GPU upgrade advice for Ryzen 5 5600 G & is AM4 still worth it in 2026?
Posted by Aswins181@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 22 comments
Hey everyone! Long-time lurker, first post. I've been gaming on an iGPU setup since early 2024 and I'm finally planning to upgrade near Oct - Dec 2026. I've done some research but looking for opinions from people who actually know their stuff.
**My Current Specs:**
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600G (6C/12T, 3.9GHz)
- Mobo: ASUS PRIME A320M-K (PCIe 3.0)
- RAM: 32GB DDR4 @ 3200MHz (2/2 slots)
- GPU: Integrated AMD Radeon (no dedicated GPU currently)
- Storage: 239GB NVMe (POWER X NE1000)
- Cabinet: POWERX V200 Basic
- PSU: Bundled cabinet SMPS (I know, I know...)
Target: 1080p gaming at High settings. Just for pure gaming and hobby, no streaming or content creation.
**My questions:**
-
Is AM4 build still worth investing in 2026 as we are near the end of the platform's life, or should I just target for an AM5 build later next year ?
-
How badly does an older AM4 CPU bottleneck a modern mid-high end GPU at 1080p? ( I was planning to buy a current gen GPU like the RX 9070)
-
Is it worth upgrading the CPU and motherboard alongside the GPU, or just drop in a GPU and call it a day?
I've done some research and landed on these options based on the above questions:
**Option 1 — Just the GPU**
Keep the CPU, MOBO and DDR4 RAM and just plug in a mid-high end GPU along with replacing the cabinet and PSU to accommodate the GPU better
**Option 2 — Replace everything**
Upgrade to the best available AM4 gaming CPU + a B550 board + a slightly better GPU. Full AM4 build atleast to manage for the next 2-3 years before planning a full shift to AM5 OR AM6
I know it's a big rant, apologies for that, Would love to hear from anyone who's been in a similar situation.
katzengoldgott@reddit
I am gaming with a 5800X, 32 GB of DDR4 and a B550 MOBO with a 5060 Ti 16 GB and 3060 12 GB (I know I am weird with my two GPUs but I also am learning blender right now and the render time with two GPUs is amazing).
You’ll be fine.
Being on AM4 doesn’t hold these newer GPUs back, unless you want to get a 5080 or 5090. What’s important is that your AM4 MOBO should have the GPU connected to a PCIe 4.0 slot and not one with 3.0, especially with NVIDIA cards of the 50 series with their 8 instead of 16 lanes that can become a problem once you run out of VRAM. Which… also is only an issue with 8 GB GPUs it seems.
But you are looking at the 9070 XT which doesn’t have the same 8 lane problem as the NVIDIA cards have, so I don’t think you don’t need the AM5 upgrade.
Depends on your budget entirely, but I think going for the 9070 XT first would be a good start, then upgrade to a B550 and a 5600X, 5700X, 5800X(T) orrrr the re-release of the 5800X3D that AMD might bring back soon 👀 I am looking at that one as well.
Because honestly, 32 GB of DDR5 costs way too much money in my opinion and if you already got those 32 GB of DDR4 then I would just stick to AM4 and sit out the RAMageddon until AM6 drops and hopefully won’t cost a kidney to upgrade to.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
So I should probably look to replace my mobo along with the GPU purchase right, cause my current mobo is ASUS PRIME A320M-K (PCIe 3.0)
Lol, yes thats What I have been thinking as well, i probably would be better by waiting out for AM6
Woah, 👀 I am still learning about hardwares, so your dual GPU situation intrigues me, what does your monitor setup look like? Dual ? Triple?
katzengoldgott@reddit
Yeah, I’d go for the B550 and CPU combo later on, GPU comes first imo!
I can give you a link to my entire PC + peripherals on PCpartpicker if you’re curious.
So yeah no crazy monitor setup or anything, just two gaming monitors and eventually I’ll add a Huion Kamvas Pro 16 (2.5K) graphic tablet to it which I am currently saving up for :)
I just had the 3060 already and when I got the 5060 Ti I was like hmmmm and just plugged them both in lol I had to upgrade my PSU for it though which is technically too overpowered for my current rig but the price difference between the 850w and the 1050w was 20 bucks and if I want to upgrade someday again with something beefier I won’t have to change my PSU again.
For gaming it’s not necessary to have two GPUs, it’s mainly for some productivity software that benefits from it, such as Blender for example. It cuts my render time in half because Blender can access the CUDA cores of both GPUs, and although I don’t own any high end GPUs, I can still do a lot with them that way 😆
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
Damn, Thanks for the detailed list and the info dump!, definitely helpful!! 😃 based on this i am currently leaning towards buying just a GPU along with the Cabinet and PSU for now, then maybe after some time an CPU and Mobo upgrade.
>5600X, 5700X, 5800X(T) orrrr the re-release of the 5800X3D that AMD might bring back soon 👀
I was already looking at the 5800x3D but unfortunately, the X3D CPU's are rarely available in my region (Southeast Asia) 😢
katzengoldgott@reddit
You’re welcome 😄 Yup, I’d go for the GPU + PSU first and then upgrade the Mobo and CPU later down the line.
The 5800X3D is sold out everywhere here as well currently, but there are rumours about a 10th anniversary re-release that look promising… so let’s hope it happens and we’re good 😆
Master-Pick-7918@reddit
I'm running a 5800x3d and a 9070 XT and I see no sign of CPU bottleneck. Not through gameplay. Running the benchmarks there might be a couple of times where it's shown up on results, momentarily.
As it currently sits I have no compelling reason to upgrade to an am5 system. Not with these current RAM and storage prices.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
"a 5800x3d and a 9070 XT"
This is actually the exact combo i prefer but unfortunately, the X3D CPU's are rarely available in my region (Southeast Asia) 😢
Big-Salamander-2158@reddit
Bottlenecks only affect how much money you waste on a product you’re not getting all the performance out of, so don’t worry about that too much. You don’t have to replace everything, am4 is still plenty capable. And getting any gpu is going to enhance the experience over what you have now.
That said, is playing at 1080p, I would look at a 9060xt 16gb. A 9070 is more of a 1440p card. So if you do play at 1440p, there should be no issue. 9070 at 1080p with a 5600g will result in a cpu bottleneck, so you’re spending money on a 9070 that won’t show all it can do.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
To me 1080p is fine, personally I find 1440p gaming overrated 👀.
Big-Salamander-2158@reddit
Then just get a 9060xt 16gb. A 9070 is a bit overkill and will be limited by the CPU. Motherboard is fine, pcie gens have very little effect, until you run out of vram. Which you won’t with a 16gb card. Do upgrade to a quality power supply tho. So only the 9060xt and psu is all you need.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
Thanks a lot , this kind of recommendations clear my mind 😁
9okm@reddit
Do Option 1 - Just the GPU. I agree with u/ICastCats, 9060 XT 16GB.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
It's a very basic psu that comes attached with my cabinet (which is POWERX V200 Basic) I am planning to replace my Cabinet and get a new PSU that suits my GPU Better!
9okm@reddit
Fair enough!
Unhappy-Radish1296@reddit
You can easily upgrade to a Ryzen 5700x3d/5700x since you are on AM4. Also get a used Rx 6700/6800 and you will be set for the next 3 years easily.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
Yes I did look up the 5700/5800x3D 👀 but unfortunately they are very rarely in stock in my region 😞
SwordsAndElectrons@reddit
Huh?
That's far enough out that it makes me assume you are saving up and on a budget. If buying more parts means getting a worse GPU, then you should definitely stick with just a GPU.
That's also far enough out that you should look at market conditions then.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
I meant it's a big post..sorry if I used the term wrong, english isn't my first language 😅
Yes I am, I was planning to get like a rebuild, with adding an GPU, replacing my cabinet and PSU to suit the GPU better
I have tried my best researching about this, but tbh with how volatile the market is, I am not sure what's my December is gonna look like 🤐
ICastCats@reddit
Just the GPU friend. It's going to make a huge difference. The upgrades for replacing everything aren't going to be as signficant as just getting a GPU.
9060XT 16gb and wait until AM6.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
Thanks, someone other then me saying this gives me some small amount of relief, I have been sweating over this dilemma, but don't you think my mobo and cpu would heavily bottleneck the 9060XT ?
ICastCats@reddit
I believe the issue only kicks in if you run out of VRAM: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LhS0_ra9c4
Dropping in a last gen GPU like a second hand 5700XT you get for like $130 is still going to be a night and day difference if you wanted a good value option. iGPU really is that medicore.
Aswins181@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the link, that was