I'm planning a GPU upgrade for my AM4 gaming system. My current RTX 3060 Ti is starting to struggle, especially in newer and competitive games, and I want stronger performance for upcoming titles. My system has a Ryzen 7 5700X3D, ASRock B550 Pro4, 32GB of DDR4-3200 memory, and a 700W Aerocool King Power PSU. I'll be gaming at 4K. Would a refurbished RTX 4090 for £1,427 be excessive for this platform, even though it includes a two-year store warranty? I'm also considering an RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, or used RTX 3080 Ti/4080 at similar or lower prices. Would I need to replace the PSU for these cards, and which option offers the best balance of performance and value?
4 Answers
I’d be cautious about buying an RTX 4090 at that price. It’s extremely fast, but the price premium may not make sense when a 4080-class card, 9070 XT, or similar option can handle 4K well with upscaling. The RTX 5080 and 4090 also need a stronger, reputable PSU, so factor that into the total cost.
The RX 9070 XT is worth considering. It offers strong 1440p and 4K performance and is generally a much better value than an overpriced RTX 4090 or current high-end 50-series cards. AMD’s main trade-offs are weaker ray tracing and a less mature upscaling and frame-generation feature set compared with Nvidia, so Nvidia may still be preferable if those features matter to you.
The 5700X3D is not a major limitation for 4K gaming. If you find a good deal, even an RX 7800 XT can play most games well at 4K with sensible settings and upscaling. A 9070 XT would provide more longevity, while a used 4080 could also be a good choice if its condition and price are reasonable.
The Ryzen 7 5700X3D should pair well with virtually any of these GPUs at 4K, since the workload will usually be GPU-limited. A 4090 would work technically, but £1,427 is a lot for an older card, and its recommended 850W PSU makes your current 700W unit unsuitable. A quality 850W or higher PSU would be the safer choice.
I’ll upgrade the PSU regardless if the new card needs more headroom. Since I’ll be playing at 4K, I’m mainly trying to decide whether the 4090 is worth paying for over newer or cheaper alternatives.
I’ve always used Nvidia, so I’m not familiar with the downsides of switching to AMD. The value of the 9070 XT is tempting, though, especially if it lets me avoid a PSU upgrade.