Is it better to go AM5 or AM4

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pmglory@reddit

am5 gives you more headroom for upgrading, while sticking to am4 might capped your upgrading options in the next few years when ddr4 becomes old enough to not consider

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I think upgrading is overrated, especially when comparing AM4 to AM5. In terms of performance, what's the maximum possible gain? Like maybe 20-25%? Will it even be noticeable in real-world performance? I think that should be the most important factor, as money isn't free.

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pmglory@reddit

Hmm I maxed out my upgrading options in my old motherboard to the point that I no longer have anything to upgrade besides GPU. That is the time where I decided to upgrade and get a whole new PC, which pretty much more expensive than doing small upgrades. I'd say based on my experience, mine had noticeable performance. Besides gaming, I do video editing and the rendering seems to be more efficiently faster. My FPS from games had smoother FPS as well. I do 3D modelling as well same with the OP, Maya and Substance painter seems to load and render efficiently with my new build. If the OP wants efficient work station, I recommend to stick with X3Ds regardless if AM4 or AM5.

You might be right, money isn't free. The OP can go for AM4, if they are willing to stick with it in the next 10 years. My only concern for the OP is spending twice for an AM4 and AM5 build. Unless the OP is willing to stick with AM4 in the next 10 years, then I think it's all good to go for AM4 path. I just feel like if he has the opportunity to start with AM5, then it'll be a better option since he can upgrade one at a time without worrying that they're components will become super outdated. It's pretty expensive to start with AM4 build, then after few years, they'll upgrade to AM5 and start all over again. Plus the fact that as time goes by, old pc components becomes more cheaper and affordable, so I don't think the OP will be able to sell his AM4 build in the future for a decent amount of bucks.

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Certain_Repeat_753@reddit

I'm not saying AM5 is worthless, but the dollar/performance ratio needs to be taken into account. The problem is that everyone's use case is different. The OP is essentially asking people to make the decision for him when the answer is very subjective. He could buy AM5 now, and in a few years, AM6 could be much better, and he'd need a new platform for that. So spending the extra money for AM5 may not make any sense if you're not totally committed to it until the very end.

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alextpale@reddit

1200 is honestly enough for a 1440p 1m5 build, get a 9600x, a used used 5060 ti, and anything else that fits your needs

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UnCommonSense99@reddit

AM5 if a 9600x CPU is enough for you, because you can upgrade the CPU in a few years time :)

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Tulpin@reddit

yeah 9600x is going to run close to a am4 x3d cpu in most scenarios and it can be 1/2 the price of a 5800x3d

just about finding cheap DDR5 ram... which is dropping in price i think.

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1BombaKlad@reddit

With a 9600x, its pointless upgrading that as the only thing that will give you meaningful performance uplift is a gpu upgrade.

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UnCommonSense99@reddit

They will probably still be selling AM5 processors in 4 years time. Who knows what upgrade will be available then?

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Vivid-Software6136@reddit

For purely gaming sure. But the next gen AMD CPUs will have 12 core CCDs meaning you'll have access to 12 core or 24 core CPUs as an in socket upgrade if you are doing CPU intensive productivity tasks. With AM4 you are at a dead end in terms of upgradability.

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xCaZx2203@reddit

If you are building now go AM5 so you have more options to upgrade in the future.

I have an AM4 system and it’s fine, but there is no real path to upgrade.

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xCaZx2203@reddit

If you are building now go AM5 so you have more options to upgrade in the future.

I have an AM4 system and it’s fine, but there is no real path to upgrade.

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Complete_Step6068@reddit

i just upgraded my pc using only ebay used items. 7800x3d, 3070 founders edition, 32gb ddr5 6000mhz cl30 ram and a b650e motherboard. psu and storage transplanted from my old system. i also sold my old gpu motherboard cpu and ram to offset the cost. all in all it cost me £800. I play only online fps games but i do plan to play more solo player games in the future so a 5080 is in my future or a 60 series card.

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BaneSilvermoon@reddit

I'm of the opinion that you always want the latest socket, if for no other reason than the ability to upgrade later.

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Ekoteran@reddit

I built AM5 a year ago, now prices are different, but then it was said go AM5 if you dont have AM4 before, I had no am4 at all

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shiek200@reddit

All the good AM4 CPUs are out of productions (5700x3d, 5800x3d) and are going for $300-450 now (compared to the $200 they were like a year or so ago), so honestly I'd say AM4, the money you'd save in RAM going AM4 would be lost on a worthwhile CPU anyway

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MinscMinsc@reddit

He is not a gamer. Mainly for 3d. Read op ffs.

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tark561@reddit

Definitely AM5. Going with AM4 now would end up more expensive for you in the long run, total cost considered, once you inevitably upgrade to AM5.

Be sure to consider buying used parts, too. Especially RAM is perfectly fine to buy second hand, it's sturdy. Also check Amazon Warehouse deals, if what arrives doesn't fit your standards, return it.

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MinscMinsc@reddit

5950x still an ultra beast for 5 year + . And you will save a lot of money on ddr4 at the same time.

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Dahkril@reddit

Building from scrap i'd allways go am5 You should be able to land somewhere around 32gb ddr5 ram, 9060xt 16gb, ultra 5 225f for ~1300$ Thats a great start and the am5 base gives you easy upgradability

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edickie@reddit

would you be buying ram second hand because of the Ai bubble?

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Dahkril@reddit

I have no experience with used hardware.. If your budget doesnt allow 32gb immediatly you could get 16 and another 16 once prices normalize or you have the spare coin

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TechnoGMNG589@reddit

AM5 at that budget, i dont know whether you need an nvidia gpu for the 3d modelling so i picked it, I went argb but you can change stuff to non argb if you wish.

https://pcpartpicker.com/list/yjwNqd

not the greatest value due to current prices, gaming will have to be 1080p, if you need to play 1440p, id go with a b580 or 9060xt 16gb if you can stretch the upgrade, or even downgrade on ram if thats ok for you. Also maybe upgrading to a 9600x if you need thew cores.

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conor_is_my_name@reddit

you should only go am4 if you are getting an x3d cpu

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Brief_Conference_42@reddit

Kinda opposite.

You should only go am4 if budget is tight. DDR4 is cheaper and Ryzen 5600 can be bought for cheap.

Buying a 5700X3D right now makes no sense since they are unreasonably inflated since 2025 and availability dropped down a lot.

I'll take an AM4 + Great GPU like a 9060 XT 16GB over an AM5 + an unappealing gpu.

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b1gb0n312@reddit

Like the 9800x3d?

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ProblemAnnual6874@reddit

No that’s an x4d cpu

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Viddevidden@reddit

Thats the worst time to go Am4 lol

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Ihavedonehomework@reddit

It makes absolutely no sense to go with an X3D CPU on AM4. Where I live, the only available option is the 5700X3D, which costs 549€. With AM4 X3D prices like that, a B550 + 32GB DDR4 + 5700X3D combo is going to cost around 850€. At the same time, you can get a B850 + 32GB DDR5 + 7800X3D for 800€.

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PossuTryffeli@reddit

Please explicate.

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FatalGamer1@reddit

What do you mean only AM4 if X3D?

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Dependent_Volume_604@reddit (OP)

I see some deal with rtx 5060 for $280. If i want to use am5 what cpu should i choose? And i may cut my ram to 1 channel. Is that good idea or you had something else?

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CtrlAltDesolate@reddit

I'd either go with an absolute endgame used am4 build, or a lower end am5 build. Reasons:

if you're dumping that much on the previous socket, it should be in order to maximise performance, and you do that by going used and sniping deals on the best possible build you can get knowing it's not really got an upgrade both
if you're going current socket on a tighter budget (especially given we'll zen 6 in the next 12 months, confirmed compatible with some B850s) you get a cpu that "will do", a motherboard confirmed to work with zen 6, settle for 16gb ram if needs be and get a decent GPU.

That way you have a GPU you don't need to upgrade next gen, minimise the cost of moving to zen 6 by having a board that's ready (50% more cores per CCD are coming), and can upgrade to 32gb ram when the timing is right - people will still want the 16gb ddr5 and kits and whatever low end CPU (maybe 7500f) so resale value of those will be reasonable.

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CivilChaos@reddit

your budget will probably be just enough for a basic am5 build that's not too bad.

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aCuria@reddit

If you save some money can you get a bigger gpu?

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Technical_Moose8478@reddit

AM4 or, if you can, wait and use what you have currently. If you absolutely need something now, buy a nuc or a mac mini and wait it out. The bubble will likely burst within a year.

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RJsRX7@reddit

I like the odds on AM4 with adequate RAM more than low end AM5 with single channel RAM.

Buying less AM5 now for an upgrade later just means spending more money overall, too. Meanwhile AM4 will be at least adequate until the next generation of consoles.

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