3700, 3800, and 3900 units
3700, 3800, and 3900 units
Hello, you're planning to set up a high-performance PC for gaming, streaming, and video editing. Your current setup runs F1 2020, Assetto Corsa, and Battlefield 5, with future plans to try flight sims. You intend to keep the system for about 4 to 5 years and are considering upgrading your graphics cards soon.
Based on your research, the 3700x seems sufficient for your needs, while the 3800x offers a slight improvement but may only justify the cost if you find a good deal. The 3900x is marketed as more future-proof, but unless games are heavily optimized for multi-core performance in the next few years, it might not provide noticeable benefits.
You're thinking about spending an extra $100 for better performance, but only if it genuinely adds value. If you're unsure, the 3800x could be a balanced choice now without overspending. If it's $20 more than the 3700x, it might be worth considering, especially if you value reliability and future flexibility.
these terms are meaningless unless you understand them. By the time gaming uses 10 cores, the 3900x might struggle with single-thread performance, making it less effective than similar models from that era. Unless your video editing is intense, I recommend waiting 2-3 weeks if possible. AMD might release new models soon, but if you need one now, the 3700x is preferable to the 3900x. Unless you require those extra cores, ensure you have a GPU or you won’t be able to use the computer otherwise.
3900x offers 12 cores, giving you more flexibility compared to the 8-core option. The 3700x and 3800x are similar, costing around $20 each if you plan to manually boost the CPU to 4.4GHz or higher. In my opinion, choose the 3700x—building an audience takes time and effort, so it’s worth investing before spending heavily.
the 3800x is not worth the extra money compared to the 3700x in my opinion. As for deciding between the 3700x and 3900x, it mostly comes down to your budget, and what you're gonna do w the pc. Both are great chips, but do you really need the extra power of the 3900x for the increase in price? From what you've listed, I would say it isn't, and you should focus the money on more ram or storage if you're gonna have videos on your computer. There is also the ryzen 4000 series, which is supposed to come out in October, if you can wait for that
I've used these machines for a long time—R7 1700, R7 3800X, and now the R9 3900XT. I’m confident an 8-core, 16-thread CPU is sufficient. These still deliver strong performance, and the only real reason to go higher is that they fit in the same socket and are affordable. If you look at older Intel models, you’ll see a huge performance leap. The R9 isn’t really future-proof, and you can easily upgrade to a 4th-gen Ryzen in about two years. For around $30 more, the 3800X is worth it—it’s fully overclocked from the box. Just note it has a higher TDP and may run hotter, so a big air cooler or a 240mm AIO would be best.
You're welcome! Your suggestions are clear and practical. I'll aim for the 3700x unless they can secure the 3800x for $20 extra in stock, and I'll proceed with overclocking. I need a PC by month's end since my current one failed due to CPU issues. From what I've learned, AMD is planning new CPUs for November—has that changed? I'll stick with my GTX 970 in the meantime. A Noctua NH-D15 should work well for overclocking, thanks! Appreciate the help!
there’s no specific date for any AMD event or releases, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they release something just before or after NVIDIA’s GPU announcements. They might also choose to delay CPU announcements. I’d estimate they could launch around early September, with high-end models coming in October—just make sure your case can accommodate the size.
The setup achieves around 84°C at 4.4ghz with 1.375v using nH-d15
Thank you. I'll wait until September 1st unless there are any rumors about the upcoming AMD event, then I'll proceed. I purchased a Phanteks P500A and believe Noctua should fit it. Thanks for the update!
NH-D15 offers a solid cooler option. Overclocking isn't advisable, especially with 3rd generation Ryzen which handles it poorly and doesn't provide much benefit. Fast RAM speeds (3600MHz or higher, CL16+) and tuning PBO settings in Ryzen Master are the best approaches if you aim to boost performance. Higher voltages can cause quicker wear in 3rd gen Ryzen CPUs, a fact I recently discovered. Traditionally, keeping voltages under 1.375V was seen as safe for long-term use, though this guideline comes from Intel and AMD overclocking experiences. For lasting stability, avoid standard manual methods in BIOS and maintain low voltage (around 1.275V or less) with careful PBO adjustments. Even then, gains are limited to around 100-300MHz at most. High voltages aren't recommended for these processors. For more on voltage challenges with Zen2, see this Reddit thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/overclocking/co...for_zen_2/