Gaming Discussions

[tasilium]

So I am debating purchasing a 7900xtx (perhaps a 7900xt, but why not the XTX?)   I am honestly trying to convince myself WHY I should upgrade in the first place.  

Background..first I like tinkering with my PC, and I enjoy the general DIY aspects.

I recently upgraded my CPU from a 3700x to a 5800x3D and was more than pleased with the performance.  My gains exceeded my expectations, which is rare with a PC upgrade.  The 5800x3D paired with my 6800xt has handled most everything I run with ease.  I currently game on a 1440p 165hz monitor.  I play FPS, 4x, RPGs etc...and I have no problems maxing out the refresh rate on my monitor.  Games I have tried all run buttery smooth at Max/Ultra settings..frame timings are good....I haven't noticed any stuttering or tearing...I haven't even needed to use FSR so I can squeeze more frames out of games.  I can stream and game at the same time, without issue. Etc, etc...  What I am basically saying is if I lived in a vacuum and did not know that the 7900xtx or 7900xt existed (no matter what Nvidia does, so long as AMD can make competitive products I will not give team green any money) I would not even have the concept of upgrading on my radar.    

All that said, I have seen the graphs..I know there is a performance uplift between my card and the 7900xtx.....I know that it would absolutely provide an increase in statistical performance (i.e. my pretty little frame counter would produce higher numbers)--but would that performance actually realize itself in a meaningful way for me?  Outside of using a metrics tool like the Adrenaline overlay, would I actually tell the difference?  For example would the potential of a millisecond of lag really mater in a FPS game for the absolute average gamer like me?  Its not like I am playing in a professional competition, and neither are most people reading this.  Can the experience be smoother?  Is the value in an upgrade there at 1440p?  

My challenge to you is give me a reason to upgrade....or not to upgrade.  Given the option would you upgrade?  Please keep it civil...this thread can kind of be as much of a dialogue on when its relevant to upgrade or a response to my particular situation.  Either works.  

[januszmackiewicz]

My method is more likely:

1. Grab any last top gpu released. I meant the name :P.

2. Go through sites like techpowerup etc.

3. Analize graphs in terms what you need + some backup for few years.

For instance: https://www.techpowerup.com/review/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-founders-edition/28.html

But the best thing is to wait. If you're not in rush note down all pc parts. Leave it for month. Come back and ask yourself a simple question: "Do I really need this?" or "Will I use it in most juju it provides?".

Did that to my upgrade plan and landed around 300-400$ less in 1st reading (fans/SSD/HDD/CPU Cooler).

2nd round will be CPU/Case battle.

[tasilium]

I like your strategy...putting it aside for a month and coming back to it, I have employed a similar strategy with past upgrades, and I am generally pleased with the performance to price when I don't rush in.  

Honestly I have no real reason to upgrade, other than I can.  At least not one I have convinced myself of anyway.  Yet I keep finding myself checking out 7900xtx reviews, prices, blogs, etc.... So here we are, that and I thought it would be neat to see how other people view upgrading and when to do so.

[Anonymous]

from 2700x to 5800x3d

I am very happy.

2700x did serve me well but it could not use full power of 6700xt.

wraith prism that came with 2700x can cool 5800x3d when I play games cpu temperature is not going over 70c but in cinebench cpu temperarture did reach 89c after 1 minute.

[tasilium]

I bet you are delighted with that CPU upgrade. the 5800x3d is a big step up from the 2700x.  Enjoy!

[Axxemann]

My theory has always been this: Run it breaks, then upgrade. Keep upgrading incrementally until you're happy, then run it until it breaks and repeat. I did this over 10 years with my AM3+ rig that I retired back last September. I'll probably do the same over the next 2 or 3 with the AM4. Then see how long I can stretch out the AM5 (or maybe skip AM5 and go straight to AM6) upgrade that's planned way down the road.

I'm on a 5600 with a 6800XT. The 6800XT replaced an RX570 4GB. I'm locked to 1080p 72fps right now due to not having much of a monitor budget. I was looking at going all the way to 4K, but it's just too rich for my blood. I'll be sticking in the realm of 1440p165. But let me tell you: Going from the FX8120 to the R5 5600 was a huge uplift. And a great savings in my power bill. The 6800XT is a MONSTER compared to the old 570. And it's barely working to keep me at frame cap in ultra settings at 1080p. I even turned on RT in a couple of games and the GPU isn't even working hard. It's almost as if this thing is more powerful at idle than the 570 was at full throttle.

Down the line I plan to swap the 16GB RAM kit for a faster 32GB kit and a 5800X3D. I'm sure I'll be able to snag the X3D on sale or second hand. Of course, that RAM kit will be 2x16GB, probably in the 3600MT CL16 range. A bit pricier than the 3200MTCL16 or 3600MTCL18, but quicker overall. Around here the 4000MT DDR4 kits are pushing DDR5 pricing.

[tasilium]

I can appreciate your upgrade path. 🙂

I once went from an Athlonx2 system to a Ryzen 7 1700 system...that was a bonkers upgrade in performance.  Ofcourse, at that time I wasn't doing much with the old Athlon anymore, it was way past time at that point to get back in the hobby.. since then I have followed the AM4 upgrade path to its eventual conclusion....(I am currently running a 5800x3D and 6800xt)...:)

[AgCN3]

I was in the "only upgrade it when you need to camp" for a long time, but then all the good stuff started getting cheaper (LOL!!) and I couldn't resist any longer.  I was running with an Intel Core i7 7700 and a Radeon RX570 for a long time, then I got the RX Vega 64 and was really happy with that combination for a couple of years...  Come this last Christmas, I decided I'd had enough of being happy, and wanted to be excited about my PC again...  so I upgraded again.   This time, I went "off the chain" so to speak, and built - from the ground up - an AMD rig that has me excited to play video games again!

Case:  Corsair 5000X RGB

Motherboard:  ASUS ROG Crosshair Dark Hero VIII

CPU:  AMD Ryzen 9 5950X

RAM:  Corsair Vengeance Pro DDR4 3200 128GB (4X 32GB) <-- Probably the only weak link

GPU:  Sapphire Radeon RX 6950XT

AIO:  Corsair H150i Elite Capellix 360mm

OS Drive:  Samsung 980 Pro PCI-E 4.0 SSD 1TB

Storage:  2x Samsung 980 Pro PCI-E 4.0 2TB SSD's, and a 2TB 7200RPM WD spinner.

Monitor:  Samsung 32" Odyssey G55A QHD 165Hz 1ms FreeSync Curved with HDR 10.

So I can understand the "want vs. need" issue.  I didn't need any of that, but I damned-sure wanted it!!  So I just did it!!  😁

[petosiris]

I understand the urge to upgrade, but if I were you I wouldn't upgrade because you're happy with the GPU you have now.  There's little to gain when you already max out on all the games you play. 

AMD's next gen GPU arrives next year and it's rumored to be a beast.  I will most probably wait for that one, even if I could need an upgrade to RX 7900 XTX now.  The game I play most is demanding of everything -- CPU, GPU, SSD and RAM, and my PC's weak link is the GPU now.  But the 7900 XTX cost much more here than in the U.S. and currently I can't afford it so I have to wait anyway until I can save up the money for it.  When I have enough then we may see 2024 and the next gen cards.  😊

[ThreeDee]

5900x, x570 Taichi, 2x16GB 3200 CAS16 @ 3800 CAS18 w/1:1 FCLK, RX 6800 Gaming OC, PCIe 4.0 M.2 drives for OS and Games . .HX1200 80+ Platinum PSU .. Windows 11

I didn't need to upgrade .. I was happy .. 1440p gaming was like Buttuh' .. 

My love of tinkering with new tech overcame my silent serenity of blissful wonton soup of joy

Now I am AM5 .. I am learning .. I am tinkering again .. and I am complete

...until 8000 series of whatever's that is 😳

[mengelag]

I think the 6800XT is just fine for 1440p gaming. Unless you're planning on moving to a 4k setup, that 6800xt will handle anything you throw at it still. I'm not sure what kind of drives you have but an easy and relatively cheap perfomance upgrade could be a fast M.2 drive providing your motherboard has the slots. Something to consider?