The original post: /r/buildapc by /u/Waste_Wishbone_1506 on 2025-02-21 09:41:10.

Hey everyone,

I’m planning to upgrade my current rig (Ryzen 5 5600x + RX 6800 WQHD), and I’m stuck between a few CPU options and motherboard types. I’ve got $600 to spend and could stretch to $850 if it’s worth it for something “futureproof.” Here’s where I’m at, hoping you all can help me decide!

CPU Options :

All prices include CPU + motherboard + RAM:

  1. Ryzen 7 9800X3D ($850 total)
    • Top-tier gaming performance with that 3D V-Cache magic (heard it’s like 30% better than the 9700X in some games).
    • I’d need to add $250 more, but it seems like the best “futureproof” choice. Worth the stretch?
  2. Ryzen 7 9700X ($600 total)
    • Fits my $600 budget perfectly and still a solid upgrade from my 5600x (20-30% boost?).
    • Not as gaming-focused as the X3D chips, will I regret skipping the cache?
  3. Ryzen 7 7800X3D (~$720 total)
    • Last-gen but still killer for gaming, only $85 extra. A sweet spot, but is it as “futureproof” as the 9800X3D?

I play all kinds of games in 1440p UltraWide : competitive titles, single-player stuff, some that are super demanding, others that aren’t. Lately, I’ve been feeling like my current CPU is struggling with some of them, and I think just swapping it out could give me a pretty big performance boost. With my RX 6800 at 1440p UltraWide, I know the GPU might bottleneck sometimes, but I’m aiming for smooth 1% lows and room to grow. Which CPU would you go for?

Motherboard Dilemma :

If I pick the 9800X3D (or even the 9700X), I’m torn between chipset types:

  • B650E
    • PCIe 5.0 for GPU and M.2, Wi-Fi 6, solid VRMs. Seems good enough for my RX 6800 and a future GPU upgrade.
  • X870
    • USB4, Wi-Fi 7, better RAM support. Overkill now, but more “futureproof” for DDR5 speeds and next-gen GPUs?

I do enjoy overclocking a bit, I’m not a hardcore enthusiast, just someone who likes tinkering until I find a setup I’m happy with, then I leave it as is. Is the X870 worth the extra cost over a B650E for longevity, or am I fine with B650E? What chipset type would you recommend for my use case?

Budget Breakdown :

  • $600: Covers something like a 9700X + motherboard + 32GB DDR5-6000 CL30.
  • $850: Gets me the 9800X3D + motherboard + DDR5-6400 CL32.
  • $720: 7800X3D + motherboard + DDR5-6000.

Questions for You

  1. For 1440p gaming with an RX 6800, which CPU would you pick? Is the 9800X3D’s extra $250 worth it over the 7800X3D or 9700X?
  2. B650E vs X870, any real difference for my use case, or is X870 just overkill? Which chipset type should I go for?

Thanks for the input! Trying to make this upgrade last 5+ years.