I'm looking to upgrade my old 8700k PC since I currently have a 4070 GPU and want to game at 1440p and 4k. I've been hearing mixed reviews about the stability and heat issues with Intel's 13th and 14th gen CPUs, which is making me lean toward AMD. Right now, the 9800X3D is out of stock, but the 7800X3D is $100 cheaper. Between these options, what do you think I should choose? Also, I do some multitasking on multiple screens. Thanks for any advice!
5 Answers
If your main focus is gaming, the 7800X3D is already a top performer, and the 9800X3D is even better. However, with a 4070 or even a future 5070 GPU, you might not see a huge difference in FPS at 1440p or 4K because the GPU could limit performance more than the CPU. You might consider opting for a 7600 or 9600X for better value, and then save up for a better GPU.
Since you're looking for a long-term solution, aiming for the 9800X3D sounds wise. If you want to push 4K gaming, consider aiming for a 5080 or 5090 GPU next.
I recommend going for the 7800X3D since the 9800X3D is really hard to find and can cost you an arm and a leg with scalpers. Plus, there are good bundles available, so it's worth checking out.
Be careful with the idea of 'overkill'—make sure you're getting a CPU that matches your usage. I think the 7800X3D is the better choice right now without any price hikes.
You could also consider starting with a cheaper 7600 or 9600X to get onto the AM5 platform. They’re great for multitasking and offer a solid performance boost over the 8700K. Then you could upgrade to the 7800X3D when it fits your budget.
Still using my 8700k without any bottlenecking on my 3090, it's held up well. But I can see the limitations, especially in 1440p. I have a 9800X3D ready for a future build and I can confirm it makes a big difference, especially for VR and fast download speeds.
I felt a huge boost when I upgraded from an 8600K to a 12700K. The upgrade in performance was massive, even in 1440p.
Upgrading to a 5800X3D was also a game changer for me, especially with game downloads—some were 2-3 times faster!
Absolutely! Plus, with the savings, you could upgrade to a 5070Ti or the RX 9070 XT, which can handle higher resolutions really well.