I've never owned a proper desktop PC and have mostly been gaming through Boot Camp on a 2020 MacBook Pro. I'm researching a first build for casual single-player RPGs. Older games such as Mass Effect, Divinity: Original Sin, The Witcher, and Dragon Age should be easy to run, while newer or upcoming games like Baldur's Gate 3, The Witcher 4, Gothic Remake, Divinity, and Cyberpunk 2077 will need more careful component choices. I also play CPU-heavy games such as RimWorld.
My rough budget is £1,300–£1,700. Initially, I'd be happy with a stable 60 FPS at 1080p on high settings, with the possibility of moving to 1440p later. I've been considering an AM4 system using something like a Ryzen 7 5700X3D or 5800X3D, but I'm concerned that AM4 is nearing the end of its useful upgrade life. At the same time, DDR5 and AM5 motherboards can be expensive.
For a new build, is AM5 worth the additional cost, or would AM4 provide better value if the saved money went toward the graphics card? How much more expensive is an AM5 build with similar gaming performance, and is buying AM4 now likely to be a poor long-term decision?
5 Answers
For a completely new build, I’d lean toward AM5 rather than spending over £1,000 on an already mature AM4 platform. AM4 processors such as the 5700X3D are still capable and won’t suddenly become unusable, but AM5 gives you a much better upgrade path. Depending on local pricing, a Ryzen 5 7600, 7500F, or one of the newer X3D chips should fit the budget while leaving room for a capable 1440p graphics card. Try to target 32GB of DDR5 if possible.
Your graphics card will matter more than the platform for the frame rate you want. At 1080p and 60 FPS, either platform can work, but I’d seriously consider aiming for 1440p from the start since your budget supports it. An AM5 build with a mid-range X3D or Ryzen 5 processor and a strong GPU is the most balanced long-term option; use upscaling such as DLSS or FSR when a demanding game needs it.
I wouldn’t plan a new system around a single 16GB DDR5 stick unless the budget is extremely tight. It may work for many games, but it sacrifices dual-channel performance and leaves less headroom for newer releases or mods. Starting with 16GB and upgrading later is possible, but 2x16GB is the more comfortable option for a gaming PC today.
AM4 can still make sense if the total system is substantially cheaper and that lets you buy a much stronger graphics card. A 5700X3D paired with a good GPU will handle current games very well, including 1440p gaming. The drawback is that future CPU upgrades are basically limited, so I’d mainly choose AM4 if you find a bargain on used parts or already own DDR4 memory.
The biggest AM5 premium usually comes from the motherboard and memory rather than the processor. If you find a reasonably priced B650/B850 board and DDR5-6000 memory, the difference can be fairly manageable. Don’t overspend on PCIe 5.0 storage or an expensive motherboard; those savings are better put toward the GPU. AM5 systems can often be built within your budget, especially if you choose a value-oriented CPU.
Some games still run acceptably with 16GB, but the occasional stuttering or poor 1% lows make 32GB a safer choice for a new build. The extra capacity is especially useful if you multitask or heavily mod games.