I'm considering upgrading my old mid-low tier AM4 setup because I need a boost, but with the current market prices, I can't stretch to an AM5 build, which is coming in around $4000. My plan is to move the video card to a future build, making this upgrade more of a long-term investment. I'm hoping to get some feedback on my plans and any suggestions for alternatives. Here's what I'm working with and what I'm planning for my all-purpose PC that I use for gaming, work, and development:
* Current specs:
- Asus Prime B550M-A
- Ryzen 9 3900X
- RTX 2070 SUPER
- 32 GB DDR4-2133MHz
* Upgrade plans:
- Ryzen 7 5800XT (can't find an X3D model)
- RTX 5070ti
- 64 GB DDR4-3200MHz
3 Answers
If you're having trouble finding an X3D, check out used markets, especially eBay. Some listings are going for around $300-350, which is a decent deal, and it’ll actually outperform the 5800XT in gaming. As for your RAM, see if you can scoop up some 3600MHz instead of the 3200MHz you planned. The performance gain isn't huge, but the match-up with the Ryzen 5000 series can lead to a noticeable difference without much price increase, especially if you can find the right CL ratings.
If sticking with AM4, I’d go for a 5900XT; it’s a solid choice for productivity. It may not outshine the 5800X3D in every game but will perform better in others. Also, what's your current RAM? Maybe adding another 32GB kit could boost your performance without fully upgrading everything.
Do you really need 64GB? You might find a good used DDR5 kit out there or even consider a whole new AM5 prebuilt if prices have dropped. For gaming, definitely look for a 5800X3D; that way, you won't have the RTX 5070Ti bottleneck in games like BF6. For rendering tasks, something like the Ryzen 5900X or Ryzen 9 5950X might serve you better in the long run.
Just to clarify, DDR5 isn't compatible with AM4 setups, so I’ll have to stick with what works on my current motherboard.
Yeah, I'm not sure if I need 64GB or if 32GB is just bottlenecking for specific tasks. It's something I'm still considering.