I'm looking to upgrade my current PC, but I'm not very knowledgeable about building one. My current specs are: GPU (1660 Super PNY), CPU (i7 4790), motherboard (Gigabyte H81), and 16GB of basic DDR3 RAM. After researching, I found that a Ryzen 5 9600X paired with a B850 motherboard, along with decent air cooling and a 32GB DDR5 RAM kit, would significantly boost my performance. However, the overall cost is pretty high, so I'm wondering if there are cheaper alternatives to the Ryzen 5 9600X that could still give me a good upgrade without breaking the bank.
5 Answers
After all the advice, I think I'm settling on getting the b650 and the Ryzen 5 7500F. Did not know the B650 could also work with the 9600X. What brands do you recommend for the B650 motherboard? I’ve heard mixed reviews about Asus and MSI.
Definitely check out PCPartPicker! You can adjust your region, and it’ll show you the best prices. For a budget layout, I found that the Ryzen 5 7600X costs around $178 with a good cooler and B650 motherboard, totaling about $407.54. It’s a solid option that fits your budget.
Keeping your B850 motherboard would work too, just grab the 7500F. You don't necessarily need a B850; a B650 is more economical and works with your new CPU.
You might want to check out the Ryzen 5 7500F, which you can find for around $130. Pair it with a B650 motherboard at about $100 for a solid combo without spending too much.
Just a heads up, the price of the 7500F has gone up a bit lately, it was around $190 last month. But still, if you can get it cheaper, it’s a decent choice.
I did this upgrade myself with a refurbished B650—it’s a great budget option and the 7500F performed really well!
Overall, the 7600X is about 5% slower than the 9600X, while the 7500F is around 3% slower. All are good choices for AM5 systems. Plus, a good 120mm CPU cooler will suffice. Brands like Thermalright or Arctic can save you money without compromising on cooling.
Actually, it might be a bit more like a 10% difference. Just make sure to look for accurate benchmarks before deciding!
If you're considering Gigabyte, the B650M AORUS PRO AX and B650M DS3H DDR5 are both solid choices. They get good reviews!