I'm planning ahead for my next PC upgrade. I recently replaced my case, power supply, and RTX 3060 with an RTX 5070, while keeping 32 GB of DDR4-3200 memory and a Ryzen 7 5700X. I'd like to eventually build a second computer for my girlfriend using the older parts, so I would need to replace my motherboard, memory, and CPU anyway.
The CPUs I'm considering are the Ryzen 7 9700X, Ryzen 9 9900X, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and Ryzen 7 9850X3D. I'd probably pair one with a new motherboard, 32 GB of DDR5-6000 CL30, and possibly a liquid cooler. The performance gains over my current processor seem fairly modest in average benchmarks, though, especially compared with the jump from my old GPU.
I mainly play games at 1440p, with some occasional video editing. Would it make more sense to stay with my current platform and buy a Ryzen 7 5800X3D, or should I move to a newer platform for the upgrade path? I'm concerned that the older CPU would only provide a small improvement, while the newer platform would cost around $800–$1,000 upfront.
3 Answers
First determine whether you’re actually CPU-limited. High-refresh 1080p gaming can benefit substantially from a faster processor, but at 1440p and especially 4K, the difference is usually much smaller. A 5800X3D or similar upgrade only makes sense if you find one at a very good price; otherwise, paying for a new motherboard, DDR5, and cooling for a modest immediate gain may not be worthwhile. You could keep the 5700X, build the second computer from the spare parts, and upgrade later when prices or performance make the move more compelling.
Those performance percentages are broad averages, so check benchmarks for the specific games and settings you use. At 1440p, the RTX 5070 will often be the limiting factor, meaning a new CPU may not feel much faster. If your current games run well, there may be no practical reason to spend that much yet. Since the old parts are going into a second build, moving to a newer platform can still be reasonable, but that’s more about starting a new upgrade path than getting an immediate dramatic gain.
If you’re committed to replacing the motherboard and memory for the second PC, I’d choose the newer platform rather than buying an expensive last-generation processor. For gaming, an X3D model such as the 9800X3D would be the sensible choice; the higher-end options are harder to justify unless you have a specific productivity workload. DDR5-6000 with reasonably tight timings is a good pairing. You probably don’t need liquid cooling for this class of CPU, since a good tower air cooler is quieter, cheaper, and easier to maintain.
The main benefit is having a worthwhile upgrade path later, not necessarily a night-and-day improvement today. If the complete new-platform cost feels excessive, keeping the current system until it actually limits your games is also perfectly valid.