Last month was generously filled with various hardware announcements. The January CES exhibition traditionally brings a lot of new products – manufacturers of desktop and mobile components willingly choose this platform for their high-profile premieres. So this year was no exception either. Not all hot components have made it to the virtual counters yet, but there is a reason to review the configurations of gaming systems as part of “PC of the Month”. Some new products have already appeared on sale, others are on the way, and with additional information about available and expected devices, it is time to conduct an audit of the recommended platforms.

The article was prepared with the support of the TELEMART.UA store. Assemble your “PC of the month” with handy configurator.

PC of the month (February 2023)

Basic gaming PC of the Month

CPU Intel Core i3-12100F (4/8; 3.3/4.3GHz, 12MB L3) $110
AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (6/12; 3.6/4.2 GHz, 16 MB L3) $100
Motherboard Intel B660 (LGA1700) $100
AMD B450/B550 (Socket AM4) $85
RAM 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR4-3200 $50
GPU Radeon RX 6600 8GB / GeForce RTX 3050 8GB $330
Drive SSD, 480/500/512 GB, M.2 PCI-E $30
Body and PSU Middle Tower ATX, 550 W $60
Total for Intel-based PCs $680
Total for AMD-based PCs $655

Ready configuration of the basic gaming Intel-based PC in TELEMART.UA

Ready configuration of the basic gaming AMD-based PC in TELEMART.UA

Even before the official expansion of the line of Core 13th generation desktop chips, it was known that this time the manufacturer will not offer attractive solutions for the basic models of the Core i3 series. Given that there were no special expectations, the confirmation of this fact did not overshadow any hopes. Core i3-13100F differs from Core i3-12100F only by the frequency formula – 3.4/4.5 GHz vs. 3.3/4.3 GHz. Otherwise, no changes. It is a 4-core 8-thread processor with Alder Lake architecture. No improvements in terms of cache capacity, economy or anything else.

The Core i3-13100F chips are already available for sale at a retail price of around $130, while the Core i3-12100F is offered for $110. An additional $20 for +100/200 MHz doesn’t seem like such a big fee, but within the framework of basic configurations, even this amount makes a difference. As for the difference in performance, it will be due exclusively to the difference in operating frequencies. An increase can be expected at the level of 0–5% depending on the task. If such acceleration is fundamental, and the desire to have a CPU with conditional affiliation to the Core 13xxx series will add mood and confidence in the future, then we will not hold you back. It will definitely not be worse.

But what we will insist on is the purchase of a motherboard based on the Intel B660 chipset (from $90-100), even if we want to save money and prefer more affordable models based on the Intel H610 (from $75). The main option that an older PCH can offer is the ability to use high-speed memory kits without being limited to the recommended value. That is, instead of the regular ones for DDR4-3200 chips, it will be quite appropriate to install a set of DDR4-3600. The difference in the price of such sets is now minimal, and especially for games, the increased memory bandwidth will be useful and will bring additional fps.

In addition to the ability to overclock the RAM, the boards on the Intel B660 also allow the use of M.2 PCI-E 4.0 drives, instead of PCI-E 3.0 in the case of the H610. And in general, the equipment of models with an older chipset is usually better. All in all, the benefits are well worth the extra $20-$25.

Of course, it is a pity that with the update of Intel’s desktop chips, the processors of the Core i3 line did not receive a qualitative boost. Fantasizing about the potential improvement of the CPU of this series, I would like to see, for example, models with at least two additional energy-efficient cores. Such modernization would immediately remove the issue of a possible lack of productivity in resource-intensive projects with a high-quality distribution of computations. However, in most cases, available 4-core models with Hyper-Threading support are able to process up to eight data streams simultaneously, and can generally cope with gaming challenges in their class.

Core/thread shortage issues for entry-level chips do not arise with AMD platform solutions. This niche is held by the 6-core 12-thread Ryzen 5 5500 (3.6/4.2 GHz) and Ryzen 5 3600 (3.6/4.2 GHz). Both chips have their own architectural features, but very similar overall performance. Interestingly, these chips still continue to pleasantly surprise with a gradual decrease in price. It would seem that the limit has already been reached, but Ryzen 5 5500 once again lost $5 in price, dropping to a symbolic $100. In turn, the Ryzen 5 3600 is offered for $105, and the retail version without a cooler can be purchased for $90. Just in case, let us remind you that we are talking about a full-fledged 6-core 12-thread processor of the Matisse family (Zen 2) with an L3 cache buffer with a capacity of 32 MB. So far, it’s even hard to imagine what AMD could potentially offer on Socket AM5 with a similar price/performance ratio. Yes, objectively, it would not hurt for chips of this class to slightly improve the instructions per clock (IPC), but it is unlikely that we will see models on the Zen 4 architecture in the ~$100 segment in the near future.

If we choose a Socket AM4 platform, then we take the AMD B450 board as a basis, or the slightly more expensive (+$20-30), but also more functional, AMD B550. Among the major differences, first of all, support for PCI-E 4.0 can be highlighted in the case of a newer chipset. This allows you to get more bandwidth for the PCI-E x16 slot, and more importantly, it allows you to take advantage of drives with PCI-E 4.0 support. If it is fundamental, just in case, we remind you that the Ryzen 5 5500 is limited to PCI-E 3.0, so it will be a purchase for the future, but the Ryzen 5 3600 can provide faster PCI-E 4.0 lines for connecting more productive SSDs.

For basic gaming platforms, we recommend focusing on the GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB and Radeon RX 6600 8 GB graphics cards. The strengths and weaknesses of each of them have already been considered several times. Let’s briefly recall that the model from AMD is noticeably more powerful (+20%) in classic rendering, while the version with a chip from NVIDIA looks a little better when ray tracing is activated. RTX also allows you to experiment with DLSS upscaling technology, which has a somewhat wider ecosystem compared to the list of projects for which FSR is implemented. Therefore, the choice here is not as obvious as it might seem at first glance. The starting models of both lines have a similar price of $320-330, but the range of commercially available Radeon RX 6600 series adapters is much more modest.

What about the opportunity to save? In the case of AMD, there are actually no suitable more affordable alternatives. The Radeon RX 6500 XT 4GB for $180-200 is a fundamentally different class of solution that is not suitable for a gaming-focused platform. We can only mention Radeon RX 5600 XT 6 GB. In general, not such a bad option, but the rest of these adapters are offered at a price of ~$280-300, so it is better to reach for the more powerful Radeon RX 6600.

As for less expensive GPUs from NVIDIA, with extreme financial constraints, you can look towards GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB. Yes, in this case, you will automatically have to give up hardware support for ray tracing, as well as the ability to use DLSS, but the price of $250-270 may prove to be the deciding factor.

Pleasant news from the world of discrete graphics was quite an unexpected decrease in the recommended price of graphics cards Intel Arc A750 8GB from $289 to $249. With a retail price of ~$300, this model could well compete with the offered models from AMD and NVIDIA. But, despite the fact that four months have passed since the start of sales of Intel graphics cards, the adapters are still not officially offered in Ukraine. In addition, even “gray” deliveries are almost non-existent. However, the fact that despite not the easiest start, the manufacturer tries not only to use the price lever but also actively optimizes the drivers of new graphics cards is pleasing. This is how the performance of projects under the still relevant DX9 was radically increased, as well as increased fps when using more modern APIs. So with its arrival in our country, the Intel Arc A750 8GB could potentially prove to be an interesting option for basic gaming platforms. We are waiting.

Among the price changes for components for basic configurations, a decrease in the cost of solid-state drives should also be noted. SSD with a capacity of 500 GB can already be purchased for only $30. Moreover, it will be an M.2 format device with support for data transfer via the PCI Express interface. The price of SSD is really pleasing lately. So much so that we even recommend seriously thinking about equipping even basic gaming systems with a 1 TB capacity drive. These SSDs are offered starting at $55, so the overall costs are moderate.

When using the 480-500 GB models, after formatting and installing the operating system and associated software, about 400 GB remains for games. This is only for a few large projects. Constant reinstallation is another pleasure, especially if the network access speed is less than 1 Gb/s. Periodic power outages also add to the problem, and the desire to play something “difficult” can drag on over time. For this reason, doubling the capacity of the SSD will be the best reinforcement of the starting game configurations.

Optimal gaming PC of the month

CPU Intel Core i5-13400F (6/12+4; 2.5/4.6 GHz + 1.8/3.3 GHz) $230
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X (8/16; 3,6/4,6 GHz) $205
Motherboard Intel B660/B760 (LGA1700) $140
AMD B550 (Socket AM4) $110
RAM 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR4-3600 $60
GPU GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8 GB/ Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB $470
Drive SSD, 960 GB/1 TB, M.2 NVMe, PCI-E x4 $110
Body and PSU Middle Tower ATX, 650 W $130
Total for Intel-based PCs $1140
Total for AMD-based PCs $1085

Ready configuration of the Intel-based optimal gaming PC in TELEMART.UA

Ready configuration of the AMd-based optimal gaming PC in TELEMART.UA

The expansion of the line of Core 13th generation processors has somewhat added to the trouble for those who choose the best option for an optimal gaming system. Not that the previously recommended Core i5-12400F (6/12; 2.5/4.4 GHz) is no longer sufficient for this category of systems, but with the appearance in the manufacturer’s range of a new model Core i5-13400F (6/12+4; 2.5/4.6 GHz + 1.8/3.3 GHz) it is now more difficult to finally decide on the choice. The specifications of the new basic Core i5 were known long before the official announcement. Unfortunately, the manufacturer did not surprise here. As expected, the starting chips of the line actually use the architecture of the Alder Lake predecessors. That is, the cache capacity remained unchanged, as did the performance per clock (IPC). However, the CPU performance has been improved in another way.

All 13th-generation Core chips received a hybrid layout with productive and energy-efficient cores. The Core i5-13400F entry-level model has 6 productive cores (P-cores) with Hyper-Threading support and 4 energy-efficient cores (E-cores). In this case, the processor can simultaneously process up to 16 data streams. The additional quartet of computers significantly increases the overall performance in multi-threaded tasks (+20-30%), and also removes the issue of a potential lack of computing power for the most demanding games.

Core i5-13400F is a great option for a mid-range gaming system. However, with the advent of mass chips of the 13th generation, Intel significantly increased the cost of desktop CPUs. So the retail price of the starting model of the Core i5 line is about $230, which is $50 more than the current price of the predecessor Core i5-12400F. So if you agree to ensure a certain margin of performance in the future, it makes sense to prefer the new model, but if the priority is the minimum cost of the platform, then the Core i5-12400F remains a worthy solution for this class of systems.

As for the power ratio of Core i5-13400F and Core i5-12400F directly in games, according to numerical tests, the new chip has an advantage over its predecessor by 5–15%. But the nuance is that it actually manifests itself in the case when top video cards are used for comparison. For example, GeForce RTX 4090. The difference decreases in configurations with RTX 3080, and when using graphics adapters of the level recommended for optimal configuration, even in Full HD mode, the advantage is felt only in projects like Total War Saga: Troy with multi-threaded processing. However, in the future, a processor with a larger number of cores fits better into the optimal configuration model. Especially if you take into account possible improvements in minimum fps in ultra-heavy projects, as well as tangible advantages in work tasks.

In the end, we leave the processor position for the Core i5-13400F, but the Core i5-12400F looks like a good alternative as a backup option in case of a tight budget. “Pure” six-cores with a decent IPC are still working.

In the meantime, let’s pay attention to the appearance of the Core i5-13500 model. To Intel’s credit, this time the Core i5 lineup looks more interesting than usual, and the models in the series differ not only in clock speeds. In the case of the Core i5-13500, the processor received an already functional formula of 6/12+8, as well as an increased capacity of L3 cache memory from 20 MB to 24 MB. Of course, such improvements affect performance, but the price of the chip at $270 seems too high for the optimal configuration. Please note that the Core i5-13500 is unfortunately not offered with disabled graphics, so the price difference with the Core i5-13400F is more noticeable than desired.

As for the platform, a motherboard based on Intel B660 and Intel B760 chipsets is quite suitable for a system of this class. The newer PCH differs from its predecessor only in the distribution of PCI-E 3.0/4.0 lines in the direction of higher speeds, which in practice translates into an increase in available M.2 PCI-E 4.0 ports. There are no more fundamental differences between chipsets, so you should rather focus on equipping a specific model of the board. The only nuance you may encounter is that Intel B760 devices initially support all available Core 13xxx chips, while Intel B660 boards may need a firmware update to work correctly with new CPUs.

Given the minimal functional difference, the new Intel B760 models are usually offered at a slightly higher price than the identical Intel B660 versions. Basic devices with support for DDR4 memory can be purchased from $110, but modifications for DDR5 are usually more equipped, which is why they cost from $190-200.

In our recommendations, we also strengthened the processor position for the AMD platform. Last time we covered the significant cost reduction of the Ryzen 7 5700X, and after the price of this 8-core chip has dropped to ~$200, it’s simply impossible to pass up such an attractive offer. The Ryzen 5 5600/5600X models in general still look pretty good in the context of an optimal gaming system, but again, the prospect of chips with a functional formula of 8/16 is better.

Additional computing cores will naturally increase performance in work tasks. The advantage in games will be more likely to be felt in projects with an intensive multi-threaded load. The six-core Ryzen 5 5600 is still a very workable option if the $50 savings takes priority over performance gains and work tasks don’t require a more powerful CPU.

The Socket AM5 platform is still reserved for optimal configurations. Despite the fact that 6-core Ryzen 5 7600X (6/12; 4.7/5.3 GHz) based on Zen 4 can already be purchased for $240, the current cost of motherboards (from $170) remains a barrier for this category of systems. In addition, AM5 also requires DDR5, which is slightly more expensive than DDR4, and 8GB modules have less attractive capabilities compared to 16GB sticks.

However, the basic processors of the Raphael family remain in the field of our attention, so let’s note the appearance of Ryzen 5 7600 (6/12; 3.8/5.1 GHz) on sale. The starting model of the line differs from the X-modification only in reduced clock frequencies and a specified TDP of 65 W instead of 105 W. In practice, in game conditions, it is almost not inferior to the older modification. The Ryzen 5 7600 MSRP is $229, while the Ryzen 5 7600X had a starting price of $299. But the older modification has already managed to get in the wave of discounts, which have turned from conditionally temporary to permanent. Therefore, the actual price difference is not so pleasing.

At most, at the beginning of sales, it turns out that the Ryzen 5 7600 retail price is even higher than the X-version – $260 vs. $240. We did not expect such an appearance of a more affordable Ryzen 7000, but we will make allowances for the recent launch. In addition, the Ryzen 5 7600 is offered with an AMD Wraith Stealth air cooler. A basic cooler with a very simple design is a dubious option, especially for those who appreciate silence, but it allows you to use the system immediately without additional costs. Whereas the Ryzen 5 7600X comes without a supplied cooler, which needs to be considered separately. But we plan to return to these pleasant concerns only after more affordable motherboards with Socket AM5 connectors appear on sale. Meanwhile, for Socket AM4 chips, you can pick up a quite suitable model for AMD B550 for ~$110, and a dual-channel kit of 16 GB (2×8 GB) of good quality DDR4-3600 CL16 can be purchased for even $60.

When choosing the best GPU for gaming configurations of any class, there are always many questions, starting from the optimal price/performance ratio, and ending with prospects and the available range. As a guideline for optimal systems, we recommend GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 8 GB and Radeon RX 6700 XT 12 GB. Basic adapters with NVIDIA chips start at $430, but options appear in the $450-$480 budget. Let’s pay attention to the more active appearance in the sale of RTX 3060 Ti modifications with GDDR6X (19,000 MHz) chips instead of standard GDDR6 (14,000 MHz). In this case, the total memory bandwidth increases from 448 GB/s to 608 GB/s (+36%). Such a significant increase in ROM should, in theory, have a significant impact on performance. Yes, the acceleration is indeed there, although it is not as impressive as it should be. Practical tests usually show an advantage of accelerated modifications of 5-10% over versions with GDDR6.

Modifications of GeForce RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X are offered at a price of $500. Taking into account the available increase in productivity in general, the extra payment can be considered justified, especially if you are still worried about the possible nuances of GDDR6 operation from Hynix in the basic versions of the GPUs of the line.

If there is an opportunity to additionally raise the price ceiling, then GeForce RTX 3070 8 GB looks like a good option. This is an additional +15% to performance compared to the RTX 3060 Ti GDDR6X. This model can be especially recommended if you use a screen with a 1440p graphics mode. But the budget for the purchase of a GPU in this case will have to be increased to $560–580.

In general, I would like to see updated mid-range NVIDIA models. It has been reported recently that the upcoming GeForce RTX 4060 will be based on the AD107 chip with 3072 compute units, 8GB of GDDR6, and a 128-bit bus. At the same time, the TDP should be 115 W. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is also expected to appear, for which AD106 with 4352 active CUDA cores will be used. At the same time, the configuration of the local memory will be the same as that of the RTX 4060, and the TDP will be 160 W.

Frankly, the configuration with a RAM of 288 GB/s looks quite strange, considering that the performance of the younger model should be at least not slower than the RTX 3060 Ti, and the RTX 4060 Ti should obviously bypass the RTX 3070. But the appearance of the GeForce RTX 4060/4060 Ti is not in the near future, specifications of these models may still be refined.

Progressive gaming PC of the month

CPU Intel Core i5-13600KF (6/12+8; 3.5/5.1 GHz, 2.6/3.9 GHz) $330
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X (8/16; 4.5/5.4 GHz) $360
Motherboard Intel Z690/Z790 (LGA1700) $230
AMD B650 (Socket AM5) $200
RAM 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR5-5600/6000 $175
GPU GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB $1000
Drive SSD 2 TB, M.2 PCI-E 4.0 $220
Body and PSU Middle Tower ATX, 750 W $210
Total for Intel-based PCs $2165
Total for AMD-based PCs $2165

Ready configuration of progressive Intel-based gaming PC in TELEMART.UA

Ready configuration of progressive AMD-based gaming PC in TELEMART.UA

The processor position in the progressive configuration remains Core i5-13600KF. Overall, a fairly balanced model that meets key gaming CPU requirements well. Due to belonging to Raptor Lake, the chip has increased instructions per cycle (IPC), increased capacity of cache buffers, as well as a sufficient number of cores/threads (6/12+8) even for the most demanding projects. All this combined with a moderate retail price, which recently dropped to $330.

After the expansion of the range of Core 13th generation chips, in the context of a progressive platform, certain Core i7-13700F (8/16+8; 2.1/5.2 GHz + 1.5/4.1 GHz) is of interest. The model has 8 productive cores with Hyper-Threading support and 8 more economical units (E-Cores). In addition, the “seven” is strengthened due to the increased L3 cache to 30 MB, instead of 24 MB in the Core i5-13600K. Perhaps such an improvement will bring a few additional fps in resource-intensive games, but it may be more interesting in the case where increased CPU power is needed for work tasks. Core i7-13700F has already appeared on sale in Ukraine at a price of about $400 with a recommended price of $359. The Core i7-13700KF version (8/16+8; 3.4/5.4 GHz + 2.5/4.2 GHz) with an unlocked multiplier and increased starting frequencies costs about $440, the same modification without the possibility of additional acceleration allows you to save a little.

As for motherboards, when choosing a chip with an unlocked multiplier, it is logical to choose a model that allows you to experiment with overclocking. That is, we are talking about devices with Intel Z690 and Intel Z790 chipsets. However, this is not a mandatory condition, but only personal interest. If there is no desire to obtain maximum frequencies, then it is quite possible to get by with more affordable models on Intel B660/B760. But please note that in advanced configurations, we are starting to recommend switching to DDR5 RAM. Boards with RAM support of this standard are slightly more expensive than DDR4 models.

With the cost of chips, motherboards, and DDR5 dropping, the time has come to move AMD’s progressive configuration to the Socket AM5 platform. Productive CPUs with Zen 4 architecture, support for high-speed RAM and the PCI-E 5.0 bus, and general prospects of support from the manufacturer are sufficient arguments for such a choice, especially when it comes to powerful gaming PCs. For such a platform, we recommend focusing on the Ryzen 7 7700X processor (8/16; 4.5/5.4 GHz). A fairly powerful 8-core model, the capabilities of which will be enough for resource-intensive projects. It is a very worthy opponent for the Core i5-13600KF, moreover, it is a more economical CPU.

The only strong argument against switching to AM5 is the presence of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D with a huge L3 buffer, which often plays an important role in games. However, on average, Ryzen 7 7700X still has an advantage of up to 10% in this field, while in work tasks, the model on Zen 4 is about a third ahead of the unique chip for AM4. So Ryzen 7 5800X3D at a cost of $350 remains the ultimate solution for upgrading the previous platform, while when assembling a new PC it is better to look towards chips for Socket AM5. Finally, the cost of the necessary components allows it to be done without significant surcharges, at least they are acceptable for a progressive system.

AMD has already announced Ryzen 7000 chips with an additional buffer using 3D V-Cache technology, but the most interesting model for the gaming platform Ryzen 7 7800X3D will have to wait until the beginning of April. In addition, even the recommended price of such a chip will be quite high – $449. But if the increase in gaming performance of the CPU turns out to be as impressive as in the case of its predecessor, perhaps even a high price will not stop the owner of a progressive configuration.

When choosing a motherboard, you can choose a model with an AMD B650 chipset. Basic versions cost from $170, but for a powerful functional platform, it is better to choose something with a little better equipment. In the case of Socket AM5 models, you don’t need to choose between DDR4 and DDR5, because they are all designed exclusively to work with more modern modules. The reason for this is simple – the memory controller of the Ryzen 7000 chips only works with DDR5.

Touching on the topic of RAM, we note that for powerful configurations on AMD and Intel platforms, it is better to focus on dual-channel DDR5-5600/6000 kits with a total capacity of 32 GB (2×16 GB). For example, a set of DDR5-5600 CL36 can already be purchased for $160-170 and DDR5-6000 with similar delays costs from $200. Given the architectural features, for the AMD platform, the use of higher-speed modules at DDR5-6000 actually does not make sense. There are no such restrictions on the Intel platform, but the fastest kits (DDR5-7200/7600) are rapidly gaining in value and will be of interest primarily to enthusiasts.

The graphic subsystem of progressive configurations has also been improved. After conducting hands-on tests for a powerful gaming platform, we can recommend GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB. Although RTX 4xxx series graphics cards have unpleasantly raised the price bar for custom graphics adapters, given the situation in the discrete graphics segment, the AD104 chip model has every right to claim a place in the system unit of a discerning gamer.

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti demonstrates performance at the level of flagships of the previous line – GeForce RTX 3090/3090 Ti 24 GB, while it is much more economical than previous tops and supports Frame Generation technology to implement the promising DLSS 3. Usually, twice the capacity of local memory in certain situations may be indicated, especially if the GPU is used for work tasks that require an increased video buffer. Also, certain issues may arise in 4K mode when using maximum image quality and ray tracing technology. For example, we encountered this while testing Portal with RTX. But these are rather exceptions.

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti outperforms GeForce RTX 3080 10 GB by an average of 15-20%. The novelty is about the same amount more expensive than the model of the previous generation. At the same time, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB consumes about 50 W less electricity under load and has support for DLSS 3. In addition, the range of GeForce RTX 3080 available for sale has decreased significantly recently, so finding an interesting model for $800-850 is not so easy. As for the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, it has a recommended price tag of $799, and actual retail prices in Ukraine start at $1,000.

Fortunately, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti was not left without a worthy opponent. This time, older NVIDIA models of the new generation immediately have powerful competitors. Of course, in this case, we are talking about Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB. The graphics card with an AMD chip is ~10% faster than the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti, and also has a significantly larger local memory capacity. In modes with tracing, the solution from NVIDIA looks more powerful, and support for DLSS 3 is gaining momentum. However, AMD promises to respond with the appearance of FSR 3.0 and Hyper-RX instant acceleration technology, which will be offered later. Recommended price Radeon RX 7900 XT is $100 higher than the $899 RTX 4070 Ti. The retail difference remains, so the Radeon RX 7900 XT is offered starting at $1,100. A graphics card can also be considered as an option, but this model needs to come down in price to make it more attractive.

For games exclusively in 4K mode with maximum picture quality, you can also consider a pair of Radeon RX 7900 XTX 24 GB and GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB. The flagship of the AMD line has an even better price/performance ratio than the Radeon RX 7900 XT, but of course not every gamer will agree to spend $1300+, while the recommended price of this model is $999. In general, the range and local availability of new AMD GPUs in Ukraine leaves much to be desired. However, it must be admitted that the Radeon RX 7900 XTX is a very worthy competitor of the GeForce RTX 4080. As for the latter, in most cases, it has an advantage only after activating ray tracing or using DLSS 3. But here, too, a lot depends on the specific game, and the advantage of one GPU over another can be as much as 20-30%. In general, there is almost parity here. A separate item is work tasks with calculations on the GPU, where the NVIDIA ecosystem is more established.

The recommended price of the GeForce RTX 4080 is $1199, but retail prices have recently adjusted from the starting $1500 to $1350-1400. Of course, this is also too much for a GPU of this level, but in terms of local pricing, the relatively small difference with the cost of the Radeon RX 7900 XTX does not play in favor of the latter.

If the performance of even the RTX 4080 and RX 7900 XTX is not enough, you can add about 30% more fps in 4K with the GeForce RTX 4090 24 GB. The ultimate model is out of reach for opponents, but the retail price tag of $2000+ seems to hint that such a GPU just for fun is already too much.

When assembling a configuration of any class, you should separately take care of an uninterruptible power supply, which will allow the system to be safely terminated in the event of a sudden power outage. Although the situation with energy stability has recently improved in most regions, enemy insidiousness requires additional preparedness. We convert anger at enemies into help for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, this will speed up our victory.

The article was prepared with the support of the TELEMART.UA store.

Assemble your PC of the month with a handy configurator, which allows you to quickly choose a PC, get advice, choose one of the powerful EVOLVE computers, or create your own configuration.

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