Decide whether to remain on AM4 or move to AM5.
Decide whether to remain on AM4 or move to AM5.
Hi everyone, my current configuration includes: Ryzen 3600x, 2060 Super with 8GB RAM, MSI MPG X570 GAMING EDGE Wi-Fi (upgraded to this motherboard), 16GB DDR4 at 3000MHz, EVGA SuperNOVA 750 G+, 80 Plus Gold 750W, and a Dark Rock Pro 4 cooler. The system has been getting slower over the past six years. Even on CS2, I rarely exceed around 160 FPS, which is quite low given my 1080p 240Hz display. I'm looking for the best upgrade path to maintain competitive performance in games like CS2 or Battlefield 2. I plan to keep playing at 1080p but might consider 1440p or even 4K in the future. I’m aware that the 5800X3D is a strong option but has limited availability and a high price. I’m not familiar with AM5 technology, so I’m curious what’s trending right now. I’d like to pair a new CPU with at least a 4070 Ti or better. I’m interested in combinations such as the 7800X3D, 9800X3D, and other options, as well as any good 50-series GPUs worth exploring or pairing.
USA, budget is around 1000$, it can increase or decrease depending on sufficient funds
PSU is a bit excessive but offers good value for $90. https://www.bequiet.com/en/press/30283 PCPartPicker Part List CPU: * AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($179.00 @ Amazon) Motherboard: * ASRock B850 Pro RS WiFi ATX AM5 Motherboard ($149.99 @ Newegg) Memory: * TEAMGROUP T-Create Expert 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory ($91.99 @ Amazon) Video Card: * Asus PRIME GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 16 GB Video Card ($479.99 @ Amazon) Power Supply: * Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($89.90 @ Newegg) Overall Cost: $990.87 Includes shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts *Selected lowest-priced components based on criteria Created by PCPartPicker 2025-06-17 02:55 EDT-0400 PCPartPicker Part List Storage: * MSI SPATIUM M482 2 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD ($104.99 @ Newegg) Total: $104.99 Includes shipping, taxes, and discounts where possible *Selected lowest-priced components based on criteria Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-06-17 03:58 EDT-0400 PCPartPicker Part List Case: * Montech AIR 903 BASE ATX Mid Tower Case ($64.98 @ Amazon) Total: $64.98 Includes shipping, taxes, and discounts where applicable *Selected lowest-priced component listed Source links provided for reference
I've decided to increase my budget. Right now I'm considering keeping all my existing components but planning to replace my CPU, GPU, MOBO, RAM, and possibly the power supply. I'm leaning towards either the 7800x3d or 9800x3d. Likely a 5070ti or 9070xt would be better. The motherboard should fit within a reasonable price of under ~150$. For RAM, I'm aiming for around 80 with a 6000 MHz 32GB configuration. My main concern is whether the 9800x3d is worth it or if the 7800x3d will suffice. The price gap between these models is about 100 dollars, which could be better spent on a 5070ti instead of a 9070xt (currently similar). Alternatively, I could skip the extra 100 and opt for 9800x3d and 5070ti together.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor (($340.05 @ Amazon))
Motherboard:
- Gigabyte B850 GAMING X WIFI6E ATX AM5 Motherboard (($179.99 @ Amazon))
Memory:
- Klevv BOLT V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory (($93.99 @ Amazon))
Video Card:
- Asus PRIME OC Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Video Card (($719.99 @ Amazon))
Power Supply:
- ASRock Steel Legend SL-850G 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply (($99.99 @ Newegg))
Total: $1434.01
Prices encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest-priced items based on specified criteria*
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-07-17 00:39 EDT-0400
It’s hard to tell the difference between those configurations, isn’t it? The performance gap might be slight at 1080p since the GPU isn’t as critical then. Still, switching to AM5 could boost overall speed and offer better future upgrades. If you choose that path, the 9800x3d/9070xt setup seems like a solid long-term option, though it’s just my opinion.
The chart displays the lowest FPS values that are most pertinent for competitive gaming at 1080p+ levels, especially when certain graphics cards were available a few years ago with the release of CS2. This information is useful to understand past performance benchmarks.
Source.
If you're considering a new platform that can be upgraded later, here are some options:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor – $195.00 (Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B850 Pro-A WiFi ATX AM5 – $177.99 (Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL28 – $127.99 (Amazon)
Video Card: MSI SHADOW 3X OC GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB – $549.00 (Newegg)
Power Supply: Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified – $89.90 (Amazon)
Total: $1139.88 (includes shipping, taxes, and discounts)
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-07-17 14:10 EDT-0400
Alternatively, for a more affordable choice now that you might upgrade later, you could try:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D 3 GHz 8-Core Processor – $299.99 (Amazon)
Video Card: MSI SHADOW 3X OC GeForce RTX 5070 12 GB – $549.00 (Newegg)
Power Supply: Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified – $89.90 (Amazon)
Total: $938.89 (includes shipping, taxes, and discounts)
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-07-17 14:12 EDT-0400
Keep in mind that the 5070 Super is expected soon, offering similar pricing to the 5070 but with more VRAM and better performance. You might want to hold off on the current setup until you see this new model, especially if it matches or exceeds the 2060’s capabilities.
I would approach this project around a budget of $1000, then evaluate a platform change within the next three years. If a nearby microcenter exists, they might offer additional GPU and CPU choices for you.