Hey everyone! I used to be really into PCs back in high school, but now that I'm 25, I feel a bit out of the loop. I currently have a Ryzen 7 1800X from 2017 paired with a 4070 Super that I bought last year. I've been playing Battlefield 6 lately, but I'm experiencing some terrible time nudge and weird FPS lag, and I suspect the CPU might be the bottleneck. I'm considering upgrading to a 9700X, but I'm wondering if it's worth spending more or if I should save some cash instead. What's the sweet spot for CPU upgrades these days, considering I mostly play games but also do some video editing? I'd like to be able to play at 4K. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
4 Answers
For a solid upgrade from your setup, consider looking at a 5700X, 5800X, or even the 5700X3D, though good luck finding an X3D. RAM prices are high right now, so an in-socket upgrade might give you a solid performance boost without the full cost of a platform change. The 9700X is a good choice, but you might want to look into the 9800X3D or the 7800X3D for better overall performance and future-proofing your rig.
The x3D CPUs provide excellent gaming performance, especially for 1% lows. Since you're playing at 4K with a 4070, a stronger CPU might help, especially if you're using DLSS. Prices for RAM are going up due to demand, so keep that in mind when budgeting for your upgrades. The 9700X is solid, or you might consider going all out with the 9800X3D, depending on whether you prioritize gaming or video editing. If you want the best across the board, the 9800X3D is your best bet.
Thanks a ton for all this info! I'm heading to Microcenter tonight to check out bundle prices. Really appreciate the help!
With 4K gaming, your current GPU won’t hit high refresh rates. The 5700X3D would be a great choice if you're looking to upgrade. Also, consider a budget-friendly Ryzen 5600, as it performs similarly at 4K to the 9600X but is cheaper. If money's not an issue, investing in an AM5 bundle would be worthwhile—especially the 7800X3D if you're going all in on performance.
Fair point! I think my GPU is causing major bottlenecks; I get the same frame rates on 1080p and 4K. Not as strapped for cash anymore, so I might splurge a little to future-proof.
If you can snag a 5700X3D or 5800X3D, you should be able to keep your current motherboard and RAM, making it one of the cheaper upgrade paths. Just keep in mind that any upgrade outside of AM4 will need new memory and a motherboard. Also, how much are you willing to spend? If budget isn't a huge concern, the AM5 option could work well for you.
I have a job now, so budget isn't as tight. I'm just cautious not to splurge too much where I won't see performance benefits. Would getting newer RAM help significantly?
Is the 9800X3D really worth the jump? What sets it apart?