I rarely upgrade my computers—my current CPU and motherboard are almost ten years old—so I want this build to last and retain a useful upgrade path. I mainly browse, play games, and do some video editing. I already have an RX 6600 that I plan to reuse, since I mostly play single-player and indie games, but I would like enough CPU performance to handle future AAA titles at reduced settings. Smooth 1% lows matter more to me than maximum graphics quality.
My main options are:
DDR5/AM5: Ryzen 5 9600X, MSI MAG B850M Mortar, and 16GB DDR5-6000 CL36 for about €670 total. The memory is unusually expensive, but the platform should support future CPU upgrades. I could add more memory later if prices improve.
DDR4/Intel: Core i5-14600K, a B760 DDR4 motherboard, and 32GB DDR4-3600 CL18 for roughly €624–€660. My concern is the long-term reliability of Intel's 13th- and 14th-generation CPUs and the lack of a meaningful future upgrade path.
DDR4/AM4: Ryzen 7 5700X, B550 motherboard, and 32GB DDR4-3600 for about €514. This is the cheapest option, but AM4 is already a mature platform with limited room for future upgrades.
The rest of the system would use a Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 cooler, Thermaltake View 170 case, Corsair RM750x Shift power supply, Kingston KC3000 SSD, and my existing RX 6600. Is the extra cost and lower memory capacity of DDR5/AM5 worthwhile for longevity, or would DDR4 provide better value for this kind of system?
4 Answers
AM5 is the strongest choice from these options. It is the only platform here that gives you a realistic path to upgrade the CPU later without replacing the motherboard and memory. Since you keep systems for many years, paying more now for a current platform makes more sense than starting with an already-ended platform.
I would avoid building new with DDR4 unless the price difference is substantial. AM4 is still capable, but there is little meaningful CPU upgrade potential left. The Intel option is faster than the 5700X, yet its platform is also effectively closed, and the concerns around 13th- and 14th-generation stability make it less appealing for a system you want to keep for years.
DDR4 is not automatically a bad choice. Older DDR4 systems can still run modern games very well, and 32GB is more comfortable than 16GB for gaming and video editing. But given the relatively small total price difference here, I would choose AM5 and upgrade to 32GB when you can. A current platform is more valuable than saving a little on memory today.
For a long-term build, I would go with the Ryzen 5 9600X and AM5 motherboard. You may get another CPU generation or two as an upgrade option, and future sales could make a later CPU upgrade much cheaper. The RX 6600 can stay for now, since the platform will let you replace the graphics card later without rebuilding the whole computer.
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