I'm currently running an Intel i9 10900K with 32GB of DDR4 RAM paired with an RTX 3080 Ti, and I'm gaming on an LG B2 as my main display. I just bought a 5090 GPU that came with an MSI Z890 motherboard (LGA 1851). Now, I'm wondering if upgrading to an i7 265 and DDR5 RAM will significantly boost my performance. I've noticed a 22% increase in benchmarks, but I'm not sure how that translates to real-world gaming scenarios. If I were practical, I'd just sell the motherboard and enjoy my 5090, but I'm leaning towards installing the new GPU and PSU in my current setup. Eventually, I might build an entirely new PC and give my 3080 to my partner. I've considered switching to AMD, but I'm stuck with that LGA 1851 board. Would love to hear some opinions on this!
4 Answers
A high-end AMD setup, like the 9800X3D with 6000 CL30 RAM, can be a solid choice with minimal hassle. However, if you're sticking with Intel, tuning your memory can help bridge the gap in performance. Since you’re gaming at 4K, that should smooth out some inconsistencies, but you'll definitely see differences across various games.
If you've already got the 15th gen Intel board, upgrading will definitely be worth it. I've seen benchmarks showing significant gains—almost 50 more FPS compared to the 10900K. Just make sure to get high-speed RAM to get the most out of it; the newer chips can handle that better than the old ones.
Good to know! Is the latency a big deal even with 8000 MHz RAM? I'm pretty set on getting the 265K. I feel so behind the times—building my last rig in 2016!
Honestly, it's a bit odd to pair such a powerful GPU with anything less than a high-end CPU. If you're satisfied with how your 10900K performs at 4K, maybe wait and see what Intel releases later this year. You could definitely sell that MSI board since it's not really worth it now, but it's up to you!
Yeah, I was hoping they'd continue with the LGA 1851 for another generation, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Switching to AMD is tempting, but I'd take a $200 hit on the motherboard resale. Still leaning towards the i7 265 and a new case.
It depends on what you mainly use your system for! If you're gaming with a 5090, you might not be making the most of that power with a 5-year-old CPU. It might be worth trying it out to see how it performs, but an upgrade is probably in your future.
Thanks for the input! I updated my post to clarify that I'm mainly gaming. I just realized my CPU is almost 5 years old—crazy! I think I’ll hold off on installing the 5090 for now and just plan for a whole new build soon.
You all have me worried about choosing the 265K over the 9800X3D! I get it—there's more performance at lower resolutions. I'm just trying to figure out the best path forward.