PC of the month (January 2024)

The beginning of a new year is usually a good time to radically upgrade or build new powerful PCs. It is during this period that a large-scale Consumer Electronics Show traditionally takes place in Las Vegas, which hardware manufacturers gladly use as a platform for major announcements, presenting their new developments. This year was no exception, so CES 2024 brought a lot of new products in the segment of components for desktop systems, and some of the newly presented components are already on sale. Therefore, it is time to reconsider traditional gaming configurations of the “PC of the Month“, taking into account the current situation on the local market and the overall prospects in this segment.

Basic gaming PC of the month

 

Gaming monitors for the “Basic Gaming PC” from our partner MSI

The MSI G24C4 E2 and MSI Optix G24C6 E2 models with Full HD curved VA matrix, high refresh rate of 180 Hz and a response time of only 1ms will provide an excellent gaming experience for entry-level systems.

MSI G24C4 E2 gaming monitor
MSI G24C6 E2 gaming monitor

 

Given the presence of the Ryzen 5 3600 processor (6/12; 3.6/4.2 GHz) in AMD’s arsenal, it seems that the processor position in the basic gaming configurations is occupied by this model, if not forever, then for a rather long time. Now it is even hard to imagine a new chip for $85 that would be more attractive here. Even a moderately more expensive CPU with a close price/performance ratio. Indeed, the manufacturer is using a forbidden technique here, leaving the Socket AM4 with an unprecedentedly affordable 6-core 12-thread processor with 32 MB of third-level cache.

We would like to remind you that Ryzen 5 3600 was introduced in mid-2019 with a recommended price tag of $199. For a long time, this model confidently represented AMD in the category of optimal gaming configurations. Later, more powerful models were offered for this position, but Ryzen 5 3600 turned out to be a “long-liver” that does not lose its relevance due to the regular updating of the developers’ pricing policy for this CPU.

Only the 6-core Ryzen 5 5500 (6/12; 3.6/4.2 GHz) for ~$100 can compete with this model. The newer model is based on Zen 3, but it is a representative of the Cezanne line with a monolithic crystal and 16 MB L3. The capacity of the third-level cache usually has a certain impact on gaming performance, but due to its more modern architecture, the Ryzen 5 5500 often gains a slight advantage over the Ryzen 5 3600, although the opposite is also true. As a simplification, only PCI-E 3.0 is supported, but the available motherboards for the AMD base system are also limited to this standard.

AMD continues to support the Socket AM4 platform. The company has recently offered several updated chips, including the Ryzen 5 5500GT and the Ryzen 5 5600GT. Both belong to the Cezanne line, feature integrated Vega 7 graphics, and have a slight frequency acceleration compared to the basic versions. The younger model has a recommended price tag of $125, and the older one is priced at $140. In the context of gaming configurations, the updated chips are not particularly attractive, as a discrete graphics card is mandatory for such configurations. So it makes no sense to pay extra for an activated iGPU.

If you want to have a certain margin of performance, then the only viable option is the Ryzen 5 5600 (6/12; 3.5/4.4 GHz), which already belongs to the Vermeer line with a Zen 3 chip architecture and is equipped with 32 MB L3. A few months ago, the retail price of this model was reduced to the equivalent of $140, but then the CPU rose unpleasantly to $150 again. This is definitely a better option for a gaming system than Ryzen 5 3600, but the difference in the cost of these chips is almost twofold. In terms of price/performance ratio, the honored “veteran” has no competitors, but for further acceleration, you will have to make more significant expenses.

During CES 2024, Intel introduced the expansion of the 14th generation Core desktop processor lineup. Unfortunately, no miracle happened in the budget chip segment: 4-core Core i3-14100/14100F (4/8; 3.5/4.7 GHz) are offered for basic systems with a recommended price of $134/$109. Once again, the transition to the next “generation” for desktop Core i3 chips is limited to a slight increase in operating frequencies. So when it comes to maximum savings, Core i3-12100F (4/8; 3.3/4.3 GHz) remains relevant, with its local price seemingly dropping below the $100 mark for the first time.

If the digits in the model number have some kind of sacred meaning, then the Core i3-13100F (4/8; 3.4/4.5 GHz) is available for ~$115. Moreover, the brand new Core i3-14100F has already appeared on sale in Ukraine, but the starting price tags are expectedly high – from $150. If you’re ready to spend a similar amount of money on a CPU for a basic gaming system, then a 6-core Core i5-12400F (6/12; 2.5/4.4 GHz) for ~$160 is a win-win.

This time, we are slightly increasing the graphics power of starting gaming systems, suggesting that you consider options with more productive video cards. The basic versions of the GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB and especially the Radeon RX 6600 8 GB attract with price tags of $250, but more powerful solutions are desirable to increase gaming potential. Therefore, the list of current candidates includes GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB, GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB, and Radeon RX 7600 8 GB. Choosing between NVIDIA offerings is not as easy as it might seem at first glance.

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is an atypical case for entry-level NVIDIA graphics adapters when a video card is equipped with such a memory capacity. At the time of the announcement of this model (January 2021), the conditions and circumstances were such that the developers offered a mid-range graphics card at that time, which had an increased local buffer and a 192-bit bus. A nice exception that “worked” and became even more relevant over time. Overall, it’s no coincidence that this fairly balanced model is currently at the top of the popularity rating among Steam users. Another useful feature is the support for PCI-E x16 mode, which is a desirable option for cases where the board or processor is limited to the PCI-E 3.0 standard.

Current GeForce RTX 3060 12 GB offers start at $330-340. This is a fairly humane price tag for a model of this level and equipment. Please note that we are reviewing and recommending versions with 12 GB of memory. The 8 GB versions, which appeared much later than the base models, in addition to reducing the memory capacity, also received a 128-bit bus, which significantly affected the overall performance. Therefore, these are options for the last resort when you can allocate no more than $300 for the purchase of a video card.

GeForce RTX 4060 8GB is a successor to the Ada Lovelace architecture with certain features that have their advantages and disadvantages. Starting models of the line are offered from $350. This is a decent option for Full HD gaming. It is in this mode that RTX 4060 is on average 10-15% more productive than RTX 3060. Nuances are possible in cases where the game requires much more than 8 GB of video card memory. For Full HD, these are still quite rare cases, which are usually easy to adjust in the settings. The advantage of GeForce RTX 4060 is its support for DLSS 3. NVIDIA continues to actively develop its frame generation technology, so the number of projects in which it will be implemented will obviously increase.

The positive aspects of the new model also include its excellent efficiency. Under load, the GeForce RTX 4060 consumes up to 120 watts of power, which is 40-50 watts less than the GeForce RTX 3060. And it’s not so much about power savings, although this is also important in the current environment, but about overall energy efficiency.

The support for 8 lines of PCI Express bus can be considered a disadvantage. However, even if you use a platform with processors or cards that are limited to PCI-E 3.0, the bandwidth of this channel will be enough for most situations, especially when it comes to entry-level systems. Even in exceptional cases, performance in games can drop by 0-5%. So it’s more of a fear that people like to discuss than a practical limitation.

The Radeon RX 7600 8GB can be considered for the basic gaming platform from the current AMD range. The model can compete almost equally with the GeForce RTX 4060 8 GB. Slightly lower performance in ray-tracing modes can be forgiven, especially if the Radeon can be purchased cheaper. It’s hard to count on tangible savings here. The Radeon RX 7600 8GB starts at $310-320, although I would like to see a more significant difference. AMD’s model is also quite economical (~150 watts), although the RTX 4060 still has better energy efficiency under load. It should also be noted that the Radeon RX 7600, like its NVIDIA opponent, uses only eight PCI-E lines for connection. But here we emphasize once again that even on platforms with PCI-E 3.0, in practice, you are unlikely to encounter a lack of bandwidth at all, which will significantly affect the number of fps.

As a reminder, AMD’s previous generation models – Radeon RX 6600, Radeon RX 6600 XT and Radeon RX 6650 XT – are also equipped with eight PCI-E lines, and this does not expose them to harassment and does not prevent them from getting decent results. In general, as for the RX 6600 XT and RX 6650 XT, unlike the RX 6600, these models are almost no longer offered on the market. Although they could potentially also be considered as part of basic gaming systems, the prices for leftover units do not make these offers interesting. So in fact, we have two current offers here – Radeon RX 6600 8GB for $250+ and Radeon RX 7600 8GB starting at $310. The average advantage of the new model is about 20%. Although the Radeon RX 6600 has a slight advantage in terms of price/performance ratio, buying a newer, faster graphics card is also quite justified. In this category, every extra fps counts, and getting a more powerful graphics card is the least expensive way to increase the number of frames per second in games.

AMD will offer another entry-level model, the Radeon RX 7600 XT 16 GB. The video card configuration turned out to be quite specific. Like the base model, the adapter uses the Navi 33 GPU. Moreover, the number of functional blocks remains unchanged. The only thing that has changed is the GPU operating frequency. The memory bus bit rate also remains 128 bits, but the total capacity has been doubled from 8 GB to 16 GB. Power consumption has also increased from 165 watts to 190 watts. The Radeon RX 7600 XT 16GB has a recommended price tag of $329, which is $60 more than the Radeon RX 7600 8GB ($269).

On the presentation slides, the developers claim a 5-15% performance increase, especially in 1440p. But for such a mode, the capabilities of the Radeon RX 7600 XT are rather modest, and in general, the claimed advantages look too optimistic. The increased memory capacity won’t be excessive, but will 16 GB be of any practical use for a video card of this level? Independent reviews will provide answers to these questions and generally outline the prospects of the Radeon RX 7600 XT 16GB.

In the context of gaming platforms, we can’t help but mention the anticipation of the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB video card, which will be the most affordable graphics adapter of the GeForce RTX line. According to previous leaks, NVIDIA is expected to present this model in February. The specifications are already known. The 6GB version of the GeForce RTX 3050 will be based on the AD107 chip with 2304 active compute units and significantly lower GPU operating frequencies. To reduce the memory capacity from 8 GB to 6 GB, the bus bit depth will be reduced from 128 to 96 bits. This will have a significant impact on the overall performance of the video card.

Considering that we recommend using even the basic GeForce RTX 3050 8GB model only as a last resort, the even slower GeForce RTX 3050 6GB version will obviously not be included in the PC of the Month configuration. However, it does have some attractive features, such as 70W power consumption and the ability to operate without an additional power supply. The expected recommended price is $179. Whether this option will find its buyers is undeniable. It’s an interesting solution for compact platforms, and we can probably expect GeForce RTX 3050 6GB models with a passive cooling system.

However, according to preliminary data, the new model will not expand the lineup, but will replace the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. So if you were looking for the latter, you should choose more carefully and make your purchase. The discontinuation of the 8 GB version may also free up space for the possible appearance of the conditional GeForce RTX 4050.

For entry-level gaming systems, AMD also suggests considering processors with integrated graphics. Indeed, the new line of Ryzen 8000G chips for the Socket AM4 platform is equipped with a relatively powerful video core based on the RDNA 3 architecture, but you still need to objectively assess the capabilities of such solutions. The developers assure that in the case of the top-end Ryzen 7 8700G with Radeon 780M graphics, it can compete with a system equipped with a discrete GeForce GTX 1650-level graphics card. If we get practical confirmation, it will be an amazing result for desktop chips.

Even so, it won’t be enough for basic gaming systems. The recommended price of Ryzen 7 8700G is $329. This is actually the retail price of a Ryzen 5 3600 + Radeon RX 6600 8 GB set. The capabilities of such solutions in games are not even comparable. But for compact systems without a video card, Ryzen 8000G can be quite interesting. Practical details about the capabilities of the new APUs will be available when these chips are launched on January 31.

The best gaming PC of the month

 

Gaming monitor for the “Optimal Gaming PC” from our partner MSI

The MSI Optix G27CQ4 E2 and MSI G272QPF 27-inch VA gaming monitors offer 2560×1440 resolution, 165Hz and 170Hz refresh rates, and 1ms response time for an optimal gaming experience.

MSI G27CQ4 E2 gaming monitor

MSI G272QPF gaming monitor

 

For optimal configurations on the Intel platform, we can offer several interesting options at once. The first is Core i5-13400F (6/12+4; 2.5/4.6 GHz + 1.8/3.3 GHz). The base model of the previous generation Core i5 series has six productive cores with Hyper-Threading support and is additionally reinforced by four energy-efficient cores. Such an improvement will not be superfluous, especially when games can distribute computing to more than 12 threads.

Potentially interesting chips from the recently introduced 14th-generation Core line – Core i5-14400F (6/12+4; 2.5/4.7 GHz + 1.8/3.5 GHz) are already on sale. The changes here are almost formal. As you can see from the configuration, we have a 100-200 MHz increase in the operating frequencies of P/E-Cores. So the actual increase in performance will be due to these changes only, so the difference will be lost on the general background. But given its recent appearance, the Core i5-14400F retails for around $260 at the time of writing, while the Core i5-13400F can be purchased for the equivalent of $230.

If you are not particularly confused by the timing of the announcement of processors and do not have any special “points” on this option, then a very interesting option for the optimal configuration is also Core i5-12600KF (6/12+4; 3.7/4.9 GHz + 2.8/3.6 GHz). The retail price of this model in Ukraine has recently dropped significantly. The CPU can be purchased for ~$240. Architecturally, it also has an identical configuration to the Core i5-13400/14400 chips – six productive cores with HT and four energy-efficient cores. Nominally, the Core i5-12600KF is an enthusiast model, but even if you don’t plan to overclock at all, the initially higher operating frequencies will allow you to get slightly better performance in regular mode.

When focusing on the Core i5-12600KF, you should keep in mind that this model comes without a basic cooling system even in the retail version, so you will need to set aside a certain amount of money to buy a cooler.

As for the platform for an Intel-based solution, we suggest focusing on motherboards with the Intel B760 chipset and support for DDR5 RAM. The cheapest models in this configuration start at $100-110, but for optimal systems, it is better to focus on more equipped versions with more powerful VRM and cooling of power elements. Especially if you choose a more powerful Core i5-12600KF chip. It should be reminded that Intel B760 boards do not allow overclocking processors even with an unlocked multiplier, as in the case of Core i5-12600KF, but the latter is quite productive in the basic version.

This time, we suggest building optimal AMD systems on the Socket AM5 platform, using the basic Ryzen 5 7500F processor (6/12; 3.7/5.0 GHz) or the older and slightly more expensive Ryzen 5 7600 (6/12; 3.8/5.1 GHz). These are fast 6-core processors that are quite competitive in this category. It is worth reminding you that Ryzen 5 7500F, which has the “F” in its model name, has deactivated integrated graphics. If you consider the presence of an iGPU desirable, you will have to pay about $20-25 extra for the Ryzen 5 7600.

A few months ago, when MPK versions of the Ryzen 7 7700 first appeared on our market, such an 8-core chip could be purchased for $270. But unfortunately, since then, such a set – a tray version of the CPU complete with a cooler – has risen in price and costs about $300, which is frankly too expensive for an optimal configuration.

In case you decide to build a new system on the still relevant Socket AM4 platform, the Ryzen 7 5700X (8/16; 3.4/4.6 GHz) remains an attractive chip for optimal configuration. Not extremely fast, but confidently. AMD continues to keep AM4 up to date, trying to diversify its offerings. Along with the aforementioned Ryzen 5 chips, the company has also recently offered the Ryzen 7 5700 (8/16; 3.7/4.6 GHz). However, please note that this model is a derivative of the Ryzen 7 5700G, which means it belongs to the Cezanne family, has 16 MB of L3, and supports only PCI-E 3.0. Whereas Ryzen 7 5700X belongs to the more productive Vermeer with a chiplet structure, PCI-E 4.0, and 32 MB of third-level cache. Thus, the AMD processor labeling system has certain peculiarities, so when choosing a specific CPU, you need to pay attention to the technical characteristics.

AMD also introduced another novelty that is of interest in the context of optimal configurations – Ryzen 7 5700X3D (8/16; 3.0/4.1 GHz; 96 MB L3). Another variant of the chip with 3D V-Cache technology, which adds 64 MB of third-level cache. The radically increased L3 capacity usually has a significant impact on the number of fps in games, allowing even Zen 3 chips to compete with top Intel chips. Ryzen 7 5700X3D has a price tag of $249. This is $100 cheaper than the older model Ryzen 7 5800X3D (8/16; 3.4/4.5 GHz; 96 MB L3), which was introduced in the spring of 2022.

The emergence of another model with 3D V-Cache undoubtedly strengthens the position of Socket AM4, adding variability when choosing specific models for certain tasks. And in general, it outlines the prospects for those who have chosen AM4 but have decided to opt for a more affordable CPU.

The capabilities of the Ryzen 7 5800X3D are already well known, and we expect something similar from the Ryzen 7 5700X3D. However, it should be noted that the younger model has 400 MHz lower operating frequencies, which will affect the overall performance. Along with other new AM4 products, Ryzen 7 5700X3D will go on sale on January 31, at which time it will be possible to evaluate the capabilities of this CPU. Previously, there was information that AMD should also introduce 6-core Ryzen 5 chips with 3D V-Cache, but so far such rumors have not been confirmed.

For optimal configurations, we recommend using GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB and Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB video cards. Great options for ultra-high fps in Full HD and decent performance in 1440p mode. Both models start at ~$600, but for a wider selection, it’s better to focus on $650. A lot has already been said about comparing the capabilities of both graphics cards. On average, the Radeon RX 7800 XT is 5-10% faster than the GeForce RTX 4070 in classic mode, while the NVIDIA model has a 15-20% advantage when ray tracing is activated. The Radeon RX 7800 XT has a larger memory capacity, which is a plus for 1440p+ modes, and the GeForce RTX 4070 is 50 watts more economical under load (200 watts vs. 250 watts). So both models have certain features, but both fit perfectly into the concept of an optimal gaming configuration.

Recently, NVIDIA started selling an updated “seventy” – GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB. The super version has a GPU with a significantly increased number of active compute units and related functional units. Despite the fact that the memory capacity and configuration remained unchanged, in practice, GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER is on average 15% faster than GeForce RTX 4070. For SUPER modifications, the recommended price in the US market is $599. Thus, the price tag was identical to that of the base model. In turn, GeForce RTX 4070 has officially dropped in price to $549.

GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB is already on sale in Ukraine. The first basic models are offered from $750-800, while for the boosted versions with efficient coolers, the price is $850-900. This is already too expensive for optimal configurations. So for now, we recommend sticking with GeForce RTX 4070 12GB, which has already dropped in price. And, of course, we are considering the Radeon RX 7800 XT, which attracts with 16 GB of memory.

If you want to save money on a video card, in the case of AMD, the option of Radeon RX 7700 XT 12 GB remains, although the relatively small actual difference in video card prices ($50-70) is not worth the loss of 15% performance in Full HD and about 20% in 1440p mode. If you save money within the NVIDIA ecosystem, replacing a GeForce RTX 4070 12 GB with a GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 8 GB will result in a loss of ~30% of frames/sec.

Optimal configurations are equipped with 32 GB of RAM by default. With the return to platforms with DDR5 modules, we suggest considering dual-channel DDR5-5600/6000 kits. The cost of basic kits with this mode is about $110.

Unfortunately, the price of drives has been rising lately. The gradual increase in the cost of flash memory chips, which began last fall, is already reflected in the retail price tags of SSDs. In addition, analysts predict that flash and RAM chips will continue to rise in price throughout 2024, so it’s worthwhile to configure the storage subsystem according to your needs. The best time to buy an SSD at the lowest price has already been lost, but the cost of drives will only increase.

Advanced gaming PC of the month

 

Gaming monitors for the “Advanced Gaming PC” from our partner MSI

MSI’s 34-inch MEG 342C flagship monitor with advanced QD-OLED matrix, Ultra Wide QHD resolution (3440×1440 pixels), 175Hz refresh rate, 0.03ms response time truly takes gaming to the next level with incredible color reproduction and instant image refresh.

MSI MEG 342C gaming monitor

 

With the launch of the Core i5-14600KF (6/12+8; 3.5/5.3 GHz + 2.6/4.0 GHz), this chip has taken a processor position in the advanced gaming configuration on the Intel platform. Among the rational alternatives, you can also consider the Core i5-13600KF (6/12+8; 3.5/5.1 GHz + 2.6/3.9 GHz), which in normal mode has 100-200 MHz lower operating frequencies and costs $10-20 cheaper. For gaming, the capabilities of these CPUs will be quite enough, but if you need even higher multi-threaded performance, you could potentially pay attention to the new Core i7-14700F (8/16+12; 2.1/5.4 GHz + 1.5/4.2 GHz), which are already on sale.

However, as is usually the case, the initial retail prices of the newly introduced models may be even higher than the cost of more productive CPUs that have been available on the market for some time. Instead of the recommended $359, the Core i7-14700F chip is offered for ~$450 at launch, while the older, more powerful Core i7-14700KF model with an unlocked multiplier can be purchased for ~$430. Temporary phenomena and “kinks in the ground”. Over time, the situation will improve, and eventually a basic 20-core for the equivalent of $380-400 can be a very attractive solution for one’s money.

In the case of the AMD platform, in a progressive configuration, you can rely on the Ryzen 7 7700X (8/16; 4.5/5.4 GHz), which looks organic in such builds. On the other hand, a relatively small additional cost will be required to purchase a top processor specifically for gaming PCs – Ryzen 7 7800X3D (8/16; 4.2/5.0 GHz). While the Ryzen 7 7700X has recently risen in price to around $360, the cost of the 3D V-Cache model has dropped to around $400. So the overall price delta between these models has dropped to only $40-50. Could this be a sign?

In many games, the additional 64 MB of L3 will allow you to get more fps. But in certain workloads where a large third-level cache is not so important (for example, rendering), the Ryzen 7 7800X3D may be inferior to the cheaper Ryzen 7 7700X due to its lower operating frequency. Although even in such cases, the difference will not be significant.

The recent announcement of NVIDIA’s SUPER-modifications of graphics cards has also affected the recommendations for advanced configurations. Even preliminary evaluating the technical characteristics of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB, we understand that this model will fit very well into platforms of this class – powerful, but not for all the money. The updated version uses the AD103 GPU instead of the AD104, and the number of active computers has increased from 7680 to 8448. But the most anticipated transformation was the increase in memory capacity from 12 GB to 16 GB. At the same time, the bus bit rate has also increased from 192 bits to 256 bits, which means that the memory bandwidth has also increased by a quarter – from 504 GB/s to 672 GB/s. At the same time, the developers assure that the power consumption of GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER will remain at the same level as the base model – 285 W.

The recommended price of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB also corresponds to the initial cost of the base model of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti – $799. This is an expected step from NVIDIA, which in some way changes the balance and structure of the performance graphics card segment. With the advent of GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER 12 GB and GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB, the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12 GB model becomes irrelevant, as it is no longer in active production. It is unlikely that in this case we will see too attractive promotional offers for adapters of this series, but we will not rule out certain discounts.

With the advent of the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB, which is slightly inferior in performance to the classic GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB, the latter is an unjustified purchase. It is for this reason that this model is also “going off the scene”. Instead of the GeForce RTX 4080 16 GB, developers are already offering the GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16 GB with some GPU/memory acceleration, which has a recommended price of $999 instead of $1119 for the base RTX 4080.

GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB will go on sale simultaneously with the release of the next PC of the Month, so we already recommend paying attention to these models. Given the recommended price, we assume that the launch versions will appear on our market at a price of ~$1000. This is the value we’re going to use as a starting point for our overall PC build budget.

How will AMD react to the emergence of SUPER versions of GeForce RTX? The company already has the appropriate “tools”. The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16 GB will compete well with the Radeon RX 7900 XT, which has already officially dropped in price from $899 to $749. On American sites, certain models of this line are offered for as low as $710. In Ukraine, such changes have not yet been felt, but let’s hope that they are inevitable. For now, those who want to buy Radeon RX 7900 XT 20 GB have to focus on the $950+ price tags.

The GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER 16GB and Radeon RX 7900 XT 20GB are great options for 1440p gaming, and they also allow you to enter 4K territory without any reservations. NVIDIA’s model finally got rid of the factor of potential memory shortage for such conditions, well, and for the Radeon with 20 GB on board, it was not a limiting factor to begin with.

In the context of AMD’s improved graphics positions, it should be noted that simultaneously with the launch of the Radeon RX 7600 XT 16 GB, the developers will offer a release version of the driver supporting AMD Fluid Motion Frames (AFMF). This should add competition to the “frame generation” field, which is currently dominated by NVIDIA with DLSS 3 (Frame Generation) technology. Well, you can never have too much FPS.

This also applies to the RAM, but so far, as part of progressive configurations, we are limited to 32 GB. This capacity is enough for a gaming platform. In some projects, 32 GB is already specified in the recommended system requirements, but so far, even such cases are rare. The purchase of a two-channel DDR5-6000 kit will cost the equivalent of $130-140. So far, there hasn’t been a significant rise in price, but the cost of DRAM chips is also increasing, and analysts’ forecasts for the near future are inexorable – the price of RAM will gradually rise.

A similar effect is already felt when we choose SSD. High-performance PCI-E 4.0 models for 2 TB are offered for $150-180, and further price increases are likely. This is an additional reason to plan the configuration of the platform more carefully, taking into account your own needs.

Regardless of the chosen configuration, our own preferences, modifications and improvements to our gaming systems, we should not forget about the feasible and regular support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine – this will speed up our victory.