I'm looking for some guidance on upgrading my CPU. I'm not very technical and my current computer was built by a friend about five years ago. Lately, I've noticed that my CPU usage is hitting around 90% during use, and the fan noise is really loud—like a starting plane! I've been advised by one friend to upgrade to an AM5 motherboard and CPU, but I want to avoid spending a lot of money or going into installments. Here's what my setup looks like:
- **Motherboard**: MSI B450 GAMING PRO CARBON AC (AM4)
- **CPU**: AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- **GPU**: MSI Radeon RX 5700 Evoke GP OC
- **RAM**: 2x16 GB DDR4 Crucial Ballistix
- **Power Supply**: Seasonic FOCUS PX-650 (650W)
- **CPU Fan**: be quiet! DARK ROCK 4 CPU 200W TFP Silent Wings
Any advice on what CPU would be a good upgrade without breaking the bank would be greatly appreciated!
1 Answer
You can look into upgrading to a Ryzen 5xxx CPU without needing to replace other components. Just remember, don't sell your current CPU until after you get the new one, as you might need it to update your BIOS. Alternatively, you could sell your motherboard, CPU, and RAM to help fund an AM5 upgrade, but keep in mind that the entry-level AM5 CPU (like the 7600) has similar gaming performance to the high-end AM4 CPU (the 5800x3d). It really depends on how cheaply you can find a Ryzen 5600, 5700, or 5800 compared to how much you're willing to spend and the effort involved in an upgrade.
Just a heads up, for gaming, all those non-X3D CPUs perform within about 3% of each other—between the 5600 and 5950X—so even the 5800XT is only slightly better for gaming.