I'm planning to build a PC this January for college, and I could use some guidance. Coming from a laptop with an integrated Vega 8, I want something that will last me for a few years. The two combos I'm considering will cost about the same in my area. The first is the Ryzen 7 9700X paired with the RX 9070 XT, and the second is the Ryzen 5 7500F with the RTX 5070 TI. I mostly play single-player titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, along with some multiplayer games like Battlefield 1 and Warframe. I'm okay with lowering settings in demanding games now and then and plan on getting a 4K IPS mini LED display. Given that 4K gaming tends to be more GPU bound, which build would you recommend? Is DLSS 4/4.5 worth it for 4K gaming when FSR 4 still has some limitations? I'm just trying to avoid buyer's remorse here. Thanks for the help!
4 Answers
Honestly, the 9070 XT build is the best choice here. If it were me, I might swap the 4K display for a high-refresh-rate 1440p IPS monitor with a 7800X3D and 5070 TI instead, but that’s just my preference for balance in gaming.
The 9700X has comparable gaming performance to the 9600X, which should be cheaper. If you can find the 9600X for around $210, it could be worth considering, but going for the 8 cores is definitely a smarter move for future-proofing.
That’s good to know! I’ll keep an eye out for the 9700X, but I understand if it’s out of stock.
Go with the 9700X and 9070 XT for sure. More and more games are requiring 8-core CPUs nowadays, and the performance of the 9070 XT is pretty similar to the 5070 TI, especially if ray tracing isn’t a priority for you.
Thanks for the recommendation!
I’d definitely recommend going with the Ryzen 7 9700X and RX 9070 XT combo. You’re getting a much stronger CPU for a better price, and for your gaming needs, the GPU difference isn't that steep. Plus, DLSS 4 is nice, but it’s not worth the extra cash when you’re planning to dial down settings in a few years anyway.
Thank you for your input!
Thanks for that perspective! I really want to try HDR with my new display.