I'm trying to improve my PC's gaming performance without replacing the whole system. My current build has a Ryzen 7 1700X, RTX 2070, Gigabyte B450 AORUS PRO-CF motherboard, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and BIOS version F4 from January 2019. I mainly play League of Legends, but I'd also like the system to handle GTA VI when it eventually releases on PC. My budget is roughly $300–$500, though I'd prefer to spend as little as possible. I'd like to keep my RTX 2070 and motherboard if practical. What CPU offers the best value, would increasing RAM be worthwhile, can I reuse my current cooler, and which BIOS update or second-hand options should I consider?
3 Answers
First check the motherboard’s CPU support list and BIOS notes. Your 2019 BIOS is unlikely to support Ryzen 5000, so you’ll probably need to update it while the 1700X is still installed. For a budget-focused upgrade, a Ryzen 5 5600 is a very good low-cost choice and will be a noticeable improvement. A Ryzen 7 5700X is stronger for multitasking and newer games, while a discounted 5700X3D would be the best gaming upgrade if you can find one at a reasonable used price. Adding another 16GB of DDR4, or replacing the current kit with a matched 32GB kit, can also reduce stuttering. Keep the RTX 2070 for now; a complete platform and GPU replacement would cost much more.
Most AM4 CPU coolers can be reused, but it depends on the exact cooler and its mounting hardware. Check that it supports AM4 and that you have the correct bracket. The 5600 and 5700X are relatively easy to cool, so a decent existing tower cooler should be fine; just clean it and apply fresh thermal paste. The 1700X did not always include a boxed cooler, so verify what cooler you currently have before ordering parts. Update the BIOS using the board’s supported procedure before removing the old CPU, and make sure the update is specifically compatible with the Ryzen 5000 processor you choose.
I’ll check the exact cooler model and the motherboard’s CPU support page first. Updating the BIOS before swapping CPUs makes sense since the current processor still works.
For your games, the 1700X is probably the main limitation, especially if you’re trying to maintain high and consistent frame rates in League. Moving to a Ryzen 5 5600 is the cheapest sensible option, and a 5700X gives you two additional cores without changing the motherboard. Going from 16GB to 32GB is worthwhile if you regularly have background applications open or experience hitching, but it won’t usually provide the same average gaming performance boost as replacing the CPU. Buy a matched 2x16GB kit if possible; mixing memory can work, but it may require lower speeds or extra troubleshooting.
That sounds like the kind of upgrade I’m looking for. I’d prefer the Ryzen 5 5600 if it’s enough for a noticeable improvement, but I’ll compare its price with the 5700X and used 5700X3D.