I'm upgrading the final part of my gaming PC after recently replacing the CPU and RAM. My current setup is running Linux with a Ryzen 7 5800X3D, Prime B450M-K II motherboard, 32GB of DDR4-3200 memory, an Nvidia RTX 3060 12GB, and a 650W power supply. I play on a 3840×2160 60Hz monitor and would prefer to keep it rather than switch to a lower-resolution, higher-refresh display.
The main games I'm targeting are The Forever Winter, Cyberpunk 2077, and Digital Combat Simulator. Ideally, I'd like to play at high or ultra settings around 50–60 FPS at 1440p or 2160p. Ray tracing isn't important to me, and I'm mainly looking for better-than-console-quality settings and performance.
My budget is roughly €500–€550, and I'm open to buying used hardware. I'm leaning toward AMD because of its generally smoother Linux support. I've been considering the 16GB RX 9060 XT, RX 7800 XT, RX 9070 GRE, and RX 9070. The RX 9070 XT is also tempting, but it may require a larger case and a new power supply, which would put it well over budget. I've also looked at the 16GB RTX 5060 Ti, though I'm concerned about potential Linux driver issues. What would be the best upgrade for this system and resolution target?
5 Answers
The RX 9070 GRE or RX 9070 would be a much stronger match than the RX 9060 XT for 1440p and occasional 4K. The 9060 XT 16GB is a solid card, but it’s more comfortable at 1440p and may require reduced settings or upscaling at 4K. Twelve to sixteen gigabytes of VRAM should be enough for most games, although Cyberpunk and DCS can be demanding depending on settings and workloads.
The standard RX 9070 looks like the best balance here. It offers a substantial jump over the RTX 3060, has enough VRAM for your use case, and should work well with Linux. A factory-overclocked model or a mild undervolt can improve efficiency and may bring it closer to the higher-tier cards while keeping power draw manageable.
That was my main concern, since many RX 9070 models look fairly large. I’ll need to check the clearance in my case, but the card seems reasonably priced if it fits.
The RTX 5060 Ti 16GB is worth considering if you specifically want Nvidia features, but for a Linux-focused build and no interest in ray tracing, AMD is probably the more straightforward choice. The RX 9060 XT 16GB is good for 1440p with sensible expectations, but the RX 9070 is the better target if you can find one within budget.
I’d avoid stretching the budget for the 9070 XT if it means replacing other components. A standard RX 9070 around €500–€550 gives you a much more practical upgrade, especially if you find a good deal. It should provide a noticeable improvement over the 3060 without forcing a complete rebuild.
I ended up buying a standard RX 9070 for €485. It fit the budget and seemed like the best compromise. I also play several CPU-heavy strategy games, so the 5800X3D should still be useful for a long time.
The RX 9070 XT would be the safest long-term choice for high-refresh 1440p or 4K, especially alongside a 5800X3D. That said, it only makes sense if your case has enough clearance and your power supply can handle it. Once you add a new PSU or case, it probably stops being a good fit for a €500–€550 budget.
I hadn’t really considered the 9070 GRE at first. I’m not sure how much VRAM I’m actually using because the GPU monitoring readout hasn’t worked properly for me on Linux, but Cyberpunk and DCS are definitely the two games I’m most wary of.