I bought an HP prebuilt for video editing and casual gaming. It currently has a Ryzen 5 5600G, an RTX 5060 Ti 16GB, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and an SSD. I plan to keep the memory, storage, and graphics card, but the 5600G is limiting the GPU in many games, with utilization often sitting around 70%. The HP Erica 6 motherboard has a very restricted BIOS and limited CPU support. The proprietary PSU connector, soldered front-panel wiring, and unusual cooler mounting also make a normal CPU upgrade impractical. To install a better processor, I would need a standard motherboard, PSU, case, and CPU cooler. My current idea is to build a new AM4 system around a Ryzen 7 5700X3D, or possibly a 5800X3D if I find one at a good price, using a B550 motherboard and my existing DDR4 memory and SSD. I would then sell the remaining HP parts as a basic office or light-gaming system. Is investing in high-end AM4 still sensible when I have to replace nearly the entire platform? Would a budget AM5 system, or perhaps a different DDR4 platform, offer better value? I am also wondering how difficult it would be to sell the leftover HP components as a complete working computer.
5 Answers
Before buying anything, confirm that the 5600G is truly the main limitation in the games you play. At 4K, or with a 60 FPS cap, the difference may be small because the GPU becomes the bottleneck. At 1080p or high-refresh 1440p, CPU limitations are much more noticeable. Simulation games, large multiplayer sessions, and titles with poor GPU utilization are the strongest cases for moving to an X3D processor.
AM4 can still be a good budget choice in the current market, especially if DDR5 memory and AM5 boards are unusually expensive. A 5700X3D paired with the 5060 Ti should provide a strong gaming experience, particularly at 1440p. The downside is that you are effectively buying into a finished platform, so there will be little meaningful CPU upgrade potential later. If the total AM4 rebuild is within your budget and you expect to keep it for several years, it is not automatically a bad investment.
Do the full-system math rather than focusing on the CPU price. You are keeping the graphics card, SSD, and possibly the memory, but still need a motherboard, power supply, case, cooler, and potentially more RAM. If the AM4 build ends up only slightly cheaper than an AM5 bundle, AM5 is probably the better long-term purchase. A basic AM5 processor can also be enough for now, with the option to move to a faster gaming CPU later. For video editing, check benchmarks for the applications you actually use because core count and media-engine support may matter more than gaming cache.
The 5700X3D and 5800X3D make the most sense as drop-in upgrades for people who already own a good AM4 motherboard, not necessarily for someone rebuilding almost the whole computer. Compare the complete cost of the CPU, board, PSU, case, and cooler against a newer AM5 or DDR4-compatible Intel setup. A midrange newer platform may cost only a little more and give you a better upgrade path. Also verify that any used motherboard has an appropriate BIOS version.
I would be cautious about the resale plan. The HP parts may work well as an office computer, but proprietary cases, power supplies, wiring, and limited upgrade options reduce their appeal. Buying replacement RAM and storage just to make the leftover system sellable could erase much of the money you hoped to recover. Price the complete working system honestly and disclose the proprietary parts, but do not assume the old shell will offset a large portion of the rebuild.
Used motherboards can change the calculation quite a bit, so it is worth checking local prices before ruling AM4 out. Just make sure the board supports the processor without requiring a BIOS update you cannot perform.