The AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is one of the most powerful gaming processors. While it may not be an AMD Ryzen 9 CPU, this monstrous 8-core package packs a whopping 104MB of cache to store as much game-related data as possible before touching system memory. This means the CPU can keep up with the fastest graphics cards. The pursuit of smooth gameplay at 4K and 8K resolutions is no longer a pipe dream. Depending on your GPU budget, you can combine this powerful CPU and create a powerful gaming rig. Here are some of my recommendations to get you started.
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With so many options on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right graphics card. Here are the best graphics cards you should consider.
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Overall the best
AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX
The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX is one of the best graphics cards. It has plenty of VRAM, numerous processor cores and high clock speeds. With many AIB cards available in different designs, you can find some epic GPUs at good prices.
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Best performance
ASUS TUF Gaming GeForce RTX 4090 OC Edition
When it comes to absolute performance, there's nothing better than the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. This is a serious piece of kit that requires one of the best power supplies on the market. It's about as good as a consumer card and is capable of 4K or even 8K gaming.
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Best value for money from Nvidia
Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super FE
When it comes to value for money, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Super is hard to beat. In combination with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D you get a powerful gaming system. Plus, it's compact enough to fit into almost any case with its two-slot design and stays cool and quiet even under full load.
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AMD with the best price-performance ratio
AMD Radeon RX 7600
Just because the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D is one of the best gaming processors doesn't mean you have to use the most powerful GPUs and push hundreds of frames at high resolutions. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 is great for low resolution, high frame rate gaming.
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4K Nvidia card with the best price/performance ratio
PNY GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB Verto OC
There aren't too many options for 4K without putting a dent in your wallet, but the RTX 4080 Super is one such card that's worth considering for the AMD CPU. With 16GB of VRAM, you have enough storage for high-resolution assets in your games, resulting in epic experiences.
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Best 4K AMD card
XFX Speedster MERC310 RX 7900 XT Black
One of my personal favorites: The AMD Radeon RX 7900 XT is a solid 4K gaming card. There is a generous 20GB of VRAM and the specs offer similar performance to the RX 7900 XTX. It's a great choice for budget-conscious gamers trying to build a 4K-capable gaming PC.
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Best Intel GPU
ASRock Phantom Gaming Intel Arc A770
The Arc A770 is the Intel GPU of choice if you're looking for a productivity-focused GPU at an attractive price. The card has 16 GB of VRAM, support for XeSS upscaling and good driver support. It's a capable 1440p gaming card that's also great for video editing or other productivity tasks.
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Cheapest 4K capable card
PowerColor Hellhound Radeon RX 7900 GRE
AMD's latest card, the Radeon RX 7900 GRE, is a capable beast with 4K resolution, as long as you don't mind turning down some gaming settings and not operating at ridiculous frame rates. It's also incredibly wallet-friendly, being half the price of the RX 7900 XTX and a third as expensive as most GeForce RTX 4090 cards.
How to choose the best GPU for the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D
Choosing a graphics card depends entirely on how much you are willing to spend on this PC component alone. If money is no object, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 is the clear winner. It is the most powerful GPU, can handle 4K and 8K and is in a league of its own compared to all other GPUs. A more realistic option (and my top recommendation here) is the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. It's not quite as powerful as the RTX 4090, but this flagship GPU from AMD can still achieve high frame rates at 4K, especially when paired with the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D. You may have heard of AMD's Smart Access Memory.
I recommend starting your search with the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX. The Radeon RX 7900 XT is almost as good at a slight discount, but the RTX 4070 Super is the best choice for performance and value for money. It's perfectly fine to go for a mid-range card from this generation as it can handle some 4K gaming and is an excellent addition to most gaming PC builds. Only enthusiasts and those with money should consider the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 GPUs.
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