Hey everyone! I recently upgraded to a 5070 GPU and I've noticed that my Ryzen 3700x CPU isn't quite keeping up in some games, particularly with the 1% lows in titles like Arc Raiders and Expedition 33. I'm considering a CPU upgrade to improve my gaming experience. My initial plan was to buy a used AM4 chip, ideally an x3d model, but after checking prices, I'm also tempted to go for an AM5 setup. Here are the prices I've found for AM4 CPUs: 5600 for $145, 5700x for $180, 5800xt for $200, and 5700x3d ranging from $350 to $400. On the AM5 side, I see options like the 7600x and a B650e Max motherboard with 16GB RAM for $350, or a 7600x3d with a B850 motherboard and 16GB RAM for $430. Given that I have a B550 motherboard and 16GB of RAM (2x8GB), would going with an AM4 CPU like the 5600 or 5700 sufficiently address my 1% low issues at 1440p, or is it worth it to upgrade to AM5? Also, is the x3d variant worth the extra cost, and will using one stick of RAM affect performance? Thanks in advance for your insights!
1 Answer
When you're gaming, keep an eye on your CPU usage. At 1440p, your GPU should be doing most of the heavy lifting. The x3D chips are definitely powerful; I'm using a 7800x3D with great results. If you're experiencing 1% lows, upgrading could really help, especially if you can swing 32GB of RAM for better performance overall.
Last night during Arc, I hit around 70-80% CPU usage, spiking above 90% occasionally. My FPS hovered around 140-150, but those 1% lows were in the 40s. Any thoughts on if that's normal?