Maybe upgrading is pointless….. - PCI-E Gen 4 vs Gen 3
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The video opens with a provocative premise that PCI Express Gen 4 might not be a necessity for most users, especially when upgrading from Gen 3. The host sets up a controlled test bench using a Ryzen 9 5950X and an MSI X570 GODLIKE motherboard to minimize bottlenecks and accurately assess whether Gen 4 delivers meaningful advantages for gaming and workstation workloads. Across multiple games and productivity benchmarks, Gen 4 shows small, often marginal gains in some scenarios, while other titles show negligible differences. A standout anomaly appears with CS:GO, where Gen 4 delivers a pronounced FPS advantage, contrasting with generally similar or only slightly improved results in other titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Forza Horizon 4, F1 2020, and Red Dead Redemption 2. The discussion extends to non-gaming workloads, where some applications like DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop exhibit modest improvements, while LuxMark four and OctaneBench show limited to no benefit. The host also explores more speculative scenarios, such as PCIe bifurcation for multi-GPU setups and direct storage implications, concluding that the practical value of Gen 4 today remains workload-dependent and not a universal upgrade necessity. Overall, the video emphasizes that Gen 4’s benefits are real but situational, with CPU and platform optimization, driver maturity, and future storage technologies influencing how compelling a Gen 4 upgrade feels in 2021 and beyond.
Topics · technology · computer_hardware · benchmarks · gaming · pc_components · data_center_tech
Questions answered
- Is PCIe Gen 4 significantly better than Gen 3 for gaming across typical titles?
- Not generally. The benchmarks show similar performance in most games, with only small differences in some titles and a notable exception in CS GO where Gen 4 yields a substantial FPS improvement.
- Do dual GPU configurations benefit much from Gen 4 according to the test?
- Not much. The addition of a second RTX 3090 with Gen 4 versus Gen 3 shows only minor gains in a few benchmarks, suggesting limited current benefits for dual GPU setups.
- Are there any workloads outside gaming where Gen 4 provides clear gains?
- Yes, some productivity workloads show modest improvements, such as certain scenes in DaVinci Resolve and Adobe Photoshop, while others like LuxMark four and OctaneBench show little to no improvement.
- What is the overall practical takeaway about upgrading to Gen 4?
- Gen 4 offers real benefits in specific scenarios, but for many users the upgrade is not essential. CPU, platform maturity, and upcoming storage technologies will influence how compelling Gen 4 appears in practice.