I’m trying to decide whether to spend an extra $100 on the 9800X3D instead of the 7800X3D. Do you think the performance difference justifies the price, especially when gaming at 1440p and higher? Or will a bottleneck from the GPU make them perform similarly?
6 Answers
Honestly, if you’re not planning on getting a top-tier GPU like the 5090, the 9800X3D might not be necessary. Just my two cents!
A GPU bottleneck will definitely limit how both CPUs perform. If you’re pairing either one with a mid-range GPU, like an RTX 2070, you might not see much difference at all in frame rates. The 7800X3D holds up pretty well, so unless you’re going big with your graphics card upgrade, it might not be worth the extra spend.
If you’re thinking of spending that extra $100, consider upgrading your GPU instead. The 7800X3D is already quite powerful for most gaming needs, so unless you have a specific reason to need the 9800X3D, you might be better off saving your cash or investing it in a graphics card if that’s your main concern.
When the 9800X3D first launched, it was only about a $30 jump for better performance, especially with high-end GPUs like the 5090. But now that pricing is different, I’d say the 7800X3D is still plenty fast for the average gamer. Save that extra cash for a better GPU or something else that enhances your setup!
If the pricing is roughly 30% higher for the 9800X3D where you live, just go for it if your budget allows! It might give you an edge in performance, especially as games continue to advance. That being said, for most casual gamers, the 7800X3D is likely sufficient.
