I'm considering upgrading my Ryzen 5 4500 processor, but many newer CPUs aren't compatible with my ASUS Prime B450M-A II Micro ATX AM4 motherboard. My main options are the Ryzen 5 5500 or the Ryzen 5 5600. Do you think it's better to upgrade now or just save my money for a new CPU and motherboard next year?
4 Answers
I'd actually recommend upgrading to the 5500 first and starting to save for a complete new build. It might not be the most powerful option, but it’s a nice temporary boost until you can invest in a more substantial upgrade.
You should definitely go for the Ryzen 5 5600! It has double the L3 cache compared to the 4500, which makes a big difference in gaming performance. It's a solid upgrade option.
Just to clarify, the R5 4500 has an 8MB L3 cache, and the R5 5600 actually has quadruple that. It really is a significant upgrade for gaming!
Since your motherboard is limited to PCIe 3.0, upgrading to a PCIe 4.0 CPU like the 5600 might not be worth it. The Ryzen 5 5500 could provide a small upgrade if you're set on staying with this setup, but it might be smarter to save up for a full AM5 build down the road if you can wait.
Saving for AM6 might be a smart move. If your budget allows, waiting could lead to a better overall build and performance. But if you need something now, I’d keep an eye on prices for those CPUs!
But I’ve heard that the 5500 isn’t a true Ryzen 5000 desktop CPU and has less L3 cache. Might be better to hold off if it won't give a noticeable performance boost in games.