I'm planning a major refresh of my current PC and would like feedback before buying. My current system has an RX 6600, Ryzen 5 5600X3D, 32GB of 4x8GB DDR4, two 1TB Samsung drives, a B550M PRO-VDH WiFi motherboard with a broken second NVMe slot, an unknown 550W power supply, and a large case I don't really like.
For the new build, I'm considering a Radeon 9070 XT, keeping the 5600X3D and 32GB of DDR4, replacing the motherboard with another B550M model, reusing both drives, and buying an 850W or 1000W power supply. I'd also like a better-looking case with chainable fans. The old parts could become a second system for my boyfriend or be sold.
I mainly play competitive games and rarely play demanding AAA titles. I'd prefer to stay on AM4 rather than move to AM5 and DDR5, especially since I can shop at a nearby Micro Center and potentially get better prices there. My goal is for this system to last around five years. Is this a sensible upgrade, and would you change anything for better performance, value, or appearance?
4 Answers
The overall plan makes sense for your games, and I wouldn’t replace the 5600X3D just to stay on AM4. Keeping 32GB is the better choice. The motherboard’s VRM cooling is worth checking, but it should be fine for that CPU if the case has decent airflow. You may not need six additional fans, though; if the cooler already includes some, count the case slots and plan the airflow before buying extras.
Keep the full 32GB. Dropping to 16GB doesn’t make much sense if you want the system to remain comfortable for several years. The 5600X3D is still a strong gaming CPU, but AM4 is already a mature platform, so I wouldn’t plan on a future CPU upgrade there. The 9070 XT is the part most likely to stay useful for five years, especially for competitive games.
An 850W PSU is already more than enough for this setup; 1000W would mostly be wasted capacity. Look for a good-quality 850W unit, and don’t assume the most expensive white model is necessary. Also check whether the case variant that includes four ARGB fans costs only a little more than the fanless version—that could save you from buying a separate fan pack.
You don’t need to spend hundreds on an expensive AIO and premium fans just for the look. A reasonably priced Thermalright cooler and a cheaper matching fan set can give you similar temperatures and aesthetics. Focus the extra money on the GPU, power supply, or storage instead.
I was mainly putting parts together to get a rough price estimate. I’ll probably compare most of the options in person at Micro Center and adjust the fan and case choices there.