My PC has been crashing with BSOD at least once a day, which makes me think it's time for a new RAM upgrade. Currently, I have DDR4 RAM but I'm considering jumping to DDR5, which would also require a new motherboard. If I go that route, I'd need a new CPU as well. Thankfully, my AM4 water cooler is compatible with the AM5 socket, so I can keep that. But I'm wondering, is this a good time to upgrade? Are the latest parts worth their prices? Is there anything happening now or in the near future that might affect the prices of these components? I had planned to upgrade in a few years but given my current situation, I'm thinking about making the leap now. Alternatively, should I just find some cheap used DDR4 RAM and wait to upgrade later? For context, I'm using an MSI MPG X570 Gaming Edge with a Ryzen 7 3700X.
1 Answer
Honestly, there's never a bad time to upgrade! But if you're looking to swap out your motherboard, RAM, and CPU, it might be a decent moment—especially if you’re okay with not having the latest x3d tech. Those x3d chips are dominating the market, which has brought down prices on other parts. The 9800x3d, for instance, has dropped to about $399. If you're more on a budget, the 14600k or 265k might be your best bets right now.
I'm not looking for a high-end build either, but I did want something that would last. Just a heads-up, I'm in Canada where the 9800x3d is around $700 on Amazon... Given the tariffs, it sounds like I should hold off for now.