New Set up vs Existing Rig Upgrade

LankyBM

LankyBM

LankyBM

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Joined
15 Apr 2020
Posts
26
Hello all,

I am currently debating either buying a new rig completely, or trying to upgrade on what I currently have (built in 2020), and whilst I have built my last few PC's (including the one below). I am a little out of sync on what would be a good path to take on what is the latest and "best" in that sense. I came here last time and got some great advice, so was hoping someone(s) with more knowledge than me would be able to help me out.

Current Set up ;

Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra AMD X570 So.AM4 Dual Channel DDR ATX Retail
Ryzen 9 3900X 12 core
8GB Gigabyte Radeon RX 5700XT AORUS-8GD, GDDR6
be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
16GB (2x 8192MB) Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400 + Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 32GB (2 x 16GB) (so 48Gigs in total)
1000GB WD Black SN750 Gaming M.2 2280
850 Watt Corsair TX-M Series TX850M Modular 80+ Gold


In terms of a new rig, I would be open to anything and would have about a €1500 budget I would like to stick to. For the upgrade, I am worried that my X570 is going to be an issue with updating to a better graphics card.

Side note in case it helps - I already have a 4k monitor and accessories that I would carry over.


Thank in advance for your time and responses!

/Sam
 
mickyflinn said:
Gaming wise a 5700x3d may be beneficial and a new gpu which there should be no problems swapping out a graphics and a bios update may be needed for the CPU.

4k gaming I would get a 4080 super and the 5700x3d , as a side note nvidiaare due to release there 5000 series GPU in 1st quarter of 2025 if rumours are correct.


My basket at OcUK:

Total: £1,117.97 (includes delivery: £7.99)​
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Thank you for the quick reply!

If I can ask a potentially stupid question - I already have a Ryzen 9 - so wouldnt the Ryzen 7 be a downgrade? And the new GPU would work with the existing motherboard and cpu?
 
mickyflinn said:
For gaming the 5700x3d 8 core) CPU has more L3 cache which games can take advantage of and it's a newer CPU being a 5000 series, so you get architectural increase in performance. Outside of gaming the 3900x will be faster for things like video encoding where more cores will be beneficial.

Day to day task no difference between them.

Your motherboard bios may need updating for the x3d CPU so need to check what version you motherboard has .


Yes the 4080 will work with your motherboard and power supply, the GPU comes with a 16 pin to 3x 8 pin pcie cable to work with older power supplys. The 850w Tx has 4 x 8 pin pcie connectors so your good to go.
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Is there any benefit to spending more on a "better" cpu than the 5700x3d? I was just looking at the Motherboard support page (to check on how to update the bios as you recommended), and it seems there are also other options listed above it
 
Tetras said:
Can you clarify exactly how you use your PC? E.g. primary usage, secondary usage, apps used regularly.
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Primary use would be gaming (currently "still" playing Day-z, but I would like to be able to play newer titles coming out in the near future. Cyberpunk works relatively well, but not on High settings). Next would be casual things (Discord, Youtube, watching Sport etc...'). I do not Work (anymore) on my local, so that makes things a bit easier.

I would rather spend more and have a longer use time than save on money (to an extent of course) - I was a little disheartened to see the 4080 listed at €800 which sounds crazy (I think the most I have spent on a GPU in the past was about €400
 
Tetras said:
You might want to wait for RDNA4, we're hoping it will be decent prices in the midrange and if you can have 7900 XT performance that would get you decent playability at 4K in the majority of games. That's the problem you have really, progress has not been great and a decent upgrade to your 5700 XT will be expensive right now. If the next generation of GPUs are going to improve price/performance much, or at all, we don't really know yet, but I'm hopeful about RDNA4.

This video may be of interest to know what to expect if you go for a 4070 Super / 7900 GRE class card (intended for 1440p) instead:


In that case, you're unlikely to lose anything by switching to the 5700X3D, but it is true that for fully multithreaded workloads it is a downgrade. For gaming though, it is a really good CPU and competes even with the latest AMD 9000 and Intel Core Ultra CPUs.
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Thanks for the feedback, really appreciate it. And going up to something like a RX 7900XT wouldnt be worth it (at approc €600 it seems) instead of the 4080?

Seems like I am a little stuck then really - as If spending 1k on the GPU and CPU, then I may as well get the MB and just make a new rig it seems.

​

 
mickyflinn said:
It's all levels, especially the GPU which is the primary piece in gaming. There is plenty of life in your pc so the 2 recommendstions will give you the 4k gaming you require without changing platform.

Basically more money to put into a better GPU instead of rebuilding taking money away from the GPU.

If you want a £1500 pc we can spec you if you prefer
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That makes sense, thanks. So then a 4080 and looking for a 5700X3D seems to be the way! Now just need to sort out a BIOS update it seem (for sure need a new version, not been done since 2019 apparently)
 
Hey all, quick update - So I went ahead and picked up the R7 5700x3d, and after some fun with the BIOS, all up and running now. So thank you all for the help, amazing as always!

I am now at the crossroads with the GPU, but there are some "good" deals out there on both the 7900 XT & 7900 GRE - and from what I can gather, the XT is the preferred choice out of the two, correct?
 
Tetras said:
All comes down to the price, the XT is obviously better (faster, more VRAM, bigger bus), but it is not like... £200 better.
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thanks,is what I think also - prices actually were not as good as I thought (my search landed on an 7800 XT which threw me a little), so need to keep on looking it seems!
 
Tetras said:
Say.. if the GRE is £550 and the 7900 XT £630, I'd personally be prepared to pay that for 4K gaming (you're playing at 4K, right?).

TPU's review of the GRE had it (the XT) as 17% faster, so anything around that price I think is fair game.
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yeah the price seems to be about €150 difference between the two - but starting already at €550 for the GRE version (im based out in Germany)

as another stupid question - woujld a 4070 at a similar price range be even better, right? Might have stumbled across one - Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4070 WINDFORCE OC
 
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Tetras said:
In raster (i.e. no ray tracing) the 7900 GRE would easily beat a 4070, they're more similar to a 4070 Super.
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alright... then seems my "min" of 4080 / 7900 XT is starting around €680. Thats a pretty huge hit I think - GRE is around €550... big difference, but still a lot for it I feel.
 
Tetras said:
Hmm, I agree, it isn't cheap! Is there a possibility you could hang on until the new cards release?
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yeah sure - I dont really want to, but thats another point :D I had my mindset that I would do €600 max, but thats looking like it wont be possible currently
 
Hello all - hope everyones doing well!

I have come back to this topic as, with the recent releases of GPUS, I am hopeful that there might now be a way forward for me here. I would love some suggestions on what I can / could now do with my current set up as I would love to give it a boost. my curent set up is now as following (based on the upgrades that were suggested last year to me)....

  • Gigabyte X570 Aorus Ultra AMD X570 So.AM4 Dual Channel DDR ATX Retail
  • Ryzen 7 5700XCD 8-Core
  • 8GB Gigabyte Radeon RX 5700XT AORUS-8GD, GDDR6
  • be quiet! Shadow Rock 3
  • 16GB (2x 8192MB) Patriot Viper Steel DDR4-4400 + Patriot Viper Steel DDR4 32GB (2 x 16GB) (so 48Gigs in total)
  • 1000GB WD Black SN750 Gaming M.2 2280
  • 850 Watt Corsair TX-M Series TX850M Modular 80+ Gold

Thank you in advance for any suggestions. I am still worried that my motherboard might now not be up to scratch for any new GPU, but please let me know.
 
mickyflinn said:
GPU upgrade is on the cards, budget ?

Remind us of resolution and hz you gaming at .
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Budget wise - if its just the GPU, I would be ok at the 600-700 price point if it would really give me a boost.If I would need to do multiple things (MB, Cpu etc...) then I am not sure if would be better to then sell everything and build new.

I do have a 4k monitor (Gigabyte M32UC 80cm (31.5") 4K) - display settings state 3840 x 2160

Thanks for the response!
 
Craig_d1 said:
it was 4k

@LankyBM

9070 XT comes to mind really, but just over budget. 9070 would be in budget...def over previous gen with fsr4 and much much improved ray trace ability...but seeing as you have 4k screen, I'd save a bit and get the xt...and you want a 16gb, esp at 4k for the textures...5070ti would be nvidia equivalent..slightly faster but more expensive again
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Sorry for a stupid question - I would be able to use both variants with my current cpu and MB? For some reason, I have had the presumption that Nvidia cards were a no go for me.....

and just did a search, seems like the XT would in and around the budget which i could justify. Thank you for the feedback!
 
For a general question here -with the new GPU, can I simply just replace the older one and carry on as normal? Or would there be some potential MB upgrades required. I ask, as when I did the upgrade of the CPU I had a nightmare day trying to get the BIOS working without the pc just switching off after 30 seconds. I managed to find a "stable" version, but it was far from the latest one that was availiable.
 
Craig_d1 said:
i see you're running an rc5700XT card at mo..is that using older software or the adrenalin...just asking as switching between a 7800xt and a 9070xt I didn't have to do anything, it just recognised the new card and that was it
otherwise, seeing as you're on amd already, I'd just download the adrenalin and go from there


pretty straightforward. i had to disable the built in gpu on the 7800x3d i had as the software was picking them both up, bu you wont have that problem with the 5700x3d

and you can gain a bit more performance by undervolting the card, which is SOoooo simple to do in e software
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Yeah I have adrenaline currently, but not really sure I have ever noticed anything good from it. It certainly didnt help me with the BIOS issues I had - but hopefully that wont be an issue with the new Card.
 
mickyflinn said:
You can use any card with your CPU.

Drivers best to uninstall the old ones and download the latest


£650 7950xt.


You can get a 5070ti for £720 ATM

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Thank you (and everyone), this has been a great help.

Just to check - if its a straight toss up between the 9070 xt and the 5070 ti, is there a winner? If I pull the plug, then I would like to get the best that I possibly could right now
 
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