Is Ryzen worth it?

[Special Agent 星雨]

Check my signature for my current CPU/cooler/mobo/ram.

 

All prices are in AUD including tax.

 

I'd like to improve my minimum FPS numbers as I'm dropping under 100fps more often than not, so I believe it's time for a CPU upgrade.

 

**EDIT** I have 1080p 144Hz monitor, high fps is important for me!***

 

I've narrowed it down to two possible upgrade paths, both with its pros and cons that I have thought of:

 

One:

CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 1700                                                                                                                                    $429

Cooler: Keep using the Hyper 212X or use the new included AMD Wraith Spire cooler (free)                            $0

Motherboard: Asrock X370                                                                                                                                  $319

RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) 3000Mhz CL16 G.Skill Trident Z RGB RAM                                                                       $219

PROS: A LOT cheaper, has double the cores/threads, will most likely lead to better performance in the future when games become more optimized.

CONS: Ryzen isn't as stable (so I've heard), RAM issues, bad overclocking potential, no support for intel optane memory, not as good compared to the 7700K in games.

 

total: $967

 

 

Two:

CPU: Intel i7 7700K                                                                                                                                              $473

Cooler: Keep using the Hyper 212X or invest in a better air cooler (I don't like AIOs) like the Noctua NH-D15   $0/$119

Motherboard: Asus Maximus IX Code                                                                                                                  $549

RAM: 16GB (2x8GB) 3000Mhz CL16 G.Skill Trident Z RGB RAM                                                                        $219

PROS: Awesome overclocking potential, very fast single core performance, has support for Intel Optane memory.

CONS: So damn expensive, will most likely need a new cooler if overclocking, might be overtaken by Ryzen 7 1700 in the future.

 

total: $1241 or  $1360 with new CPU cooler

 

I might be misinformed in my reasoning (PROS/CONS) for both these builds, if so, please let me know.

 

I'd like to ask a few questions:

Does the Ryzen 7 1700/Asrock X370 Taichi play well with the G.skill Trident Z RGB RAM?

Is Ryzen worth it? Since the Ryzen 7 1700 is slower than the i7 7700k in games, and the i7 3770 is also a LOT slower than the i7 7700k in games, it would mean my upgrade from the 3770 to Ryzen 7 1700 would not be "as noticeable" compared to an upgrade to the i7 7700K.
Any parts you would change for either of these builds?

 

Thanks!

[rn8686]

Only gaming? The 7700k would be better for that (R5 would be better value though). 

[yathis]

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

But I am an Intel fanboy myself.

 

[The Sloth]

3 minutes ago, rn8686 said:

Only gaming? The 7700k would be better for that (R5 would be better value though). 

it will depend, ryzen 1700 will give OP better minimums, but as a whole 7700k would be better at gaming. 

[ARikozuM]

Ryzen is worth it. Happily, we can say that AMD is back in the ring. Unless this is a Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight and they start hugging it out rather than fighting...

[Special Agent 星雨]

4 minutes ago, rn8686 said:

Only gaming? The 7700k would be better for that (R5 would be better value though). 

What about game optimizations? I've read a lot of articles explaining how Ryzen MIGHT outperform the 4 core/8 thread solutions from Intel if game developers bother to optimize their games to use more cores, I don't want to be spending nearly $400 extra if I could save that money and achieve within 1-2fps of the performance of its intel counterpart.

[yathis]

1 minute ago, ARikozuM said:

hugging

I hate people who hug who are not family or close friends.

Some people are just huggers.

I say go for the cheapest route.

[yathis]

1 minute ago, Special Agent 星雨 said:

if game developers

Keyword - IF

gaming you want speed, so O/C is good to go!

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Special Agent 星雨 said:

What about game optimizations? I've read a lot of articles explaining how Ryzen MIGHT outperform the 4 core/8 thread solutions from Intel if game developers bother to optimize their games to use more cores, I don't want to be spending nearly $400 extra if I could save that money and achieve within 1-2fps of the performance of its intel counterpart.

Depends on your overall build. Put the same components with only the CPU and motherboard being different and see what your perf/dollar or value/dollar is. 

[Special Agent 星雨]

Just now, yathis said:

Keyword - IF

Precisely, all the articles and information online are so ambiguous with their statements, it's always "if the game developers ..." or "when the game developers...". It makes me think some games might only be optimized for 4 to 8 cores in the near future (3-5 years).

[rn8686]

2 minutes ago, Special Agent 星雨 said:

What about game optimizations? I've read a lot of articles explaining how Ryzen MIGHT outperform the 4 core/8 thread solutions from Intel if game developers bother to optimize their games to use more cores, I don't want to be spending nearly $400 extra if I could save that money and achieve within 1-2fps of the performance of its intel counterpart.

Thats why I said R5 would be better value, 7700k is only really necessary for high refresh rate gaming. 

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Special Agent 星雨 said:

Precisely, all the articles and information online are so ambiguous with their statements, it's always "if the game developers ..." or "when the game developers...". It makes me think some games might only be optimized for 4 to 8 cores in the near future (3-5 years).

A quad-core will still give great performance today as it will tomorrow. Remember that developers will build for the most common hardware spec. 

 

I doubt we'll see current gen quad-cores becoming sub-par anytime soon. 

[Special Agent 星雨]

Just now, rn8686 said:

Thats why I said R5 would be better value, 7700k is only really necessary for high refresh rate gaming. 

High refresh rate indeed, I have a 1080p 144Hz monitor, high maximum and consistent minimum fps mean a lot to me!

[LienusLateTips]

deleted

[Special Agent 星雨]

Just now, JDE said:

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Can you elaborate?

[LienusLateTips]

9 minutes ago, yathis said:

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

But I am an Intel fanboy myself.

 

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

Is Ryzen worth it? YES!!!!!!!

 

[LienusLateTips]

Just now, Special Agent 星雨 said:

Can you elaborate?

 

Just now, JDE said:

deleted

 

 

But anyways, imagine you having a 6900K for $300.

[rn8686]

Just now, Special Agent 星雨 said:

High refresh rate indeed, I have a 1080p 144Hz monitor, high maximum and consistent minimum fps mean a lot to me!

Would help there, would recomend getting it for that (or really fast ram with Ryzen, i7 would be ideal though). 

[Special Agent 星雨]

Just now, JDE said:

 

 

 

But anyways, imagine you having a 6900K for $300.

But it won't be any better for gaming than an i7 7700K though, I'm willing to pay extra for higher minimum/1% and 0.1% minimum FPS. I guess my main question is whether the Ryzen 7 1700 will catch up (if not overtake) the i7 7700K in the future.

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Special Agent 星雨 said:

But it won't be any better for gaming than an i7 7700K though, I'm willing to pay extra for higher minimum/1% and 0.1% minimum FPS. I guess my main question is whether the Ryzen 7 1700 will catch up (if not overtake) the i7 7700K in the future.

Depends on the program. There's nothing that says an i7 is king for high refresh gaming and that Ryzen is only for 60Hz since it depends on the program. I would make two builds as I've said with identical parts and then buy whichever you feel looks better. 

 

Either way, you should be getting fast RAM to bring those minimums up and getting a cool chip that can run fast with good IPC (which they all have). 

[Special Agent 星雨]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

Depends on the program. There's nothing that says an i7 is king for high refresh gaming and that Ryzen is only for 60Hz since it depends on the program. I would make two builds as I've said with identical parts and then buy whichever you feel looks better. 

 

Either way, you should be getting fast RAM to bring those minimums up and getting a cool chip that can run fast with good IPC (which they all have). 

You've mentioned fast ram. Is 3000Mhz CL16 ram not sufficient for either CPUs? Personally I'm leaning towards the Ryzen build because it's cheaper and MIGHT outperform the i7 in the future.

[LienusLateTips]

5 minutes ago, Special Agent 星雨 said:

But it won't be any better for gaming than an i7 7700K though, I'm willing to pay extra for higher minimum/1% and 0.1% minimum FPS. I guess my main question is whether the Ryzen 7 1700 will catch up (if not overtake) the i7 7700K in the future.

It depends though. i7 isn't any better for 4K gaming. Sometimes Ryzen has better minimums or averages. Depends on your game. I use these chart.

 

 

 

The R7 1700 is a 1800X when overclocked.

 

[ARikozuM]

Just now, Special Agent 星雨 said:

You've mentioned fast ram. Is 3000Mhz CL16 ram not sufficient for either CPUs? Personally I'm leaning towards the Ryzen build because it's cheaper and MIGHT outperform the i7 in the future.

Personally, I would never buy an unlocked platform with stock RAM as you should be doing your damnedest to harness the full force that your platform that accomplish. 

[Special Agent 星雨]

1 minute ago, JDE said:

It depends though. i7 isn't any better for 4K gaming. Sometimes Ryzen has better minimums or averages. Depends on your game. I use these chart.

 

 

 

The R7 1700 is a 1800X when overclocked.

 

What GPU is being used here? If it's anything reasonable then I'm sold on getting Ryzen,

 

[rn8686]

1 minute ago, Special Agent 星雨 said:

You've mentioned fast ram. Is 3000Mhz CL16 ram not sufficient for either CPUs? Personally I'm leaning towards the Ryzen build because it's cheaper and MIGHT outperform the i7 in the future.

Not much point getting fast ram for intel, little benefit over 2666. Ryzen could work with fast ram, though an 7700k would be better if you want to consistant get to 144fps (It get over 100-120 though with Ryzen no problem). I think it would take to long for cores to be really utilized in games fully to worry about it now.