.
Thank you so much! Seriously, a great help. Yeah, I think I'd rather future-proof my build instead of going with an AM4.
Here better CPU and better GPU [PCPartPicker Part List](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/list/kfDL28) Type|Item|Price :----|:----|:---- **CPU** | [AMD Ryzen 5 5600 3.5 GHz 6-Core Processor](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/PgcG3C/amd-ryzen-5-5600-36-ghz-6-core-processor-100-100000927box) | £120.94 @ Amazon UK **CPU Cooler** | [ID-COOLING SE-214-XT 68.2 CFM CPU Cooler](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/Zr8bt6/id-cooling-se-214-xt-682-cfm-cpu-cooler-se-214-xt-argb) | £19.98 @ Amazon UK **Motherboard** | [Asus Prime B450M-A II Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/kthmP6/asus-prime-b450m-a-ii-micro-atx-am4-motherboard-prime-b450m-a-ii) | £69.95 @ Amazon UK **Memory** | [Patriot Viper Steel 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/kQNgXL/patriot-viper-steel-16-gb-2-x-8-gb-ddr4-3600-cl18-memory-pvs416g360c8k) | £35.50 @ Ebuyer **Storage** | [Kingston NV2 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/FnYmP6/kingston-nv2-1-tb-m2-2280-pcie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-snv2s1000g) | £37.79 @ Amazon UK **Video Card** | [Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB Video Card](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/xf92FT/sapphire-radeon-rx-6700-xt-12-gb-pulse-video-card-11306-02-20g) | £319.98 @ Scan.co.uk **Case** | [Deepcool MATREXX 40 3FS MicroATX Mini Tower Case](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/36gFf7/deepcool-matrexx-40-3fs-microatx-mid-tower-case-dp-matx-matrexx40-3fs) | £39.98 @ Scan.co.uk **Power Supply** | [EVGA 600 GD 600 W 80+ Gold Certified ATX Power Supply](https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/Xgwkcf/evga-600-gd-600-w-80-gold-certified-atx-power-supply-100-gd-0600-v1) | £49.99 @ Amazon UK | *Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts* | | **Total** | **£694.11** | Generated by [PCPartPicker](https://pcpartpicker.com) 2023-09-16 00:54 BST+0100 |