To build a high-end gaming PC now, or wait until 2023? An enthusiast‘s dilemma
As a hardcore gamer and PC builder, I‘ve been tantalized by the power of the latest generation of GPUs and CPUs. When I envision buttery smooth 4K gaming at over 120 fps, paired with blazing fast gen 4 storage and DDR5 memory, I feel that urge to start ordering parts immediately for a new showcase build.
But I also know the technology landscape will shift yet again in 2024. This leaves me wondering…should I build now to enjoy bleeding edge performance today? Or wait for the next waves of innovation to deliver even more power a bit later on? Let‘s dive into the key considerations most affecting this enthusiast‘s dilemma.
CPUs – Upgrading now means access to the best gaming processors ever
Just looking at options for centerpiece processors, we are spoiled for choice. AMD kicked off a new Ryzen 7000 series in late 2022, built on advanced 5nm architecture and delivering up to a 29% performance jump over 5000 series [1]. Paired with speedy DDR5 RAM, builds using the flagship 7950X can achieve 25%+ better 1080p gaming over predecessors [2].
Intel also upped the competition with their 13th gen Core series, offering industry-leading efficiency with up to 15% faster gaming than their prior flagship [3]. For those wanting absolutely elite performance, Intel‘s newest extreme edition 13900KS can hit 6 GHz turbo speeds out of the box.
| CPU Generations | Release Year | Top Spec Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 7000 (Zen 4) | 2022 | Up to 29% Faster Than Zen 3 |
| Intel Core 13th Gen (Raptor Lake) | 2022 | Up to 15% Faster Gaming Than Alder Lake |
And in 2024 and beyond, there‘s even more on the horizon…
AMD plans to launch improved "X3D" models this spring, leveraging their advanced V-Cache technology expected to offer up to a 25% FPS gain in top titles [4]. For diehard AMD fans like myself, that‘s an incredibly compelling upgrade option just months away.
GPUs – Recent models push 4K gaming into the stratosphere
As critical as processors are, we PC enthusiasts always keenly await next generation GPUs to push gaming visuals to the next level. Here again, late 2022 brought a massive leap with the GeForce RTX 40 series from Nvidia.
Their flagship RTX 4090 utterly dominates performance charts, delivering up to 2-4x the ray tracing power and 90-100% higher frame rates than previous generation 3090 TIs [5]. No surprise it‘s also over 2x as expensive, but we are now seeing buttery smooth 4K gaming at 120-144 fps on many AAA titles with the right configuration [6].
| GPU Generations | Release Year | 4K Game Performance |
|---|---|---|
| GeForce RTX 4090/4080 | 2022 | Up to 2-4X rasterization and ray tracing performance over Ampere |
For AMD faithful, RDNA3 architectures are eagerly anticipated in 2024 which some estimates peg at matching or exceeding the power of an RTX 4080 [7]. Not to mention potential "Ti" variants from Nvidia, mobile GPUs, and more.
Clearly 4K 120+ fps gaming, once a distant dream, will soon be practical for enthusiasts willing to pay premiums for the privilege.
Memory and Storage – DDR5 and PCIe 5.0 establishing themselves
Supporting all this cutting edge processing power requires equally advanced memory and storage. DDR5 debuted alongside new CPU platforms in 2022, delivering up to a 25% bandwidth jump over DDR4 [8]. And while DDR5 prices are still high, they‘ve materially improved in recent months as production ramps up.
For storage, SSD speeds keep accelerating thanks to bleeding edge interfaces like PCIe 5.0 support just introduced this past year. Top models nearly quadruple the theoretical bandwidth of PCIe 4.0 [9], future-proofing systems for decades of OS and software advancements.
| Spec | 2022 Release Support | Speed Improvement |
|---|---|---|
| DDR5 RAM | 12th Gen Intel Ryzen 7000 | Up to 25% vs DDR4 |
| PCIe 5.0 SSD | Ryzen 7000 13th Gen Intel | Up to 4X over PCIe 4 |
Economic Breakdown – DIY system cost projections
With so much sensational new hardware available, where is the economic balance between cutting edge performance and future-proof value?
Analyzing projected builds on PCPartPicker for high end configs:
|System Type|Cost Nov 2022|Expected Cost Mid 2023|
|-|-|-|
|High End 13900K+4090| $4,000+|Potential 15-20% price drop|
|Enthusiast 7950X+6900 XT| $3,500|Potential 10-15% price drop|
Accounting for lower DDR5 costs over time and next gen GPU/CPU releases, DIY builders could realize over $500+ savings waiting for 2023 builds. However, performance disparities would still favor a late 2022 configuration.
Ultimately every gamer will weight priorities around budget, visual fidelity, and enthusiasm for owning the latest computing hardware differently.
The Verdict – CPU and GPU Generations Colliding in 2024
Given the stellar performance gains in existing CPUs and GPUs already, part of me screams to pull the trigger on an elite-level dream rig today. Why wait when I could be enjoying blazing fast speeds now?
However, with major new AMD and Nvidia releases likely arriving mid-2023, plus improved next gen CPUs, the rational part of my brain says patience could pay off significantly.
As is so often true in the world of PC building, there are always new components on the horizon. But rarely have we seen so many major microprocessor advancements collide in such short succession.
For me, I‘ll be closely tracking benchmarks and pricing through Q2 2023 to decide the optimum time. Because once I press click "buy" and start assembling that perfect configuration of hand picked parts…pure, unadulterated, gaming bliss awaits! Now who‘s with me??
