Choose 5900x or AM5
Choose 5900x or AM5
I'm currently looking to upgrade my CPU as I have a poor four core that's chugging along side a 3070 and a 3060 haha. I really like the 5900x as it's on sale for $360 right now but I'm not sure if it will be worth it to just wait it out for the new AM5 chips. I mostly only do gaming with some rendering here and there.
Typically the i7 12700F is a better choice than the 5900X, it's selling for $310 and offers similar multi-core performance to the 5900X while outperforming it in single-core. It would be my recommendation if you're purchasing now. The AM5 chipset is expected to represent a significant improvement over AM4. Prices for boards will remain similar, CPU costs will stay around the MSRP (around $500-600 for the 7900X), and DDR5 is now competitively priced. It will definitely be more expensive than the 5900X, especially given the current sales on Ryzen 5000 chips. If you're comfortable with a longer wait, it could be a solid upgrade. The decision hinges on how much time you're willing to wait for its release. I wouldn't hesitate buying it now, but waiting another two months could provide a nice boost with AM5.
You're likely thinking about these boards. They fall within the $130-160 range and offer strong performance, similar to many B550 options. It's a subtle point. Officially, no CPU supports speeds above 3200MHz because JEDEC limits non-overclocked speeds, so anything higher is overclocking. The 12700F can handle memory overclocking, potentially reaching 3600MHz, but real-world results depend on VCCSA control. A 3466MHz frequency will definitely work if you're okay with a slight speed drop, as long as it reaches 3600MHz.
I wouldn't rush into AM5 right now, and AM4 still offers solid performance today. For gaming, any AM4 chip with a clock speed of 5600x or higher should last several more years. A 5800x model seems like a worthwhile investment, or go for the 5800x3d if you can afford it. For everyday use, it really comes down to your needs. If it's just background work, it doesn't really matter much. But for gaming, the GPU is the main factor, while the CPU remains durable. A $1000 processor might only boost FPS by a few percent compared to a $300 one. It's better to prioritize the graphics card. This is especially important if you're targeting 1440p or higher, which is now the standard. 1440p displays at 144Hz are currently ideal. When it comes to RAM, I'd opt for the extra couple dollars for DDR-4-3600 Cl16. Your CPU should manage it easily, my R5 3600 handles it well, and the price gap is minimal. I purchased two 16GB modules for $115. I'd suggest going for 32GB, considering the low cost of memory and the fact that Ryzen chips benefit more from multiple memory channels. Having just two memory ranks with 8GB won't be ideal. I expect to run smoothly on my AM4 configuration until at least 2026, relying mainly on a budget CPU upgrade and a GPU refresh later. This is because I have a R5 3600 with a 5600x or better, which likely means I won't upgrade the CPU until the device reaches end-of-life.
However, for gaming it really depends on the extra cost you're willing to pay. At 1080p with high refresh rates, it might not be a big deal, but jumping to 1440p+ could change things entirely. A 5800x with eight cores can comfortably run at 144Hz for a long time, and it will likely last until newer AM4 models are released. You could take advantage of price drops or even sell your older parts cheaply. If you only need to render a video occasionally, it probably isn't worth the investment.
The improvements, the IPC boost, the boards and new features all seem solid. There are aspects of AM4 that bother me, but it’s what it is.
I chose the 5900x mainly because I didn’t want another power supply. Using the latest Intel chip would have been too much. I mainly needed extra cores for tasks like transcoding for Plex, not for general productivity. Probably not necessary at all. I already have 32 GB RAM with a 3070 and 3060, so no upgrades required there. This was the final decision I made. Thanks everyone for your helpful tips!
What is your current PSU? I don't rely on online calculators, including PCPartPicker.