So I'm trying to decide between these cpu's for my new desktop pc later this year:

AMD 9800X3D

AMD 9950X3D

Intel Core Ultra 9 285K

Intel Core i9-14900K

 

Should I settle on one of these or wait it out for something more promising that is known to be on the horizon? I'm in no rush to do it today but would like to build within the next 12 months.

 

MSFS200 & 2024 VR (Quest 3 streaming via wifi) is a consideration here, as is other non-VR games.

While I'd like to play games in 4K, I will also be playing some of the more demanding ones in 1440p.

 

My choice of gpu will likely be either a 5080 or 5090 (currently on a 3080, so the only issue I really have with 5080 is the 16GB vram limit). You can't buy a 4090 anymore.

Temps are always a concern (as is long-term reliability and longevity) so I try to build for good air-flow, but I will not want to use a water cooler, so I'm sticking with something like a Noctua D15 as a cpu cooler.

 

I do not want to be bothered these days with any manual over-clocking. Went through that phase many years ago already and now I just prefer the system to be fast enough and cool enough with just using the default over-clocking that the mobo's and chips do automatically on their own (Turbo boost).

 

I switched from Intel i9 14900 KS to AMD 9800X3D. I had only Intel PCs, and I was very reluctant to change; I was pretty afraid, to be honest. I was able to compare my 14900 KS against the 9800X3D and 9950X3D. From a simulation perspective, performance, temperatures, and stability, the 9800X3D is a perfect match for an RTX 4090. The 9800X3D, with 96 MB of L3 cache, makes a significant difference. The 9950X3D has 80 MB of L3 cache, which is noticeable on MSFS2020/2024. I don't regret making the change for a second. I have to say that I noticed some better performance with RTX 5090; while it isn't as they claim to be double, it's certainly somewhere around +40%. Do you need that? I don't think so. Considering that MSFS2020 with PMDG products at ultra settings over NYC is stable at 80 FPS. I don't count FPS; I focus on fluidity. There is no difference in fluidity between the 4090 and 5090. Technology, yes, it is. 

I've been using an AMD Ryzen 2700X for about 6 years now. No issues at all. And with the recent multi-thread/multi-proc enhancements in both MSFS and DCSW (not so much XP), it's actually keeping up fairly well.

The BIG thing for me, though, is that I can slap a new AM4 processor in there whenever I want 🙂

20 hours ago, LRBS said:

I switched from Intel i9 14900 KS to AMD 9800X3D. I had only Intel PCs, and I was very reluctant to change; I was pretty afraid, to be honest. 

Yep, same here...Intel cpu is lagging behind so badly that I feel compelled to switch over to an AMD cpu and I'm getting phobic over it, like I wish I didn't need to do that. But considering the AMD chip runs cooler and is faster in games it has to be a serious consideration for me. But switching will definitely be making me nervous 🙂

BTW - why did you switch to he AMD proc? were you not happy with the frames you were getting with the Intel chip?...oh and which gpu was giving you the 80 frames over NYC...the 4090 or 5090?

Edited February 2, 20251 yr by hangar

In 12 months a lot could change.

If I were doing a brand new build right now I'd get a 9800x3d and 5090, 64GB ram and at least a 4TB M.2 for my games.  Then id use a other M.2 for windows.

1 hour ago, hangar said:

Yep, same here...Intel cpu is lagging behind so badly that I feel compelled to switch over to an AMD cpu and I'm getting phobic over it, like I wish I didn't need to do that. But considering the AMD chip runs cooler and is faster in games it has to be a serious consideration for me. But switching will definitely be making me nervous 🙂

BTW - why did you switch to he AMD proc? were you not happy with the frames you were getting with the Intel chip?...oh and which gpu was giving you the 80 frames over NYC...the 4090 or 5090?

Hi there. With the 9800X3D and Rtx4090, default settings, no overclock, 4 k, fps capped at 80 and ultra in msfs, and TAA, it is smooth and steady at 80 fps. As I mentioned, I don't chase the FPS; I guess it is good for my system. A friend of mine has the 5090; I was interested to see how it works on my PC and eventually get it. I'm not convinced right now with what I have to switch. The drives are not there yet, and I noticed some issues. Of course, if you build a new PC I would go for the 5090 as a new technology. This is my new configuration from ORGIN PC, and I'm very, very happy.

 

Case : Corsair 6500D Airflow
	Exterior Color : White
	Processors: AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D 8-Core 4.7GHz (up to 5.2GHz Max Boost)
	Motherboard: ASUS ROG CROSSHAIR X870E HERO
	Memory: 64GB CORSAIR DOMINATOR TITANIUM RGB DDR5 (2x32GB) 6000MT/s
	System Cooling: CORSAIR iCUE LINK TITAN 360 RX LCD
	System Fans: Corsair iCUE LINK RX120 RGB
	Graphics Cards: NVIDIA 24GB GeForce RTX 4090
	Operating System: MS Windows 11 Pro
	Operating System Drive: Corsair MP600 CORE XT 2TB
	Power Supply: CORSAIR RM1200x SHIFT 80 PLUS GOLD Power Supply Sleeved Cable : No Sleeved Cable
	Audio: Integrated High-Definition Audio

If you decide to switch to this CPU, a few additional tweaks in the BIOS make a difference, and I can share them with you.

 

Also, I noticed that you do Excel, and I also do photo editing; I don't see any difference in performance between INTEL and AMD in my case. 

23 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

I've been using an AMD Ryzen 2700X for about 6 years now. No issues at all. And with the recent multi-thread/multi-proc enhancements in both MSFS and DCSW (not so much XP), it's actually keeping up fairly well.

The BIG thing for me, though, is that I can slap a new AM4 processor in there whenever I want 🙂

Unfortunately the best AM4 processor is almost unobtainable. I paid $290 for it  a year and half ago. 5800X3D. So many people want one, supply and demand drove the prices over $500.

For games and sims: AMD 9800X3D is more powerful.

For programs not using direct X: AMD 9950X3D is more powerful.

3 hours ago, LRBS said:

If you decide to switch to this CPU, a few additional tweaks in the BIOS make a difference, and I can share them with you.

Thanks very much, sounds good about the bios tweaks.

As long as Intel doesn't release anything soon that might catch AMD (like the Ultra 300 series) I'll be switching to either the 9800x3d or the 9950. Haven't research the 9950 yet.

I was just wondering about the AMD vs Intel cpu's thing as it relates to the Quest 3 VR over Wifi streaming.

Since the Q3 is not hooked into the gpu and is merely waiting for the pc to stream the data, does the cpu play a major role for this? ...or will either brand cpu be equal in this situation?

Edited February 2, 20251 yr by hangar

On 2/2/2025 at 12:09 PM, ryanbatc said:

In 12 months a lot could change.

If I were doing a brand new build right now I'd get a 9800x3d and 5090, 64GB ram and at least a 4TB M.2 for my games.  Then id use a other M.2 for windows.

How much would something like that cost?

I can't find custom build 5090. iBuyPower 5080 64GB, 4TB, 9800X3D, 5080 for $3700, Corsair nautilus 360 liquid cooler

 

With a 5090 $6249 Panorama brand on Amazon. Which seems way overpriced.

13 hours ago, Fielder said:

I can't find custom build 5090. iBuyPower 5080 64GB, 4TB, 9800X3D, 5080 for $3700, Corsair nautilus 360 liquid cooler

Yeah, I was seeing prices up in the sixes and asking myself how much of that was due to scarcity.  I guess it's just best to wait until the availability broadens out.

Gregg

 

On 2/2/2025 at 5:14 PM, LRBS said:

With the 9800X3D and Rtx4090, default settings, no overclock

Exactly the same system  I've got, I've never tinkered with the bios, worried about messing things up, but be curious as to what tweaks might help?

Thanks

5 hours ago, Overload said:

Exactly the same system  I've got, I've never tinkered with the bios, worried about messing things up, but be curious as to what tweaks might help?

Thanks

This is one of the overlooked items.