I just swapped out my RTX 3070 for a brand new 9070 XT, but I've noticed that my other components are really holding it back. Here's what I've got in my setup: a Ryzen 9 5900X CPU, an MSI B450-A Pro Max motherboard (yes, I know it's pretty old), and 32GB of DDR4 3600 MHz RAM. My power supply is a Corsair TX650M 650W, which AMD says should be at least 750W, but miraculously, it hasn't exploded yet! I'm currently playing games at 1080p because that's the limit of my old monitor, but I'm planning to upgrade to a 4K monitor soon. My budget is flexible; I'm willing to spend more on a good CPU rather than a fancy PSU. I appreciate any recommendations since the last time I really got into PC upgrades was back in 2021.
3 Answers
Definitely prioritize the monitor! The 9070 XT isn’t really a 4K GPU if you're looking for high frame rates; it’s much better suited for 1440p or even 3440x1440 ultrawide setups. That should make your gaming experience way better!
Your 5900X is still a strong CPU. I wouldn’t rush on that upgrade if you have other priorities first, like the monitor. You'd see a huge difference upgrading your display before anything else!
It sounds like your CPU is definitely bottlenecking your GPU, especially at 1080p. I'd recommend starting with a monitor upgrade - going for a 1440p display will help eliminate a lot of that bottleneck. If you're looking to upgrade your CPU later, consider the Ryzen 7800X3D, which would give you a nice boost!
Yeah, a new monitor first is a solid plan. 1440p would really let that 9070 XT shine without stressing your CPU too much.
Exactly, a higher resolution will push your GPU more effectively than your CPU at this point.