I'm currently gaming at 1440p with a Ryzen 7 9700X, RTX 5070 Ti, and 32GB of DDR5 memory. With concerns about how demanding GTA VI might be on the CPU, would switching to a 7800X3D and its extra 3D V-Cache meaningfully improve my chances of maintaining 60 FPS? The game's PC requirements and release timing are still unknown, so I'm mainly wondering whether upgrading now makes sense or if I should keep saving.
4 Answers
Your 9700X is already significantly stronger than the CPU used in the standard console hardware, so there’s no reason to assume it won’t run the eventual PC version. That doesn’t guarantee a particular frame rate, since optimization and graphics settings matter, but buying a new CPU now would mostly be speculation.
It’s much too early to upgrade specifically for GTA VI. The PC version may not arrive for quite a while, and there are no confirmed system requirements or reliable performance tests yet. By the time it launches, newer and faster processors may be available, while the 7800X3D could also be cheaper.
I’d save the money for now. When GTA VI is finally announced for PC, you’ll have actual requirements, benchmarks, and possibly better upgrade options such as a newer X3D processor. If you later encounter stuttering while the GPU isn’t fully utilized, then an X3D chip could be worth considering.
For 1440p gaming, moving from a 9700X to a 7800X3D probably won’t justify the cost in most games, especially if your GPU is the limiting factor. The 7800X3D can help in CPU-heavy or competitive titles, but GTA VI is still an unknown. Waiting and upgrading only when the game’s requirements are published is the safer choice.
The upgrade could make sense for very high-refresh 1080p competitive gaming, but that’s a different situation from 1440p and an unreleased game.