I've been given some 2x16GB DDR5 4800 CL40 RAM, and I'm trying to decide if I should upgrade my setup. Currently, I have a 5700X3D, 32GB of DDR4 3600 CL18 RAM, and a 5070 Ti. From what I've read, the 9800X3D doesn't seem to be too affected by slower RAM speeds, with game performance dropping by only 1-3% in FPS. Additionally, I could sell my current CPU for around £200-250, my DDR4 for about £40 for a pair, and my motherboard for about £70. Do you think I should go ahead with the upgrade now that I have the RAM, especially considering current DDR5 prices?
5 Answers
It's definitely a choice you can make! Since you've got the DDR5 RAM for free, it helps mitigate costs, especially since RAM prices are pretty high right now. So, upgrading could be worth it if you're looking to boost your gaming experience.
It's wise to make the shift since DDR4 and AM4 chips are rising in price too. You won’t see a massive performance loss with the RAM you have. Sometimes I even see my system default back to 4800 MHz and it hardly affects gameplay!
You'll likely see a boost in performance by switching to the 9800X3D. It may not be drastic, but you'll start stepping into the next generation of CPUs and get more out of your current 5070 Ti.
Go for it! The 9800X3D will definitely lead to better performance compared to the 5700X3D, even with the 4800 MHz RAM. Most games should run smoothly, and you'll be set up for future upgrades with the better CPU.
You might notice some drop in performance if you go with 4800 MHz RAM instead of 6000 MHz, but it won't be game-breaking. A lot of users with the 9800X3D say it handles slower RAM surprisingly well. You could keep that RAM until you find a better deal down the line!
So it sounds like I could manage with the 4800 kit for now without a huge hit to performance? I'll probably wait until DDR5 prices drop before fully investing in faster RAM.
Yeah, exactly! The 3D Cache seems to minimize the impact, so you should be fine for the time being.