Ddr4 or ddr5
Posted by PoisonDragonJV@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 13 comments
So i have the option of buying and upgrade kit. The cpu and motherboard would be better but im not too sure about the ram. Im currently runnig 32GB of ddr4 ram with 3200mhz speed and if I take the upgrade kit it would go to 16GB of ddr5 with a speed of 5600mhz. Basically what i want to know is of its worth going for the new mtoherboard and upgrade to ddr5 ram or should i just upgrade the cpu for now and maybe get more ddr4 ram although i dont think i need more ram right now.
MichiganRedWing@reddit
What do you do with your PC? Gaming, heavy workloads (video editing, etc)?
What do you have now?
PoisonDragonJV@reddit (OP)
I do a bit of everything with it honestly. Im a developer who likes gaming and making youtube videos. I currently have the b550 pro motherboard and a ryzen 5 3600 and i can upgrade to the B850 pro with a ryzen 7 8700F
MichiganRedWing@reddit
Personally, i would just keep your current system and upgrade the CPU, as Ryzen 5000 is just a drop in for your motherboard and works with your current RAM.
A used 5700X3D or 5800X3D would give you excellent performance for games, and two more cores for video editing. I have the 5800X3D and it is fine for video editing if you're not doing it professionally (time constraint).
The 8700F is a neutered CPU with its 16MB Cache, so I wouldn't recommend that at all.
coolboy856@reddit
Yes, at the low price of an am5 upgrade. Spend 400 on an am4 X3D CPU or sell 32gb of ddr4 ($150), mobo ($70), and the 3600 ($50) and get on a modern platform?
7700x: $230
B850 motherboard: $150
16gb DDR5: $200
Pretty clear choice to me but idk
MichiganRedWing@reddit
5700X3D is still plenty modern for all tasks OP plans to do, and personally I wouldn't go down to 16GB RAM especially for video editing.
Just spent 5 minutes looking for 5700X3D CPU's and found numerous ones around 300. OP won't get 70 for their B550 either.
PoisonDragonJV@reddit (OP)
Thanks for all the advice. I think what ill do for now is just save up a bit more for a better cpu than the 8700f and 32gb of ram instead of 16. I dont currently have any problems with my build but i just did have the option to upgrade if i wanted to
CtrlAltDesolate@reddit
What CPU and motherboard are you on currently?
PoisonDragonJV@reddit (OP)
I currently have the b550 pro motherboard and a ryzen 5 3600 and i can upgrade to the B850 pro with a ryzen 7 8700F
CtrlAltDesolate@reddit
Ok so proper options are AM4 CPU upgrade, or full platform change.
If it's just gaming, a 5600x would give you a bit of a boost and a full platform upgrade makes little sense for the small gains you're going to see, especially if dropping to 16gb ram.
What's the system used for?
PoisonDragonJV@reddit (OP)
a bit of everything really. I'm a software developer so i use the pc for work as well as gaming and making youtube videos every now and then
CtrlAltDesolate@reddit
I'd say you've got one of two paths tbh then (also for gaming / any agentic coding you might be doing, what GPU you have may be a factor.
I'd definitely up the core count as that helps with large complies, but the speeds just as important for gaming and running lots of scripts.
For sticking on AM4, your budget options a 5700x or you could go 5900xt at the higher end. The boost speed and cache size per CCD is good enough on the 5900xt to keep you happy gaming for a good while.
If you go to AM5, I would suggest a 7700 at least. Twice the cache, better boost clocks, latest PCIe support that may be useful to you further down the line - vs the 8700f.
I do think you'll find yourself wanting 32gb ram though so do budget for that on AM5. 16gb might hamper you in some situations and I can't recommend it in 2026.
CivilChaos@reddit
What's the cpu/mobo upgrade?
PoisonDragonJV@reddit (OP)
I currently have the b550 pro motherboard and a ryzen 5 3600 and i can upgrade to the B850 pro with a ryzen 7 8700F