My son's PC has a Ryzen 5 5500, Radeon RX 570, 32GB of RAM, and a B550 motherboard. The goal is 1080p gaming at roughly 120–140 FPS when possible. I've seen recommendations for the Ryzen 5 5600, 5600X, or Ryzen 7 5700X3D, but I'm unsure whether the CPU or GPU should be upgraded first. What graphics cards offer the best value, especially on the used market? Would something like an RX 7700 XT be excessive for this system, or would it be a good choice?
4 Answers
The Ryzen 5 5500 is still a decent entry-level gaming CPU, especially with 32GB of RAM. I’d look for a used GPU with at least 8GB of VRAM first. An RTX 3060 12GB is a sensible target if the price is right, while an RTX 3070 or RX 6700 XT would provide more headroom for higher frame rates.
I wouldn’t replace the CPU yet. Move to a Ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 5700X3D only after upgrading the GPU and checking whether the processor is holding back frame rates in the games he plays. For a high-refresh 1080p setup, the 5700X3D can be a strong later upgrade, but it won’t help much while using an RX 570.
Upgrade the graphics card first. The RX 570 is the clear weak point and will limit performance long before the Ryzen 5 5500 does. A used RTX 3060 12GB, RTX 2070, RTX 3070, or a similar AMD card would be a much better match for 1080p gaming. The 5500 should handle those cards reasonably well.
A used RTX 3080 can be excellent value if you find one around $300–$350 and your power supply and case cooling can support it. It’s more than necessary for basic 1080p gaming, but the Ryzen 5 5500 can run it. A used RTX 2070 around $170 would be a cheaper option, though newer 12GB cards may age better.
That makes sense. I’m mainly looking for used deals, so I’ll compare prices on cards in that performance range.