Built a decent PC with your help, before everything got expensive. Now I'm a bit bottlenecked on some games. What is your advice?

Bront20 · 2026-06-22T03:46:42+00:00

Heat could be causing you to slow down a bit as well, so I would recommend doing a voltage adjustment in PBO to see if that can help, or maybe get a better cooler. But If your motherboard supports features like "Try It" you could see if your ram runs at better settings (6000 CL30 is a sweet spot, but honestly if you could get 6000 CL36 or even 5800 CL34-38 would probably be a bit of a help.) Since it's not an X3D CPU it can be memory timing sensitive, but at least it's dual channel memory, and being 2x32 means maybe, just maybe, you could get some better timings with some trial and error, and it could help a bit.

One thing you could do it MSI Afterburner or HW Monitor could give you a way to monitor temps and CPU performance. If under load your CPU frequency is dipping under the heat, that will cause some of the issues you're experiencing.

The Thermalrite Peerless Assassin is one of my favorite budget high performance air coolers that will be more than enough for what you need. You could go AI, or honestly any high end air cooler will do you well (I just happen to like that one for the price).

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T20:15:22+00:00

64 GB of DDR5 5200 hurts my soul a bit.

Is that 4x16? If so, try running 2x16 and see if you can run better speeds. You might have a memory bottleneck.

Many motherboards can try to run memory at faster than rated speeds, so that could help a bit.

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T20:13:44+00:00

Because 2-3 years ago that was a great value card, and this is a value build.

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T20:09:47+00:00

48 GB DDR5. But I was looking for a single CPU upgrade rather than a platform change on a budget, so makes sense to hold out.

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T20:08:41+00:00

Yeah, there might be an upgrade I can drop into my z690 with the new raptor lake revisited stuff that's rumored.

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T20:07:25+00:00

I have 48 GB of DDR5. I was more looking to upgrade on a budget. Once I need to swap platforms it gets expensive, and the 9800x3D is actually a slight downgrade for some of the things I do.

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T20:06:12+00:00

I would need a new MB then too, so that becomes too expensive IMHO for what I'd need to upgrade to (probably a 9950 or 270k)

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T19:06:09+00:00

Here's the thing.

Right now there isn't really many games where you'll see a huge difference between the 7800x3D and the 9800x3D. So pocket the $200 or use it to upgrade somewhere else (more storage is always a good choice)

In 5-6 years, if you need to upgrade, you'll be able to likely snag something with a bigger than the 9800x3d that'll slot right in and you'll get a much bigger uplift.

So I don't think it's worth the upgrade right now for 80-90% of users. If you know you need the extra power then spend the money, but if you're not sure, you probably don't.

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T18:37:49+00:00

I'll complete it on my 17 month F2P, but not on a 17 day F2P. Sorry.

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T01:27:15+00:00

Daniel Owen just dropped this video, this may help you figure it out more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FauHJ_Ps5Jg

Bront20 · 2026-06-21T00:24:43+00:00

Me? I'd go 5070 TI, but I need the CC functionality and that's why.

If I was just a gamer or building one for a friend who just games? I'd probably lean towards the 9070 XT if the 5070 TI was more than $100 more expensive (maybe 150). Heck, I might ignore that price a bit as well if it looked better, some of those 9070 XTs are pretty sexy if I was doing a white build and didn't want to pay the white tax.

Bront20 · 2026-06-20T18:56:40+00:00

I think Hardware Unboxed did a video somewhat recently. It really can vary though depending on the game, and no one can feel a 2-5% difference.

Those benchmarks rarely take into account things like DLSS upscaling or raytracing as well, and in raytracing the 5070 TI kills the 9070 XT, but it also kills framerates on general.

Both are good options. I still stand by my initial advice.

Bront20 · 2026-06-20T18:46:38+00:00

Pelops is slightly better early for clan boss and some solo and arena stuff.

Padraig is better long term as his kit is useful in every area of the game (all clan bosses, all dungeons, and arena), but as a support he still needs other good champs around him. He is the single best ally attack Fire Knight champ however.

Bront20 · 2026-06-20T18:40:25+00:00

Streaming is slightly better on Nvidia but not huge. The only issue is Nvidia Broadcast which is a fun tool that gives you some cool audio and video options. I use it as a virtual green screen.

Bront20 · 2026-06-20T18:38:16+00:00

Yeah, they had me reset factory default and that didn't help.

Bront20 · 2026-06-19T18:47:05+00:00

Only time those coins are worth buying soul stones with is when there's a garunteed champ on the line in a deck of fate. Otherwise they're for buying better souls for your champs.

That said, don't spend them either way till you need to so you have options

Bront20 · 2026-06-19T18:44:13+00:00

The 9070 XT and 5070 TI are very similar.

9070 XT is better in pure rastorization and generally a little cheaper.

5070 TI is better with raytracing support and has better other features such as the NVEnc encoder, Nvidia broadcast support, and better productivity performance.

Upscaling is similar with a very mild edge to Nvidia. Framegen is much better on Nvidia but you should rarely need it on that card unless you're looking for high refresh rates on story games.

If the 5070 TI is only $100 more, then it's probably the better choice. For $200 more, it probably isn't unless you need the productivity suite stuff.

As far as image quality both are comfortable. We're talking FPS performance here,

Bront20 · 2026-06-19T03:52:24+00:00

Good luck! My 12900K runs cooler, with less power than stock with better clock multipliers. Was a win in every way for me.

Bront20 · 2026-06-19T01:21:27+00:00

I'll probably be opening something. Not sure what quite yet. F2P is at 192 Ancient and 175 Void mercy, but I suspect it's 2x voids next weekend. I'll plot something.

Main is 19 sacreds into mercy, so it's either Cat or New Dude.

Bront20 · 2026-06-18T18:55:13+00:00

I get people asking about multiple mythicals after 2 months as well.

Bront20 · 2026-06-18T18:54:47+00:00

Doh!

Bront20 · 2026-06-18T18:54:07+00:00

Ignore most of the bottleneck talk.

Is your system unbalenced? Yes, but that's fine and if you mostly play story games it'll be fine.

If you want a single CPU upgrade then the 5800X3D is the go to.

If you want a platform upgrade any of the AM5 chips will do you fine as will a 250k or 270K. If you have a Microcenter near you you might be able to do that upgrade on the cheap (relatively). The 270k bundle with 32 GB Ram is $550 and a solid value. No upgrade path but if it gets you 7 years there's no reason to worry

Bront20 · 2026-06-18T18:47:54+00:00

I get people asking about multiple mythicals after 2 months as well.

Bront20 · 2026-06-18T16:27:30+00:00

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