I'm looking to upgrade my current setup from the R5 8400F and I'm trying to decide between the 7800X3D and the 9800X3D. I already have an AM5 motherboard (MSI B650M Gaming Plus WiFi) with 48GB of TeamGroup 6400MHz RAM and I'm using an RTX 5070 Ti GPU. My power supply is sufficient too (MSI A850GL) and my monitor supports 1440p at 165Hz. How noticeable is the performance difference between the 7800X3D and the 9800X3D for my gaming needs? I mainly play games like BeamNG, CS2, Fortnite, and Minecraft with mods and shaders, plus I'm looking forward to Arknights Endfield. The 7800X3D costs $350 and the 9800X3D is $540 (both prices include shipping); is the price hike worth it?
4 Answers
If you’re budget-conscious and enjoy keeping your money, the 7800X3D is clearly the way to go. That said, some believe the 9800X3D could be better for future-proofing, though we don’t know how long AM5 will last compared to AM4.
Honestly, at 1440p with your 5070 Ti, you'll probably be GPU-bound most of the time. That means the extra $190 for the 9800X3D is mainly for bragging rights. The 7800X3D will handle all your games excellently, especially CPU-demanding ones like BeamNG and modded Minecraft. I'd suggest saving that cash for a fun upgrade or something else!
The jump to 9800X3D for $540 just doesn't seem worth it. You get minimal extra performance for a hefty price tag. Stick with the 7800X3D—it’s a smarter buy!
Definitely go for the cheaper 7800X3D. Unless you're sporting a 5090, you really won't notice much difference in performance.
True, future-proofing is great, but the price difference is huge. I'd suggest saving that money for your next upgrade instead.