A 2080ti, 4790k, and 1440p 21:9 at 100hz steps into a bar.
A 2080ti, 4790k, and 1440p 21:9 at 100hz steps into a bar.
The GPU and monitor should work well with a 3700x resolution. The 4790k (4.4Ghz) should still handle modern games, especially with the 2080ti and 3440*1440 settings. You’re already seeing solid performance at 70-85 fps on Apex, so you should be able to reach around 100 fps with the right settings. The main concerns are cost and future chip reliability, not raw performance. AMD options like the Wraith or 10900k are available but may require a cooler upgrade. DDR5 support isn’t currently standard on these models, but it’s something to keep in mind for future upgrades.
Have you attempted any of an overclock on your 4790k? It's a chip known for having been a good overclocker, so long as you had thermal headroom. I lost the silicon lottery on mine, so I sit at 4.5 all-core @1.2v. It's not something that's going to revolutionize your performance, but it can help you extend the life of your chip a little longer. I've never played Apex, so I can't give you input there, but from a purely gaming perspective, my 4790k (paired with a 1080ti) is still plenty capable for gaming. Fiddling with your settings may drastically increase your performance for little to no visual impact. I don't think you should be basing a decision on what platform to use based upon exploits in the way that you are. They are absolutely something to consider from a security standpoint, but not a performance standpoint, when making a decision. At this point in time, I think it's more likely that Zen architecture exploits haven't been discovered to the same level rather than AMD is the more secure platform. Keep in mind that these are exploits that go back several generations and were not widespread/known of until several generations had passed. Objectively, Intel, even with their microcode patches, still hold the raw performance numbers. So long as you're not getting into heavy overclocking, and/or not in an excessively warm place, the Wrath cooler is well known for being quite competent for an in-box cooler. It's also worth noting that it may be possible to purchase (fairly inexpensively) or request (some provide them free) an AM4 bracket for your current cooling solution, depending on what it is. We don't know the plan for DDR5 yet, so anybody making these claims one way or the other is speculating. Based upon past DDR trends, however, DDR5 will very likely carry an early adopter tax, which tends to last a couple of years. This is something to consider as well, if you're specifically holding out for that feature. From a purely gaming perspective, there's very little reason to opt for a 3950x over a 3700x
With my country's climate, I can run it at 4.6Ghz but it is uncomfortably warm. This is already on Phantek TC-14PE. The reason I mentioned the exploits is because to fix it, Intel had to resort to firmware updates that actually reduce the performance of the chip. At least that is what I've read. Phantek's support in my country is also abysmal so I would rather sell that off and get another cooler. Thanks for your thoughts. I may stay on this platform for another gen.
They experience a noticeable performance drop. It's important to remember Spectre and Meltdown affected both Intel and AMD, possibly also ARM. My point is avoiding decisions based solely on performance numbers. It's conceivable AMD could face a similar challenge, though it remains uncertain (as previously mentioned, it took multiple generations for this to become a recognized problem). With the fixes implemented, Intel still aims to outperform AMD in most gaming tasks, albeit at a higher price. It's worth testing whether you can obtain an AM4 adapter for free, which could influence your choice. I recall Phanteks offered them at no cost back in 2017. In the end, if they refuse to sell you an adapter or even a compatible solution, the effort you put in might not be worth it. Ultimately, your decision is yours. There are early signs suggesting our 4790k models may be reaching their limit. I can't forecast how quickly they'll degrade, but I expect AMD to push for improvements—whether through better manufacturing processes (like moving beyond 14nm+), stronger price competition (since Intel can't raise prices freely), or both. For now, my 4790k/1080ti setup runs all games smoothly at 1440p 120hz, mostly with adjusted high/max settings. My system is quite similar to yours.
For gaming on your PC, the 3950X offers little difference from the 3700X, possibly running a bit slower due to lower clock speeds. The 9900K remains the top choice, though not significantly so these days. Ryzen would be a better option now that you mentioned budget constraints, especially compared to the expensive i9. A Ryzen 5 3600 could also work well, providing sufficient performance for many setups and offering a smooth upgrade route with future Ryzen releases.