I'm considering downgrading my CPU from a Ryzen 9 9900x to a Ryzen 9 7900x to upgrade my RAM from 16GB to 32GB due to budget constraints. I've already chosen the other components for my PC, and this change is the only one I'm willing to make. Is it a good trade-off to prioritize more RAM, or should I stick with the better CPU and keep the RAM at 16GB?
6 Answers
Definitely go for 32GB of RAM! It's a much better upgrade for overall performance.
It really depends on your use case. What's your total budget? You might be able to afford both a good CPU and more RAM if you adjust your choices elsewhere, like with the power supply or case.
Have you thought about getting the 9900x now with 16GB, and then just adding another 16GB later? That way, you won't have to compromise right now.
I wouldn’t downgrade. While the 9900x and 7900x are similar, the 9900x is still faster overall. If you can, just hold off and get the 32GB of RAM later without dropping your CPU.
The performance difference between those CPUs is minor compared to the jump from 16GB to 32GB RAM, especially for workloads in 2025. If you need the extra cores, you might find yourself wanting at least 64GB in the future! What are you planning to use the PC for?
It’s probably worth the downgrade in the short term, but monitor your RAM usage. If you find yourself consistently using close to 16GB, you’ll definitely need that upgrade sooner rather than later!
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