I currently have an RTX 3070 paired with a Ryzen 5 5600X and 32GB of RAM. I mainly play competitive games such as Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, and Overwatch 2, but I also enjoy a wide range of story-driven games. I recently ordered a 280Hz 1440p OLED monitor and found a lightly used RX 9060 XT and RX 6900 XT for roughly the same price. Either upgrade would cost me about €150–€200 after selling my 3070. The 6900 XT is around €350, still has warranty coverage, and similar cards sell for €450 or more locally. Would either card be a meaningful upgrade, or should I keep the 3070 and save for something stronger later? If upgrading makes sense, which card would you choose and why? Also, should I keep my older 144Hz IPS monitor as a secondary display or sell it?
3 Answers
For very high frame rates in competitive games, your Ryzen 5 5600X may hold you back before the graphics card does. A CPU upgrade within the AM4 platform, such as a Ryzen 7 5800X3D or 5700X3D, could improve frame-time consistency and high-refresh performance more than moving from a 3070 to a 9060 XT.
The RX 9060 XT is only a small step up from the RTX 3070, so it probably isn’t worth paying €150–€200 for. The RX 6900 XT is noticeably faster in traditional rendering, but its advantages can shrink in games that benefit from newer upscaling features. Unless the 6900 XT is in excellent condition and the price is especially good, I’d keep the 3070 and save for a larger upgrade.
If you want a clearly meaningful graphics upgrade for 1440p OLED gaming, I’d wait and aim for something in the RX 9070 class or better. The older 144Hz IPS display is worth keeping as a second monitor unless you need the money or desk space; it’s useful for chat, guides, browsing, or monitoring applications while gaming.
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