Start immediately or hold off for DDR5/Zen4 release
Start immediately or hold off for DDR5/Zen4 release
Hey there. I'm in a bit of an unusual situation. I could upgrade my motherboard, CPU, and RAM right now or wait another year for the next DDR5 AM4 socket and similar improvements. I don’t update my PC very often. My system was built back in 2012 – I still have a 3570K with 24GB RAM and a 3080 at retail price. That’s quite a surprise. I’m aware that the CPU can be a bottleneck, but I’d rather invest more now to keep my system running smoothly for the next decade than risk it falling behind soon. This is essentially the final version of the AM4 socket/boards; nothing new will come out. The same applies to RAM – we’re nearing the end of life for these components. My hopes aren’t high, but I’m trying to stay optimistic. I’m a bit worried about spending around 1000€ on something that might become obsolete quickly, possibly even rendered useless (if rumors are true). I’ll wait and see how things unfold, but I’m curious about the availability of Gen1 parts and any remaining issues. Let me know what you think!
DDR5 will be expensive and not provide much benefit over DDR4 at first. Are you able to wait another year or two? If not, upgrade now. Don't wait for early DDR5.
I’d hold off for a month before getting the 12th gen Intel CPUs—they’re expected to outperform current AMD options and support DDR5 for enhanced upgradability.
I understand the initial challenges with early adopters. My idea would be to upgrade the sticks for improved performance, but only if you're from the same generation. A decade might be enough, though it's uncertain. Playing in 1800 was already difficult, so I'm not confident my system will handle it well.
I'm uncertain about Intel Atm, but I'll keep an eye on it, just for the sake of it.
I share your perspective. Global supply chains are faltering, especially due to power disruptions in China, and Europe faces its own challenges. The situation isn’t positive—I’m not in the mood for optimism. This decision is tough: invest now while components are affordable and accessible, or delay for a more advanced DDR5 system with uncertain reliability and costs.
Expecting the 12th generation will likely bring a big drop in prices for the 11th generation. Unless you're pushing the limits of requirements or facing discrimination, you probably won't notice a noticeable difference in performance compared to what users expect. I'd say the same applies to DDR2/DDR3 and DDR3/DDR4. As the technology gets more stable, clear benefits will emerge later on. At first, it might seem unimportant, but early models could actually lag behind due to high latency.
Think differently about your hardware choices. Have you replaced RAM, CPU, or the motherboard since your last upgrade in 2012? If you invest wisely now, you might need a change again in eight years. Regardless of whether you used the older DDR4/AM4 model or the latest one, there’s no real advantage or disadvantage. -> Shift focus to CPUs, Motherboards and Memory
I chose to upgrade my gaming PC now. GPUs remain costly, while the rest of the components are priced near their MSRP. I might be being too negative, but I believe this will be the best option available until 2023 for all the reasons mentioned. I could feel like a total mess if the Intel 12th Gen platform arrives at a fair price, though I doubt it. I expect the initial selection of games and DDR5 RAM to be pricey, maybe accompanied by some unstable new technology issues. Of course, I might be mistaken...