I'm trying to decide which upgrade would give me the best value. My current setup has an RTX 4070, Ryzen 7 5800X3D, and 32GB of DDR4-3200 memory. My monitor is an MSI MAG 274AURFW with a 4K resolution and 160Hz refresh rate. I previously used a 1440p 160Hz monitor, but it was replaced with the 4K model after an RMA.
Gaming at 4K has noticeably reduced my frame rates with the RTX 4070. I've considered switching to a 1440p 240Hz OLED, but I'm also having an ergonomic problem: my desk is roughly 4–4.5 inches too high relative to where my elbows rest, which causes wrist cramps during longer gaming sessions.
Would it make more sense to fix the desk first, replace the monitor, upgrade the RAM, or save toward a stronger graphics card?
4 Answers
A 1440p OLED at 240Hz would make it easier to reach high frame rates, but it’s also spending money to move to a lower resolution. I’d correct the desk height first, then save for a GPU upgrade. When you eventually upgrade the platform, the newer CPU, motherboard, and DDR5 memory can follow.
Fix the desk setup first. Wrist pain is worth addressing before chasing more performance, and an adjustable sit-stand frame can give you much better control over the height. A monitor arm may also help position the screen without requiring a new display.
The CPU is still excellent, so the graphics card is the main limitation at 4K. Before buying a new monitor, try DLSS Quality or Performance depending on the game. Performance mode can still look surprisingly good at 4K, while Ultra Performance is more likely to look soft.
You don’t need more RAM for gaming. 32GB is already plenty, and DDR4-3200 is completely reasonable with a 5800X3D. A faster memory kit would make little to no noticeable difference in frame rates.
That seems like the best long-term route. I don’t have enough saved for a graphics card right now, so I may try improving the desk and using more aggressive upscaling before deciding whether a 1440p OLED is worth it.