My six-year-old PC currently has an X570PG4 motherboard, a Ryzen 5 3600, an RX 5700, and 16GB of RAM. Newer AAA games are already becoming difficult to run, and I'd like the system to handle demanding games over the next couple of years. I'm considering a Ryzen 7 5700X, an RX 9070 XT, and 32GB of DDR4 memory. Can I keep the motherboard and simply update its BIOS? If so, what is the safest way to do that? Also, can I install a 2x16GB kit alongside my existing 2x8GB kit for 48GB total, or should I replace the old memory instead?
2 Answers
You can keep the motherboard. It supports newer AM4 processors, but check the exact CPU support list and BIOS requirements for your board before installing a Ryzen 5000 chip. A BIOS update usually isn’t needed just to add RAM, but it may be required for the new CPU. Update it while the current processor is still installed if possible. Download the correct BIOS from the manufacturer’s support page, copy it to a properly formatted USB drive, enter the UEFI setup, and use its built-in update utility. Don’t interrupt power during the update, since a failed flash can make the system unbootable. The 5700X is a reasonable upgrade, although an X3D AM4 processor may provide better gaming performance if one is affordable and supported by the board.
The graphics card upgrade should be a major improvement, and 32GB is a sensible amount of memory for current gaming. I’d use one matched 2x16GB kit rather than combining it with the old 2x8GB kit. Four mixed DIMMs can work, but different kits may not run reliably at their rated speed and can require manual tuning. Sell or keep the old kit as a spare, and enable the memory’s XMP/DOCP profile after installation.
If you do try all four sticks, test the system thoroughly and be prepared to lower the memory speed. A matched 32GB or 64GB kit is the less troublesome option.
It’s generally better to update the BIOS before swapping CPUs rather than waiting to see whether the new processor will boot. Follow the board’s manual exactly and verify the BIOS file is for the precise motherboard model.