I'm running a Ryzen 5 5500 with an RTX 3060 Ti, but Battlefield performance is much worse than expected. I'm seeing around 30–55 CPU-limited FPS while the GPU is producing roughly 100 FPS. My system currently has only one 16GB DDR4 stick, so I'm deciding whether to add a second 16GB stick for dual-channel 32GB memory or save for a Ryzen 7 5700X3D. I can realistically afford only one upgrade right now. Which would make the biggest difference?
4 Answers
The extra RAM module is the sensible first step on a tight budget. A Ryzen 5 5600 could also be considered if you find one at a good price, but getting the system into dual-channel mode should come before chasing a higher-end processor.
Add the second RAM stick first. Running a Ryzen 5 5500 with a single memory module is a significant limitation, and dual-channel memory should improve CPU-limited performance for much less money. After that, the 5700X3D would be an excellent upgrade.
If you can only choose one, I’d lean toward the 5700X3D for gaming. Its much larger cache can reduce how often the CPU has to access system memory, which can help minimum FPS and battlefield-style CPU-heavy games. Ideally, though, this system would benefit from both upgrades.
Try to match your current RAM as closely as possible if you add another stick. Mixing different kits can sometimes cause compatibility or stability problems, even if the capacity and rated speed look identical. Find the exact model and timings of your existing module if you can.
I’m trying to identify the exact model of my current RAM so I can find a matching stick. The main issue is that I can only afford one upgrade at the moment.