PO3-640 (i5-12400F) Upgrade to i5-14600K — Is It Possible?

Tyla

Hi everyone,

I’m running a Predator Orion 3000 PO3-640 with the following specs:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
• RAM: 32 GB DDR4
• Stock configuration with the factory PSU and cooler

I’m looking into upgrading the CPU to an i5-14600K and would appreciate insights from those who have done similar upgrades on a PO3-640 or know about its limitations. Specifically, I’m wondering:

1. Chipset/Motherboard Compatibility – The PO3-640 uses an LGA1700 socket and a B660 (or similar) motherboard. Will this support a 14th-gen “K” CPU like the i5-14600K (architecturally newer) after a BIOS update?
2. BIOS/Microcode Support – Has Acer released a BIOS update for the PO3-640 that explicitly supports 14th-gen Intel CPUs (especially unlocked “K” models)? If not, is it effectively locked to 12th-gen?
3. Power & Cooling Headroom – Since the i5-14600K draws more power under load and may run hotter than the i5-12400F, can the stock PSU and OEM cooler in the PO3-640 handle the upgrade without requiring a PSU or cooling overhaul?
4. Unlocked “K” Series Considerations – As the i5-14600K is unlocked, can the PO3-640 motherboard/BIOS fully leverage it (including multiplier/boost), or will it simply run at standard levels? Would a non-K 14th-gen or high end 12th-gen be a safer upgrade path?
5. Practical Limitations from Other Users – If you’ve upgraded your PO3-640 (or similar Acer Orion system) to a higher gen CPU, please share what model you used, whether any BIOS updates were needed, how cooling/thermal behaviour is, and whether you needed to upgrade the PSU or cooler.

Any advice, experience or gotchas (especially from this exact model PO3-640) would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Puraw

Hi Tyla,

The Predator Orion 3000 PO3‑640 uses the LGA1700 socket, so the CPU is not soldered. However, the upgrade you asked about — moving from an i5‑12400F to an i5‑14600K — is not possible on this model.

• The i5‑14600K is a 14th‑Gen unlocked CPU, and Acer’s PO3‑640 BIOS does not include support for 14th‑Gen processors. Without the proper microcode, the system will not boot.
• Even if it did, the 14600K is a 125 W K‑series chip designed for Z‑series motherboards with stronger VRMs and cooling. The proprietary Acer board and stock cooler in the PO3‑640 are not built for that power draw.

Realistic upgrade options:

• Within 12th‑Gen: you can move up to i7‑12700F or i9‑12900F, which are officially supported.
• Some 13th‑Gen non‑K CPUs (e.g. i5‑13400F, i7‑13700F) may work if the BIOS is updated, but you must confirm compatibility in Acer’s release notes.
• 14th‑Gen CPUs, especially K‑series like the 14600K, are not supported.

Summary: The CPU is socketed and replaceable, but the upgrade path stops at 12th‑Gen (and possibly some 13th‑Gen non‑K). The i5‑14600K will not work in the PO3‑640.