Hello, 9800X3D Black Friday deals now available at Amazon, B&H Photo Video, Newegg. You can get up to $80 off.

You can get price drop alert use WhenPriceDrop, They will alert you when price drops:

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Hey there! I totally get the upgrade itch – Starfield on older hardware is rough! Instead of the 9800X3D right now, you might want to consider looking at a used Ryzen 7 5800X3D.

I grabbed one last year for around $280 on eBay. It's still a beast and would give your 1070 a serious boost without breaking the bank. Plus, you can drop it into your existing AM4 motherboard (make sure to update the BIOS!). That frees up a ton of budget for a better GPU, which honestly, will make a bigger difference in those games. I know it's not brand new, but I've been running mine hard, and it's rock solid. Just a thought! Let me know if you want any GPU suggestions too.

Hey! I totally get where you're coming from with wanting the latest and greatest, especially seeing those frame rates dip. But before you drop serious cash on the 9800X3D, have you considered *slightly* older gen but still high-end?

I built a rig around the Ryzen 9 7900X about a year ago, and honestly, I'm still blown away by its performance. I managed to snag it for around $400 back then (prices fluctuate, obviously), and it's been an absolute beast in everything from gaming (Cyberpunk included!) to video editing. The 7900X is plenty powerful for your games and should save you enough cash to get a better GPU like an RTX 3080 or 6800XT on the used market, which will give you a bigger performance boost overall.

My reasoning is this: diminishing returns. The 9800X3D is undoubtedly faster, but is it *enough* faster to justify the price premium, especially when you're trying to build an entire system on a budget? Plus, the 7900X runs cooler than the 7950X3D. Which means you can save more cash on cooling to get more performance elsewhere in your system.

Just a thought! It might be worth checking out benchmarks comparing the 7900X and the 9800X3D in the games you play. You might find the performance difference isn't as massive as you think, and you could allocate that saved money towards a better GPU or faster RAM. Happy hunting, and good luck with the build!

Hey! I totally get the feeling of wanting that sweet, sweet performance boost! Starfield *is* a beast, lol. Everyone's suggesting alternatives, but if your heart's set on the 9800X3D, let's see if we can make that $2500 budget work, okay?

Instead of focusing *just* on Black Friday/Cyber Week, have you considered looking at component combos and open-box deals? Sometimes you can snag a killer deal that way, especially on the motherboard and RAM! For example, I saw a MSI MAG X670E Tomahawk WIFI motherboard bundled with 32GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR5-6000 RAM for around $450 total a few weeks ago. That's a pretty decent starting point! Keep an eye out for those kinds of bundles! They appear more frequently than direct CPU discounts, in my experience.

Also, don't underestimate the power of patience! Keep checking r/buildapcsales and slickdeals.net daily. Seriously, set up alerts! I actually snagged my RTX 3070 for $450 (used, but in great condition!) about a year ago just by constantly monitoring those sites. It took a few weeks, but it was SO worth it. That left me more money for a better PSU. Speaking of which, don't skimp on the PSU! A good 850W 80+ Gold certified unit is crucial, and you can usually find Corsair RM850x models on sale for around $120-$150.

One more thing: Since you're near Chicago, definitely check out the Micro Center in Westmont! They sometimes have in-store only deals that are insane. I remember my buddy getting a 5900X there for almost $100 off the online price last year. Definitely worth a trip! Good luck with the build, man! Let me know if you have any other questions, and I'll see if I can help. I'm not an expert, but I've built a few PCs now so I have a little experience!

Hey! Yeah, I totally get the desire for that 9800X3D, especially with Starfield melting older rigs. But lemme throw a wrench in the works – have you considered your PSU's safety margin? With a beefy new CPU *and* presumably a GPU upgrade later, you really want to ensure you have a PSU that can handle the transient spikes. I'd recommend aiming for at least an 850W, 80+ Gold rated PSU from a reputable brand like Corsair or Seasonic. Yeah, it might set you back another $150-ish, but a blown PSU can take out *everything* else with it. Learned that the hard way back in '08 with a cheapo PSU...fried my motherboard! Better safe than sorry, especially with winter right around the corner, no one wants to be stranded and broke due to a fried PC. I'm always here to help, if you want to discuss PSU models!

Hey, I get wanting that 9800X3D – chasing those frames is addicting! Everyone’s offering good advice, especially on alternatives and PSU needs. But let me throw in a perspective from someone who *has* chased the latest and greatest a few times: consider the long game.

I jumped from a Ryzen 1700X to a 3900X a few years back (paid around $450 then, I think) thinking it would future-proof me. It was a decent jump, don't get me wrong, and it worked great for a while. But honestly? The biggest gains I saw weren't from the CPU alone, but from pairing it with faster RAM and, eventually, a better GPU. I ended up spending *more* upgrading those components piecemeal than if I'd waited a bit and done a more balanced build from the start.

My concern is that if you blow a huge chunk of your $2500 budget on the 9800X3D *now*, you might be skimping on other crucial parts like a quality PSU (at least 850W if you're planning for future GPU upgrades, and those can easily run $150-$200), fast RAM (DDR5 6000MHz CL30 is the sweet spot, but that's another $150+), and a decent cooler. You'll also need a motherboard that supports it, which will probably take another $250-$300 at least.

Think about *overall* system balance and longevity. Sometimes, a slightly less cutting-edge CPU with better supporting components will give you a smoother experience *longer*. Maybe even look at the 7000 series Ryzen.

Just my two cents from someone who's been down the upgrade rabbit hole before. Good luck with the build! Feel free to ask if you have more questions.

Hey! I totally get wanting that 9800X3D! It's gonna be amazing! Everyone's talking about alternatives *or* your PSU, which is good, but maybe think about *where* the chip comes from too? I've heard great things about the 9800X3D, but you could also consider comparable chips from Intel!

Sometimes, you see better deals if you're not stuck on one brand. The Intel i9-14900K is kinda similar, and I've seen them dip to around $550 on sale! Plus, sometimes motherboard combos are cheaper if you go Intel. Check those out too! Shop around, and compare, and you may have enough to also get a new graphics card (if you are looking to also upgrade that!).

Did you check out PC Part Picker too? That website is amazing for finding the cheapest components! Good luck with your build! Hope you find a fantastic deal!

Hey! Yeah, I totally get wanting that 9800X3D for a screaming fast rig – especially after limping along with older hardware! Everyone's giving solid advice on alternatives and PSU checks, which is all good stuff. But I haven't seen anyone mention the 'build vs. buy' angle yet.

With a $2500 budget, you *could* build it yourself and likely squeeze out a bit more performance for the dollar. But honestly, given the Black Friday/Cyber Week chaos, and the fact you're upgrading *everything*, have you considered looking at pre-built gaming PCs? Sometimes you can snag a surprisingly good deal where the system integrator is eating some of the cost. Plus, you get a warranty on the whole shebang, which is peace of mind.

I built my last two rigs myself (the first around 2010 with an Phenom II X4, the second around 2017 with a Ryzen 7 1700X). But last year, when I was upgrading again, I found a pre-built from NZXT BLD with an RTX 3080 and Ryzen 5800X for about $1800 on a Black Friday deal. Building it myself would have probably cost about the same *before* the sales, but the warranty and convenience swayed me. Took about two weeks to arrive, which was faster than I expected, and I haven't had a single issue since.

Before you commit to buying individual parts, I'd suggest hitting up sites like NZXT, CyberpowerPC, or even Dell/Alienware and see what pre-built deals they're running. Be careful to check the *specific* components they're using (PSU wattage and brand are crucial!), but you might be surprised at what you find. Make sure to check reviews of the specific pre-built model you are looking at, especially those that focus on temps and noise.

Good luck with the hunt! Let us know what you end up going with. I'm happy to help if you have any other questions!

Hey, I feel your pain on wanting that 9800X3D! Everyone's giving great advice, but nobody's mentioned Chicago's weather. Before dropping that cash, think about your *whole* system's cooling. Winter's coming, but summers get HOT. My old rig choked in July even with a decent cooler. You might be better off investing in a beefy Noctua NH-D15 or a good AIO liquid cooler *first*, see if that helps tide you over until better deals pop up next year. Trust me, a stable system in July is worth more than a few extra frames right now. I also like to check out local PC repair shops, sometimes they have used coolers and PSUs.