I currently have a Ryzen 7 7700X and an RTX 5080 on the way to replace my RX 6800 XT. In my area, a Ryzen 7 7800X3D costs about $100 less than a 9800X3D on the used market. I mainly play AAA games such as Cyberpunk 2077, along with strategy games like Hearts of Iron IV, and I do not play competitive esports titles. Since my monitor runs at 1440p and 360Hz, I'm wondering whether the higher refresh rate makes the 9800X3D worthwhile. I've noticed some CPU-limited performance in dense areas of Cyberpunk and The Last of Us with another high-end GPU, so I'm considering whether upgrading from the 7700X would make a meaningful difference.
4 Answers
You could also keep the 7700X for now and upgrade later. For AAA games at 1440p, the GPU will usually be the limiting factor, and your current processor is still capable. If you want an immediate upgrade, choose the 7800X3D for value; choose the 9800X3D only if the $100 premium is unimportant and you want maximum longevity.
The 7800X3D is the better value choice and should not hold back a 5080 at 1440p in most games. The 9800X3D is faster, but outside of CPU-heavy situations or very high frame rates, you may not notice much difference without watching the frame-rate counter closely.
If you’re already spending for an RTX 5080, the extra $100 for the 9800X3D is reasonable. It gives you more headroom for demanding games and should keep the system relevant longer, even if the difference is small in many current titles.
For those games, the 7800X3D probably won’t be a major upgrade over your 7700X, and the 360Hz display only really changes the equation if you’re consistently targeting very high frame rates. Since you don’t play competitive games, saving the $100 makes more sense unless you specifically want the fastest option available.
That makes sense, although I have noticed CPU bottlenecks in crowded areas of Cyberpunk and The Last of Us with a high-end GPU. That’s why I’m wondering whether the extra CPU performance would be more useful with the 5080.