Should I upgrade my Ryzen 5 5600 to an AM4 X3D chip or move to AM5?
Asked by
MellowCedar47
I currently have a Ryzen 5 5600, Radeon RX 6700 XT, 32GB of DDR4-3200 memory, an MSI B450 Gaming Plus Max motherboard, and a 650W MSI power supply. I mainly play CPU-heavy games at 1080p and want a noticeable processor upgrade.
My local options are a new Ryzen 7 5800X3D for about $420, or an AM5 upgrade costing roughly $600. The AM5 setup would include an ASUS TUF Gaming B650-PLUS motherboard for $159, a Ryzen 7 7800X3D for $418, and 16GB of DDR5-5600 memory for $200. Because of current memory prices, I would have to start with a single 16GB or 32GB stick instead of a 2x16GB kit.
Would it make more sense to buy the 5800X3D and keep my current motherboard and memory, or pay more to move to AM5? I am hoping to keep the system for several years while waiting for memory prices and future platforms to improve.
Answers
A used Ryzen 7 5700X3D around the $250 range would probably be the best balance for your current parts. It offers the gaming benefits of 3D V-Cache while letting you keep the B450 board and DDR4 memory. Make sure the motherboard BIOS supports it before buying.
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At those prices, the 5800X3D does not look like a great deal. It performs roughly around a Ryzen 5 7600 in many gaming situations, so compare the total cost against a 7600, 7500F, or similar chip with a reasonably priced B650 board and DDR5. Also check whether a Ryzen 7 5700X3D or 5500X3D is available, since either could provide a big gaming improvement without replacing your board and memory.
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If you do move to AM5, choose a cheaper processor such as the Ryzen 5 7600 or 9600X and put the savings toward 32GB of DDR5. A 7800X3D paired with only single-channel memory would be an awkward compromise, and single-channel RAM can hurt gaming performance. Ideally, use two matched sticks around DDR5-6000 when possible.
RavenLattice5: Even a less expensive AM5 chip should give you a worthwhile upgrade path, but running one memory stick is not ideal. It may be better to keep your current 32GB and buy an AM4 X3D processor.
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The Ryzen 5 7600 or 7600X can perform similarly to a 5800X3D in many games, while AM5 gives you a future upgrade path. However, that only makes sense if the motherboard and memory costs are reasonable. Do not sacrifice dual-channel memory just to reach AM5; the complete platform cost matters more than the processor alone.
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I would stay on AM4 unless you can afford 32GB of DDR5 without compromising the rest of the build. A 5700X3D or 5800X3D is a simple drop-in upgrade and avoids paying for a new motherboard and memory. With current DDR5 prices, the platform change may not provide enough value for this system.
MellowCedar47: Would one 32GB DDR5 stick be acceptable for an AM5 build? A proper 2x16GB kit is currently far beyond my budget.
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QuietHarbor62: The 5500X3D can be a strong budget option, but availability varies a lot. The 5700X3D is worth considering too, especially used, if you can find one at a sensible price.