CUSTOM BUILD CONFIG (AMD/INTEL/NVIDIA) RX7900XT or RTX4070ti

[KAiRO]

Hey everyone!

I am currently building my first gaming PC which I will also use for work. I would appreciate honest unbiased advice from experience.

Here are the build comparisons and config I have to decide on.

GPU:
- RX7900XT vs RTX4070ti.

CPU:
i5 14600KF vs Ryzen 7700X

RAM:
- DDR4 3600Mhz 16CL vs DDR5 6000Mhz 30CL

QUESTION

Which CPU + GPU + RAM Pairing Config is best suited:

- Ryzen 7700X with RX7900XT + DDR5 = (R27 077)
- i5 14600KF with RTX4070ti + DDR4 / DDR5 = (R27 827 with DDR4) or (R28 477 with DDR5)
- i5 14600KF with RX7900XT + DDR5 = (R26 477)

The motherboard for the DDR5 is around R8000
The motherboard for the DDR4 I got on special for R5000

Any advice is greatly appreciated

 

[Areola Grande]

Why are you spending so much on a motherboard? Are there specific features you need that a cheaper board doesn't have?

I would take 7900XT plus whichever works out cheaper for the CPU/RAM/MOBO combos. But look here

Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX with Wi-Fi, AMD B650 Chipset, Socket AM5, ATX Desktop Motherboard — Best Deals at Progenix — South Africa

With the fast-moving technology changes, GIGABYTE always follows the latest trends and provides customers with advanced features and latest technologies. GIGABYTE motherboards are equipped with upgraded power solution, latest storage standards and outstan

progenix.co.za

Plus

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8 Core CPU with SMT, No Cooler, Integrated Radeon Graphics, Socket AM5, 4.2GHz (5.0GHz Boost) — Best Deals at Progenix — South Africa

8 cores optimized for high-FPS gaming rigs. Get the high-speed gaming performance of the world’s best desktop processor.

progenix.co.za

= winning.

 

[KAiRO]

Why are you spending so much on a motherboard? Are there specific features you need that a cheaper board doesn't have?

I would take 7900XT plus whichever works out cheaper for the CPU/RAM/MOBO combos. But look here

Gigabyte B650 AORUS ELITE AX with Wi-Fi, AMD B650 Chipset, Socket AM5, ATX Desktop Motherboard — Best Deals at Progenix — South Africa

With the fast-moving technology changes, GIGABYTE always follows the latest trends and provides customers with advanced features and latest technologies. GIGABYTE motherboards are equipped with upgraded power solution, latest storage standards and outstan

progenix.co.za

Plus

AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 8 Core CPU with SMT, No Cooler, Integrated Radeon Graphics, Socket AM5, 4.2GHz (5.0GHz Boost) — Best Deals at Progenix — South Africa

8 cores optimized for high-FPS gaming rigs. Get the high-speed gaming performance of the world’s best desktop processor.

progenix.co.za

= winning.

I am not 100% sure as Motherboard's specs are really difficult to differentiate...

Only that I want the Realtek S1220A Audio Codec (The better Codec)
Built-in WiFi + Bluetooth
Either the newer model Z790 or X670

Not sure, but think I saw some guys having CPU Boot and stability problems with the B650 Chipset + AMD CPU

That's why I was considering the i5 14600KF with RX7900XT + DDR5 because the CPU is cheaper and on paper faster + GPU has the best value-to-performance ratio, especially on Call of Duty and Battlefield.

That 7800X3D is well-priced!!

 

[Areola Grande]

I am not 100% sure as Motherboard's specs are really difficult to differentiate...

Only that I want the Realtek S1220A Audio Codec (The better Codec)
Built-in WiFi + Bluetooth
Either the newer model Z790 or X670

Not sure, but think I saw some guys having CPU Boot and stability problems with the B650 Chipset + AMD CPU

That's why I was considering the i5 14600KF with RX7900XT + DDR5 because the CPU is cheaper and on paper faster + GPU has the best value-to-performance ratio, especially on Call of Duty and Battlefield.

That 7800X3D is well-priced!!

I'm running a B650 with a 7800X3D and haven't had a single issue. Not sure why you want that codec specifically. If you want good sound, you should be running a DAC or something like that.

Given you will get no performance difference from a higher-end motherboard, except possibly overclocking potential, I would save the money on the motherboard and get higher tier components that directly affect your performance - GPU and CPU.

 

[KAiRO]

I'm running a B650 with a 7800X3D and haven't had a single issue. Not sure why you want that codec specifically. If you want good sound, you should be running a DAC or something like that.

Given you will get no performance difference from a higher-end motherboard, except possibly overclocking potential, I would save the money on the motherboard and get higher tier components that directly affect your performance - GPU and CPU.

Ok I see, that's good to know there is not a real difference for higher-end motherboards, was made unsure by all the marketing.
But sound quality is really important to me and I don't want to throttle a new Gen CPU with an old MOBO was my thoughts.

Think the RX 7900XT / 4070ti is the limit for what I am willing to pay atm.

What do you think of DDR4 vs DDR5? Because I have a DDR4 Motherboard I picked it up for a good price.

Although if I go for the Ryzen 7800X3D then DDR5 it is!

 

[goldfritter]

Ok I see, that's good to know there is not a real difference for higher-end motherboards, was made unsure by all the marketing.
But sound quality is really important to me and I don't want to throttle a new Gen CPU with an old MOBO was my thoughts.

Think the RX 7900XT / 4070ti is the limit for what I am willing to pay atm.

What do you think of DDR4 vs DDR5? Because I have a DDR4 Motherboard I picked it up for a good price.

Although if I go for the Ryzen 7800X3D then DDR5 it is!

As @Baas_se_Haas said, if sound quality is important to you, get a proper external DAC and amp. There are probably only a handful of people in the world that could reliably tell the difference between two motherboard codecs in a blind test, and all of them would agree even the "best" one is pretty trash compared to offboard sound. Motherboard codecs are an example of where you can definitely ignore the marketing.

X670 and B650 are the same generation, one isn't a newer gen than the other. X670 is just a higher-end chipset with more features. But the rule of thumb is, if you're not really sure what features are different, you're not the sort of person who will really use all the cutting edge features on the more expensive chipset. And the CPU will perform the same on both chipsets, it won't be throttled by the B650 (just don't buy the very cheapest tier of B650).

If you get any of the Ryzen 7000-series CPUs (and, therefore, a B650 or X670 motherboard), you must use DDR5. There is no option to use it with DDR4.

With the Intel 12th-14th gen CPUs (and 600 or 700 series motherboards), you can choose between a board that can use DDR4 or one that uses DDR5, but then you must get the RAM that matches the board (they usually have DDR4 or D4, or DDR5 or D5, in the name) - no motherboard supports both, it's physically impossible. If you already have DDR4 RAM then it might be a good idea to save a bit of money and get a DDR4 board because DDR5 isn't that much faster for gaming. But if you don't yet have RAM then you might as well get DDR5 because it's not that much more expensive.

As to which one to get, it's worth noting the 7800X3D is generally speaking the fastest CPU for gaming that has ever existed. So it's worth a strong look.

You say you already bought a motherboard. What is the exact model number? If it's a good board you could just get a CPU and RAM that works with that board.

 

[KAiRO]

As @Baas_se_Haas said, if sound quality is important to you, get a proper external DAC and amp. There are probably only a handful of people in the world that could reliably tell the difference between two motherboard codecs in a blind test, and all of them would agree even the "best" one is pretty trash compared to offboard sound. Motherboard codecs are an example of where you can definitely ignore the marketing.

X670 and B650 are the same generation, one isn't a newer gen than the other. X670 is just a higher-end chipset with more features. But the rule of thumb is, if you're not really sure what features are different, you're not the sort of person who will really use all the cutting edge features on the more expensive chipset. And the CPU will perform the same on both chipsets, it won't be throttled by the B650 (just don't buy the very cheapest tier of B650).

If you get any of the Ryzen 7000-series CPUs (and, therefore, a B650 or X670 motherboard), you must use DDR5. There is no option to use it with DDR4.

With the Intel 12th-14th gen CPUs (and 600 or 700 series motherboards), you can choose between a board that can use DDR4 or one that uses DDR5, but then you must get the RAM that matches the board (they usually have DDR4 or D4, or DDR5 or D5, in the name) - no motherboard supports both, it's physically impossible. If you already have DDR4 RAM then it might be a good idea to save a bit of money and get a DDR4 board because DDR5 isn't that much faster for gaming. But if you don't yet have RAM then you might as well get DDR5 because it's not that much more expensive.

As to which one to get, it's worth noting the 7800X3D is generally speaking the fastest CPU for gaming that has ever existed. So it's worth a strong look.

You say you already bought a motherboard. What is the exact model number? If it's a good board you could just get a CPU and RAM that works with that board.

Alright I see, appreciate the clarification around codec quality and getting an external DAC instead.

Regarding DDR4 and DDR5 RAM with MOBO Compatibility I am quite aware and hence the uncertainty which to choose as this will "lock me in"

Sorry, I didn't mention I bought a

ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-PLUS WIFI D4 Intel Z790 Raptor Lake LGA 1700 ATX DDR4​

Hence the choice of an Intel i5 14600KF + DDR4 RAM (Yet to purchase)

I can still return the MOBO unless someone wants to buy it from me before that.


So then finally, if I "upgrade" for DDR5 I would then get the *ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi AMD B650 Ryzen Socket AM5 ATX* Paired with the Ryzen 7800x3d as mentioned by you guys.

The question then comes down to. If I spend 4K more on a DDR5 AM5 Setup (MOBO+CPU+RAM) will it be worth the investment.

Thanks for your feedback so far

 

[goldfritter]

Alright I see, appreciate the clarification around codec quality and getting an external DAC instead.

Regarding DDR4 and DDR5 RAM with MOBO Compatibility I am quite aware and hence the uncertainty which to choose as this will "lock me in"

Sorry, I didn't mention I bought a

ASUS TUF GAMING Z790-PLUS WIFI D4 Intel Z790 Raptor Lake LGA 1700 ATX DDR4​

Hence the choice of an Intel i5 14600KF + DDR4 RAM (Yet to purchase)

I can still return the MOBO unless someone wants to buy it from me before that.


So then finally, if I "upgrade" for DDR5 I would then get the *ASUS TUF Gaming B650-Plus WiFi AMD B650 Ryzen Socket AM5 ATX* Paired with the Ryzen 7800x3d as mentioned by you guys.

The question then comes down to. If I spend 3K more on a DDR5 AM5 Setup (MOBO+CPU+RAM) will it be worth the investment.

Thanks for your feedback so far

OK great. That's a solid board for a DDR4 build. What you want to determine now is how much faster the 7800X3D system would be than the 14600KF system, and whether that difference justifies the extra money.

If I were you I'd dive into reviews of the two CPUs (you can probably stick to reviews of the 14600KF since they'll all compare it to the 7800X3D anyway). Bear in mind that the 14600KF will be slightly slower on DDR4 than DDR5 - the reviews should cover that too.

You can stick to a handful of trusted sources so as to not overload yourself with info. I tend to stick with Hardware Unboxed/Techspot (same people), Gamers Nexus, and Techpowerup.

Once you have a solid idea of the performance difference, only you can make a call on whether that's worth the extra money, it's quite a personal decision.

 

[KAiRO]

OK great. That's a solid board for a DDR4 build. What you want to determine now is how much faster the 7800X3D system would be than the 14600KF system, and whether that difference justifies the extra money.

If I were you I'd dive into reviews of the two CPUs (you can probably stick to reviews of the 14600KF since they'll all compare it to the 7800X3D anyway). Bear in mind that the 14600KF will be slightly slower on DDR4 than DDR5 - the reviews should cover that too.

You can stick to a handful of trusted sources so as to not overload yourself with info. I tend to stick with Hardware Unboxed/Techspot (same people), Gamers Nexus, and Techpowerup.

Once you have a solid idea of the performance difference, only you can make a call on whether that's worth the extra money, it's quite a personal decision.

Alright, excellent advice! Thank you @goldfritter and @Baas_se_Haas

I have finished my build and will post the results

I have done exactly what you recommended and did the last bit of research between the i5 14600KF and Ryzen 7800X3D.

My conclusion is that the better value would be for the DDR5 with the prospect of future upgrades for RAM without having to upgrade my DDR4 MOBO again.

The Ryzen 7800X3d becomes a no brainer and the DDR5 mobo is close enough to my DDR4 Asus (Which is 100% fine)

I also went with the RX 7900XT

Here is my Final Build:

Phanteks G500A Chassis
ASUS TUF B650-Plus WiFi MOBO
Ryzen 7800x3d CPU
360MM AIO Cooler
2x16GB DDR5-6000Mhz 30CL
XTX RX7900XT
850W Fully Modular PSU
2TB NVMe
Corsair Keyboard + Logitech G305 Mouse
Ps4 Controller 🤪

 

[Areola Grande]

Alright, excellent advice! Thank you @goldfritter and @Baas_se_Haas

I have finished my build and will post the results

I have done exactly what you recommended and did the last bit of research between the i5 14600KF and Ryzen 7800X3D.

My conclusion is that the better value would be for the DDR5 with the prospect of future upgrades for RAM without having to upgrade my DDR4 MOBO again.

The Ryzen 7800X3d becomes a no brainer and the DDR5 mobo is close enough to my DDR4 Asus (Which is 100% fine)

I also went with the RX 7900XT

Here is my Final Build:

Phanteks G500A Chassis
ASUS TUF B650-Plus WiFi MOBO
Ryzen 7800x3d CPU
360MM AIO Cooler
2x16GB DDR5-6000Mhz 30CL
XTX RX7900XT
850W Fully Modular PSU
2TB NVMe
Corsair Keyboard + Logitech G305 Mouse
Ps4 Controller 🤪

Solid build bru.

Sorry about the PS4 controller but that can always be upgraded later.

 

[goldfritter]

Alright, excellent advice! Thank you @goldfritter and @Baas_se_Haas

I have finished my build and will post the results

I have done exactly what you recommended and did the last bit of research between the i5 14600KF and Ryzen 7800X3D.

My conclusion is that the better value would be for the DDR5 with the prospect of future upgrades for RAM without having to upgrade my DDR4 MOBO again.

The Ryzen 7800X3d becomes a no brainer and the DDR5 mobo is close enough to my DDR4 Asus (Which is 100% fine)

I also went with the RX 7900XT

Here is my Final Build:

Phanteks G500A Chassis
ASUS TUF B650-Plus WiFi MOBO
Ryzen 7800x3d CPU
360MM AIO Cooler
2x16GB DDR5-6000Mhz 30CL
XTX RX7900XT
850W Fully Modular PSU
2TB NVMe
Corsair Keyboard + Logitech G305 Mouse
Ps4 Controller 🤪

Damn. I should've given worse advice. Now I'm jealous of that rig.

 

[KAiRO]

Solid build bru.

Sorry about the PS4 controller but that can always be upgraded later.

Solid! Great to hear from a Nvidia guy

Solid!

hahah! Yeah, there will be a time for that😒

 

[KAiRO]

Damn. I should've given worse advice. Now I'm jealous of that rig.

haha thanks, man appreciate it