Best AM4 CPU upgrade from 3900XT?

Posted by RaidenSigma@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 17 comments

Hello, last yur i went from my 3080TI to my current 4080.

From 2020 till now i've never upgraded my CPU (went with a R9 3900XT back then).

But i'm starting to feel like it's not really keeping up with my GPU.

I mainly play FFXIV where frames matter, and some eSports+AAA titles.

Now my question is, what would be the best (non- 3D since availability sucks) upgrade i can do for €350 max?

I'm staying on AM4 since RAM prices still suck.

Thank you!

[-]

Archer_Gaming00@reddit

Productivity? 5950X Gaming? 5800X3D 10th anniversary (it is identical to the 5800X3D which is EOL. It is a production respin to celebrate the 10 years of Ryzen amd AM4)

[-]

With a 4080 you're in dire need of at least a 5700X3D/5800X3D lmao a 3900XT must be holding back your GPU a ridiculous amount, AMD's rumored to be bringing back the 5800X3D in a bit for the 10th year anniversary of the platform so personally I'd wait for that. That said, if that's not an option for you, anything from a 5800XT to a 5700X should absolutely be your next best bet, unless you're willing to shell out for a 5950x? I do think you'll still feel the CPU limit with any of those but 8 cores are still the best value option for AM4. Either way, I'd avoid both the 5900x and the 5600x as 6-core CCDs are a bit dated and some games are actually starting to make use of 8 cores these days.

So basically, avoid the 5600x/5900xt if possible (unless you find a fantastic deal on one) because 6 cores is very much the past and present instead of the future. Try to find a stronger X3D chip or wait for their re-launch, but if not an option, any 8 core ccd chip should do.

[-]

RaidenSigma@reddit (OP)

Thanks a bunch for you detailed reply! If i understand correctly, i'll still feel the CPU limit with anything but the 3D chips? I'd hate to wait fur something that might not rerelease (worst case), and if the used market staya expensive i'll probably just go with the 5800XT.

Perhaps i'll wait a week or two.

[-]

Petrovics1997@reddit

Well okay maybe I was a bit dramatic with the CPU limit thing, like the 5800X3D is 25%+ faster than a 5800x, and the 4080 absolutely does push enough frames for this to matter and be noticeable, but a 5800XT should still be a solid upgrade over your 3900XT. This video puts it into context nicely, the 5800X3D is on average 31% faster than the 5800x, but the 5800x is also 24% faster than the 3800x. So the X3D is "twice" the upgrade that a 5800xt would be, but also probably for twice as much money. Up to you, both both are fine upgrades over your current chip. 🫡

[-]

drawnonward@reddit

The 5800x3d is relaunching soon in anniversary edition.

[-]

SterlingArcher824@reddit

Wait for 5800x3d re-release. It should be at that price range

[-]

GonstroCZ@reddit

Now my question is, what would be the best (non- 3D since availability sucks) upgrade i can do for €350 max?

Ryzen 7 5800x / 5800xt, but AMD is rumored to bring back Ryzen 7 5800x3D in Q2 2026. Might be worth waiting a few weeks.

[-]

RaidenSigma@reddit (OP)

Thanks! What about a 5900/5900XT?

[-]

GonstroCZ@reddit

These are not an upgrade for gaming, really. Your current Ryzen 3900x has two chiplets consisting of 6 cores, the latency between those chiplets is a performance killer, and games usually only use a few cores (the same goes for 5900x and 5900xt, 6+6 and 8+8 cores). So right now, you are pretty much running Ryzen 3600 whenever you are gaming. Ryzen 7 CPUs have one chiplet with 8 cores.

[-]

RaidenSigma@reddit (OP)

Thanks a bunch, this really helps since i was eyeing a 5800XT and they're €250 here currently. Do you think there would still be interest in a used 3900XT?

[-]

GonstroCZ@reddit

Do you think there would still be interest in a used 3900XT?

For sure, for productivity, the cores matter.

i was eyeing a 5800XT and they're €250 here currently.

If you are not in a hurry, wait a few weeks for the 5800x3D if the rumors are true. Otherwise, 5800xt can be a great choice too ofc, just not as powerful as 5800x3D.

[-]

RaidenSigma@reddit (OP)

Thanks! What about a 5900/5900XT?

[-]

TheDreadfulSagittary@reddit

Those are the 12 cores I mentioned, it doesn't really give anything extra for gaming.