I upgraded my graphics card to an RX 6800 in 2022 and my processor to a Ryzen 7 7700 in 2024. I mainly play competitive games such as CS2, Overwatch, and Apex at 1080p with mostly low settings on a 240Hz monitor. Since I do not plan to move to 1440p soon, I am focused on getting the highest and most consistent frame rates possible. Recently, I have noticed that these games do not always stay near 240 FPS. Would switching to a Ryzen 7 9800X3D make a significant difference? Would the less expensive Ryzen 7 7800X3D be enough of an upgrade? My system has 32GB of DDR5-5800 memory, a 750W power supply, and a suitable motherboard and CPU cooler.
3 Answers
The Ryzen 7 7700 is already a capable processor, so replacing it is not essential. If you are not in a hurry, waiting for a newer CPU generation could provide a more meaningful performance increase. An upgrade makes the most sense if you can get an X3D processor at a particularly attractive price and your frame-time dips are bothering you.
A 7800X3D should be more than capable of targeting 240 FPS in low-settings esports games, and it may also let you raise the settings while keeping high frame rates. Your 750W power supply is sufficient. The 9800X3D is faster, but the 7800X3D may offer better value unless you find an unusually good deal on the newer chip.
An X3D processor can help quite a bit in esports games, especially when the graphics card is not being fully utilized. Since your RX 6800 usually sits around 60–70% usage, the CPU is likely limiting your frame rate in those situations. Lowering graphics settings generally helps most when the GPU is at or near 100% usage; otherwise, the improvement may be small. The 7800X3D is roughly 10–15% behind the 9800X3D, but it could still be a strong choice for high-refresh 1080p gaming.
The GPU normally stays around 60–70% in CS2, Overwatch, and Apex, so that does make me think the CPU is the limitation.
That was my thought too, but I would prefer not to upgrade the CPU again for a long time. I mainly regret not buying an X3D chip when I built the system.