Should I upgrade to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D or an RTX 5080 first?

Having used a 5800X3D with a 5080, I found that the newer CPU made a noticeable difference to frame pacing and GPU utilization. That said, the 5800X3D only makes sense as a temporary upgrade if you can find one at a reasonable price. Otherwise, keep the 5800X and put the money toward the AM5 build.

I’d honestly consider moving to AM5 now instead of investing in the old platform. A modern X3D processor paired with your 3080 Ti could show whether the CPU is holding you back, and you could upgrade the graphics card afterward. That also gives you a longer upgrade path.

The 5800X3D is probably the safer first step for Warzone. It should improve the CPU-limited situations, frame pacing, and minimum FPS without requiring you to replace your motherboard and memory. You can then upgrade the graphics card later when you actually need more GPU performance.

If you’re definitely moving to AM5 next year, I’d avoid buying an expensive 5800X3D now. Your 3080 Ti is still a capable card at that resolution, so either keep the current system or buy the 5080 first and carry it over to the new build later. Nothing meaningful is lost by reusing the GPU.

For a single upgrade, the graphics card is likely to produce the larger overall gain if you’re running high settings and want higher resolution or refresh rates. Just keep in mind that the 5800X can limit a powerful GPU in some Warzone scenarios, especially when chasing very high FPS. A discounted alternative GPU could also be worth considering rather than paying a premium for a 5080.