I'm thinking about upgrading my PC mainly for playing FPS games at 1440p. My budget is around $700 to $800 and I'm deciding between two builds: a "Low End" AM5 setup with a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, ASUS PRIME B650-PLUS motherboard, and 32GB DDR5-6000 RAM for about $620, or a "Max" AM4 build with a Ryzen 9 5900XT paired with either an RTX 5070 or RX 9060XT costing $800 or $620 respectively. I'm planning to upgrade the GPU in about a year, potentially getting a 5070 or 5080 while currently using a 6700XT. I'm concerned whether choosing the AM5 platform now will keep me from having to upgrade the CPU again to avoid bottlenecking. Any advice?
3 Answers
I’d suggest going for an AM5 build but maybe consider a different motherboard than the ASUS PRIME since it’s not the best. A Ryzen 7 7700 or even a cheaper Ryzen 5 7600X build would perform well for 1440p. Plus, the AM5 platform makes future upgrades simpler.
Honestly, for 1440p gaming, a 7600X could handle it just fine! If you go with the AM5 build, upgrades down the line will be easier. You might also want to check out getting a B850 motherboard, which could offer better performance overall.
I think labeling the 7800X3D as "low end" is a bit misleading; it's among the best for gaming! If you go with AM5 and that 7800X3D, you should be totally fine for your 5070 or even 5080 upgrade later without worrying about bottlenecks. I’d personally lean towards that AM5 setup.
For sure, especially since the 7800X3D has a lot of longevity. The performance bang for your buck is definitely in the AM5 camp, in my opinion.
True, and if you hold out for the Nvidia super series coming soon, you’d be set for a good while!