I'm currently using a Ryzen 5 5500 with an RTX 4070 Ti, but the processor feels too weak in demanding games. I mainly play high-graphics titles at 1440p and want to upgrade to a used AM4 CPU for less than $150. Is there a worthwhile option in that price range, or should I save up and move straight to a Ryzen 7 5700X3D?
3 Answers
If you can stretch the budget, save for the Ryzen 7 5700X3D. AM4 doesn’t have much upgrade room left, and the extra 3D V-Cache can provide a noticeable gaming improvement over the Ryzen 5 5500, even though the core count and clock speeds may not look dramatically different.
A Ryzen 5 5600X3D or 5500X3D could also be worth considering if either is available at a good price in your area. The X3D models are particularly attractive for gaming, but availability and pricing vary a lot, so compare them against the cost of simply saving for a 5700X3D.
For a strict budget under $150, a used Ryzen 7 5700X is probably the strongest straightforward option. It gives you eight cores and is generally the best non-X3D upgrade in that price range, though it won’t match the 5700X3D’s gaming performance.
That’s probably the best long-term choice for this platform. A cheaper CPU might help, but the 5700X3D gives you a much more meaningful gaming upgrade.