I was planning to build a high-end gaming PC when the next NVIDIA SUPER cards arrive, but WoW Forever is running terribly on my current system, often staying around 30–40 FPS. My current PC is an MSI MAG Infinite 5 prebuilt with an Intel Core i7-11700F, GTX 1650, MSI H510M PRO motherboard, 16 GB of DDR4 memory, a 500 GB SSD, a 1 TB hard drive, and a 500 W FSP power supply.
There is also a reliability issue: after many major Windows updates, the computer sometimes fails to boot and enters automatic repair. I suspect the SSD may be failing, although the motherboard or Windows installation could also be responsible.
I am considering two approaches. I could build a completely new PC now and eventually repurpose the current one as a NAS or home server. Alternatively, I could keep the i7-11700F, H510 motherboard, and DDR4 memory for a few more months, while upgrading to an RTX 5070 Ti 16 GB, a 2–4 TB NVMe SSD, an 850–1000 W ATX 3.1 power supply, and possibly a better case. I could then replace the CPU, motherboard, and RAM later while reusing the GPU, SSD, and PSU.
I can afford a high-end build, but spending more than €3,000 right before newer GPUs and CPU platforms arrive feels poorly timed. I am also wondering whether a system built around something like a Ryzen 9 9850X3D and X870E would still have a worthwhile upgrade path if a major new platform appears around 2028 or 2029.
This is intended to be my last truly high-end gaming PC. I am 27 and expect to game heavily for another three or four years, although I will probably play more casually afterward. Besides WoW, I want to play demanding games such as Black Myth: Wukong and The Blood of Dawnwalker at high settings. Would you upgrade the GPU, PSU, and SSD now, or replace the entire system and enjoy a new PC immediately?
2 Answers
A fresh Windows installation is worth trying before assuming the motherboard is faulty. If the problem continues after reinstalling from a USB drive, test the SSD with its manufacturer's diagnostic tools and check the drive's SMART health data.
For a temporary upgrade, an RX 9070 XT paired with a good 750 W Gold-rated PSU should be a substantial improvement and should be enough for several years. That lets you replace the likely problem parts without committing to a complete platform rebuild immediately.
Building a new system now is also reasonable. A Ryzen 7 7800X3D, RX 9070 XT, 16 GB or preferably 32 GB of DDR5, and a sensible AM5 motherboard would cost well below €2,000 in many markets and would be a major leap over the current PC. Use a fast NVMe drive for Windows and another 1–2 TB drive for games if the budget allows.
That setup should already deliver excellent gaming performance, and a future socket change does not make it obsolete overnight. A high-end platform bought today will still be a strong gaming machine in several years, so waiting indefinitely for the next architecture is not necessarily better than enjoying the upgrade now.
My hesitation is that a 7800X3D and 9070 XT feels like a very good-value system that I might want to upgrade again in two or three years. Since I can afford a more powerful build and expect these next three or four years to be my heaviest gaming period, would that combination realistically be fast enough that another upgrade would not be worthwhile?
I have reinstalled Windows from USB about once a week while troubleshooting, so I am hoping the SSD is the issue. If the motherboard is actually failing, I may have to replace the whole platform. Would you choose the RX 9070 XT over the RTX 5070 Ti for this plan?