I'm at a crossroads with my current setup, which includes an i5-6600k and a 1050-ti. I'm borrowing a friend's 2060 for now, but I need to decide whether I should upgrade my CPU, GPU, or both. I'm eyeing the AM4 platform with a Ryzen 5 5700x3d or potentially going for the 9070xt. My goal is to future-proof my GPU purchase, especially with new Nvidia cards on the horizon. I'd rather keep my existing 16GB of DDR4 RAM to save money, considering RAM prices are pretty high. My CPU seems to bottleneck my current card, and I want to ensure that I make the right choice for an upgrade path without breaking the bank. Any advice on what I should prioritize?
3 Answers
I hear you about the pricing shock! For the money, you might get a decent deal on a used 5800X which would be a significant upgrade. It’d pair well with a 9070XT, giving you solid performance. Just remember the AIB partners for graphics cards usually have some strong options that might fit your budget!
You might want to consider a Ryzen 5 5600, 5700X, or even a 12400F instead of the 5700x3d. The pricing for the 5700x3d is crazy right now, and it might not be the best value for your situation. If you stick with your DDR4 RAM, you can save considerable cash. Plus, a B550M motherboard is pretty affordable, and you'd be set for a good while with a new CPU and GPU. You'll definitely notice an upgrade!
Yeah, I noticed the crazy prices too. It’s a real bummer, but I think going with AM4 is a solid plan for now!
Definitely avoid the 5700X3D—it’s just not worth the money when you can get something like a 5800X at a much lower price. Plus, if you think you might want to switch to AM5 for the long haul, that could save you some frustration in the future. You could build a solid system without breaking the bank by going for a 5800X with the 9070XT. It’ll keep you gaming smoothly for years to come!
I completely agree! It's nuts how high those prices are, but planning for AM5 does seem like a sound strategy. Hoping RAM prices go down soon too!

Totally! I think finding a used CPU is likely a better deal than getting a 5700X3D. Always good to keep an eye out for deals!