I'm planning a CPU upgrade and currently have a Ryzen 5 5600X. I mainly play games at 1080p with an RTX 5070, and my budget is around $400–$500 CAD. Should I upgrade to another AM4 processor, such as a 5700X3D or 5800X3D, or move to AM5 instead?
3 Answers
For a straightforward gaming upgrade while keeping your current AM4 motherboard and DDR4 memory, the Ryzen 7 5700X3D is probably the best value. Its extra cache can give a noticeable improvement over the 5600X, especially in CPU-heavy games, without requiring a new platform.
If you’re willing to spend the full budget on a longer-term upgrade, consider AM5 with something like a Ryzen 5 9600X. It offers a newer platform with future CPU upgrade options, but the total cost is higher because you need a motherboard and DDR5 RAM. For gaming right now, the 5700X3D is the simpler and more cost-effective choice.
The best choice depends heavily on whether you want maximum performance today or an upgrade path later. Staying on AM4 is cheaper, while AM5 gives you more room to upgrade in the future.
You’ll want a little more information before deciding, such as your motherboard, RAM, power supply, and whether you want to keep the AM4 platform. For your stated use, though, the 5700X3D or 5800X3D are the main drop-in upgrades. Moving to AM5 would also mean buying a new motherboard and DDR5 memory.
The 5800X3D is also an option, but it usually costs enough more that the 5700X3D makes more sense unless you find the older chip at a very good price.