Build new Linux [gaming] PC now with matured AMD tech or wait till Q4 2022 / Q1 2023?

Hello folks, I am running exclusively on Linux PCs since 30 years now - as a user with text editing, writing, browsing, music listening mostly.
I am new to gaming and to gaming on Linux. With the help of Wendel’s videos I tried Steam OS & Linux gamning, 2 or 3 space shooter games (Star Conflict, Everspace 2, Battle for Wesnoth).
I am trying this new FSR thing with Proton GE 7-17.
But: my AMD RX 580 8GB is giving me lagging mouse output and flickering screen output on my dual monitor setup @4k @60Hz.
So I am watching YT videos on hardware etc for gaming and Linux gaming.
Q: But I am unsure if I should build me a 2022 PC now or wait until Q1 2023 for the new graphic cards series and new AMD processor generation?
I also pondered if I should circumvent and buy a 1080p monitor for gaming but I have to re-arrange my desktop entirely for that because it requires more space (in the end a triple monitor setup)

My specs:
+AMD Ryzen 7 1700,
32GiB System memo@3600MHz,
GIGABYTE AORUS GA-AX370 Gaming K7 X370 Series,
AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB,
2 * monitors@ 4k @60Hz,
2 * NVMe disks@ 1TB,
ROCCAT Tyon Black Mouse,
ROCCAT Ryos MK Glow

What I am unsure if I really want it:
AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D
Arctic Liquid Freezer II 360
Sapphire Toxic Radeon RX 6900 XT LC
G.Skill RipJaws V DIMM Kit 32GB, DDR4-4000,
[CL18-22-22-42 JEDEC PC4-32000U 1,40V]

Discussion:
*idea was that EoL AM4 and RX6000 should last some years ahead, if I would invest in an upgrade now.
*obviously 64 GB of RAM might be op but I wanted a 2 dimm setup and found what ddr4-dim-kit might be go max with OC of 5800X3D cpu-fabric & RAM;
maybe 32GB RAM would suffice (as of now I often use more than 16GB of RAM in my daily work, that’s why I’ve installed 32GB).
*I selected max 6900XT liquid cooling because I like LC and an RX6800 with add. back plane and LC-gear would cost as much as the stock LC version of the 6900XT.
*I have added no mainboard, because that’s what I am most unsure about: should I risk bios-upgrade and install 5800x3d into x370 MB or buy a new X570 or B550 mainborad? Maybe a MSI MEG B550 UNIFY-X mainboard?

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Don’t get the 5800X3D for Linux gaming. The benefits of the extra cache that make it a powerhouse for Windows gaming do not transfer to Linux Gaming. If you’re only interested in 60 fps gaming, regardless of resolution your 1700 should still be able to handle that.

I’m also not really sure the 6900XT outperforms the 6800XT by enough to make the price jump worth it. I use an RTX 3090 (supply issues, I needed something and this is all there was lol) and that’s good for 4K high refresh in a lot of games on Linux. I’d imagine the 6800 XT wouldn’t be a million miles away.

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I just want to point out how easy is it to get into the mindset of “Ill wait until next gen to build”, then when next gen comes, something is wrong for a while so you hold off. Then when it’s stable/hardware is reasonably priced/good hardware is available, you’re then thinking “Man next gen leaks sound awesome, maybe I should wait until then”

Just my $0.02–if you have a use case for a system now, then build it now. The exception to this is if you’re 1-2 months from next gen, which is not the case. If I were you, I’d just grab a 5800x, B550 board, and whatever GPU you can now and enjoy it.

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I would check the cpu support list on the Gigabyte’s website for your particular board,
and update the bios to the latest version F51g.
This will enable Ryzen 5000 series support for you particular board.
Then you should be able to drop in a Ryzen 5000 series cpu.

  • Ryzen 5800x or 5700x: would already be a nice jump up from the 1700x.

Although the 1700x would also be totally fine still.
So you could basically also wait for the new stuff the come out around the end of the year.

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That is completely my mindset. I’d like to add a corollary to the end there “Man next gen leaks sound awesome, maybe I should wait until then” - to buy last gen’s hardware at a discount! Any time I can talk myself out of spending money I will. My body suffers from having that mentality, but it certainly helps my wallet! No debt hype!

A quick rant about desks:

Summary

I honestly think investment in a really good desk setup is far more valuable than any PC component upgrade. I genuinely can’t believe how many people sit at rectangular desks all day long hunched over with their elbows buried in their sides like a T-rex. Those ergonomics ideas given out by OSHA are not the absolute best ideas to follow in all situations. I would be willing to bet businesses went to the government and said, “Here’s the cubicle garbage desk setup we are willing to provide. Please set guidelines so when people develop RSI and complain, we can blame it on them and not be held liable.”

A desk designed around the human first will be much more comfortable and avoid injury. Just avoiding the long term pain and damage alone is worth thousands, if you have to pay for your healthcare then even a $50K desk would be cheaper in the long run. It’s rare to find a desk built around a human like a cockpit. Think of a high end car or plane with all of the seat adjustments and things wrapped around for easy reach and viewing. A lot of things in a cockpit do not follow the ‘Golden Ratio’ because it doesn’t make sense to do so in that situation, yet in the computer enthusiast world it’s like a badge of honor to build a desk with everything at the magical number ratio so it ‘looks’ good, wins them the internet for the day, and destroys their ligaments and whatnot.

/rant

Monitor, keyboard, mouse, moving things like ports and power buttons so you don’t have to contort yourself to use them will all help provide a better experience every day. Maybe Bluetooth headphones or good speakers. Graphics cards are great, but unless you game every time you use your PC, or you earn a living by gaming, your overall experience with a desk upgrade would likely more valuable in my opinion. Good seating is another one. If you have been using Linux for 30 years and have acquired any type of RSI, I would throw all of my money at alleviating that first.

The 1700x with a new graphics card would likely hold you over until the second generation of AM5 boards. The growth of motherboard options between mature 300 series to mature 400 series AM4 boards was huge, I can only imagine AM5 would be the same. Then again I’m amazingly cheap and discerning, so my ideas aren’t for everyone.

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If you want to use your current board, l would hold back a little and get something like a 5700X, since you will not be able to utilize all of the features properly anyway on the older board. Same with graphics, a 6750XT might be a reasonable upgrade if the price remains reasonable as well.
Other than that, you can always wait for the AM5 stuff to come around later this year but you do have to realize that it will be a very expensive platform. I imagine the motherboards and ddr5 ram will cost an arm and a leg alone, but you don’t seem to have a strict budget anyway. :stuck_out_tongue:

The third option is to upgrade your motherboard to a decent X570(s) board and go nuts with the hardware that is available now, maybe “downgrade” to a 6800(XT) and the 5800X to balance the cost of a new MB, and still get a very nice system for the next 5+ years.

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