Building AdviceSystem Upgrade Advice
Building AdviceSystem Upgrade Advice
Hello everyone!
My name is Knox, I’m new on tomhardware.com. I’m reaching out for some guidance or recommendations regarding an upgrade for my current setup, which includes:
CPU: Ryzen 7 5800X3D (purchased in August 2023)
GPU: PowerColor Radeon RX 6700 XT HELLHOUND 12GB (also bought in August 2023)
RAM: KLEVV DDR4 BOLT X Series 3200MHz 32gb (double dual channel)
Motherboard: MSI B450 A-PRO (believed to be from 2019)
Storage: Samsung 980 NVMe 1TB
Air Cooler: DeepCool AK620
Power Supply: Seasonic Focus Plus 850 Platinum (acquired in 2018)
Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
Monitors: MSI Optix G243, Samsung S24R350, and a few Sony monitors/TVs of 20 inches
PC Case: CoolerMaster CM 690 III (purchased since 2014 for my first PC build)
Estimated Purchase Dates:
23–29 February 2024
Budget Range:
Around $500 including shipping
Priority of System Usage from Most to Least Important:
MMO Gaming, Multitasking Work (multiple monitors), browsing the web
Are you purchasing a monitor?
Yes – I’m replacing my old Sony monitor with either a 27-inch 144Hz or a 24-inch 240Hz model to use as my main display.
Parts to Upgrade:
Motherboard, RAM, 1 Monitor, and PC Case
Preferences for Parts:
MSI/ASRock (motherboard), Corsair/Gskill (or any available if needed – memory RAM)
Monitor Resolution:
1080p at 165Hz; planning a larger or higher refresh rate monitor
Why are you upgrading?
For the motherboard, I aim to utilize all NVMe and SATA slots for future expansion, but currently it restricts me from adding more storage. With my B450 board, installing an NVMe slot blocks access to SATA ports, which I need for other purposes.
For memory, I’m weighing a dual kit upgrade (3600Mhz 2x16) versus sticking with the current setup.
For the case, I prefer not to have RGB lighting – I want just one light color for simplicity and easier cable management (like the LANCOOL II MESH PERFOMANCE design).
Additional Notes:
Before posting this thread, I’m considering switching my current motherboard to
MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus. But I’m not sure if that’s the right choice – should I opt for the X570 chipset or is the B550 sufficient?
Regarding memory, I can use A-XMP profiles up to 3200Mhz, but some recommendations suggest a dual-channel configuration instead of a dual dual channel setup.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you in advance.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
It’s great that you’re focusing on the B550 chipset motherboard. For optimal performance with the CPU and motherboard together, consider using DDR432600Mhz RAM. A 2x kit setup is recommended over a 4x layout for better results.
Increasing the number of RAM sticks can put extra strain on the memory controller.
You might want to explore Fractal Design’s cases. Switching between a case and motherboard could also help you choose a matx configuration.
Here is a revised version of your text with varied phrasing while keeping the original meaning and structure intact:
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, 3.4 GHz, 8-Core Processor (Acquired for $0.00)
Motherboard: ASRock X570 Steel Legend WiFi ax ATX AM4 Board (Newegg)
Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Force Vulcan Z, 32 GB (2 x 16 GB), DDR4-3600 CL18 (Amazon)
Case: Montech AIR 903 MAX, Mid Tower Design (Amazon)
Monitor: HP OMEN 27q, 27.0", 2560 x 1440, 165 Hz (Amazon)
Total: $506.97
Shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts are included
Generated by PCPartPicker
Date: 2024-02-09 08:55 EST-0500
But you only have one NVME drive. Why do you need six SATA ports? Anyway, if you want more SATA ports, you can add a PCIE SATA controller card. CoolerMaster CM 690 III doesn't include any RGB lighting and also lacks a window. Even with RGB fans installed, you can still adjust them as needed—choose a single color or turn them off completely. TL;DR – Your upgrade reasons don’t require changing the motherboard or RAM. You might consider getting a PCIE SATA controller once the SATA ports run out.
It's good to know that selecting the B550 is acceptable, especially considering the memory RAM upgrade. I'll check some fractal cases, thanks!
Your thoughts are valid, though. At this stage it seems we should choose a motherboard with flash BIOS support. Regarding the memory RAM, you don't necessarily need CL16—maybe it's not that urgent right now and can be postponed. Thanks!
I apologize for not mentioning NVMe drives in my first post about upgrades; I didn’t explain why thoroughly enough. Right now I only have one NVMe drive, but I plan to add another later. Currently all storage ports are full (SATA 1-4), so I’m open to adding more fast drives, whether SSD SATA or NVMe.
You're correct about the SATA port expansion—adding more is a good idea. I hadn’t considered that solution before. Should I go for NVMe expansion slots or stick with SATA? My B450 has one PCIe 2.0 x16 slot and four PCIe 2.0 x1 slots.
The left panel has a window, and I bought a cheap RGB fan that I can't configure. That was a long time ago when I really needed a fan for it. Maybe I'll look for a different one later.
Lastly, should I worry about getting PCIe 4.0 for my current CPU and GPU? The B450 only supports up to PCIe 3.0 x16. Is there a big difference between using PCIe 4.0 and PCIe 3.0 x16?
X3D chips rely less on latency because of the larger cache. Even so, CL18 isn't a major issue. The AsRock X570 can work with 5000 series chips. Just update the BIOS and it should function properly.
Sure, I understand. I'll make sure to capture the key points for your reference. Thank you all!