Additionally, if OP wants to go high-end but still save some bucks:
Do NOT overspend on PSUs (in terms of wattage, 1200 watts will be enough for most AMD-based gaming PCs) and mainboards.
Maybe also consider a 4090 (maybe even a used one from some weirdo who upgrades from 4090 to 5090) and B650E chipset mainboards (you really don’t need X chipsets unless you want to overclock to the moon and back). Also the 7800X3D is still the second best gaming CPU available (if you can get it significantly cheaper than the 9800X3D).
How’s the summer going? I heard it’s quite hot It would make a nice change from the cold, grey and dreary UK.
Yes, in theory. If the core parking is done properly and MSFS is allocated only to the cores with 3D vcache and other stuff (BATC etc) to the non-vcache cores, this could help with overall performance.
I guess I’d say if this is a multi-role PC including general desktop loads as well as games, the 9950X3D is a good choice due to the extra cores. I’m not sure what the thermal profile for it is, though. The 9800X3D is a relatively power-efficient and cool-running chip but the single CCD design may be the reason for that.
I’ll echo others who suggest maybe getting a reconditioned 4090 rather than holding out for a 5090. I honestly doubt you’ll be able to get one for months anyway, let alone at a reasonable price.
If you’re not going to be using applications that require a lot of CPU resources, the Ryzen 7 9800X3D will be sufficient. With this processor, you won’t need to tweak it in the BIOS or use programs like Process Lasso, which can be a bit of a hassle. However, if you decide to go for something like the Ryzen 9 9950X3D, be prepared for some tweaking and the hours you’ll likely spend adjusting it.
For applications that will be running alongside a MSFS such as Navigraph, Active Sky, VATSIM, IVAO, BATC, etc. Ryzen 9800X3D would still be the better choice.
What ssd should you advise with this setup? Is 4tb slower then 2tb? And did you noticed any halfing of the speeds on the second ssd nvme slot on the motherboard?
I have four M.2 drives. The choice of drives depends on budget, motherboard compatibility and availability in stores.
M2_2 slot is empty.
The drive that should have been installed there is instead installed on an internal PCIe to M.2 adapter ICY BOX IB-PCI214M2-HSL which I connected to the PCI_E3.
I don’t have 7200 memory at the moment. However, if you have, for example, G.Skill 7200 CL34 A-die 2x16GB, you can tune it to CL28 6200 and tweak the timings, which will give you more FPS.
When it comes to M.2 drives for your motherboard, I wouldn’t buy the WD SN 850/800/700 series due to compatibility issues on some hardware configurations based on MSI X670/870 motherboards.
Here are the M.2 drives I have installed on my MSI MPG X870E Carbon WIFI.
Samsung 980 PRO 1TB (Windows)
KINGSTON SFYRD 4000G (4TB) for MSFS 2020/2024 only
MSI M461 2TB
Lexar NM790 2TB
I can confidently recommend Samsung PRO series drives - they are more expensive, but you know exactly what you’re paying for.
Around a year ago or so, Samsung had an unusual hiccup with their quality control. I’m assuming that is ancient history now, based on what you’ve mentioned above.
Also, does your motherboard have any warning about running two M.2’s simultaneously, where the bandwidth is reduced when running two or more M.2’s? I can’t remember the specifics on this, but I did research this about a year ago, and I have forgotten much since then. Too many whiskeys I suppose.
I just brought all the kit for a similar build as my 10 year old i7-4790K and RTX 2060, while still a surprisingly well performing general PC, is just too slow to run MSFS well at 1440p. All the kit should arrive tomorrow
A word of warning, I was looking at the MSI X870E Carbon WiFi. I then did a bit of reading up and found a lot of complaints about problems with this board (and other MSI 870 based boards), just look in their forum a lot of people are having weird stability issues. After some further reading it appears a lot of people feel MSI products quality has gone downhill a lot in recent years, particularly with buggy BIOS. A shame I used to enjoy their products. Anyhow, I ended up settling on the ASUS ROG STRIX X870E-E.
So make your own choices, I can’t recommend the ASUS yet, but thought I should mention what I’d found given you’re looking at a similar build and I’m on the same journey. As for GPU I’m not willing to splash as much as you, not that you could actually buy a 5090 if you wanted to right now. I ended up settling for a 4070 TI Super as a mid-range option that I could find in stock. Should be ok for my needs and I might consider an upgrade once the 5-series are easier to source and the new gen of AMD GPU has released and been compared.
Thanks for info but I don’t need to check the MSI forum because I have this motherboard and I have no issues with it or with Windows 10.
But, a long time ago - right after purchasing and installing it - I had a problem with the front USB when plugging in a USB 3.2 flash drive – sometimes the motherboard would detect it and sometimes it wouldn’t. There was no issue with older USB flash drive models, though. However, a BIOS update eventually fixed the issue.
I’ve been using MSI motherboards for as long as I can remember, and I think only once did I have a near heart attack when my BIOS got corrupted. Luckily, thanks to the ability to update the BIOS without entering it, I was able to recover it without having to take the motherboard to a service center. That’s a huge advantage of MSI motherboards.
It wasn’t directed at you but the OP. Good for you if you have this board and no issues. I have also used MSI motherboards for years hence this was going to be my first choice. But not after reading some of the issues people have reported with the 870 boards, particularly the 870E carbon, their forum is full of people complaining about this board - I decided I just don’t need the agro and wasted time of potentially having similar problems.
Anyhow I’m just advising the OP to look at a couple of options and make his own decision.
It would make a nice change from the cold, grey and dreary UK.
