My current PC is more than a decade old, with an Intel i5-4690K and GTX 970, so I'm looking for a major but reasonably priced upgrade. I mainly want to play modern games at 1080p for the next few years.
Because memory and graphics card prices are so high, I'm considering AM4 with DDR4 to reduce the platform cost and put more of the budget toward a stronger GPU, potentially something around a 5070-class card. My concern is that AM4 might leave me stuck needing another full upgrade in two or three years.
I'm not interested in spending $800 or more on used components, although I might consider used memory. Would AM4 still make sense for this kind of budget build, or should I stretch for AM5 or consider another platform?
5 Answers
AM4 is only especially attractive if you can find a good deal on used parts. With current new-component prices, older AM4 motherboards and CPUs sometimes cost close enough to AM5 that the savings aren’t worthwhile. AM5 gives you a better upgrade path and DDR5 performance, so compare complete platform prices rather than just the memory cost.
An $800 budget can cover a complete upgrade if you choose sensible parts and don’t insist on buying everything new at premium prices. AM4 makes the most sense when you find a discounted bundle or already own compatible parts. Otherwise, AM5 is the safer starting point, while the graphics card choice will matter most for 1080p gaming.
If you’re building from scratch and can afford the difference, I’d choose AM5. You can start with a modest CPU and upgrade later without replacing the motherboard and memory. That said, for a strict budget focused on 1080p gaming, AM4 is not automatically a bad choice—just make sure the total savings are substantial and put the extra money toward the GPU.
Coming from a 4690K and GTX 970, either platform would feel like a massive improvement. AM4 can still deliver excellent 1080p performance, especially with a Ryzen 5700X3D or similar gaming-focused chip. If the system lasts you as long as your current one, AM4 may be perfectly adequate.
Don’t overlook the possibility of a mostly GPU-focused upgrade. A used i7-4790K, if your motherboard supports it, plus more DDR3 could extend the current system cheaply, but the older four-core platform will still limit newer games. A full platform upgrade is the cleaner long-term option, while the GPU should receive as much of the budget as possible.
I’ve actually considered that since I upgraded the machine to 16GB of DDR3 recently, but I’m worried I’d only be postponing the same problem for a short time.
That’s my main concern. I don’t want to pay nearly AM5 money for a platform that’s already at the end of its upgrade path.