Is upgrading from a Ryzen 5 5600 to a Ryzen 5 7500F worth $100 if I lose half my RAM?
Asked by
MellowCedar47
My current system has a Ryzen 5 5600, RTX 3070, 32GB DDR4-3200, and a B450M motherboard. I play mostly Dota 2 and Valorant at 1440p on a 200Hz monitor, currently getting around 180–200 FPS in Dota 2 and 300–400 FPS in Valorant.
A local shop offered to exchange my 5600, B450M, and 32GB of DDR4 for a Ryzen 5 7500F, Colorful B650M motherboard, and 16GB of DDR5-5600 in a single stick, for about $100 extra. The 7500F and AM5 platform are newer and faster, but I'm concerned about dropping to 16GB and running single-channel memory. DDR5 prices are also high, so I may not be able to add another module soon.
My current setup has no real problems, and I can run my usual games comfortably. Would this upgrade provide a noticeable improvement, or should I keep my current system until it actually starts struggling?
Answers
I’d keep the current setup. You’re already getting excellent frame rates in the games you play, so the 7500F probably won’t feel like a major improvement. Moving from 32GB to 16GB, especially as one stick, is a questionable trade for only a newer platform. Upgrade later when you can afford a proper 32GB dual-channel kit or when your current hardware no longer meets your needs.
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If your current games run well, there’s no practical reason to upgrade right now. The AM5 upgrade path is useful only if you plan to replace the CPU again later, and that benefit doesn’t outweigh running 16GB single-stick memory today.
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The deal is more of a sidegrade than a clear upgrade. AM5 gives you a better future upgrade path, but the 7500F alone doesn’t justify giving up half your memory when your current CPU is already handling Dota 2 and Valorant well. You’d likely notice the reduced memory capacity and configuration more than the extra CPU performance.
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Since you mainly play competitive games, an X3D processor could eventually be a more meaningful CPU upgrade than the 7500F. Otherwise, keep the 5600 and save the money for a stronger GPU or a complete platform upgrade later. Your RTX 3070 is also likely to be the limiting factor in newer, graphics-heavy games rather than the 5600.
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MellowCedar47: That’s my concern too. I don’t currently have any performance problems, so I’ll probably wait until I can move to AM5 with a proper 32GB kit instead of forcing this deal.