I'm at a crossroads trying to decide between two AM5 upgrade paths and I'm looking for your advice based on real-world value, gaming performance, motherboard quality, RAM options, and long-term upgrade potential. My main usage is AAA gaming, emulation, and heavily modded games like Fallout and Skyrim. While I do some multitasking for general work, gaming is my primary focus. For now, I'm looking to reuse my existing RTX 3070 Ti and storage, with plans to upgrade the GPU later to one of the newer models like the RX 9070 XT or RTX 5070 Ti or 5080.
Here are my options:
**Option 1**
- AMD Ryzen 7 9850X3D
- ASUS X870 MAX GAMING WIFI 7 AM5 ATX motherboard
- G.SKILL Ripjaws S5 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6000 (CL36)
- Price: around $962
- Alternative RAM: Patriot Viper Elite 5 Ultra 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6400 (CL28) which brings the total to about $971
**Option 2**
- AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
- MSI B850M GAMING PRO WIFI AM5 micro-ATX motherboard
- Patriot Viper Venom 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5-6000 (CL30)
- XANDER Waterwheel Digital 360 Black AIO liquid cooler
- Price: about $1,029
**Higher-Cost Version**
- Same as Option 2 but includes 64GB of RAM (2x32GB) for about $1,414.
My main questions are:
1. Which of these setups offers the best overall value?
2. Considering my current GPU and potential upgrades, which option is better in the long run?
3. Is the combination of 9850X3D with X870 worth the extra cash over the 9800X3D with B850?
4. Should I invest in DDR5-6400 CL28 or stick with DDR5-6000?
5. For my gaming and emulation needs, is 32GB RAM enough or should I consider 64GB?
I'd really appreciate your thoughts on which setup you'd pick and why!
3 Answers
In my opinion, go for the 9850X3D with the X870 motherboard if you can swing it. It’s a solid gaming CPU, and you'll be in a good position for future upgrades. The X870 will give you better potential when the next-gen processors drop.
I'd lean towards the 9800X3D with the B850 motherboard for your needs. The B850 is sufficient, and you probably won't notice a performance difference compared to the X870. Plus, if the 9850 bundle is cheaper for you, definitely grab that! Just ensure you’re considering the long-term benefits if you plan on upgrading in the future.
If you're near a Microcenter, their bundles are great for performance per dollar. But if that's not an option, I'd say go for whichever setup is cheaper. The performance difference between the 9800X3D and 9850X3D isn't huge for most gamers. If you can get the 9850 for the same price, that's the one to take, otherwise stick with the 9800 and save some cash. Also, the X870 motherboard is pretty overkill unless you really need USB4, which isn't crucial for gaming right now.
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