I'm planning to upgrade my CPU to avoid bottlenecking when I eventually get a new GPU. Currently, I'm running an Intel Core i7-8700K with a MSI Z370M Gaming Pro mATX motherboard, and my RAM is 64GB DDR4 at 2666MHz. I have an Asus Strix GTX 1070 and a couple of SSDs as well. I'm definitely leaning towards AMD due to some problems I've heard about Intel's latest chips. I need help deciding between AM4 and AM5 for my upgrade—if I choose AM4, I can keep using my existing RAM, which is a plus. However, I do video editing and want to game in 1440p soon. Any advice?
4 Answers
Go for AM5 if your budget permits. Even entry-level AM5 chips will outperform any AM4 chip for gaming. It's definitely more future-proof, and you'll be glad you invested in it later!
If gaming at 1440p is your goal, even 3200MHz memory would be the bare minimum these days, and ideally, you should aim for 3600MHz. If you want to keep your RAM, an AM4 5600 setup could work for budget builds, but you might want to seriously think about AM5 for your next GPU upgrade.
AM4 is cheaper since you can reuse your RAM, but keep in mind that its performance could lag behind due to the slower RAM frequencies. If you're looking to save a bit, a 5900X might be a decent option on AM4, especially if you can find good deals on it. But for gaming in 1440p, you should probably still consider AM5 if your budget allows.
Honestly, if you're looking at gaming, AM5 is definitely the way to go. The performance of even the base AM5 CPUs will surpass what you can get from AM4 setups. Plus, AM4 is a dead-end platform now, so you're better off not investing in it if you can swing the cost of AM5. Just makes more sense for future-proofing your system.
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