Am I CPU limited with my 9980XE?

[jyi786]

I have a 9980XE with an all-core OC to 4.4GHz stable 24/7, on an RTX 2080Ti. Running this way since 2019. Cooling isn't an issue as I have an extreme watercooling setup.

I game at 1440p, but want to change that to probably 4k. I also want to get an OLED TV and use it as a monitor, but that will necessitate a new video card. Recently, with some of the recent game updates, like Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2 and others, I'm finding that slowly but surely games are running too slow. Since I will need to get an RTX 4090 in order to use the OLED TV (because of HDMI 2.1 and 120Hz), my question is this:

If I get an RTX 4090, am I CPU limited with my 9980XE? Or would it be worth it/necessary to invest in an entirely new system with a 13900KS in order to see proper minimum frames from an RTX 4090?

Thanks!

 

[ZodaEX]

Yes to your first question. No to your second question.

 

[jyi786]

Yes to your first question. No to your second question.

Expand on this please. I know I don't NEED a 13900KS, even a lower end 13700K would be fine. Is that what you meant by "no to the second question"?

 

[LigTasm]

Expand on this please. I know I don't NEED a 13900KS, even a lower end 13700K would be fine. Is that what you meant by "no to the second question"?

At 4K it likely won't be an issue, you have a ton of cores. I would try it first and compare the numbers and see if its worth upgrading the platform.

 

[vegeta535]

Yes you will definitely hold back a 4090 with that CPU. I would get a 13700k/14700k/7800x3D.

 

[ZodaEX]

Expand on this please. I know I don't NEED a 13900KS, even a lower end 13700K would be fine. Is that what you meant by "no to the second question"?

I meant both. That's it's not necessary or worth it in my opinion. Your CPU is still very competent for today's games unless you're trying to push a 240hz monitor.

 

[Dan_D]

You also might be able to clock your CPU higher than 4.4GHz. I was able to take a 10980XE to 4.9GHz. Though at that point, good luck keeping it cool even on water. I used a 480 and a 420mm rad with the thing. Fucker was pulling around 500w. At that point you just don't have enough surface area with the IHS to dissipate enough heat once your feeding the required voltages to those CPU's.

In truth, at 4K you will be less CPU limited than at lower resolutions and a 4090 would still be a great upgrade. You would see higher frame rates with a 13700K or 14700K (or 14900KS, etc.) but that requires a new motherboard and CPU. It's not an insignificant investment to make that jump. Is that worth it? I'd say probably not. I'd get the 4090, run some benches and look and see what reviewers got on their 4090's. Without the same testing protocols and setups it won't be an exact science but you can ballpark what you should be seeing with a 13900K/KS or 14900K/KS, or whatever versus what you have.

 

[jyi786]

I studied the charts here. Seems like the 9980XE only loses about 10% maximum on average to the 13900K with an RTX 4090 for the most part, if we're talking 4K and highest settings in games. I know it's way more nuanced, but at least this gives me an idea to go off of.

https://www.cpuagent.com/cpu/intel-...k/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090?res=3&quality=ultra
https://chipguider.com/?vp=geforce-rtx-4090-ti-24gb-with-core-i9-9980xe-benchmark-1
https://chipguider.com/?vp=geforce-rtx-4090-ti-24gb-with-core-i9-13900ks-benchmark-1

~6-10% is definitely not worth investing in a completely new platform, for me.

 

[funkydmunky]

I studied the charts here. Seems like the 9980XE only loses about 10% maximum on average to the 13900K with an RTX 4090 for the most part, if we're talking 4K and highest settings in games. I know it's way more nuanced, but at least this gives me an idea to go off of.

https://www.cpuagent.com/cpu/intel-...k/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090?res=3&quality=ultra
https://chipguider.com/?vp=geforce-rtx-4090-ti-24gb-with-core-i9-9980xe-benchmark-1
https://chipguider.com/?vp=geforce-rtx-4090-ti-24gb-with-core-i9-13900ks-benchmark-1

~6-10% is definitely not worth investing in a completely new platform, for me.

I generally agree, especially at 4K where the 1% lows aren't as impactful and important as 1080p. So far 4k is the great equalizer.
That said your links clearly show and compare a 4090ti! WTF? Magik benchmarks are not acceptable. Slight of hand is not needed.

 

[jyi786]

I generally agree, especially at 4K where the 1% lows aren't as impactful and important as 1080p. So far 4k is the great equalizer.
That said your links clearly show and compare a 4090ti! WTF? Magik benchmarks are not acceptable. Slight of hand is not needed.

Yeah I found that strange, from the latter 2 links. First one I found more believable.

 

[pendragon1]

yes, a little, but it will still be a yuge improvement and then when you upgrade the rest of the system it will get a bump in perf again.

 

[jyi786]

yes, a little, but it will still be a yuge improvement and then when you upgrade the rest of the system it will get a bump in perf again.

A little as in under 10% at most, and then yeah, when I finally upgrade again the entire platform, maybe there will be the next 2x generation of video card so the upgrade will be even more insane.

Sounds like I can just rest assured, stick with my current rig, go for the RTX 4090 and LG OLED TV and call it a day. Thanks so much everyone, y'all are seriously the best!