ALL-OUT AMD
IN THIS ISSUE OF MAXIMUM PC, we make a return to building a PC that’s more in keeping with our title, going all-out with a top-of-the-line AMD gaming CPU and Nvidia’s fastest GPU. Yes, while it’s a fun challenge to build a sub-$1,000 gaming PC like we did last issue, as our title suggests, we’re most at home when we’re pushing the extremes of what PC tech can do, which is why we were keen to incorporate AMD’s latest top-end 3D V-Cache chip, the Ryzen 9 7950X3D. Can AMD’s extra vertically stacked cache help unlock best-ever gaming performance when paired with an RTX 4090? Or does Intel’s Core i9-13900K, $150 cheaper but now six months old, still hold the crown? Sam’s cover build on page 16 holds all the answers.
On the subject of AMD’s 3D V-Cache offerings, if you’re a gamer, I urge you to head to page 74 to read all about the Ryzen 7 7800X3D CPU. It’s $250 cheaper than the chip used in our cover build, but it’s unbelievably potent when it comes to gaming performance. Sure, it’s not the best all-round chip available, but if all you care about is gaming performance, then it’s the chip to get. The even better news is that we’re already starting to see the CPU discounted, which is great news for those who want performance on a budget. AMD might be struggling slightly at the top-end against Intel, but at the mid-range, it’s on to a winner.
Speaking about discounts, it seems the tide is turning against Nvidia and the astronomical pricing of its latest generation Lovelace cards, with retailers discounting cards below RRP for the first time all the way up to its flagship RTX 4090. It seems that those with the cash to hoover them up at launch, and those who aren’t prepared to pay through the nose, are holding off (see news on page 9). This is even affecting the new RTX 4070, which has sold so poorly at launch, it was discounted almost immediately. This is troubling for Nvidia, who like to shout about their profitable X090 models, but know that most people wait for the X070 or X060 editions. Nevertheless, we like the RTX 4070 (reviewed on page 80), especially its ability to unlock Frame Generation in compatible games. For the right price, it’s still worth paying attention to, and we hope to do a cover build very shortly where we can specup a mid-range machine that might be suitable for the masses.
GPU pricing is something Jeremy Laird has been writing about in his Trade Chat column for months, and he dives into the causes and what needs to change in his feature on page 42. Our resident doctor, Nick Peers, also shows us what you need to access and stream all of your favorite media around the home and remotely on page 32. While most of us are happy to pay for streaming services for everything from music to video to games, Nick shows us that you don’t need to be paying through the nose for a vast array of services. For those who are reading more and more about AI, we show you how to dabble with it yourself on a local PC, with Ian Evenden’s feature on how to run Stable Diffusion at home on page 50.
We also have lots of feedback on our move to digital, so thanks to all of you who got in touch. Remember, Sam and I talk about the story of the build each issue, so check that out for our gaming powerhouse PC on page 16.
Enjoy the issue!