I'm building a new gaming PC in the United States with a total budget of about $1,300–$1,400. I'm planning to spend around $529 on an ASUS Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB, but DDR5 memory is currently too expensive, so I'd prefer a CPU and motherboard that support DDR4. I want the rest of the system to be as powerful as possible for gaming without overspending. What CPU would pair well with this graphics card, and are there any other parts or deals I should consider?
4 Answers
For a DDR4 build, the Ryzen 7 5800X3D is one of the strongest gaming options on the AM4 platform, especially in CPU-heavy games. It can still be fairly expensive, though, so the Ryzen 5 5600X3D or Ryzen 7 5700X3D may offer better value if you can find one at a good price. Just remember that AM4 is a mature platform with limited future upgrade options.
The Ryzen 5 9600 is a newer processor and can be a good deal at around $209, but it uses the AM5 socket and requires DDR5 memory. It won’t work with a DDR4 motherboard, so it only makes sense if you’re willing to change the memory requirement. For a new build, AM5 gives you a better upgrade path, while 5800X3D or 5700X3D is the better fit if you’re committed to DDR4.
It may also be worth checking prebuilt systems and waiting for major sales. Some builders offer discounts of a couple hundred dollars, which could make an AM5 system with DDR5 affordable while keeping the total near your budget. Since you don’t have a nearby Micro Center, compare complete-build pricing against buying each part separately.
A Ryzen 5 7500F with a B650M motherboard is another strong pairing for that graphics card, but it also requires DDR5. A low-cost AM5 setup could potentially fit within the budget if you find reasonable memory and motherboard prices. If DDR4 is non-negotiable, look at an AM4 processor and B550 motherboard instead.
I ended up considering a Ryzen 5 9600 for about $209. Would that be a better deal than the 5800X3D?