I've had my PC for about five years now and recently upgraded my graphics card from a 1660 Super to a 5060 Ti with 16GB, which has been a huge improvement! However, I'm still using a Ryzen 5 3600, and it's starting to hold me back. I'm considering an upgrade but uncertain whether to stick with an AM4 CPU or jump to AM5. If I choose AM4, I'll be limited to DDR4 RAM, and I'm worried that I might have to replace that soon too. My current motherboard is a B550 Tomahawk, so switching to AM5 would require a new motherboard and more expenses, which is my main concern. What do you all think? Is it worth the investment to go AM5, or should I just upgrade within AM4?
5 Answers
Upgrading from a Ryzen 3600 to either the Ryzen 5600 or 5600X could give you a 25-30% performance boost. The 5800XT is the fastest non-X3D option but doesn't offer a significant game performance increase over the 5600. However, for just around $50 more than a decent AM4 upgrade, you could go for an AM5 setup with a 7600X, DDR5 RAM, and everything else you need, which might future-proof your build better.
I recently upgraded just for the joy of it and I haven't regretted it. It's not a bad choice if you can find the right parts at a good price.
It might help to break down the costs for both options to see which is more manageable for you. Include what you could earn from selling your old components in your calculations. DDR5 is pricey, but so is DDR4—it might not be as bad if you factor in what you can sell your old RAM for.
Definitely include those figures! Selling old parts can really offset costs, and it could make an AM5 upgrade feel less steep.
Consider getting a budget-friendly 5700X from AliExpress; it could last you for years. By the time you really need an upgrade, AM6 might be out. Plus, you can save some money and use that for a better graphics card later.
But watch out! 5700X pricing on AliExpress can be deceptive—the prices in the US are much better right now, so it might not be worth it.
If gaming is your main focus, grabbing a 5000 series CPU like a 5700X or 5800XT at a good price can provide a solid upgrade given the current RAM prices. Sometimes retailers offer bundles that can help ease the costs of RAM, making AM5 a more feasible option if you find a good deal.
I feel you on that! Prices for RAM and SSDs are crazy right now, so waiting for sales might be the best play.
I totally missed the boat on getting an AM5 system earlier—you might have the right idea waiting for Black Friday sales!