How to Upgrade Your AM4 Budget Build for Light Gaming?
How to Upgrade Your AM4 Budget Build for Light Gaming?
Hello.
In this discussion, I mentioned my desire to swap out a faulty power supply unit.
Next month I plan to travel to Germany and will purchase a new PSU from a local friend there, since I reside in Africa.
I’m likely to buy the Thermaltake BM3 750W Bronze at around €70 (the 650W model was suggested by --SID--, but Amazon offers a cheaper 750W option).
Noticing several attractive offers that seemed too tempting, I thought it would be wise to upgrade during my visit.
My main concern is whether there are any improvements I could make to my potential purchases and which ones should take priority.
Current Build:
MSI B450M PRO VDH
Ryzen 3 1200
XFX Radeon RX 550 (4GB)
2 x 4 GB Patriot Signature DDR4 RAM 2400 MHz
Crucial MX500 2.5" SSD (500GB)
Case:
CiT GForce Mid-Tower
(link included, as most users won’t recognize it)
All components are available in stock. I haven’t performed any overclocking and doubt it will be necessary.
Someone has advised me to upgrade the RAM, so that’s the first step I’ll take.
I found a kit on de.partpicker.com:
G.Skill Ripjaws V 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory – €30
I also discovered the Ryzen 5 3500X for €40, which felt like a worthwhile upgrade. It lacks a cooler, but I have the Wraith Stealth from my Ryzen 3 1200, so it should be fine.
I’m also considering adding more storage and the Teamgroup MP33 Pro 1TB for €53 seemed like the best option.
The idea of getting an RX 5600 XT (AS Rock Phantom Gaming D OC) for €145 came to mind, but that seems unlikely. Still, I’d value your thoughts on whether it’s a solid choice.
Should the Ripjaws 3600 work well with the Ryzen 5 and my current motherboard?
Approximate purchase date: this week or next (latest)
Budget range: I believe the prices I’m seeing are very affordable. I’m okay spending a bit more if there’s a great offer. It’s not an absolute necessity; it’s just that this deal feels particularly attractive.
What I’m considering upgrading includes:
- PSU – definitely needed
- RAM – probably necessary
- CPU – looks like a good value
- Everything else – optional
Do I need to install a new operating system?
No
Preferred websites for parts: amazon.de (though I’d need confirmation)
Location: Berlin, Germany
Parts preferences: none specific
Overclocking: no
Multiple GPUs: no
Monitor purchase: not required unless there’s an exceptional offer
Resolution: 1600x900
Additional notes:
I primarily use Vegas and Handbrake for software, but I’ve worked with other editors. My main focus is World of Tanks, mostly older titles.
Most importantly, why am I upgrading?
The PSU is struggling, while others are just seeking a nice upgrade.
never place smart psus there, they pose serious fire risks.
here’s a part list i put together.
it includes everything you need, though the nvme is a bit slower for the standard—it has an integrated heatsink (they get hot) that fits under the gpu. since they tend to overhang, i added one too and bumped up the memory.
lower resolution makes the cpu more critical at 1080p and below.
the gpu is a solid option—it outperforms the 3050 nvidia easily.
https://de.pcpartpicker.com/list/BvJgpK
with the 3500x it’ll be night and day.
The provided text is a casual exchange where the person acknowledges their limited knowledge of the EU market and asks about the user's monitor specifications. They share their positive experiences with certain hardware options and express a preference for maintaining their current setup unless a more suitable alternative becomes available.
personally just a guess about the monitor type. since his resolution is 900p
it might be an old model, probably around 60Hz
either a Dell or HP would have been common in offices back then
these things were everywhere when I was a kid, lol. HP and Dell really took over the office scene
at least in the UK
g skill seems to work better with some board vendors than others personally
Gigabyte appears to really like KLEVV BOLT X DDR4
i managed to get it to work with most Gigabyte boards
Instead of making assumptions, try some tests to identify which upgrade could benefit. Play your games, but reduce resolution and visual effects. This can slightly strain the graphics card. An increase in FPS suggests your CPU is powerful enough for a better graphics setup. If FPS remains unchanged, you’re likely CPU-bound. I could suspect the CPU is restricting performance.
Check if 8GB of RAM is enough. It might be a problem if you run additional applications while gaming.
For confirmation, open Task Manager or Resource Monitor during active use. Examine the memory section and the hard fault rate column. Any value significantly above zero indicates a need for more RAM.
Thank you for the detailed list,
@beyondlogic. Appreciate it a lot.
I have a quick question regarding the MSI and Smart BM3. In my initial inquiry about purchasing a PSU, I included the MSI on my list (believing I should avoid "Smart" power supplies), but someone advised me that the Smart BM3 is actually the superior choice. Is it accurate to say that the Smart BM3 represents a significant upgrade over the BM2, and would it be worth seriously thinking about for budget builds?
For the NVME drive, it will be positioned beneath the GPU. I reviewed both Adata and Teamgroup models, but the reviews for Teamgroup ones were consistently positive. I’m not biased and am open to choosing the Adata as well if you believe it’s the better option with the heatsink. My main concern is whether it will actually fit under the graphics card.
Regarding the RAM, I considered 32 GB. I’m still unsure if it’s essential. If I opt for 16 GB, would the 3600mhz be sufficient for my MSI PRO-VDH MAX and the Ryzen 5 3500X? According to the specifications on the MSI website, 3600mhz isn’t listed as supported, but it does support 3200/3466/3733/3866. Is this a concern or not?
Ha! You’re right about my monitor—it’s 60Hz. However, I’ve used an LG Flatron e2042c before (it’s quite old!), and I’ve connected it to a TV occasionally. If I upgrade to the RX 5600XT, I’d definitely use it more often.
Thanks, mate. Unfortunately, with my PSU barely holding on, I can’t really push the system too hard. I know my CPU reaches full power during rendering, and I don’t think RAM overclocking has ever been a major issue for me. Still, given how affordable these components are today, it makes sense to go for either 16 or 32 GB that also offer better speeds.
I just wanted to thank everyone for your helpful responses. It’s a privilege to receive guidance from people more experienced in these matters than I am.
Yes, the M3 model performs better overall, though reviews mainly highlight units with 850W output. Quality tends to drop as power increases from 650W to 850W, affecting component reliability. It depends on how much you’re willing to invest in a power supply unit. Personally, I stick to what I own—a Seasonic Focus 650W Gold that’s been running smoothly for four and a half years. Higher efficiency models are more effective and cost-effective, with better performance and less energy loss.
Examples:
- A 650W PSU with 80% efficiency (80+ Bronze) delivers about 812.5W from the wall.
- A 650W PSU with 85% efficiency (80+ Gold) gives roughly 765.6W.
- A 650W PSU with 90% efficiency (80+ Platinum) provides around 722.2W.
If your system requires more power, a PSU won’t pull enough from the wall under normal conditions. However, if your PC specs suggest around 300W, you might need to add an extra 150W to account for the part picker estimate. My setup at full capacity is about 450W including the wall.
For reference, the one shown would require a larger heatsink and careful placement under the GPU—about an extra 20 euros for a decent model. Integrated solutions usually fit well, but ensure proper installation before the GPU.
Your motherboard should include an NVMe screw in the box; it’s unusual for NVMe drives to come with extra screws. Also, 32GB RAM is essential for newer titles, especially those demanding high memory usage like City Skylines or similar games. Newer releases often require at least 32GB, and some, like Hogwarts Legacy, struggle with less than that. Stick to 1080p gaming on this build.
If you have questions or need recommendations, feel free to reply here or send a message.
Sorry, I've been away for some time because my laptop has been having problems.
Thanks. I'm thinking about comparing MSI and SeaSonic and might invest the extra 25 euros.
Interesting. I used to think 650W meant it could draw 650 watts from the wall, so you'd need to reduce that by 80% to figure out the real power usage. That was a mistake!
Okay. Thanks. I'll reach out to my friend in Germany to find out when I can place the orders so I can check prices before making the purchase.
Thanks again.
I decided to update my BIOS, which was from 2023 a few days ago. Since then I haven't experienced any PSU-related issues that I had before. Surprising! I'm pretty sure I'll still need a new PSU, as it caused problems even when installed on another machine for testing, but I've been using it well after updating the BIOS.
Last night I followed your advice and reduced the "eye candy," and my FPS improved significantly—definitely the GPU is the bottleneck. My GPU is usually near its maximum during high settings, while the rest of the system works fine. Generally, there were no serious memory faults, though sometimes they occurred.
In any case, I plan to upgrade the CPU, as it's definitely worth it for the cost and my CPU is always at full capacity. I'll also upgrade the RAM, but I'm still unsure between 16GB and 32GB. I'll check prices again once my friend can place the order.
I'm still undecided about the GPU upgrade. It would be great, but I'm not sure if I'm ready to spend 150 euros on a 5600XT right now.
I think 5-year-old graphics cards don't tend to get cheaper over time.
Ha, I just checked and my Ryzen 3 1200 is selling for more than I originally paid for it six or seven years ago, even more than a Ryzen 7 5700. LOL!
Hey, beyondlogic. Thanks a lot, but I've experienced some internet issues lately. Ultimately, I chose the Seasonic Focus 650w gold.
I opted for 16GB RAM since I upgraded my laptop from 8 to 16.
I installed the Ryzen 5 3500X.
I set up my PC over the weekend and everything is functioning well.
Appreciate your help and the suggestions from others too.
Very thankful!