I currently have an RX 9070 XT, Ryzen 7 5800X, B450 Aorus Elite V2, 32GB of DDR4-3600 memory, and an 850W power supply. I'm planning to keep the graphics card and upgrade to a Ryzen 7 9800X3D with 32GB of DDR5-6000 CL30 memory. I'm considering the ASUS TUF Gaming X870E-Plus, but I'd appreciate advice on whether it's worth buying an X870E board or if a less expensive AM5 option would be just as good. Are there any other components I need to replace for this upgrade?
3 Answers
Your current system is already a very capable AM4 setup, especially with the RX 9070 XT. Unless you specifically need the extra CPU performance or find a genuinely good bundle deal, there isn’t much urgency to upgrade. Memory and storage prices are also worth considering before making the jump.
X870 is the newer feature-focused chipset, but most gaming builds don’t need everything it offers. A B850 motherboard should handle the 9800X3D perfectly well and could save you a substantial amount of money.
What kinds of features or use cases would actually justify choosing X870 or X870E over B850?
Only choose X870E if you need a specific feature, such as a particular collection of PCIe lanes, extra high-speed USB connectivity, or more expansion options. For a normal gaming setup, even a reasonably priced B850 board is enough. Your 850W power supply should also be adequate, assuming it’s a good-quality unit, and you’ll mainly need the new motherboard and DDR5 memory for the platform change.
That’s fair. I saw a bundle deal for the new platform and was tempted to take advantage of it, since I’m not sure prices will drop much in the near future.