Is your computer too outdated for an upgrade?
Is your computer too outdated for an upgrade?
I'm considering upgrading my old PC, which is three years old. I plan to add an RTX 4070 and a Ryzen 7 5700x. However, I'm worried about compatibility with the existing motherboard and power supply. If I replace these parts, what will be left? The current RAM is DDR4 and is becoming outdated. I'm thinking about selling my PC and buying a new one in the same price range if needed. I'm willing to spend around £1000 to £1300.
The 2600x model can handle up to 192w during full core stress tests, whereas the 5700x is limited to around 126w under full load. If the 2600x performed well on a given board, the 5700x should also work as long as a compatible BIOS version is available. This point is separate from whether upgrading or starting fresh is the right move; it’s still important. I wouldn’t suggest using a 5700x—or any Ryzen 7 or 9 processor—on a board without heatsinks on the VRMs, particularly if you keep PBO enabled. However, there’s a chance to fix this by swapping to a better board. A B550 series model would be a good alternative.
If you have a suitable case, you can still proceed, and if problems arise, simply replace the board with a better one. This would work well for a B550 platform.
But such an upgrade looks more sensible if you can afford it. Since I don’t know your case type, I assume you’re using a standard ATX setup and not needing a micro ATX, but if that’s not the case, you can adjust accordingly.
If your current DDR4 is fast enough and you have sufficient capacity to reuse it, you might skip this step. However, if your system is slower or you need more power, I’d still suggest this path. Build advice varies widely depending on board and graphics options, but overall this setup remains solid.
Well, those are valid considerations too, but the 13400F offers nearly the same performance in multithreaded scenarios and just a bit better single-core results compared to the 5700x. It’s only marginally more expensive—about 50 dollars higher—so it might not be the best pick if you’re aiming for cost savings. Still, it remains a viable choice. And with just a £13 price gap between the 5600x and 5700x, that difference also feels significant unless other factors come into play.
Are you suggesting that moving to a 4070 and R7 4700x would be acceptable provided I also replace the motherboard? Also, are you confident the CX650 will function properly and won’t harm your GPU if something goes wrong, given its age of three years? Additionally, with only one 6+2 pin connector on the CX650, will a 3 fan RX2700 work on most systems?
Most power supplies are designed to last over a decade, unless you opt for off-brand models and consistently push them to their limits. For gamers who heavily use their PCs—say 2 to 3 hours daily—a three-year-old PSU works just fine. Some individuals even purchase high-wattage units (800-1000W) and simply stop buying replacements for a decade, as it usually suffices for everyday needs. Even if you exceed the wattage your PSU supports, it won’t harm your components. Modern PSUs come equipped with various safeguards against overcurrent and overheating. I’ve tested my older 2010s PSU multiple times after upgrading to a more powerful GPU; the system would shut down instantly due to insufficient power, potentially causing a brief failure before restarting.
Don’t spend a lot on a motherboard without researching others’ experiences—check if it’s compatible with your CPU and whether a BIOS update is necessary. PC parts often include different BIOS versions based on production timing, so consulting the manufacturer’s documentation or searching online can help you confirm compatibility.
P.S. It seems some users are running Ryzen 5000 chips with a BIOS update: Reddit - Dive into anything
I wouldn't bother searching for one of the "three fan" models, as they will demand a bit more power but won't provide significant improvements over the two fan OC options from most brands. If you skip this step, your 3-year-old CX650 should still function fine since it's much better than previous CX models. Nevertheless, it would be wise to invest in a higher-capacity PSU if you plan to upgrade both the CPU and graphics card to components that consume substantially more power. You might consider options like this. If you're comfortable using the memory you already have, you could save around £90. If your current RAM is under 2933mhz, I'd suggest replacing it as well.
I think it would be best to retain the motherboard you already possess and proceed accordingly.
Here is the list of components:
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor
(£156.96 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:
G.Skill Ripjaws V 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR4-3600 CL18 Memory
(£89.68 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card:
Sapphire PULSE Radeon RX 7800 XT 16 GB Video Card
(£482.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Power Supply:
Corsair RM750e (2023) 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
(£105.23 @ Amazon UK)
Total:
£834.86
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts.
Generated by
PCPartPicker
2023-11-16 18:57 GMT+0000
I support maintaining the board unless you secure an exceptional offer.
There are definitely several valid choices available. If you can afford a new board now, it could be beneficial in multiple ways. First, you obtain a fresh board with a warranty instead of attempting to reuse parts on an older unit that is likely outdated. Second, you receive a superior board that can improve the performance of your CPU, memory, and graphics card, and it may also offer additional features like more fan or USB headers compared to your current setup. Third, if you replace the board entirely, you might be able to sell the old components—motherboard, CPU, and RAM—to someone at a reasonable price, which would help recoup some of your investment. However, if you cannot afford it, these options remain acceptable. It would be unfortunate to end up spending more than necessary when better alternatives exist, especially since you might lose the opportunity to use the money for other needs later on. This situation is something we frequently encounter.