I'm currently running an Intel 12700K with 16GB DDR4 and a 7900XT Hellhound, gaming mostly at 1440p with a refresh rate of 165Hz. I play a mix of titles like Horizon, Assassin's Creed, BF6, Spider-Man, Hades, FIFA, Forza Horizon, Dune: Imperium, and Witcher 3, with some gaming at 4K. I'm considering upgrading to a 9800X3D CPU and DDR5 RAM, especially since I found a decent bundle at Microcenter. My question is, will I notice a significant performance increase in my games with this upgrade?
5 Answers
If you're good with overclocking, your current setup can still shine. You could push your DDR4 to 3800-4000MHz and really squeeze out performance from the 12700K. Look at which games are GPU-bound for your system, as they won’t benefit much from a CPU upgrade.
Realistically, it all depends on the game. Some will benefit, while others won't see much gain. Your 12700K is still a reliable processor for most gaming needs.
While upgrading will give you a boost, it won't be like swapping out your GPU. If DDR5 prices are too high, it might not be the best investment right now.
You might not see a huge difference at 165Hz, especially since many games are GPU-bound. However, the overall experience should feel smoother with better lows and less stuttering, which is a nice bonus.
From my experience, moving to the 9800X3D will definitely provide you better performance in CPU-intensive games like Civilization VI, Cyberpunk 2077, and GTA 5. You'll also notice less heat and better stability overall—especially in high-demand games.
My RAM has been acting up lately, so I've had some issues too. Not sure if it’s the RAM or motherboard, but I've been stable for a couple of months now despite some BSODs.