Is an AM5 build with a 7500X3D and RTX 5050 a good upgrade path?
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MellowPine47
I'm planning an AM5 gaming system that I can upgrade to a future Zen 6 processor in a few years. My current PC has an Intel i5-10400, GTX 1660 Super, and 32GB of RAM. Increasing the memory from 16GB to 32GB recently made a noticeable difference in Tarkov, which is the main game that got me interested in upgrading again.
A Micro Center bundle with a 7500X3D would cost about $800 for the core system, leaving room for a graphics card upgrade later—possibly to a future 6000-series card and a higher-end Zen 6 CPU. I currently play at 1080p, but I'd like the option to move to 1440p or even 4K when practical. I'm considering an RTX 5050 because I found one sealed for around $230, though a used RTX 2070 Super is available for about $160. Is this a sensible starting point, or should I choose different parts and prioritize a stronger GPU now?
Answers
If you can stretch the budget, a 16GB midrange card such as a 9060 XT would be a much better long-term choice for 1440p. However, recommending a $500 graphics card doesn’t really fit an $800 complete-build budget, so the used 2070 Super may be the more realistic option if you need to stay near your limit.
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I wouldn’t recommend buying a 5050 unless the price is unusually good and you only need a temporary card. Since the AM5 platform gives you a future CPU upgrade path, it makes sense to keep the platform and replace the graphics card later, but a stronger used GPU could provide better gaming performance immediately.
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The RTX 5050 would be faster than your GTX 1660 Super, but it’s still a weak choice for a new build, especially if you want to move beyond 1080p. It may be acceptable at $230 if the budget is firm, but don’t expect a great 1440p experience.
MellowPine47: That’s why I’m comparing it with a used RTX 2070 Super for about $160. The 5050 benchmarks better, but I’m not trying to spend much more than the roughly $800 total budget.
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MellowPine47: Exactly—I understand that spending more buys better parts, but I’m trying to keep the entire system near $800 rather than add several hundred dollars to the GPU.