My current setup is a Ryzen 5 5600X, Radeon RX 6800 XT, 16GB of DDR4, an 850W Gold-rated PSU, and a 1440p 144Hz monitor. The 6800 XT still delivers over 100 FPS in many games at high settings, but I occasionally play CPU-heavy titles such as Total War and sometimes notice poor 1% lows.
I have been considering an AM5 upgrade with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and an MSI B850 Gaming Plus WiFi ATX motherboard. The motherboard and CPU would cost about $434 in Hong Kong. I would also need 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 memory using two 16GB Hynix-based modules. The memory is sold as a bulk pack, so I am unsure whether it will be reliable and compatible with the motherboard.
The alternative is upgrading the graphics card to an RX 9070 XT for around $800, potentially reducing the cost to about $550 after selling my 6800 XT for approximately $250. I know the GPU upgrade would provide more average FPS, but I am leaning toward the CPU platform upgrade because of the CPU-heavy games and occasional 1% low issues. Which upgrade makes more sense, and is the bulk DDR5 kit a concern?
2 Answers
Your current system is already well balanced for 1440p, so there is no urgent need to upgrade. If your average FPS is already where you want it, waiting for lower prices or a newer generation could be the better value. The 9070 XT would be a clearer upgrade in GPU-heavy games, but it may not solve CPU-related stutter or weak 1% lows.
Since the 6800 XT is still handling 1440p well, I would prioritize the CPU and platform upgrade if Total War and similar CPU-heavy games are important to you. A 7800X3D should improve CPU-limited performance and 1% lows, while a 9070 XT would mainly help when you are GPU-limited. DDR5-6000 CL30 with two 16GB modules is generally an excellent pairing for AM5, and the fact that the kit is sold as bulk does not automatically make it incompatible. Just check the motherboard's memory support list and enable the appropriate EXPO profile after installation.
I considered simply getting the best AM4 processor, but local pricing is unusual: the 7800X3D is around 2,000 HKD, while the 5800X3D is closer to 2,800 HKD. That makes moving to AM5 seem more attractive.
The average FPS is usually good; it is mostly the occasional poor 1% lows that bother me. I am also wondering whether DDR5 prices might fall, so waiting could make sense if there is no immediate need.