I'm looking to upgrade my GPU but only have enough funds for either a GPU or a CPU. Here are my current PC specs: I have a PRIME B450M-A II motherboard, an AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 8-Core Processor, 32GB of RAM, and a 1.8TB SSD. Currently, I'm running an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (12GB). I've been recommended to upgrade to a RX 9060 XT (16GB) since it's cheaper than the RTX 5060 Ti (16GB). My main concern is whether my current CPU will work well with the RX 9060 XT without causing a bottleneck. My PC runs well, but I've noticed stuttering in some newer games, with my GPU running at 100% utilization while the CPU stays around 40%. The GPU temperature is around 70% and the CPU is about 60%. Any advice would be appreciated!
3 Answers
If gaming is your main priority, the upgrade to the RX 9060 XT should reduce the stuttering you’re experiencing. Since you mentioned updating your BIOS recently, you're already on the right track. The 5700x3d is definitely a great CPU, but if it’s unavailable, the 5700x or 5800x should still give you decent performance. Just be sure to keep your drivers updated!
I used to have a 3700X with a RTX 3070 and it handled games okay, but I definitely noticed stutter issues with low 1% frame rates. Upgrading to a 5800x3D made a big difference for me and that might be your best bet to fix those stutters. Just keep in mind, if the x3d versions are out of stock, the other options aren't bad either.
That’s good to know! I'll have to weigh my upgrade options carefully since I can only afford one right now.
Upgrading to the RX 9060 XT seems like a solid choice for you. There might be a slight bottleneck with the Ryzen 7 3700X, but it shouldn't be a major issue. If you're concerned about performance, you could consider overclocking the CPU a bit. However, for the best results down the line, you'd eventually want to look into the 5700x3d once it's available, as that would really enhance your gaming experience.
Just a heads up, if you're struggling to find the 5700x3d, 5700x or 5800x are decent alternatives too. And yes, your PSU quality matters; make sure it can handle the new GPU's power needs!
Thanks for the tip! I’ll keep an eye out for the 5700x and 5800x. I recently learned about driver updates, so I’ll stay on top of that.