Hey folks! I'm looking to make some upgrades to my current PC setup. Here's what I'm working with right now:
* Motherboard: ASUS PRIME A520M-K
* CPU: Ryzen 5 5600
* RAM: Corsair Vengeance RGB PRO 32GB DDR4 3600MHz
* GPU: RX 9060 XT
I'm considering upgrading my CPU to a Ryzen 7 9700X, but that means I'll also need a new motherboard. I'm leaning toward the B550 motherboard, which would allow me to stick with DDR4 RAM for now. Eventually, I want to switch to faster DDR5 RAM, but the prices right now are pretty tough. Do you think going with the B550 is a good idea, or should I save up a bit more for a B850 motherboard and some DDR5 RAM? I'd appreciate any thoughts on this! Thanks!
3 Answers
If your current setup is underperforming, it might be better to invest in a B650/850 motherboard and DDR5 RAM now rather than settling for the B550 and DDR4. Going for DDR5 might save you some hassle down the line as it’ll help future-proof your system.
Just to clarify, the B550 motherboard only supports AM4 CPUs and DDR4 RAM. If you want to upgrade to an AM5 chip, you’d need a B650 or higher. If you're going for long-term compatibility, I'd suggest aiming for the newer boards even if they cost a bit more.
It’s also worth considering Intel’s newer CPUs. Getting a 12th, 13th, or 14th gen Intel processor with a DDR4 Z790 motherboard could be a viable alternative if you want to avoid the high cost of DDR5 ram. Just keep in mind that you'd be switching away from AMD.

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