I'm gaming on a DDR4 setup with a pretty underwhelming CPU and I'm planning to upgrade within the next few months. I'm worried about the rising prices of RAM, and I might only afford low-end DDR5 RAM, specifically DDR5-5600 16GB at best. My options include sticking with an AM4 CPU or jumping to an AM5 with lower-end RAM that would still surpass my current setup. I also have my eye on an i5-14600K. My budget for the upgrade is around 400€ in three months, and I'll be upgrading my GPU later on as well. Here's my current system: Ryzen 5 2400G, AsRock B450M Pro4, GTX 1660 Super, 16GB DDR4-3200 RAM, 1TB WN770SN M.2 SSD, 1TB WDBlue HDD, and a 500W beQuiet pure power 11 PSU. I'm particularly interested in CPU-heavy games like Escape from Tarkov, aiming for 1080p at 60FPS. I'm seeking advice on the best path forward, considering future upgrade potential.
5 Answers
If I were in your shoes, I'd go for a DDR4 i5-14600K. Personally, I'm more of an AMD fan, but with the current RAM prices, it just makes more sense to stick to DDR4 for now.
You might be able to find a used Ryzen 5000 series X3D CPU within your budget, and that could really help you hit your gaming targets. Instead of jumping to AM5, I'd suggest putting some of that cash towards a GPU upgrade; you'd get more bang for your buck that way, especially with the RAM situation currently.
For the best performance, I'd recommend aiming for the 5700X or 5700X3D. A 5800X3D is great but probably out of your price range. After that, focus on a GPU upgrade; it's going to make the biggest difference.
If you want a decent upgrade, consider going for the 5700X or even the 5700X3D if you're up for it. However, if you're not looking at getting 32GB of RAM, staying with AM4 could be wiser. Save your budget for the GPU—it's likely to give you a better performance boost in the short term, and you can upgrade your CPU later when prices go down.
I'd suggest squeezing everything out of your AM4 setup. The Zen 3 X3D CPUs have skyrocketed in price, making them a tough choice. Consider getting a 5600, 5700X, or even a 5800X/XT if you can find them cheap. Your current RAM should still handle most games well, but a solid upgrade would be snagging a used 30 series GPU, especially something like a 3060 Ti.
Yeah, but I've noticed that used X3D CPUs are getting pricier lately, so just keep an eye out for good deals.