Planning on upgrading my current system. Is DDR4 still worth it?
Posted by Johannsom@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 30 comments
Hey guys with a budget of about 500€ (for now 😅) I am planning to upgrade my set-up which I mainly use for CAD (Solidworks/Blender/Slicer). Once a week I am also playing games with a couple of friends.
My current setup:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X (8C/16T)
- CPU Cooler: Enermax Air Cooler
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B550M S2H (Micro-ATX)
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4-2666 (2x 8GB)
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- Storage 1: WD Black SN770 (NVMe SSD)
- Storage 2: Crucial BX500 (SATA SSD)
- Case: Corsair 275R Airflow (Black)
Please let me know what you would suggest. The reason is, that Solidworks easily reaches its boundaries and makes designing stuff annoying.
Thank you 🙏🏼
PS: I live in Germany if that's important.
forevertired1982@reddit
Im running a 5800x 32gb ddr4 3600mts and a 9070xt at 4k there isnt a game i cant get over 60fps with a few newer/more intensive games require FSR4 quality but even fsr4 balanced is a great experience,
For 4k gaming there isnt much need for an x3d chip but it becomes more needed at lower resolutions.
Will you get better fps with something like a 7700/9700x of course but that upgrade alone will cost more than a 9070xt by its self.
I was saving up for a whole new am5 build but ram price going up 3×-5× made me bite the bullet and get a 9070xt upgrading from a 6900xt and its an amazing 4k experience.
Anything a litte older and eaport games run at way over 144fpz at 4k too.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Thank you I think I am fine on the GPU side. I was thinking that if I stay on AM4, the 5950x could be worth a try.
forevertired1982@reddit
Oh yeah sorry misunderstood at first,
If doing thread heavy tasks going fo a 5950x would give you a sizeable boost in those apps although any am5 high thread count is a very nice boost again in those tasks but the price of ddr5 is prohibited.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
prohibited is definitely the right word to use here 😱
forevertired1982@reddit
Prohibitive is what I originally wrote but predictive texts obviously didnt think thats the word i wanted lol.
Fragrant_Seesaw_3402@reddit
In that budget, is only worth it to upgrade to 32 gb ram with more speed 3200 MHz, or 3600 MHz). And, maybe, replace that sata ssd with an m2 nvme ssd. You a have a final am4 system, if you want a real upgrade you need go to am5 system, and that need more money. An new system am5 who is more performant than what you have need, I think, somewhere around 1500-1600 euro, some combo 9600x CPU + 9070 GPU. Of course, you maybe can find an 9070 or 9070xt even now with price around 600-650 euro, will work well with your am4 system, but only if you upgrade to 32 ddr ram.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Sorry - my bad. I do already have 32 GB of RAM but only 2666 mhz
Fragrant_Seesaw_3402@reddit
Eh, doesn't matter too much if you have 2666 MHz (I think is 5-10% performance). In fact, reality is that you have a good PC, so you can wait even 1-2 years and save more money for a new PC when time is come. No need to rush.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Oh okey, that's a good thing to know. What would you suggest to do in my situation?
According my task manager the RAM is never fully used. I really don't know why things start to slow down after a while.
Also if I am AFK for a while and wake my PC up (pressing any button on keyboard) three scenarios can happen: 1. wakes up fine (40% chance) 2. wakes up and is super slow (50%) 3. doesn't wake up - screens stay black until I kill switch the PC. (10%)
Fragrant_Seesaw_3402@reddit
Hmm... Maybe you need some maintenance to your CPU ( new thermal paste) and verify and clean that cooler. If you don't want that, just disable sleep options for your monitor, you don't save too much energy anyway. Aa, and one more thing: when 2 scenario happened (super slow), you verify opened processes in task manager, how many are active? Maybe you have too much uselles things opened in background.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Thank you. I did some testing and the temperatures seem to be fine. But I'll change the paste anyways I guess. There are many tasks running - most of them is stuff i don't really understand what's behind it. I guess some windows stuff. I did notice Power Automate as a process that which I didn't see earlier on. Don't really know what it is tho. Maybe I should install a fresh windows... Always scary for me though 😅
Fragrant_Seesaw_3402@reddit
Fresh windows always running better. And verify your ssd, maybe is too full or his lifetime work is near to finish. All ssd's need 100-150 gb empty to work properly, if is full all processes run slow or have crash.
X3m9X@reddit
Seeing how theres issues with gpu drivers with your work, i recommend hoping onto nvidia for your ease of mind. You can sell your current one and add that onto your 500 budget. You can get at least a 5070 i think.
asharkmadeofsalsa@reddit
worth it for a couple/few more years if you're willing to maybe scale down on graphic presents depending on what res/framerate you play at for future releases
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Okey than, if I were to upgrade would you prefer AMD over Intel?
asharkmadeofsalsa@reddit
I havent used Intel since sandy bridge after which I made the transition to AMD but mostly because of budget reasons, haven't felt the need to go back but probably not the best guy to ask
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Thanks maybe I have a while different problem on my PC. Considering a fresh windows install right now
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Thank you I think I am fine on the GPU side. I was thinking that if I stay on AM4, the 5950x could be worth a try.
Additional_Past_7107@reddit
Is it lack of ram that's causing solidwork issues? I would try 32gb 3200mhz or 3600mhz 2nd hand is a good option as new pricing is kinda yikes.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Ya RAM prizes are crazy these days. But would you think that staying on DDR4 is worth it?
Additional_Past_7107@reddit
Ram is ram you either have enough or you run out and it starts using nvme as ram and slows right down .Speed doesn't make a massive difference past 3000mhz but 3200 and 3600 are a little faster. For the cad programs would an nvidia card help much?
Additional_Past_7107@reddit
Where I live you can buy 16gb sticks of used ddr4 for £50 with 5 year warranty ddr5 is more than 3 times that price so it seems reasonable to me. Cad programs can use nvidia hardware for acceleration which is also a thing to consider I would ask for help in the solidworks subreddit perhaps
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Here in Germany they want ~120€ for used 32 GB of ddr4 RAM which are faster than 3000 Mhz
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Also yes, Solidworks is always complaining about my GPU AMD driver not being certified but it used to work fine about half a year ago...
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Right, but actually according my task manager the RAM is never fully used. I really don't know why things start to slow down after a while. Also if I am AFK for a while and wake my PC up (pressing any button on keyboard) three scenarios can happen: 1. wakes up fine (40% chance) 2. wakes up and is super slow (50%) 3. doesn't wake up - screens stay black until I kill switch the PC. (10%)
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Thank you I think I am fine on the GPU side. I was thinking that if I stay on AM4, the 5950x could be worth a try.
9okm@reddit
Yes.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Sorry just updated - I do already have 32 gigs of ram
9okm@reddit
Oh ok. Then you need to do some more testing to figure out why Solidworks is struggling.
Johannsom@reddit (OP)
Ya RAM prizes are crazy these days. But would you think that staying on DDR4 is worth it?