Consider what improvements would benefit you most and choose accordingly.
Consider what improvements would benefit you most and choose accordingly.
Consider your needs and compare the specs. An i7 4790K offers strong performance, while the Ryzen 5 3600 and B550 Tomahawk provide solid mid-range capabilities. Upgrading to the i7 would likely improve your system's speed and keep it current, but check your specific tasks for optimal value.
It would be best to switch to a Ryzen if you can. It offers a strong upgrade route. Reaching the i7 4790K adds some longevity, but with your B-series chipset board, you won’t be able to push it overclocked much. Honestly, moving to a Ryzen 3 3100 or 3300X would be more advantageous for future upgrades than sticking with the 4790K.
It seems the differences aren't as significant as they might appear. The 5600X costs about $120 more than the 3600, and the B550M Pro4 is $60 less than the Tomahawk. Also, there are challenges with Zen 3 availability.
For a budget under $500, consider a mid-range CPU like the Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5 paired with an affordable motherboard such as the ASUS PRIME B550M or MSI MEG. This setup offers good performance for gaming and everyday tasks.
You can purchase a Ryzen 5 3600 and a B550 Mortar for roughly $300, plus a 2X8GB DDR4 RAM set at 3200MHz from Corsair LPX for around $60.