I'm currently using a Ryzen 5 5600X with 32GB of DDR4 memory and an RTX 2070 Super. I can buy a bundle with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, an ASUS B650E motherboard, and 32GB of DDR5 for about $750, while reusing my current graphics card and hard drives. Since this PC is mainly for gaming, would that be a good upgrade, or would my money be better spent elsewhere?
3 Answers
For gaming performance per dollar, a stronger GPU such as a 9060 XT or 9070 XT would likely be a better first upgrade than replacing the CPU and RAM. The 5600X is still capable enough for many games, especially if you play at 1440p or higher. The 7800X3D bundle makes more sense if you also want a newer platform with an upgrade path or play CPU-heavy games at high refresh rates.
The platform bundle itself sounds solid, but I’d plan on upgrading the graphics card soon. A card in the 9060 XT or 9070 class should provide a much larger gaming improvement than moving from the 5600X to the 7800X3D while keeping the 2070 Super.
The downside is that those graphics cards can cost around $800 or more, so the total upgrade gets expensive very quickly.
If this is the usual Micro Center-style bundle, $750 is generally a strong price for the CPU, motherboard, and memory. That said, with an RTX 2070 Super, the graphics card will probably be the bigger gaming limitation. Your 5600X can still handle a much faster GPU, so you may get more noticeable results by upgrading the graphics card first—or choosing a less expensive X3D bundle and putting the savings toward the GPU.
Do you have any recommended brands for those cards? Also, would the 9060 XT be a worthwhile option if the 9070 XT is outside the budget?