I'm currently using an i7 9700k, but I've been experiencing some serious bottlenecking for a while now. I'm considering purchasing a 5800XT for about $220, hoping to extend the life of my setup with DDR4 RAM. The x3D model is around $400, which I want to avoid spending to stick with DDR4.
I'm not super knowledgeable about computer parts, so I'm curious about the performance boost in frames per second (FPS) I can expect from gaming with the 5800XT. If the improvement is substantial, it might be worth it. However, if not, I could save up and invest in a complete upgrade to DDR5, which would future-proof my system instead of just upgrading to a better DDR4 CPU.
Also, how does my 9700k stack up against the newer Intel 14th generation i7 CPUs? I assume moving from 9th to 14th generation would yield significant improvements, but if anyone has a rough estimate of the performance increase, that would be super helpful!
5 Answers
I've seen a deal on a 7600X3D for $400 that includes a motherboard and 16GB of DDR5. Those X3D chips are fantastic for gaming! Also, if you can move to a 14th gen Intel CPU, expect quite a performance boost, especially if you game at 1080p. However, 1440p performance will depend more on your GPU, so keep that in mind. Check out places like Microcenter or Newegg for any sales, and don't hesitate to ask for advice if you need it!
Switching from Intel to AMD isn't as straightforward; you'd need a new motherboard for that (and possibly a CPU cooler unless you have an adapter). For long-term reliability, the best AM4 CPUs are the x3D models—particularly the 5700X3D and 5800X3D. The 5800XT is decent, but for gaming, the x3D likely outperforms it. Honestly, if you can, aim for an AM5 setup with DDR5, as the 7600X is quite comparable performance-wise to the 5800X3D.
You might want to look into the 14700K or the 14900K models. Both of these support DDR4 and DDR5, so you've got options depending on what you want to do with RAM in the future!
If you're serious about upgrading, it might be best to sell your old parts and aim for an AM5 setup. You could budget around $400 for this kind of upgrade, which would give you a modern platform with much better performance overall.
Upgrading to the 5800XT along with a B550 motherboard would give you a solid performance leap from your 9700k. The 5800XT is comparable to 12th gen Intel CPUs. Going to 14th gen represents another big jump, but it requires a CPU and motherboard change. Just make sure to choose a DDR4 motherboard for Intel, since it's compatible with both DDR4 and DDR5 in that range. I had my share of confusion buying motherboards before, so be careful with that!
Thanks for the suggestion! I’ll consider adding those models to my list.