I recently upgraded my graphics card from an RTX 3060 Ti to a PowerColor RX 9070 Reaper, which I bought below MSRP. Most games improved noticeably, but some now perform worse than expected. After testing, I suspect my Ryzen 7 5700G is limiting performance in CPU-heavy titles.
My current system has a Gigabyte B450M Gaming motherboard, Ryzen 7 5700G, 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 memory, a 750W Gold+ power supply, and the RX 9070. I mainly play at 1080p and probably will not move to 1440p for at least another year, but I want an upgrade that will remain suitable when I eventually change resolutions.
I am considering either upgrading within AM4 to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D, which would cost roughly €400 including a cooler, or moving to AM5. A possible AM5 build with a B850M motherboard, 16GB of 5600MHz memory, and a Ryzen 9 9800X3D would cost around €750, while using a Ryzen 5 9600X would bring the cost closer to €550. I am also open to Intel if it offers better value.
Would the Ryzen 5 9600X be enough to avoid significantly bottlenecking the RX 9070 at 1080p, or would the 5800X3D or a higher-end AM5 processor be a better choice? In CPU-heavy games such as Helldivers 2, I currently see inconsistent performance below 40–50 FPS, while other titles can exceed 100 FPS after reducing CPU-related settings.
2 Answers
Before replacing the CPU, confirm that the processor is actually the limiting component in the games giving you trouble. A 5700G should still perform reasonably in many games, although it can struggle more in CPU-heavy titles than newer desktop CPUs. Check GPU utilization, individual CPU-core usage, frame-time graphs, temperatures, and whether you are running out of memory. Helldivers 2 can be particularly demanding on the CPU, so low and unstable frame rates there do not automatically mean every game will bottleneck.
The Ryzen 5 9600X is a sensible choice for this build. It should pair well with the RX 9070, and you can always add another 16GB memory module later. Just be aware that running only one stick will reduce memory performance, so a matched 2x16GB kit would be preferable if the budget allows.
So you don't expect the 9600X to hold back the RX 9070 significantly, even at 1080p?
The biggest issue is in CPU-intensive games such as Helldivers 2, where performance can drop below 40–50 FPS with major fluctuations. Other games, such as Subnautica 2, can reach over 100 FPS when I lower the CPU-related settings.