Ryzen 7 3800XT vs. Previous Gen for Gaming

I've been thinking about upgrading my CPU for gaming purposes and I'm torn between the AMD Ryzen 7 3800XT and previous generations like the 3700X or 3600X. Can anyone help me out?

Hi @thecoffeebreaker, I recently upgraded to the 3800XT, and it's a significant improvement over my old 3600X. The extra cores and higher boost frequencies provide better overall performance in games.

Yeah, I went from a 3700X to a 3800XT and noticed a marked difference in gaming performance as well. If you can afford the 3800XT, it's definitely worth the upgrade.

The main difference for me was the single-core boost frequency of the 3800XT compared to my previous CPU. Some games that were previously unplayable at max settings became smooth and enjoyable with the new CPU.

If you're considering an upgrade, I'd highly recommend checking out this TechReviewer article Is the Ryzen 7 3800XT CPU Good for Gaming? for a detailed comparison between the 3800XT and its predecessors. It could help you make an informed decision.

@chefcella, thanks for sharing that link! After reading the article, I noticed the 3800XT has better overclocking support and PCIe 4.0 support compared to the previous generation CPUs. Does that mean I'll need a high-end cooler for the 3800XT?

Yes, @thecoffeebreaker, you're right about the overclocking potential of the 3800XT. For the best results, you should use a high-end cooler to maintain those higher frequencies.

@lizz0188 Also, remember that the extra cores and cache size on the 3800XT can help improve performance in games that are more CPU-intensive.

That's really helpful advice, guys. I think I'll go for the 3800XT then. Just one last question - any suggestions for a good high-end cooler?

@thecoffeebreaker You might want to check out this list of best CPU coolers Is the Ryzen 7 3800XT CPU Good for Gaming? on TechReviewer. It can give you some ideas about which ones are highly recommended by users.

I used the Noctua NH-U9S for my 3800XT, and it worked great! It's a bit pricey, but its performance is top-notch.

I've been using the Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo, and it's doing an excellent job keeping my 3800XT cool. It's more affordable compared to some other high-end coolers.