I recently started a temporary job that should pay about £2,500 in total, and I've always wanted to build my own PC. My planned £1,000 build would use an AM4 motherboard, a Ryzen 5 5600X, an RX 9060 XT 16GB, 16GB of RAM initially, and a 1TB SSD. I'd upgrade to 32GB when I can afford it.
Gaming is my main use, although I already have a PS5 for demanding games. In the next few years, I expect to use 3D design software for college and possibly work. I'm wondering whether it makes sense to build this AM4 system now or wait around a year until I have a permanent job and can afford an AM5 system.
Would AM4 still be suitable for gaming and 3D software over the next few years, or would it be better to wait for the newer platform?
5 Answers
AM4 is already an old platform, and its strongest processors are based on several-year-old designs. I wouldn’t choose it for a brand-new build unless keeping the cost low is the main priority. AM5 gives you a much better upgrade path, but waiting a year only makes sense if you can comfortably go without the PC until then.
For your budget and current needs, building now is reasonable. A Ryzen 5 5600X and a capable graphics card should handle modern games well, and the PC may actually outperform your PS5 in many titles. It should also be fine for learning and moderately demanding 3D applications, although professional workloads may eventually benefit from a newer CPU and 32GB or more of RAM.
Another option is buying a used AM4 system and saving the rest toward a future AM5 build. You might find a complete Ryzen 5 5600X-class system with a decent graphics card for roughly £400–£500. However, if building the PC yourself is part of the appeal, buying new now is still perfectly defensible—just use two RAM sticks and don’t overspend on premium storage.
I did consider buying used, but I’d really like the experience of building the PC myself. I’ll compare the prices, but I’m leaning toward a new system if I can make the parts list sensible.
If you want to spend the full amount on a new build, compare the total cost with a current Intel system as well. A processor such as the Core i5-13600KF can offer stronger productivity performance, though the motherboard, cooling, and overall platform cost matter. The graphics card will work fine with either Intel or AMD CPU.
For a £1,000 budget, the system should do a good job, but don’t buy a single 16GB stick or plan around one RAM slot. Dual-channel memory makes a noticeable difference, especially to frame-time consistency. Get 2x8GB if that’s what fits your budget, then replace it with 2x16GB later if you actually need more.
You can also save money on storage by using a basic 1TB SATA SSD, or a small NVMe drive for the operating system alongside a larger SATA SSD. AM4 is still capable, but it’s an older platform with very little meaningful upgrade path left, so choose a decent motherboard if you might eventually upgrade the CPU.
I had one RAM stick in my first Ryzen system and the stuttering and poor 1% lows were frustrating. Moving to a dual-channel kit helped a lot. I’d prioritize 16GB in 2x8GB over 32GB in a single stick.
My current budget is about £1,000, so waiting for AM5 would probably mean putting the build off for a year until I find permanent work. That’s why I’m unsure whether the older platform is still worth using now.