2nd build, 1st gaming build - Zen 2 vs Zen 3 buyers anxiety

[Freegrazer]

Hey all.

TL;DR - Wait for Zen 3 and Big Navi, or build with current gen components?

I had planned to upgrade my 8 year old build but then decided to build a whole new system instead. I do astrophotography so I need something that can handle photo and video editing - i.e: multithreaded tasks.

Now I haven't gamed on PC in years (console peasant here!), but would like to. Also interested in trying a little bit of overclocking for fun, as well as custom loop cooling coz it's also fun.

And so, I had decided to build myself a decent gaming PC which could also handle the workloads I would give it, so I decided on going with a Ryzen 9 3900X, X570 motherboard, 32GB of RAM, and a decent GPU. Seemed like a good combo for what I wanted to do.

Then Nvidia announced the 30 series GPU's so I thought I'd hold off and see how those are. Then AMD announce that they will be revealing their new Zen 3 CPU's and their new Big Navi GPU's in October, and I figured I'd hold off and see what those will be like.

So the dilemma now is, having seen the proverbial **** show that was the Nvidia 30 series launch (demand, availability, 3080 crashes, etc.), is the same kind of thing expected to befall the AMD launches?

Are AMD actually launching new hardware this month, or are they just revealing the new hardware for launch at a later date?

Is demand for the AMD CPU's and GPU's likely to be similar to the Nividia launch with supply issues and selling out in seconds?

Is there any point in waiting for the new hardware? Like if they reveal the new gear and then say it's launching in January 2021 I just don't want to wait that long, especially not if a lack of availability means an even longer wait beyond the launch date.

With a new Zen 3 architecture, I assume there will be an X670 motherboard, and although I'm aware that Zen 3 will be backwards compatible with X570, that doesn't quite mean the same as being fully supported as with X670. How long are you looking at before X670 mobo's are out (assuming Zen 3 CPU's launch this month)?

Will the launch of new gen hardware drive the prices of the current gen 3900X and X570 down a little bit?

Should I wait and see?

There's also the problem with waiting for new hardware to launch only to adopt early and then discover issues with the unreviewed and untested gear. Or on the other hand if I go with the current gen components and then it turns out that the next gen hardware is just super fantastic I'd regret not having waited. Serious buyers anxiety!

What would you guys do?

I mean a 3900X and an X570 with 32GB RAM and an RTX 3080 is a pretty decent gaming build and very well capable of handling my multithreaded tasks too right?

I guess this is more of a discussion than a "please help and answer all my questions!". Totally understand that the answers to a lot of what I'm asking above are speculative.

So instead here's one or two that can be answered - Are any of you guys excited for Zen 3 and Big Navi? Anyone also waiting for the reveals before they decide to buy parts for a new build? Anyone else got the buyers anxiety?

P.S. I half expect that as soon as anyone goes and buys any Zen 3 stuff that Intel will magically reveal another new gen of "ultimate" CPU's just to annoy us

 

[bremen1874]

If you can wait, wait. If not a 3900X on X570 isn't going to disappoint.

If I was planning an upgrade now I'd be waiting. I'd also be prepared to wait long enough for things to settle down and allow a rational and considered choice to be made. You don't want to be stuck with a **** motherboard because you were too impatient to wait for the reviews.

 

[mickyflinn]

Zen 3 Release date October 8th but in store who knows, I would expect by the end if the month.

Release date is the wrong choice of words more like an announcement.

 

[Freegrazer]

You don't want to be stuck with a **** motherboard because you were too impatient to wait for the reviews.

Yep that's a worst case scenario, really don't want to end up with that.

One thing I forgot to mention in my massive post - I just bought a big 75" 4K TV which has at least 1 HDMI 2.1 port which supports 4K @ 120Hz. This will be my main display for movies and TV, as well as gaming and editing and general PC use.

This means that in order to make full use of the HDMI 2.1 port I'll need a GPU with a 2.1 output. Which means either an Nvidia 30 series or a Big Navi, which means I'm kinda stuck waiting either way as I can't get a 30 and Big Navi ain't out yet LOL.

Zen 3 Release date October 8th but in store who knows, I would expect by the end if the month.

Release date is the wrong choice of words more like an announcement.

Damn you're right, I was thinking the 28th was the Zen 3 announcement but it's only a few days away, mixed it up with the Big Navi date. But yeah at least we'll know on the 8th when the actual release date is I suppose/hope.

 

[Freegrazer]

Can I ask you guys what size PSU I should be looking at? I'm thinking along the lines of an 850W, should be more than enough with a 3900X and an RTX 3080, but does that leave me enough headroom for a bit of overclocking?

For the RAM, I've read somewhere that G.Skill Trident kits are specifically designed around AMD chips. So assuming for a minute I waited and then bought a Zen 3 chip, would the current G.Skill RAM still benefit the new chip or would it just be like using any other similar speed DIMM's?

Another thing is if I'm doing a custom loop in my build with pumps, fans x 10, RGB, etc., do I need to look for anything specific when purchasing a motherboard? Is there specific ports/pins/headers to be used, or will I also need a fan controller hub with ARGB control support. Haven't really looked into this yet.

 

[EsaT]

Is demand for the AMD CPU's and GPU's likely to be similar to the Nividia launch with supply issues and selling out in seconds?

With a new Zen 3 architecture, I assume there will be an X670 motherboard, and although I'm aware that Zen 3 will be backwards compatible with X570, that doesn't quite mean the same as being fully supported as with X670. How long are you looking at before X670 mobo's are out (assuming Zen 3 CPU's launch this month)?

Will the launch of new gen hardware drive the prices of the current gen 3900X and X570 down a little bit?


P.S. I half expect that as soon as anyone goes and buys any Zen 3 stuff that Intel will magically reveal another new gen of "ultimate" CPU's just to annoy us

There are many question marks about what's the situation of availability vs demand:
On one hand there are people with older Intel CPUs, but then there are lots of people already with Zen2s who are in no hurry to update in first rush.
Also Corona virus means there's lot more than normal amount of people with no spare money.
On availability side release now instead of summer should have given AMD time to build more CPUs into stock/get production into good speed.

GPU side is even harder to estimate.
But if data/leaks we have are correct, AMD's top chip is smaller than Nvidia's and that should maker production easier, besides increasing number of dies per wafer.
(+Nvidia's use of Samsung leaves more room for AMD on TSMC node)
Also not rushing to launch at summer or before Nvidia should help with availability.


Coming of new X670 chipset is somewhat questionable:
Earlier there were many rumours about, but now it's been quite quiet for months instead of leaks increasing.
And AMD already has good board range with still IO monster all PCIe v4 X570 and B550.
Also X670 would be left as short lived one CPU gen chipset with next step being AM5 and DDR5 with Zen4.


Intel doesn't have anything to answer AMD in number of powerfull cores untill they get fully functional new node (or own chiplet design) to replace that old 14nm++++++.
They have their 10nm architecture back ported to 14nm++++++ in roadmap.
But because of higher transistor count number of cores drops back to 8 eight.
And with those extra transistors come further challenges in power consumption and heat output, which is bad for clock speeds.

 

[Freegrazer]

Also Corona virus means there's lot more than normal amount of people with no spare money.

Interesting point. I'm actually one of the lucky ones who was able to work from home since March this year. I've actually been able to save more money than usual while being in lockdown and also had 2 fully paid trips cancelled and refunded so have extra cash to spend on a PC build and new TV.

But you're right, that's not the case with most others. So perhaps with less demand and the autumn release instead big summer it might prove easier to get.

Coming of new X670 chipset is somewhat questionable:
Earlier there were many rumours about, but now it's been quite quiet for months instead of leaks increasing.
And AMD already has good board range with still IO monster all PCIe v4 X570 and B550.
Also X670 would be left as short lived one CPU gen chipset with next step being AM5 and DDR5 with Zen4.

That's something I hadn't thought of. Perhaps X670 will be kept for Zen 4 as you say, but hopefully we'll find out for certain at the Zen 3 reveal on the 8th. I'd be quite happy with an X570 and a Zen 3 to be honest, unless there's some big specific advantage to using X670 in conjunction with Zen 3 which I can't see being worth a long wait or a higher price.

 

[Nikolaos]

OP, I was going to open a thread of my own asking the same questions, thanks for saving me the time.

This is my plan:
Wait until Oct 31th.
If launch, then buy new.
If reveal, then buy current.
If launch and supply shortage, then buy current.

I can't wait for longer, because currently I 'm on a terrible laptop that struggles to open 10 tabs.

 

[Freegrazer]

Nikolai's - good plan. I'll probably do the same coz I ain't sitting here much longer with a brand new 4K display without a 4K capable GPU to power it!

 

[EsaT]

I can't wait for longer, because currently I 'm on a terrible laptop that struggles to open 10 tabs.

At least use uBlock Origin.
Cutting down amount of add garbage should ease load on PC.

Probably there's also dozen+ useless bloat and crapware on background bogging PC down.

 

[Nikolaos]

At least use uBlock Origin.
Cutting down amount of add garbage should ease load on PC.

Probably there's also dozen+ useless bloat and crapware on background bogging PC down.

I do use uBlock and my laptop is free of all but the basics. It's just that it's slow. Intel N4000, 4 gb RAM...
Still usable for basic stuff, but I want my gaming rig!

 

[EsaT]

I do use uBlock and my laptop is free of all but the basics. It's just that it's slow. Intel N4000, 4 gb RAM...

That isn't any laptop.
That was abacus already when new.