Hey everyone! I finally upgraded my motherboard and GPU, but I realized I also need to upgrade my CPU to really take advantage of my new parts. Right now, I'm running an Intel i7 9700 at 3.00 GHz on an ASUS ROG Strix Z390-F with a shiny new ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 3080. I currently have 32GB of RAM and a decent 750W PSU.
It turns out I can't upgrade my CPU without getting a new motherboard and RAM, which is a pain. I want a setup that's future-proof and won't require me to swap out the motherboard again anytime soon. I'm a bit lost with AMD's product line since I've only used Intel, so I'm wondering if switching to Ryzen for gaming and everyday use is a good idea.
My budget is flexible but ideally, I want to keep everything under €600. I need this upgrade to be somewhat urgent since I'm building my old parts into a PC for my girlfriend, and I don't want her to have to deal with issues down the line. So what are your recommendations for a motherboard and CPU?
1 Answer
I'd recommend going with the Ryzen 5 7600(X) paired with a B650 motherboard and 2x16GB DDR5 6000 CL30 RAM. This combo is pretty standard for performance. If you can find a good deal, you might also consider the Ryzen 9 9600(X) with a B850 motherboard. Both setups support the latest DDR5 memory, which is great for future upgrades. Additionally, I suggest adding a 1TB NVMe drive for a fresh Windows install while keeping your old boot drive. You won't regret it!
Thanks for the tips! If I grab a new drive for Windows, do I need to format it before the install? And what about drivers, should I install those beforehand?