I built this system in 2019 and currently game at 1440p and 165Hz. The parts are a Ryzen 7 2700, MSI RTX 2060 Gaming OC, Cooler Master Hyper 212, 32GB of Corsair DDR4-2400, an MSI B450 Tomahawk Max, an EVGA 750W 80+ Gold PSU, a 250GB Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVMe drive, a 2TB SSHD, a 1TB SSD, and a Deepcool Dukase V2 case.
I am considering upgrading to a Ryzen 7 5800X3D, an RX 9070 XT costing around €750, faster 3600MHz DDR4, and a 500GB or 1TB NVMe drive. I would like advice on the best upgrade path and which parts should be replaced first. Is the existing CPU cooler sufficient for the 5800X3D, and can the 750W power supply handle the new graphics card? I am mainly interested in getting the best value possible from this AM4 platform, although I am also open to hearing whether moving to AM5 would make more sense.
4 Answers
Before committing to the AM4 upgrade, compare the total cost with a move to AM5. A Ryzen 5 9600X, 16GB or 32GB of DDR5, and a B650-class board would give you a newer upgrade path, though the platform change may not be worth it if DDR5 pricing is too high. The 5800X3D remains a strong value if you can reuse your motherboard, memory, and other components.
The 750W Gold power supply should be adequate as long as it is in good condition and has the required graphics-card power connectors. The DDR4-2400 memory is relatively slow for a high-end AM4 setup, so replacing it with a matched 32GB DDR4-3600 kit would be worthwhile. For the 5800X3D, I would also replace the Hyper 212 with a quality dual-tower cooler such as a Thermalright Phantom Spirit or Peerless Assassin 120.
The main cooling upgrade is the important one here. A dual-tower air cooler will handle the 5800X3D much better than the Hyper 212 and is usually more sensible than spending on liquid cooling. A cheaper NVMe drive can be used for extra capacity; something like a Crucial P310 or another reputable budget model should be plenty for gaming.
For a sensible upgrade order, start with the graphics card if your goal is higher 1440p frame rates, then upgrade the CPU and cooler if you notice CPU-limited performance. Memory speed is worth addressing when convenient, especially with a 5800X3D, but the existing 32GB capacity is already fine. Storage should be upgraded based on capacity needs rather than gaming performance alone.
I am planning to make the upgrades over time. Which component would you prioritize buying first?