Consider your system's needs and stability before upgrading.
Consider your system's needs and stability before upgrading.
Hey! Your setup is pretty solid with the i5 4570 and 16GB DDR3. You’re thinking about moving to a new CPU and possibly a different motherboard, which makes sense since you want more freedom. Regarding the sockets—Intel’s 1151 and AMD’s AM4 are still in use, but there are rumors they might change soon. It looks like both Intel and AMD are planning updates to these connectors this year, so it’s possible you could upgrade later without replacing everything. Your current case is a bit tight, but you’re aiming for a better fit and future-proofing. I’d say it’s worth keeping an eye on the announcements, but if you’re ready to commit now, you could still upgrade later. What do you think?
Intel, yes, AMD, no. If you buy a B450 motherboard now, it will be compatible with Ryzen 4000. volume shipments for DDR5 are planned for like 2022. Here's a good value upgrade if you just can't wait PCPartPicker Part List Type Item Price CPU AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (12nm) 3.2 GHz 6-Core Processor $99.99 @ Newegg Motherboard MSI B450M PRO-VDH MAX Micro ATX AM4 Motherboard $83.98 @ Newegg Memory Team T-FORCE VULCAN TUF Gaming Allian 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 Memory $63.99 @ Newegg Prices include shipping, taxes, rebates, and discounts Total $247.96 Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-04-17 13:32 EDT-0400
The 3600 fits well with this configuration, making it a solid choice. I’d hold off until the 4000 series Ryzen arrives. This configuration boosts both single and multi-threaded performance for your existing system, and when the 4000 launches, prices for 3000 models will likely fall. A 3600 would be more affordable, and you could consider a 4600 if you’re interested. If AMD advances and Intel lags (which seems probable with the continued use of 14nm), the 4000 series will soon dominate gaming performance.
I see you have some thoughts on AMD right now. The 3600 seems to offer great performance for its price, matching higher-end chips well in gaming. After selling my overclocked 9700k setup, I switched to a Ryzen 3800x and wouldn’t change it. While frame rates are similar to my Intel build, the overall feel is much faster.
You're asking whether a B450 motherboard requires an older Ryzen processor to update the BIOS for the 3600. Let me clarify: the B450 supports BIOS updates, but you'll need a compatible Ryzen processor that matches the motherboard's specifications. Make sure your new Ryzen is supported by the B450 platform.