Need advice on picking a CPU and GPU for your new setup?
Need advice on picking a CPU and GPU for your new setup?
Hey there, I'm trying to switch to a new setup and seeking advice on the current one.
My PC specs are: Z270 GAMING M3 (MS-7A62), i5 6600k, MSI GTX 970.
Personally, I’m not aiming for 4K or even 1440p; I want 1080p at 60fps with maximum performance, a build that can last, and I don’t mind RGB or general aesthetics. I prefer components based on performance and dependability, and I won’t modify the system myself.
My old machine held up well until around Baldur Gate 3 (2023). Act 3 was a bit tough for me, but games like Control, Elden Ring, and FF7Remake still ran smoothly even at low settings. I’m looking for something that can handle similar titles in the future, even if it’s running them at lower resolutions.
I’m not entirely new to tech—having worked as a coder for 15 years—I know a bit about hardware, but from my recent research, the GPU market seems unstable, with availability and cost being key factors. I don’t have an unlimited budget and don’t want to overspend, but I’m willing to spend an extra 500 USD for a system that lasts 2–3 years longer.
I usually calculate the system’s lifespan by dividing its cost by how many years it should run at acceptable performance, to see if it’s worth the investment.
In general, the 4070 Super seems like a solid second choice in the 40xx lineup after the 4060. With 12GB VRAM, it might start showing issues in a couple of years. The 50xx series feels less suitable for me since its main focus is on upscaling and extra frames, which isn’t my priority. The 5070 Ti has 16GB VRAM, which is impressive.
There’s also the AMD side—what do you think? RX 6800 is nearly five years old, and the 7700XT? I’m not confident enough to try Intel right now.
I’m planning to pair this with a decent motherboard (like B650M to X870-P range) and a CPU likely in the 7700X–9800X3D range, depending on the GPU I choose.
People can’t always predict the future, but I’m not overly concerned about which model will hold up after five years or more. Here’s a summary of parts and prices I’ve found locally:
Green:
- 4070 Super GIGABYTE Windforce 3x/MSI Ventus 2x ~ 760 USD (12GB feels a bit low; quality concerns)
- 4070ti Super GIGABYTE Windforce 3x ~ 1080 USD (16GB, still cautious about build quality)
- 5070 MSI Shadow 3x/Gaming Trio ~ 935 USD (12GB, similar concerns)
- 5070ti MSI Ventus 3x/ASUS Prime ~ 1210 USD (wary of 50xx series)
- 5080 MSI Ventus 3x ~ 1600 USD (16GB, longer lifespan than cheaper options)
- 4080 Super ASUS ROG Strix ~ 1900 USD (very reliable, but expensive)
RED:
- 7700xt SAPPHIRE PULSE/PURE ~ 525 USD (Radeon may lag in drivers; good build if ASUS)
- 6800xt SAPPHIRE PULSE/ASRock Phantom Gaming ~ 580 USD (older, but reliable)
- 6800xt ASUS TUF/ROG STRIX ~ 990 USD (ROG Strix, but GIGABYTE 9070 is cheaper)
- 7800xt GIGABYTE Gaming OC ~ 770 USD (16GB, older but solid)
- 9070 GIGABYTE Gaming OC/ASUS PRIME ~ 1000 USD (good value)
- 9070xt GIGABYTE Gaming OC/ASUS TUF ~ 1100 USD (expensive, new GPU)
Thanks for your time and help!
the current gpu market is generally in a poor condition.
perhaps you should wait a bit longer.
new radeon and nvidia cards might improve soon, and prices could drop closer to their original prices.
at the moment, new radeons are a better value than the rtx 5070 in my view.
regardless, playing at 1080p with a 60hz or 75hz monitor would be a missed opportunity for your new hardware.
if that’s your aim and you’re satisfied, you might want to save money by purchasing a lower-end card—like the rtx 4060(ti) or an upcoming 5060 paired with a ryzen 7600x/9600x cpu. It would be a significant upgrade compared to the gtx 970 and i5 6600k.
Typically people upgrade GPUs more often than CPUs, as long as the CPU was a solid choice initially. Therefore, it's best to opt for the highest quality you can manage. The graphics card is a bit of a split decision for me. Nvidia offers better software but their 12vhpwr model raises some concerns. AMD, on the other hand, is moving toward traditional power options and isn't as strong in software, though it's still usable. I’d probably choose AMD again if I were you. Make sure to invest in a reliable PSU.
Also, refresh rates and other details don’t really matter in the end; what matters most is getting the more powerful components possible. Just focus on what fits your budget.
Almost every CPU upgrade from an i5 to a Ryzen 5 or 7 will look impressive. You referred to the Ryzen 7600, and you could also consider the 7500f, which is similar in performance but lacks an integrated GPU. It’s often available at a lower price. On a tighter budget, I recommend picking one of those options, or you can choose the 7700, 7700x, or 9700x—all offering 8 cores and 16 threads. The 7700 and 9700x are around 65 watts and should run cooler than the 7700x, though you can activate eco mode. Personally, I have a 7700 in my system, running Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 for better cooling. I’ve noticed temperatures around 70°C, which isn’t unusually high, but I don’t actively check unless problems arise, since I mainly use it for gaming. Chips like the 7600x and 7700x can handle up to about 95°C, though that’s quite hot. I suppose it could work, but 95°C is quite intense for me.
For graphics, my recent AMD cards have been in the 6000 series, which are around 4-5 years old now—still decent but showing signs of aging. The 7000 series is their last generation, still useful, but if you’re sticking with AMD, a 9070 or 9070xt would be better. I own a 7900xt (sold around Christmas). If I upgraded to a 9070xt, I’d lose about 8GB of VRAM and some rasterization performance, but benchmarks suggest it’s still quite close. However, ray tracing and upscaling are better on NVIDIA hardware.
If you decide to go with the 7000 series, I’d recommend aiming for a level similar to the 7900xt or 7900xtx. But in my opinion, a 9070 or 9070xt would be more suitable. The 4070 and 5070 are still relevant, but 12GB RAM might become a bottleneck over time.
In short, the RX 9070 is designed to match the performance of the 5070, while the 9070xt should closely follow the 5070ti. The 9070xt is likely a few percentage points slower than the 5070ti, but it would cost roughly $150 less in the US market.
Thanks for the feedback, I looked at the 4060ti but noticed benchmarks suggesting it can handle 1080p at 60 fps ultra. Some games don’t even reach 60 fps with maximum settings, which makes me less convinced. I’m leaning toward the TI Super or 9070xt, as they seem to perform better on the 16 GB models. Am I correct in questioning GIGABYTE? Are those cards reliable?
They’re probably just as good as anyone else. They’ve been producing hardware for years and are a recognized name. Every brand will occasionally have a faulty item.
If I hadn't been so eager, I would have waited until the 5080 version was more available and hoped for better MRSP performance. Still, I chose to purchase an Asus Tuf Gaming 5070ti and boosted its speed to stock 5080 settings. I connected it with a 7800X3D on a B650 Asus Tuf Gaming board. The setup runs at 2K 3440 x 1440p (2k ultrawide), and most of the games I play—though not all ultra-recent—run smoothly above 100fps without using DLSS or Frame Generation. For Cyberpunk, enabling ray tracing requires both frame generation and DLSS; I see no issues with those options. The results were:
Present Name - Ray Tracing Overdrive - DLSS Frame Gen 2x Ray Tracing Enabled, Path Tracing active. Average FPS 112.27.
I spent £960 GBP on my card, which was significantly above the MSRP and might be worth waiting a few months for a better deal.
I'm satisfied with the configuration. There are no problems at all, and I believe my GPU should remain functional for at least three years before thinking about an upgrade. The CPU also seems to have a long life ahead of it, possibly longer than that. This should help with your decision-making.
If I were buying a new system now, I'd opt for a 7800X3D or 9800X3D paired with either a 9070XT or 5070ti. Depending on price, model, and availability—especially regarding GPU and motherboard—I would consider these options. Regarding Gigabyte, I previously used a 980ti which lasted five years without any problems, even when it got slightly dusty.
I've narrowed it down to three options, and the price gap isn't huge. Without considering cost, would you prefer the 4070ti Super Gigabyte WF3, the 5070ti ASUS Prime, or the 9070xt Asus TUF? My main worry about the 5070 is the negative reviews I've heard, so I'd lean toward the 4070ti super as a more reliable choice.
In today's market, it makes sense to choose whichever card is available. I think the 5070ti will be slightly quicker than the alternatives. However, I wouldn't be surprised if I'd accept those cards too, considering the availability of GPUs and the challenges in finding them right now.
I decided to opt for 7800x3d, which offers better power efficiency compared to the 9800x3d, making the price difference more significant than it initially appears. The ASUS B650e-F and 4070ti Super are on the list. I’ll choose FF7Rebirth as the first game for this setup.