My gaming laptop from 2013 is finally showing its age, and with two kids I need to keep a new desktop around $1,500 in the United States. I mostly play Old School RuneScape, including raids and bossing where I currently get stuttering, plus some League of Legends and other games from time to time. There isn't a Micro Center nearby.
I'm deciding between building a stronger AM4 system that I may keep for years or starting with AM5 so I have a clearer CPU upgrade path later. One AM5 idea is a Ryzen 5 9600X, ASRock B850M Pro-A WiFi motherboard, 16GB of DDR5-6000, and an RTX 3060 Ti. The AM4 option is a Ryzen 7 5800X3D, ASUS Prime B550M-A WiFi II motherboard, 32GB of DDR4-3200, and an RTX 4060. I'm new to choosing parts, so I'd appreciate advice on value, compatibility, expected performance, and whether either build is inefficient for the money.
5 Answers
For a brand-new build, I’d lean AM5. AM4 can still perform well, especially with a 5800X3D, but it’s already a finished platform. AM5 gives you a better upgrade path for future Ryzen CPUs without replacing the motherboard and memory. Just don’t underspend on the rest of the system to chase the platform—32GB of RAM and a balanced graphics card should be priorities.
For Old School RuneScape, especially busy raids and bossing areas, CPU performance and consistent frame times matter more than buying an extremely powerful GPU. Either listed processor should be plenty, but make sure the game is running on a current SSD, use two matched memory sticks, and check temperatures and background programs if the stuttering continues. A 5800X3D system could last a long time, but I’d only choose it if the total price is substantially lower than AM5.
The two sample systems are not directly comparable. The AM5 build has a newer CPU, but only 16GB of memory and a relatively old RTX 3060 Ti, while the AM4 build has 32GB but a weaker overall upgrade path. For your budget, I’d aim for 32GB DDR5-6000 on AM5 and choose the strongest current GPU you can afford after setting aside money for the power supply, storage, and case.
A prebuilt is worth comparing if the price is close to the parts list. Some are now reasonably priced, but verify the exact motherboard, power supply, cooling, and memory configuration rather than judging by the CPU and GPU alone. Avoid systems with a single 16GB stick, a proprietary power supply, or a weak unbranded PSU if you want straightforward future upgrades.
That makes sense. I’ll compare prebuilts against a custom list, but I’ll pay closer attention to the motherboard, PSU, and whether the RAM is running as a matched kit.
Before replacing everything, check whether your current PC can be improved with a couple of targeted upgrades. If its motherboard supports a Ryzen 5000 processor, a Ryzen 5 5600 or similar CPU upgrade combined with a used or reasonably priced graphics card could solve the stuttering for much less money. That could let you save for a full AM5 build later.
Would I be giving up much by starting with AM4, or is the upgrade path on AM5 mainly useful if I actually plan to replace the CPU later?