Is there an issue when combining a 5500 with a 7800xt?
Is there an issue when combining a 5500 with a 7800xt?
On cards, after resolving the psu issue, you can check whether there’s still an rx 6800xt available for sale. These are older models but generally perform similarly to the 7800xt, so if you find a good offer on one, you’re still close to maintaining comparable performance.
As USAFRet mentioned before, the first priority is to get a new, high-quality PSU; after that, use any remaining funds to purchase a GPU. Otherwise, you'll face the same issue—either spending too little on the PSU again or having to return the second GPU to free up money.
So, once more:
#1: PSU.
With any extra money, consider any GPU you can afford, even second-hand options if needed.
But NEVER purchase a used PSU! Only buy a brand new one.
A great suggestion for someone who avoids low-quality PSUs — the Apevia is actually worse than an EVGA BP. With 636w at 12v, it doesn’t offer more power than the EVGA’s 650w at the same voltage. Plus, the Apevia uses a group-regulated design while the EVGA relies on a DC-DC converter. The EVGA stands out as the better choice.
The reason to invest in AM4 today is its affordable price, as not everyone can afford the newest models.
I understand it’s not always easy when funds run low, and I’ve been through it myself. If you’re in a similar situation, it’s okay. However, if possible, it’s better to invest in newer platforms since older ones will eventually become outdated and you’ll want the chance to upgrade.
Still, AMD and their team should remember where they came from. Prices for many mid-range boards are extremely high. I recall paying around 100 dollars for a top-tier motherboard, which was a good deal unless you were looking at very expensive options. Now it’s hard to find a reasonably priced board like the B650 from abroad. On the other hand, I can easily buy an off-brand B450 board on AliExpress for under 50 dollars. Back then, my B350 board cost about 70 dollars.
One reason I was able to buy into AM5 was because Microcenter offered bundle deals. For years I had AMD products and used an Intel system mainly due to cost. Before that, AMD was always the best value choice. They need to balance making a profit while also remembering those who helped them along the way and bought their products when they were on the brink of bankruptcy.