I'm in the process of building a PC with an AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT, and I'm trying to figure out the best CPU to go with it. I know the 9950X3D is the latest model, but I'm curious how the 9700X3D stacks up against it in terms of performance. The 9700X3D is a lot cheaper, and I'm mainly going to be using this setup for gaming. Here are my planned specs for reference:
- GPU: ASUS Radeon RX 9070 XT
- Motherboard: MSI B650 Tomahawk WiFi
- RAM: Corsair Vengeance DDR5 32GB (2x16GB) 6000MT/s CL30
- SSD: Samsung 990 EVO Plus 2TB NVMe M.2
- PSU: Corsair RM850x (2024 model, ATX 3.1, 850W, 80+ Gold)
- Case: Fractal Design Meshify 2
Could anyone share insights on which CPU would be best for this setup?
2 Answers
The 9800X3D is indeed recommended for gaming, and while the 9950X3D is great, the performance difference isn't huge for gaming purposes. But if you're building a system for more than gaming later on, consider the extra cores of the 9950X3D. Also, keep an eye on your RAM; there are cheaper options that still give great specs, especially if you're already spending on a strong GPU. Just make sure you check Amazon for the best prices based on your location.
If budget isn't a huge concern, I'd say go for the 9950X3D. It's top-notch! But if you're looking to save some cash, the 9800X3D is ideal for gaming, especially for games that demand more CPU power. It's the best for pure gaming right now, even slightly better than the pricier 9950X3D due to its design. If you're fine with slightly less performance, the 9700X or 7700X could save you some bucks, especially if you're prioritizing visuals over frame rates.
Thanks for the insights! I read that the highest-tier CPUs sometimes might bottleneck the GPU. Is that true?
Yeah, that can happen if a CPU is too powerful for the tasks you're doing, but with a GPU like the 9070 XT, you should be fine with the 9800X3D.
I'm in Sweden and will check Amazon for better deals. Thanks for the tip!