Thinking About Upgrading My PC: What’s the Best Move?

You might want to consider sticking with the AMD 4 platform for now. The Ryzen 5 5600X or 5700X3D are solid choices that won’t require you to buy a new motherboard or RAM. While the 5700X3D can be a bit pricey lately, it could save you a lot compared to a full AM5 upgrade, and you could use that extra cash to invest in a better GPU. For about $600 total, you could get a decent upgrade with a 5700X3D and a 9060 XT 16GB. If you’re looking for solid framerates, upgrading the GPU first might be your best bet; it could bridge the gap until you’re ready for that CPU upgrade, which is also under $400. Just keep in mind that a graphics card with 8GB of VRAM might not hold up as well in the future, especially with more demanding games around the corner.

I'd say the AM4 platform still has a lot of life left in it. If you go with the 5700X3D, you won’t need to worry about swapping out your motherboard or RAM. Upgrading that instead of immediately jumping to AM5 could give you more budget to spend on a substantial GPU enhancement. With modern games creeping up on VRAM usage, especially as new consoles come out, going for a card with more than 8GB would be wise if you want longevity in your system.