I'm in the process of upgrading my PC and I've come across some bundle deals that include a motherboard, CPU, and RAM. The main choices come with an AMD Ryzen 5 9600X and 32 GB of 6000 MHz RAM. However, one of the motherboard options costs $80 CAD more ($600 vs $520, about a 15% increase) and features a PCIe 5 slot, while the others only have PCIe 4. Currently, I have a GTX 1080 and plan to replace it in the future. I'm questioning whether the extra bandwidth of PCIe 5 is really necessary for GPUs at this time. From what I understand, only the higher-end RTX 50 series cards actually support PCIe 5. Additionally, this pricier motherboard does have a few other perks like more USB ports, but I usually only connect basic devices. Should I invest in the PCIe 5 option for potential future-proofing, or is it better to save the money for a better GPU and stick with PCIe 4?
4 Answers
It really depends on how long you plan to keep your motherboard. While PCIe 5 might not be essential today, it could play a bigger role as new GPUs are released in the next few years. If you can afford it, spending the extra $80 could be worth it for the future potential. Think of it as a safety net!
I get the hesitation about spending more, but keep in mind that PCIe 5 does offer some exciting future possibilities. For example, AMD's upcoming GPUs are PCIe 5 compatible and there might be performance boosts we can't even predict yet. It’s $80 that could save you from needing to upgrade sooner than you think!
Looking back, opting for the slower, cheaper options usually hasn't paid off in the long run. Investing $80 more might be like paying for insurance on your setup. With PCIe 5, you might open doors for more advanced tech down the line. Plus, having the option for dual GPUs or NVMe SSDs could be beneficial.
Honestly, right now PCIe 5 isn't really necessary for any graphics card. PCIe 4 is more than enough for the current generation of GPUs, so you could save your money for a better GPU instead. Most people are finding good performance with PCIe 4 for now and into the near future.
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