I'm planning to build a new PC with an Intel i5-13400F CPU and an RX 6700 XT GPU. However, I'm considering upgrading to an RX 9060 XT and a Ryzen 9 9900X because the CPU is currently $50 off in Romania. I've checked several bottleneck calculators, and they all indicate a 10% GPU bottleneck with this setup. From what I've read, a 10% bottleneck isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially for 1440p gaming. I'm also weighing the option of the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, but it's a bit pricier. My main concern is whether this 10% GPU bottleneck will significantly affect my gaming performance, or if I should consider a different CPU?
3 Answers
Honestly, don't rely too much on bottleneck calculators. They can be quite misleading. For gaming, the Ryzen 9 9900X really doesn't offer much more than the 9600X, especially since most games don't use all 12 cores. The RX 9060 XT should give you around a 20% performance boost over the 6700 XT, which is good, but I think you'd get better value focusing on a combo like the Ryzen 5 9600X with an RX 9070 or 5070 instead.
Yeah, I'd suggest looking at the 9600 with an RX 9070 or 5070 setup instead. And I agree, those bottleneck calculators aren’t reliable; they're just guessing at numbers. Plus, a strong GPU will often outshine a higher core CPU in gaming scenarios.
I was considering that but also want to make sure I don’t end up bottlenecking in the future if I decide to upgrade my GPU!
Honestly, there isn’t much point in upgrading unless you really need it. If you’re giving your current PC to a family member and need a new one anyway, just make sure you get something that fits your needs. A 10% bottleneck isn’t usually a big issue for gaming in most cases.
True, but I want to make sure I’m making a good investment since I’ll be using it for a while!
Okay, I’ll check that out!