Hey everyone! I'm thinking about making a small upgrade to my current setup while I still can, but I'm not super caught up on the latest hardware news. Right now, I'm using an i5-10400F paired with a 3060 Ti (8GB). It's been decent for me. I'm planning to keep my existing motherboard and RAM since changes there seem too costly and complicated. However, I might pick up an 11th gen i5 or i7 if I find a good deal in the second-hand market.
So, I'm looking at GPUs: I found a 5070 priced at 550€ (the 9070s are around 600€ and the 9070 XT is about 700€ here). While it seems a bit pricey, it looks like a significant upgrade from my 3060 Ti.
On the other hand, I spotted a 9060 XT with 16GB for 400€. It may not be as powerful, but is that a better deal financially? Also, I'm considering switching to Linux for gaming since it's matured a lot since my days as a Linux gamer back in 2010. Are these cards better suited for gaming on Linux?
Just for context, I only game at 1080p and I'm not chasing high frame rates for AAA titles. Thanks for any insights!
9 Answers
You could always wait a couple of months and consider downgrading to a new 3060. It's a new age, and downgrading might just be the way to go if you want to save some cash.
It really depends on what you want. If you're interested in features like DLSS and ray tracing, upgrading from the 3060 Ti to the RX 9060 XT won’t feel like a huge jump compared to the 5070. But keep in mind that AMD generally performs better on Linux. If you're just at 1080p without high FPS needs, I'm curious why you want to upgrade at all? The 3060 Ti is still very capable!
The only must-have feature for me is VRR, as I lock my FPS to a constant value. Is AMD better equipped for that on Linux?
If you're leaning towards Linux, I'd say grab the 9060 XT for the savings and put that extra cash towards a new CPU. The 5070 is a solid deal too, but for your setup, the 9060 seems like the smarter choice.
I bought a couple of 9060 XTs (still waiting for one to arrive!). I upgraded my kids from 3060 Tis, and for their 1080p setups, it should hold up well for at least five years. So far, 8GB is still okay for online gaming, but some newer single-player games might need more VRAM.
I switched from a 3080 to a 4070 Super and it was a solid upgrade. I’ve tried the 9070 XT too but had some issues. Right now, the 5070 Ti has been my favorite card for sure!
Honestly, just go for the 9060 XT for 400€. That's a great fit for your rig and the price is right.
While the performance gap between brands used to be minimal, it's growing with newer generations. Each brand has flags that perform better in certain situations, so just keep that in mind when you shop. And about CPU upgrades, the 12th gen chips from a while back were solid; you might want to look at those if you're considering it.
I'm not sure that's relevant anymore; the 12th gen is over 4 years old now. If you're looking for something fresh, why not go for the latest 14th gen? It’s much better in terms of future-proofing!
I agree on the newer tech! DDR5 is becoming more affordable, and the AM5 platform has some awesome chips available right now.
You might want to wait just a little longer for the upcoming UDNA/RDNA5 cards. They could be worth it!
The 5070 is indeed better than the 9060 XT even with less VRAM. If the 5070 fits your budget, I'd suggest going for it. Otherwise, if you're really into NVIDIA features like DLSS, the 9070 would be the ultimate choice performance-wise.
I don't *need* the upgrade right now, but I'm worried GPU prices will skyrocket, leaving me stuck. Plus, I've had the 3060 Ti since June 2022, so I feel an upgrade is reasonable. I mostly don't use many Nvidia features these days. I've enjoyed DLAA recently, though!