Complete New Build or Keep Tower/PSU

Mark Hamill

This is my current build (8 years old) and I want to upgrade it:

CPU: Intel Core i5 6500 4x 3.20GHz So.1151
PSU: 550 Watt Seasonic G Series Modular 80+ Gold
Motherboard: MSI Z170-A PRO Intel Z170 So.1151 Dual Channel DDR4 ATX Retail
Ram: 16GB Crucial Ballistix Sport LT DDR4-2400 DIMM CL16 Dual Kit
GPU: 8192MB MSI GeForce GTX 1070 GAMING X 8G Active PCIe 3.0 x16 (Retail)
Tower: Nanoxia Deep Silence 1 Rev. B insulated Midi Tower without power supply black

It will be for gaming and I have made up the following on pcpartpicker based on reading here and on reddit:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor (€402.95 @ Paradigit)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler (€55.81 @ Computer Orbit) (or Phantom Spirit on Amazon for £31)
Motherboard: ASRock B650M Pro RS Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard (€177.90 @ Computer Orbit)
Memory: Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory (€172.90 @ Computer Orbit)
Video Card: Gigabyte WINDFORCE OC GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB Video Card (€366.44 @ Paradigit)
Total: €1176.00

Est Wattage: 376kW

I know the GPU will probably hold back the CPU a bit, but I don't mind too much as without a ton more money one will always hold the other back. (If someone can suggest a better GPU within approx €100…)

My question is do I need to update my tower and PSU? They both seem fine and I have no issues with them, and the PSU can handle the est wattage of the new build (unless there is some quirk to reading the wattage that means 550 will not be enough). Then again it would be, what, less than €200, so I might be able to stretch to it if new items are just that much better.

Coyler

First, explain your thinking on why you are OK with that CPU and GPU pairing, please.

The case and PSU are fine. That PSU from what I can find is reasonably high qaulity enough to last you a few decades. Probably still under warranty.

Mark Hamill

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122360346#Comment_122360346

That's the best gaming CPU from what I can tell and I only have so much more money to invest in a GPU (4070 start around €600, 4080 is way more and I'm not familiar with what would be as good in AMD).

I'm open to an alternative GPU for around €400 (or CPU/GPU pair for around €800).

cornholio509

AMD rx 7700 or AMD RX 6800 gpus can be got for around €400 euro on amazon if you want alternatives to nvidia . WHile you wont have as good a ray tracing experience . IF you just want raw FPS without raytracing they are far better alternatives to a 4060 .

Now on the CPU AMD is releasing new CPUs in a few weeks . SO watch out for CPU price drops nest month. Current b650 motherboards also could see price drops as well . THe ryzen 7700 is currently 360 euro . WHen the new CPUs launch it could be as low as 280 euro . I think that would be a better alternative to the 7800X3d which isnt getting a price reduction .

As for PC parts picker i would shop around .

thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 se is 38 euro . Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) is 155 euro . Asrock b650 173 euro . AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 402 euro . THese are amazon prices . While something's cost the same other dont . Not saying to purchase off of amazon . Just using it as an example of PC parts picker checking ireland . CHeck out other european sites and you will see some are cheaper than others . Most of them are cheaper than irish sites .

Coyler

https://www.techspot.com/review/2790-faster-gpu-vs-faster-cpu/

X3D are only as fast as the GPU they are driving. A better GPU will get you better performance 99% of the time. You can beat a higher tier GPU as the tests show by dropping the quality on esports titles (Fortnite, League of Legends, Rocket League, CS etc.) but at that point you are in 300+ frames per second on either combination and the human eye can't tell the difference. It has zero real world value outside of niche use cases. X3D CPUs have their place but not down at this tier.

Do either a 7600 with a 4070 Super, or a 7700x with a 7800XT. Both will be in or around €800. The latter would be my choice but some just don't want to move away from Nvidia. The former is a excellent build as well and will perform far better than the 7800X3D and 4060 8Gb combo.

Mark Hamill

Thanks Coyler and cornholio509 for your help and suggestions. I will wait until next month,hopefully for some price drops and then look into the pricing of your suggestions.

I am not against going to AMD, I am just not as aware of their cards as nvidia's, but I will look into pricing of 7800XT after the new CPUs come out.

Jon Doe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122364460#Comment_122364460

Yeah Coyler and cornholio509 are right on this one. Drop the x3d and go for raw gpu power. The x3d cache would only be justified if you'd also use the machine to do multi threaded crunching that uses as much L3 as it can take.