I built this PC about five years ago and recently performed a clean installation of Windows 11 Pro. Its main components are a Ryzen 9 5900X, an EVGA RTX 3080 FTW3 Ultra, an ASUS TUF Gaming X570-Pro Wi-Fi motherboard, 32 GB of DDR4 memory, a 1 TB Samsung 980 Pro SSD, and a 2 TB Western Digital SSD.
I use a Zowie gaming monitor for competitive shooters and general use, plus an Alienware AW3423DWF for other games. Recently, newer titles such as Blood of the Dawnwalker and Mortal Shell 2 have required medium or low settings to maintain a stable 60 FPS. Escape from Tarkov has also become noticeably less smooth than it was several years ago.
The RTX 3080 is the 10 GB model. I update my graphics drivers regularly and use DLSS in games where it helps me reach 60 FPS, but newer games still require reduced settings. I am considering a Radeon RX 9070 XT, though I am unsure whether the graphics card is the right component to upgrade first. What would be the most sensible upgrade path for this system?
3 Answers
The RTX 3080 should still be capable at 1440p, especially with DLSS on Quality, so I would first check whether the games are GPU-limited or CPU-limited using an overlay. Also verify that the system is running current drivers and that the card is not overheating or throttling. The 10 GB of VRAM can become a limitation in some newer games, but replacing the GPU is not automatically necessary for every title.
I would probably keep the 3080 for now rather than upgrade immediately, particularly while current GPU prices are high. The card is still strong, and an RX 9070 XT would make the most sense if testing shows that you are consistently GPU-bound, you need more than 10 GB of VRAM, or you want substantially higher settings and frame rates at the ultrawide monitor's resolution. Otherwise, waiting for a future generation may provide a more meaningful jump.
Before spending on a new graphics card, consider basic maintenance: check temperatures, clean out dust, and potentially repaste the CPU and GPU if temperatures have worsened over the years. Updating the motherboard BIOS is also worthwhile. These steps may not transform performance, but they can prevent thermal throttling and are relatively inexpensive compared with a major upgrade.
I have never repasted either component since building the system. Would that realistically make a noticeable difference, or is it mainly useful if temperatures are already high?