I'm planning a final upgrade for my AM4 system and have two options at roughly the same cost, around $335–$375. I could keep my Ryzen 5 5600 and buy a used 2TB WD Black SN7100 SSD, a 1440p monitor, and an RTX 3080 Ti. Alternatively, I could buy a Ryzen 7 5800X3D, sell my Ryzen 5 5600, and continue using my current RTX 3080 at 1080p. The Ryzen 7 5700X3D isn't available where I live. I probably won't upgrade again for several years, until AM5 systems become more affordable. I mostly play newer AAA single-player games rather than esports titles, and I care more about a good-looking 60+ FPS experience than extremely high refresh rates. Which upgrade would make the most sense?
3 Answers
Before deciding, check whether your current games are CPU- or GPU-limited. Run a demanding title at low settings and compare the frame rate. If FPS rises substantially, the CPU is holding you back; if it barely changes, the GPU is already the bottleneck. For your use case, though, the 5600 should be adequate at 1440p. You can also improve it somewhat with properly tuned memory, such as enabling the rated memory profile and adjusting timings, but that isn’t necessary for a 60-FPS-focused setup.
I’d keep the Ryzen 5 5600 and move to 1440p. At that resolution, games are generally more GPU-limited, so the CPU matters less. You’d also get a noticeably better overall gaming experience from the higher-resolution monitor, while the 3080 Ti would provide a useful graphics upgrade.
The 5800X3D is excellent for 1080p, competitive games, and improving 1% lows, but it won’t help much when the RTX 3080 is already the limiting factor. Since you mainly play AAA games and are happy with 60 FPS or more, the CPU upgrade is probably the less noticeable choice. Also, going from a 3080 to a 3080 Ti is only around a 20% average uplift, so it’s most worthwhile if you can sell the 3080 and keep the extra cost low.
The upgrade would cost me about $100 after selling the 3080. I mostly play newer single-player games, and I’m fine with 60+ FPS as long as the image quality is good. I’ve been leaning more toward AAA games than esports, so the 1440p option sounds more appealing.