Dad gamer GPU upgrade
Posted by jcebul56@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 39 comments
hey all, soon to be dad gamer
so ive been on the fence about upgrading my gpu, here is my current build
gpu: asus GeForce 3070 ti
cpu: amd 5 7600x3d
ram: 32 gb ddr5 6000
cooler: corsair titan 240rx
psu: 750w thermal lake
So basically 3 options
-
keep the 3070ti until it dies
-
https://www.microcenter.com/product/690170/sapphire-technology-amd-radeon-rx-9070-xt-nitro-triple-fan-16gb-gddr6-pcie-50-graphics-card
id have them price match newegg
- wait and see if there are any sales on 5070tis to stay with green team
I dont have a preference for either brand amd tbh, idk how many of the bells and whistles I really use in regards to nvidia cards
thanks folks for any insight on this!
Ill_Difference_4039@reddit
the nitro model uses the 12vhpwr connector, just another top end model if that's what you are looking for, like the red devil or mercury OC
SinisterPixel@reddit
As long as the 3070ti is still playing all the games you want it to play, upgrading makes no sense
9okm@reddit
What problems are you having with your 3070ti?
jcebul56@reddit (OP)
No problem at all, I just know an upgrade needs to happen sooner than later
2raysdiver@reddit
If you don't have a need, then don't upgrade. As memory prices come down eventually GPU prices will, too. And GPUs don't get slower over time. In this market, I wouldn't consider an upgrade until you get a game that needs it.
9okm@reddit
Does it? I'm using a 3080 and have no plans to upgrade any time soon.
jcebul56@reddit (OP)
That comes down to personal preference, I like future proof as much as I can
9okm@reddit
What does future proofing mean to you?
jcebul56@reddit (OP)
Weve gotten into the semantics I see
🤣🤣🤣
Ecstatic-Vermicelli2@reddit
Can't really help you if you don't specify what you want. If you want to future proof your gpu, i assume you just want to extend the amount of time you use this gpu before you need/want to upgrade it. There's basically 2 things that will cause you to want to upgrade. Either you want the superior Nvidia software. Or you want more VRAM. So if you want to future proof it for the sake of future proofing, go with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090. It has the most VRAM.
If it were up to me, I'd just keep the gpu until it's not enough to play the games i want to play to my standards. And then I'd get a mid-range GPU for, let's say, 5 years and then getting a new mid-range gpu for 5 years. It depends on the other components too.
Instead if you want to future proof, you could pay a premium to get a high tier gpu for 5 years. And afterwards it becomes a mid tier gpu for another 5 years. But you also need to future-proof the rest of you PC, or you're paying that premium for nothing.
My plan for reference is to upgrade the CPU and possibly the GPU either when the final AM5 CPU releases or when its prices drop again due to AM6.
TLDR: if your GPU works, keep it. If doesn't, check what Nvidia software you really want. If you want it, just buy the Nvidia card. If you don't want it, buy the AMD card.
9okm@reddit
It's a vague term. Just like bottlenecking.
Eternlgladiator@reddit
Dude is here to spend money. Humor him 😂
9okm@reddit
I mean, you're probably right, but the first option OP proposed was to keep the 3070ti until it dies. Unless he's having problems with it, I say... pick that option.
twinpop@reddit
Agree. Dad gamer here, kept my 1080Ti until it died, replaced the fans with Noctua. Gave it to my son who gamed on it for 3 years at 144FPS. Now in the box as an emergency backup.
Run it until it dies OP.
9okm@reddit
I've kindof always had a dream to replace the fans on a GPU with Noctuas.... but I've never had a GPU where the fans died. So I've been denied that pleasure, lol.
MyVeryHandsomePenis@reddit
I’d say the upgrade is worth it if you want to get into 4K gaming. Any 16g gpu will be decent for future proofing though.
GoldcovereDarse@reddit
Definitely need it ready to go before that kid comes out. Get yourself a nice pair of noise cancelling headphones too so baby doesn’t distract. When j had my first kid I got my employer for paternity leave so all I did was vacation game and let the bm do all the work. It was glorious. I eventually moved. Thankfully the bm has full custody now so I don’t need to be there for the kid and j can focus on gaming. Anyway. Gamer dads unite!! I feel where you’re coming from!
nerdthatlift@reddit
That doesn't sound like a gamer dad. This is just you being a really terrible father. I get it, parenting and child rearing isn't for everyone.
dotSalsaCat@reddit
Why would you need to upgrade? If it works, it works
siegsage@reddit
thanks for providing info someone ejaculated in female whose is significant for you but how does it relevant for GPU choice? no offence
nerdthatlift@reddit
Context is that OP is either: 1) wants to upgrade before the kiddo comes out knowing that he probably won't have the time or any extra money would go to the baby. And wanted to do one nice purchase for himself before going into fatherhood.
2) plans to upgrade and binge gaming during paternity leave like and let the baby's mother do all the work like one of the commenters.
Absolutely not relevant but probably try to justify the expense that he knows he probably shouldn't do. OP should just buy it and don't even need to post this to get justification from Internet stranger.
guacemolii@reddit
i just upgraded from a 3060ti to a 9070xt and i love it. the 5070ti is also a great option but it is a little more pricey :+)
Bosfordjd@reddit
The biggest thing is what resolution do you play at? I upgraded to 9070 XT system, but I had the highest watt mobile 3070ti and 1080 TI desktop, which are way below a desktop 3070ti performance wise.
If you're at 1440p or lower honestly I'd say stay with the 3070 ti, if you utilize dlss and 2x framegen you're golden for years.
If you wanna jump to 4k the 9070 XT will work with FSR and framegen, it's what's I'm doing.
Beneficial-Ranger238@reddit
If you’re interested in a 9070xt, I’d look at one that doesn’t have the cursed meltomatic power plug, why carry the biggest issue from nvidia over to amd when you don’t have to.
jcebul56@reddit (OP)
care to elaborate? i obviously missed something
BobLighthouse@reddit
Ftr the melting issues are generally on 4090/5090s, and the cards you are looking at are about half the wattage of those.
Beneficial-Ranger238@reddit
Yes, that model has 12v2x6 and has had burnt connector issues, though far less often than nvidia cards due to the lower power consumption, but it does happen. It’s a shame though, it’s one of the best models out. I just wouldn’t add that potential failure point, especially if you plan on using it a long time, which is what it sounds like.
9okm@reddit
They're referring to the 12v-2x6 connector common to Nvidia GPUs, but rare on AMD GPUs. Most AMD GPUs use the traditional PCIe 8-pins for power, which aren't nearly as prone to failure like the new 12v-2x6 connector. It's probably not a major issue on a 9070 XT due to the reasonable wattage. But on higher wattage GPUs like the 5090, 4090 (and some 5080s) there have been reports of melting.
Rasp75@reddit
You upgraded when the 3070ti goes in the kids computer
secretagentstv@reddit
There is Zero evidence that the 5070 Ti will come down in price, ever. Nvidia is funneling all their VRAM to AI and they have slowed production of the 5070 Ti/5080.
The 9070 XT is your best option for performance increase/longevity. The 9070 is about 12% slower than the XT, the 5070 is 10% slower than that. The only real reason to get the 5070 over either the 90/70 or 9070xt is if you want nvidia's features.
Another way to look at it, The 9070 XT is still one of the top performing gpus available to purchase. The 5070 TI is just one position up, so it's definitely not worth an extra $300.
ShimReturns@reddit
As a dad gamer I would say look into a Rog Ally X or similar handheld with 24GB RAM. You can still stream from your 3070ti PC with moonlight and it also plays most games with decent settings. Being able to power it up and play and still be "present" wherever Mom and the baby are is going to enable you to play in more scenarios and avoid possible "you're always at your computer!" arguments.
stimpy-t@reddit
I'll take any excuse for an upgrade. Just make sure whatever you go with pairs well with your current CPU, otherwise you might not see much improvement.
Weird-Shift@reddit
Unc gamer that upgraded gpu from similar build (rtx 3080 i7 12700kf 64gig ddr4) to 5070ti and no regrets- I play on 1440p and try to hit my monitors 144hz refresh as priority.
With this upgrade I was able to fully tune out most games that were downtuned to hit those max fps numbers, as well as opened me up to some new games that were giving me trouble (looking at you gray zone warfare).
If you also plan on selling your current gpu, it isn’t too bad a hit on the wallet if you are already considering an upgrade!
jcebul56@reddit (OP)
yeah my plan was to trade it in @ microcenter if i decide to pull the trigger
Ihavedonehomework@reddit
Personally, I’m still using an RX 6800 (roughly similar to a 3070 Ti) and it’s still doing the job for me. If you’re happy with your current performance, the 3070 Ti is still a solid card and can easily last a couple more years.
If you’re not satisfied and you’re okay with AMD and its trade-offs, the 9070 XT is a great option. The 5070 Ti is also a good choice if you prefer Nvidia and the price difference isn’t too big or you’re fine paying extra.
jcebul56@reddit (OP)
Yeah the price difference here is $150+ atm, I dont do anything wild outside of gaming. Why i was looking at some AMD options
Ihavedonehomework@reddit
Sounds good. In my country the 9070 XT is about $300 cheaper than the 5070 Ti, so in that situation I’d probably go with AMD if I needed an upgrade.
In your case the price difference isn’t that big, so it might be worth paying extra
Resident_Albatross_9@reddit
PM
Puzzleheaded-Ad-119@reddit
That's still a pretty decent gpu, I'd set some money aside and upgrade when prices go down