Now is the worst time to buy a new stationary computer?

[Nebell]

Edit:
I've actually built one. Now is not a bad time if you want Intel.

So I've been thinking about upgrading my PC, but it's fairly powerful and maybe it's better to just wait on next-gen everthing.

I currently have:
9900k oced to 4.8ghz
2080Ti
32gb 3600mhz DDR4
I game at 4k/120hz but also have PS5 to cover my gaming needs.
I'm actually thinking about getting a 3080 as it will cost me only about €400 once I sell 2080Ti. Not bad for 35% boost and longer warranty.

Reasons:
The war between Intel and AMD in CPU department is heating up.
Intel is about to release ARC to compete with Nvidia and AMD GPUs (low-mid end, but might lower the prices of top end cards?)
Rumors about next-gen GPUs being 70-90% faster (it's early, but MLID is usually spot on with his leaks).
DDR5.
PCIE-5.
Next-gen USB?

Anyone know if all the above will come out late 2022/early 2023?

 

[ZodaEX]

Sure, it will all be out by then.

 

[kirbyrj]

I would just upgrade the GPU if you're really in the mood for an upgrade and see what happens with newer stuff going forward. I don't think your setup is going to be irrelevant by early 2023 at the latest.

 

[GotNoRice]

I think you are approaching this from the wrong angle.

Don't upgrade just for the sake of upgrading. Upgrade to eliminate bottlenecks. Take your favorite games. Are you currently CPU limited? GPU limited? Slow loading times? Replace accordingly.

It doesn't seem to me that there would be any huge reason to replace anything in your current setup. Upgrading to a X570 board and Zen3 would be an interesting option, because you could re-use your existing DDR4, probably make back a fair percentage of your money by selling your 9900k+mobo, and you wouldn't be stuck on a dead socket anymore. There should be one more AM4 upgrade next year with the 3D cache Ryzen chips.

I think it's a bad time to upgrade your GPU right now unless you REALLY need to, because GPU prices have not really come down much whereas CPU prices have finally come down a bit.

PCIe 3 vs PCIe 4 vs PCIe 5 is still irrelevant until new protocols like DirectStorage actually start being used in games.

 

[Nebell]

I bought MSI RTX 3080 Gaming Z at a rather high price, €1400. But I also sold my RTX 2090 Ti for €960.
We're all crazy but that's the world today.
I'll wait until 2025 before I upgrade.

 

[cdabc123]

Reasons:
The war between Intel and AMD in CPU department is heating up.
Intel is about to release ARC to compete with Nvidia and AMD GPUs (low-mid end, but might lower the prices of top end cards?)
Rumors about next-gen GPUs being 70-90% faster (it's early, but MLID is usually spot on with his leaks).
DDR5.
PCIE-5.
Next-gen USB?

Anyone know if all the above will come out late 2022/early 2023?

You are correct about the CPU scene heating up.

Gpus will continue to be a mess with or without intel.

Next gen gpus won't be anywhere near that much of an improvement. It would be a terrible business move considering any gpus introduced will be in hot demand.

Ddr5 is mildly useful right now and everything else may take a few years to gain any acceptance.

I would sit on your current build for abit.

 

[LukeTbk]

For someone with a 9900k that use the desktop to game and at 4k I would not imagine it is a particularly good time to change cpus.

It would take vastly more powerful gpus (or game that take more advantage of the current latest one) to make a cpu switch for 4k gaming worth it I think.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/amd-ryzen-9-5950x/18.html

On a rtx 3090 even a overclocked 5950x is not easy to have significant difference with a 9900k :

even with latest game like cyberpunk:

 

[Nebell]

Bumping my own thread. I actually decided to build a new computer, some 8 months after I created this thread.
The main reason is that I got tired of my old PC and wanted something new. I'm sure you know the feeling. And also new LGA1700 supporting pretty much everything next-gen as well as supporting at least one more CPU generation, I thought "why not?"

The specs:
i5-12600k overclocked to 5.2GHz (while waiting on 13th gen i9)
Corsair Dominator 32gb overclocked to 6200MHz CL36
2TB MSI Spatium M.2
Asus ROG Maximus Z390 Formula
BeQuiet! Dark Power Pro 12 1200W
NZXT Kraken Z73
Lian Li PC-011 Dynamic EVO
Lian Li SL120 x10 + 3 fans that come with Z73 (those are hidden on the otherside of the radiator)
No GPU lol, waiting on next-gen

 

[hititnquitit]

Mb- z690...

Nice build, have fun!

 

[regk]

I think you are approaching this from the wrong angle.

Don't upgrade just for the sake of upgrading. Upgrade to eliminate bottlenecks. Take your favorite games. Are you currently CPU limited? GPU limited? Slow loading times? Replace accordingly.

It doesn't seem to me that there would be any huge reason to replace anything in your current setup. Upgrading to a X570 board and Zen3 would be an interesting option, because you could re-use your existing DDR4, probably make back a fair percentage of your money by selling your 9900k+mobo, and you wouldn't be stuck on a dead socket anymore. There should be one more AM4 upgrade next year with the 3D cache Ryzen chips.

I think it's a bad time to upgrade your GPU right now unless you REALLY need to, because GPU prices have not really come down much whereas CPU prices have finally come down a bit.

PCIe 3 vs PCIe 4 vs PCIe 5 is still irrelevant until new protocols like DirectStorage actually start being used in games.

This is fantastic advice, and your wallet will thank you!!

 

[drutman]

1. Upgrade based on real needs not novelty factors. For example when I was running a research nano characterization center I needed firepower for XRD calculations.
When I retired the PC waits on me not the other way around. I upgraded from X99 /5820K to 690/ 12700K, unless I run a benchmark I see no perceivable difference.
2. Never buy early wait for platform to mature.
3. Do not buy GPU based on perceived issue that gaming will be a better experience with high end card. For example my 390X circa 2015 gave up the magic smoke, blew hole in board. Got a Zotac 3080 saw improvements in RT, min frame rates way up etc. but gaming experience is unchanged still have cheaters and bugs in the games. Novelty has worn off.