7800X3D -> 9800X3D - worth it?

User Support Hub Hardware & Peripherals
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Hi All

I have the following spec PC:

  • 7800X3D
  • 64Gb CL30/6000 Corsair DDR5
  • Powercolor 9070XT Hellhound

I run 2024 at 4K native/ TAA and get good frames most of the time (Locked at 100 with Frame Gen and drops to around 80 when using the Fenix at a heavy 3P airport with AIG/BATC traffic).

I have done a lot of tweaking and testing to drive this kind of performance, and its pretty good most of the time. I note I am generally GPU limited now, but it is hard to definitely say if its because the LOD is being turned down to very low levels dynamically to keep me from becoming CPU limited.

The areas I do struggle with are:

  • LODs. I have to keep these fairly low, and I can see the Dynamic Settings cut them to quite low levels (using the FPS counter). I also get stutters when turning towards the terminal and parked aircraft after landing in a jet (and bad drops in frame rates). Airports like Ini’s EGLL are the worst for this. I also see quite blurry textures or incomplete buildings at times (and I feel that buildings on the ground are not at their optimal level when flying low/ on final), but not sure if this is a LOD or VRAM issue?
  • Pop-ins: Quite bad on final and taxi. Not sure if this is CPU related? I am talking like 50 ft ahead of me. I think this is MSFS turning the OLOD super low to keep the frames up and is the CPU bottlenecking?
  • In VR (I use a Quest 2), aircraft tend to partially disappear or ‘rebuild’ themselves as I get close - really weird

Anyway my question is this:

I impulse bought a 9800X3D at a discounted price. It is sat unopened in its retail box, and I am unsure whether it is worth installing, or whether I re-sell/ return.
The differential in price between selling the 7800X3D and upgrading would be about $170 AUD (About $110 USD).

My questions are this:

  • Will I be able to crank LoD slides dramatically?
  • Is it likely I will get rid of stutters completely with the change?
  • In my scenario would you make the switch?

I am currently erring towards returning it (which I can do in the next 30-ish days) as I am not sure I am going to get much benefit without a more powerful GPU but would love some thoughts on this.

Thanks