Ryzen 2700X to 7800X3D for gaming

[Strite]

Hi folks,

I'm looking to purchase a new pre-build in the coming weeks as my previous OCUK pre-build is getting a bit long in tooth now (despite some aftermarket upgrades) and I'm overdue a full system rebuild. I'll be posting a thread in the custom build forum for some advice on that in due course, but having caught up on the state of the CPU market atm it seems that firstly, AMD is a safer bet than Intel atm in regards to futureproofing due to their use of the AM5 socket, is that right? Secondly, I'll be upgrading from a Ryzen 7 2700X and have my eye on the 7800X3D, but after doing the rounds on Reddit (I know...) a lot of "enthusiasts" are recommending people sleep on the 7800X3D and wait for Zen5 due next year, this has caused me some concern about how futureproof my new system will be if I buy it now. Will Zen5 use the same AM5 socket as Zen4? To make things even more confusing, some people are even saying to wait for a while after Zen5 drops to make sure that the architecture matures, so possibly wait until 2025(!) for the second generation of Zen5 CPU's so AMD can work out any kinks before purchasing a new system. I can understand that POV if your parts are pretty new and you upgrade regularly, but for someone like me where a lot of the parts in my PC are really starting to show their age now (GPU is a GTX 1080!) I think if I wait for the "optimum" time to upgrade, I'll be waiting forever. Surely this kind of mindset of "wait for the next gen, it's going to be x times better!" can be applied to any tech though? Why buy a smartphone this year when you can wait for the new model coming next year? Or the latest OLED TV when you can buy an even better one in a year from now? I think if I wait for the "optimum" time to upgrade, I'll be waiting forever.

So, tl:dr would jumping from a Ryzen 2700X to a 7800X3D for gaming be a worthy upgrade, or would I be wise to wait until Zen5 next year?

Cheers!

 

[rare]

It will be a massive upgrade from a 2700x. Zen5 will be AM5 so no worries there, you can upgrade later down the line if you want.

 

[Tetras]

firstly, AMD is a safer bet than Intel atm in regards to futureproofing due to their use of the AM5 socket, is that right?

Yes, if you plan to replace your CPU within the life of the system. My understanding is that AMD have said it will last until at least 2025.

Secondly, I'll be upgrading from a Ryzen 7 2700X and have my eye on the 7800X3D, but after doing the rounds on Reddit (I know...) a lot of "enthusiasts" are recommending people sleep on the 7800X3D and wait for Zen5 due next year, this has caused me some concern about how futureproof my new system will be if I buy it now.

7800X3D is good enough for a 4090 or 7900 XTX (reviews released today), as for the future, we can't say.

Will Zen5 use the same AM5 socket as Zen4?

Yes.

I can understand that POV if your parts are pretty new and you upgrade regularly, but for someone like me where a lot of the parts in my PC are really starting to show their age now (GPU is a GTX 1080!) I think if I wait for the "optimum" time to upgrade, I'll be waiting forever. Surely this kind of mindset of "wait for the next gen, it's going to be x times better!" can be applied to any tech though?

Most people applied that logic to waiting for the 7800X3D, because the X3D CPUs have a big advantage in some scenarios, so I think you've already waited until the optimum time in the current cycle.

So, tl:dr would jumping from a Ryzen 2700X to a 7800X3D for gaming be a worthy upgrade, or would I be wise to wait until Zen5 next year?

Yes, but if you don't feel a need to upgrade then wait. The 7800X3D should easily last you the 5 years that the 2700X did.

 

[Thekwango]

If you’re already on am4 why not just plop in a 5800x3d?

 

[Strite]

If you’re already on am4 why not just plop in a 5800x3d?

Fair question, but it ultimately boils down to weighing up the cost of upgrading an aging system vs. just buying a brand new one. I wouldn't just need to upgrade the CPU, but rather the GPU (I'm still using a GTX1080 after being priced out of the GPU market for the past few years thanks to the crypto boom and GPU scalpers) and ideally would also like to increase my RAM (have 16GB atm and want to make the jump to 32GB). Once you start tallying up the cost of increasing multiple individual components like that, a whole new system starts to look a lot more appealing tbh.

Thanks for the answers @Tetras!

 

[Thekwango]

Fair question, but it ultimately boils down to weighing up the cost of upgrading an aging system vs. just buying a brand new one. I wouldn't just need to upgrade the CPU, but rather the GPU (I'm still using a GTX1080 after being priced out of the GPU market for the past few years thanks to the crypto boom and GPU scalpers) and ideally would also like to increase my RAM also (have 16GB atm and want to make the jump to 32GB). Once you start tallying up the cost of increasing multiple individual components like that, a whole new system starts to look a lot more appealing tbh.

Thanks for the answers @Tetras!

And equally fair points but I’d still lean towards a 5800x3d and use the money saved on a mobo and ram towards a bigger gpu upgrade than planned. I’d be very surprised if a 5800x3d didn’t have a good few years left in it yet.
But then I’m a miserable sod and I like my upgrades leaning toward the budget end of the spectrum.
Either will be a huge upgrade though.

 

[Joxeon]

I'd agree that a 5800X3D and either a cheap 16 or 32gb ram kit would be the best option and would come in under at £350-400 while a full AM5 upgrade is likely to be around £800.

A 2700X > 5800X3D is much larger performance jump than a 5800X3D > 7800XD.