I have a PC featuring an i7-7700k, but it's really struggling these days. I often experience crashes and freezes during games and other software. The bottlenecking is quite severe, causing my FPS to drop below 60 regardless of the graphics settings, and my GPU (RTX 4060) only utilizes about 50% of its power. I'm considering an upgrade but can't decide whether to wait a couple of years for RAM prices to stabilize so I can invest in a solid AM5 setup or if I should go for a decent AM4 CPU and B550 motherboard now. I already have 16GB of DDR4 RAM, which is sufficient for me, and I'm primarily looking for a CPU that provides a smooth daily experience and can handle gaming for the next 2-3 years without issues. Any advice on what CPU I should get? Thanks!
5 Answers
I just made an upgrade from a 7600k to a B550 and Ryzen 5500 last weekend. The performance boost is impressive, and I'm even considering getting a 5700 or 5800X3D next year as a follow-up upgrade.
Since you already have the RAM, I’d recommend going for AM4, specifically the Ryzen 5600. It should serve you well without breaking the bank.
Aight, thanks for the suggestion!
Switching to AM4 or an LGA1700 setup would drastically improve your performance and let you reuse your current memory. It's a solid upgrade path without overspending!
Exactly what I was thinking, you've given me confidence in the choice I wanted to make!
What speed is your current DDR4 RAM? That can impact your upgrade options too!
I believe it's 3200MHz, but I'm not entirely sure.
Definitely look for something that supports DDR4. While AM4 is solid, consider newer Intel CPUs like the 13600KF or 14600KF, which can outperform the Ryzen 5600 while still using DDR4 boards.
Thank you for the info!
That was originally my plan too, but I found out they aren't in production anymore and are going for roughly 400 euros (second hand) in the Netherlands.