I'm trying to decide between two build options for my gaming rig. I have a 1080p 180Hz monitor, and I want to make sure I can fill that 180Hz in the first year or so. I'm okay with using FSR for better performance, but I won't be using ray tracing unless a game really needs it. The first option is a R7 5700X3D paired with an RX 9060XT 16GB (Gigabyte Gaming OC). The second option is a R7 5700X with an RX 9070 (Nitro+ version since it's on sale). I'm looking for advice on which combination will give me the best longevity for around 6-7 years. I'm not sure whether a higher-tier CPU with a weaker GPU will age better or the other way around.
2 Answers
Honestly, seven years is a long time for tech, and while these builds are good, I wouldn’t expect either to last that long for high-performance gaming. The R7 5700X paired with the RX 9070XT would be great, although the 5700X might start to hold back the 9070XT at 1080p.
If you're set on 1080p, both combos will perform well, but the RX 9070 is definitely more powerful. The general consensus is to favor the GPU when building a gaming rig, especially for high refresh rates like yours.
I'm leaning towards the 9070 non-XT because it's fitting my budget better and seems like a solid choice even for future titles.