I'm considering upgrading my PC, but I'm not sure which route to take. Currently, I'm using a Ryzen 5 5600G with a 3060 12GB GPU. Since RAM prices have skyrocketed, I don't want to switch to AM5 right now. I'm thinking about getting a Radeon 5800 XT, but I've heard it's not a significant upgrade compared to what I already have. Someone suggested switching to an Intel system with an i7-12700KF, which supposedly rivals the 5800X3D in performance and costs about a quarter of the price of an AM5 upgrade. Is this a better option?
For my GPU upgrade, I've been eyeing the RX 9700 since it's just slightly behind the XT version and might help with bottlenecking at 1440p. I also have a Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE cooler, which I think should be sufficient for the i7, given that I have good airflow in my Lancool 207 case with four intake and four exhaust fans. I want to make sure I'm on the right track before prices potentially rise. Any advice would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Upgrading to the 5800 XT sounds like a smart move, especially since you won’t need to swap motherboards. It’s a solid step up in performance without complicating your setup. Don't stress too much about bottlenecking; just snag the best GPU deal you can find!
Going for the 5800X is definitely a noticeable upgrade. Even switching from the 5600G to the 5800X would be a big leap. Though, if you pair it with a 9070 XT instead of the regular 9070, the performance should be more than capable and you shouldn’t have to worry about bottlenecking so much since AMD cards handle that well.
Are you sure you mean the 9070? The XT is definitely the more powerful model.