I'm planning to upgrade my PC, particularly the motherboard and CPU, since I just got some DDR5 RAM as a gift. It's been a few years since I last updated anything, so I'm a bit out of the loop. I'm curious if anyone has any recommendations for a good upgrade, especially considering my use for gaming and my budget.
2 Answers
First off, what’s your budget for these upgrades? That can help narrow down the choices.
For gaming, I’d recommend the Ryzen 7 9700x. It’s a great budget-friendly option—got mine open box for around $230 at Micro Center. If you’re looking for something more powerful, the Ryzen 9 9950x or Intel 12700k could be worth the investment. The top choice for gaming right now is the Ryzen 9 9800x3D, but keep in mind that those are pricier, around $400.

I’m looking to keep it under $1,000.