I'm debating whether to upgrade to the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D for my AM4 setup, which would cost me around $275 before tax, or to go for a Ryzen 5 9600X AM5 bundle at my local Microcenter, priced at $300. I mainly use my PC for 1080p gaming (with thoughts of upgrading to 1440p soon) and some light productivity tasks. Here are my current specs:
- **PSU:** Bequiet 500W
- **Motherboard:** Gigabyte B450M DS3H v2
- **RAM:** 4x8 sticks DDR4, 3200 MHz
- **GPU:** EVGA RTX 2060
- **Current CPU:** Ryzen 5 3600
- **Storage:** Samsung 870 Evo SATA
In the case of the bundle, the specs are as follows:
- **CPU:** AMD Ryzen 5 9600X
- **Motherboard:** ASUS B650M-A Prime AX II (which I've heard mixed reviews about)
- **RAM:** 1x16 GB, G.SKILL Flare X5 Series DDR5 6000 MT/s CL36
Any insights would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
I think you should definitely go for the 9600X bundle. The $25 difference is worth it considering you're paying for a newer platform with better upgrade potential. The Ryzen 7 5700X3D was a great choice last year, but with these prices, it makes sense to step into AM5 now that DDR5 is more available.
I mean, between the two, the AM5 bundle is the way to go. Just sell your old components (like the Ryzen 5 3600) to offset the cost. You’ll gain performance and the option to upgrade down the line.
Yeah, I agree! The AM4 processors were awesome back in the day, but the 9600X is a solid choice for modern setups.