I'm currently using an i5-12400 with an RTX 3060 and am considering moving to AM5 with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D and an RX 9070 GRE 12GB. My main concern is whether the graphics card would limit the processor, or whether this would be a sensible combination for gaming. I'm also considering the RX 9070 XT, but it costs about $170 more, so I'm unsure whether the extra performance is worth the price. Should I upgrade now, consider another GPU, or wait for newer processors?
4 Answers
For AAA gaming, having the GPU reach close to 100% usage is generally what you want. There isn’t one perfectly balanced pairing because the result depends on the game, resolution, settings, and target frame rate. The 7800X3D should be more than capable of keeping up with either graphics card. If the GPU has plenty of headroom at 1080p, moving to 1440p would also make better use of it.
You could update the BIOS and keep your current platform by pairing the existing motherboard with a 14600KF and a 9070 XT. That could save money on a new motherboard and possibly new memory. However, moving to AM5 makes sense if you want a newer upgrade path and would rather avoid investing further in the older LGA 1700 platform.
I considered that option, but I’d rather move to a newer platform so I can keep the system for a while. I also don’t want to deal with the concerns surrounding 14th-generation Intel chips.
If the budget allows, the RX 9070 XT would be the more attractive long-term GPU choice, especially if you’re gaming at 1440p or using demanding settings. Waiting is another option if you aren’t in a hurry, since newer CPU generations are expected later and could change pricing, although there’s no guarantee they’ll offer better value for your budget.
Do we know how expensive the next-generation CPUs are expected to be? I’m wondering whether waiting would actually be worthwhile.
The CPU probably won’t be the limiting part of this build. Choose the GPU based on the games you play, the resolution you use, and the frame rate you want, then make sure the processor can keep it fed. With a 7800X3D, the graphics card will usually be the constraint in demanding games, which is preferable for a gaming-focused system.
The 9070 XT is around $170 more where I’m shopping, so I’m trying to figure out whether the added performance justifies that price difference.