I recently built a new PC with an AMD Ryzen 7 5700X, 8GB graphics, 32GB RAM, and a 2TB storage. When I was buying it, I had a choice between this and an Intel i7-12700KF. The sales guy suggested the Ryzen 7 but mentioned something that's been confusing me: he said the only future upgrade option would be to a Ryzen 7 5700X3D, and that I couldn't upgrade to anything better because of some reason I'm not clear on. Is he right about this, or did he just get it wrong?
6 Answers
Were both options priced similarly? The i7-12700KF offers much better performance than the 5700X and is close to the 5700X3D/5800X3D. I’m not sure why he recommended the Ryzen but then said your upgrade options are super limited down the road.
He’s not wrong! If you want to upgrade your CPU later, your best options are the 5700X3D or 5800X3D. Anything else will force you to get a new motherboard and RAM, since the Ryzen 7 5700X uses the AM4 socket, which doesn’t have new chips coming out anymore.
The reason he said that is that the AM4 socket is running out of newer CPU options. Currently, you have one of the best AM4 CPUs. The 5800X is a slightly better option, but it's not worth it since it's just a marginal improvement. The 5700X3D and 5800X3D are hard to find and can get really pricey if you're lucky enough to come across them.
Yeah, eventually in a couple years, I can upgrade everything. I know this setup is actually very decent and it will be more than enough for all that I play.
If you’re into gaming, it’s true that the Ryzen 5700X3D or 5800X3D are the fastest options that fit your AM4 motherboard. No other CPU options are available to make a significant difference right now.
You could technically upgrade to a 5800X3D if you find it at a reasonable price, although it's often priced higher than the newer 7800X3D. But honestly, you wouldn't be better off with the i7-12700KF either; there were concerns about those chips degrading quickly, although that was fixed with BIOS updates now.
The degradation issue on the Intel 13th and 14th gen CPUs has been addressed, and with a BIOS update, you should be good to go. Just keep in mind those chips aren't a huge upgrade unless you want the extra efficiency cores.
I appreciate the answer man!
Your motherboard can support various CPUs, but as it stands, the 5700X is right near the peak of what it can handle. Upgrading to a 5700X3D might give you a nice boost, but they're really pricey these days. You’re still fine with the 5700X; just plan on a full motherboard and RAM upgrade when you're ready for a bigger leap.
Got it. Appreciate it man!