Valhalla - $2,103

Why This Build

Built this after realizing my old 4090 setup couldn’t deliver what I actually wanted - high refresh rate gaming with lossless scaling at increased resolution scales. Playing a lot of Battlefield 2042, Cyberpunk 2077, and Witcher 3, and the dual-GPU approach completely changed how these games feel. With my previous RTX 5070 Ti solo setup, I was hitting 250 FPS average in BF2042 but had to run resolution scale at 1.0. Now I’m capping 178 FPS at 2x LSFG with resolution scale cranked to 1.5 while streaming, and it’s buttery smooth with almost imperceptible input lag - and I’m extremely sensitive to it.

Component Choices

CPU & Motherboard: The 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU available right now, and the extra cache makes a huge difference in CPU-bound scenarios like Battlefield 2042 multiplayer. MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk gives solid VRM for the X3D chip and has the PCIe lanes needed for dual GPUs.

GPUs: RTX 5070 Ti as primary for excellent 1440p/4K performance and DLSS support in Cyberpunk and Witcher 3. The RX 9060 XT handles frame generation duties and has way more compute than older budget cards - makes a noticeable difference at higher multipliers and resolution scales. This combo lets me play BF2042 at effectively 4K 360 FPS, which even a 5090 can’t do natively.

RAM & Storage: 32GB DDR5 is the sweet spot for modern gaming and streaming simultaneously. The 990 EVO Plus keeps everything responsive - important when you’re juggling game assets and streaming software.

Cooling & Case: Thermalright Burst Assassin keeps the 9800X3D cool without breaking the bank. CORSAIR 4000D has great airflow for two GPUs and enough space to build cleanly.

PSU: 850W handles both cards comfortably with headroom. One of the benefits of this setup is actually lower power consumption compared to trying to brute force frames with a single flagship card.

Performance Notes

Currently running BF2042 capped at 178 FPS with 2x LSFG, resolution scale 1.5, while streaming - zero frame drops and input lag is nearly imperceptible. The visual quality difference between resolution scale 1.0 and 1.5 is massive. Tested Doom, Cyberpunk, and other titles with similar results across the board. The only downside is missing DLDSR, which could’ve pushed image quality even further, but the performance gains are incredible.

Coming from a 4090, the performance isn’t even close - this setup is significantly better for high refresh gaming. Even a 5090 can’t match what I’m doing in BF2042 right now (effectively 4K 360 FPS), plus I’m getting less input lag and using way less power.

Upgrade Path

Honestly, this setup is pretty endgame for lossless scaling. The 9800X3D won’t need replacing for years, and the GPU combo handles everything at high refresh rates. If you wanted to push even higher, upgrading the primary GPU to a 5080 or 5090 would increase base frames, but you’d lose the power efficiency benefits. The RX 9060 XT is more than capable for frame gen duty.

You could add more storage since modern games are huge, or upgrade to 64GB RAM if you’re doing heavy streaming/recording. If you’re not on a 1440p or 4K high refresh monitor (240Hz+), that’s where your money should go next - this build is wasted on anything less.

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