Seek guidance on selecting an optimal setup for your RTX 3090 graphics card.
Seek guidance on selecting an optimal setup for your RTX 3090 graphics card.
Hello, I’m thinking about replacing my current graphics card with a new RTX 3090. My old setup uses an i7 8700K and similar, which would likely slow down the new GPU and hurt overall performance. Right now, I’m considering an Intel 10th gen i7 or i9 (like 10700K, 10850K, or 10900K). Gaming is my top priority, along with work tasks like video editing and general computing.
I’ve heard mixed things about the 10850K—it’s a 10-core CPU with similar performance to the 10900K in terms of speed and power use, but it’s cheaper. I also noticed newer Ryzen CPUs have lower speed per core compared to Intel models, and I’m not too confident about AMD benchmarks. I’d expect higher costs for those.
For a system pairing an Intel 10th gen i7 with an RTX 3090, I’m curious about the best motherboard and RAM options. Should I upgrade my power supply? My current setup includes an EVGA SuperNova G2 850W, a Samsung 970 EVO 1TB, 860 EVO 2TB, and a 850GB Samsung 850 EVO drive. If you need advice on case or cooling, check my previous post for details.
For the PSU, I’m wondering if 850W will be sufficient. Let me know your thoughts!
for gaming, the 3090 isn't a good choice. it offers roughly a 10% boost over the 3080, at double the cost. regarding the CPU, the Ryzen 5000 series seems likely to outperform the Intel 10th generation, based on leaks and recent announcements. it's also more energy-efficient. the decision is yours.
They should be priced higher, reaching around 20%... however, those figures are from the manufacturer's side, so it's best to hold off until real customer reviews come in.
It looks like a lower binned 10900K. Speed ratings aren't the only factor—the FX 9590 ran at 5GHz and underperformed compared to CPUs clocked much higher. AMD's IPC gains over Intel clearly give them an edge. So whether you're focused on tasks or gaming, AMD remains the top option right now.
You're thinking about using the computer for gaming. If you have an i7 8700K with an RTX 3080, it should handle gaming well, especially with lighter multitasking. The difference between the RTX 3080 and 3090 isn't huge unless you're doing heavy tasks alongside games.
850w should cover the task well. What resolution are you aiming for? At 4k it doesn’t significantly affect performance.
Thank you for your feedback and ideas. Let me explain further. I’m limited to running the i7 8700k at no more than 4.7GHz, even 4.8GHz isn’t reliable. After testing multiple times, I’ve reached that speed limit. Plus, the 8700k already struggles under the 4.7GHz setting, which limits the performance of my upgraded 2080 Ti. I can’t upgrade the CPU further because it’s owned by someone else who is comfortable with that speed. My previous system has been retired, though the power supply isn’t an issue. Outside of gaming, I handle data processing, editing, and exporting 4K videos daily—a faster CPU would be beneficial for these tasks. Besides gaming, I work on databases and do more than what I mentioned here, but it doesn’t affect hardware decisions. In the future, I’ll likely need to tackle 3D projects with After Effects or Autodesk 3ds Max. For gaming, I play in 4K and also record reviews, benchmarks, and performance tests for a YouTube channel. Having an RTX 3090 would maximize GPU performance. The upcoming 3080 20GB will have comparable CUDA cores to the 3080 10GB, but it probably won’t surpass the 3090. Note: The RTX 3090 should arrive in about ten days, so I still need a solid CPU combo—non-RGB motherboard, robust for overclocking.