Smart options for upgrading motherboard, CPU, and RAM.
Smart options for upgrading motherboard, CPU, and RAM.
Hello everyone, my setup is a mix of old and new components from a 2011 original build, plus some recent additions. Just a note I’m based in Australia, but I think ordering from Amazon will be cheaper than local options. CPU: i7-950 RAM: 3 x 4 GB 1333MHz CL9 MOBO: X58A-UDR3 GPU: GTX 1060 6GB Storage: 500GB SATA SSD, 2 x 1TB HDD PSU: 650W Coolermaster Case: Armour+ (this thing is huge and heavy, but it gives a lot of space). It still works fine—just I play at 1080p now that I’m getting older. I’m thinking about switching to Ryzen and upgrading my RAM, CPU, and maybe the GPU in the future to avoid bottlenecks. I’d also like the option to upgrade the graphics later without too much hassle. Right now I’m considering: CPU: Ryzen 5 3600XT RAM: Corsair CMK16GX4M2Z3200C16 VENGEANCE LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 3200 (PC4-25600) C16 1.35V for AMD Ryzen Black. The motherboard is the tricky part. I was thinking MSI B450 Tomahawk, but now I’m leaning toward a B550 or X570 for better future compatibility. I’m eyeing the ASUS Prime X570-P or MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus. The budget isn’t tight, so spending an extra $200-300 AUD (about $150-200 USD) on upgrades is totally okay. I’ve been out of the PC parts scene for about ten years, so feel free to chat like I’m a six-year-old, haha. Best regards, Andrew
Welcome to the discussion board! Prices for US/UK purchases would vary due to inflation, and you’ll likely face import duties if buying from outside Australia. In Canada, ordering from the US seems impractical since local availability is better. By the time payments and shipping costs are included, expenses can jump 15-30% compared to domestic rates. I’d double-check this for you. A budget of around 3600 would be more realistic, with only slight advantages over the 3600XT model—not that it’s a weak CPU. The RAM options look promising. I suggest models B550 or X570. For further details on AMD motherboards and VRM cooling, see this link: https://au.pcpartpicker.com/product/whMT...-x570-plus
The future of a PC can't be guaranteed. You mainly have two paths: either invest in the latest technology now—like DDR4 and PCIe3—and get the best possible specs, or wait for the next big upgrade—such as DDR5 and PCIe4—and purchase top-tier components when they become available. This means opting for high-end parts like Ryzen 4xxx processors, GeForce GTX 3xxx graphics, and PCIe4 NVMe drives. Note that PCIe4 supports PCIe3, so you don’t need to buy both sets at once, but you should time your upgrades around upcoming changes. For instance, I previously bought a PCIe3 drive for a DDR3 system with the goal of switching to PCIe4 later; it works out initially and can be upgraded when prices drop. If possible, wait and see if the Ryzen 4xxx parts are released before buying. In the meantime, RAM is still the most affordable option, especially since DDR4 memory is nearing its end-of-life. New RAM tends to be expensive and underperforms compared to the best previous-gen options. It’s usually better to fully utilize what you have now and save for the next upgrade when it arrives.
Amazon Aus offers products from Amazon UK and USA with complimentary delivery. The prices reflect actual costs without extra fees. It can be annoying, but for instance the Ryzen 5 3600x is listed at $368 AUD in Australia, $353 AUD in the UK, and $325 AUD in the US via amazon.com.au. All transactions are handled through amazon.com.au with applicable charges included. I didn’t mention that I won’t be increasing my CPU or RAM overclocking plans, though I might experiment with the 1060s settings later. I’m considering switching to a cheaper CPU now and upgrading to a 4000 in a few years when prices drop. I started checking the 3600XT when Amazon’s 3600s prices fluctuated and they ran out of stock. I thought buying it now would give me more flexibility with a newer GPU in a couple of years, reducing bottlenecks. I compared the Asus Prime X570 to the ASUS AM4 TUF Gaming, noting the latter has better VRAM performance in reviews. I’m not overly concerned about having only 16GB RAM; honestly, I haven’t fully utilized my 12GB setup. If I worked remotely from home using this machine, I’d definitely consider it—especially since I’m a civil engineer and mostly work from home.
For long-term compatibility, consider a model with a chipset around 3700x. Use an ASUS TUF Gaming X570 or an MSI Tomahawk X570.