Suggestions for Possible System Upgrades
Suggestions for Possible System Upgrades
Current Build details:
CPU: AMD 3600
CPU cooler: Wraith Cooler included with CPU
Motherboard: B450 Tomahawk MAX BIOS Version - 3.K0
Memory: 16GB 3000MHz DDR4
Storage: 15GB SSD, 500GB M.2 NVME, 4GB HDD
GPU: AMD 6650XT
Power Supply: MSI MAG A850GL 850W, 80+ Gold purchased on June 14th 2025
Chassis: Zalman Z3 Plus purchased in 2025
Operating System: Windows 11
Display: 2 x LG UltraGear 27GN800P-B 27" IPS QHD 144Hz 1ms Gaming Monitor
Estimated Purchase Date:
If required, before 12th September 25
Budget Range:
£1500 for a new build, the lower the better
Usage Priority from Highest to Lowest:
Gaming first, then mainly YouTube and general browsing
Are you purchasing a monitor?
No
Upgrade Items:
Potential upgrades include CPU, MOBO, RAM, possibly GPU and case. PSU can be reused
OS Purchase Needed:
No
Preferred Parts Sources:
Usually Amazon, depending on delivery when checking PCPartPicker
Location:
UK
Preferred Component Preferences:
CPU: AMD (otherwise not a concern)
Overclocking: Possibly at end of life to try and extend component life, but not initially
Multiple GPUs: No
Monitor Resolution:
2560 x 1440 144Hz
Additional Notes:
Primarily for gaming, especially first-person shooters. Will enjoy playing games like FM24 with mods. Considering whether a full build is worth it to save money, or if I should skip the GPU, PSU, and case upgrade, or opt for an AM4 CPU instead to prolong system usability.
Most importantly, why are you upgrading?
Reviewing specs for Borderlands 4: minimum CPU requirements suggest at least 8 cores. My model only has 6. I’ve noticed that top-end AM4 CPUs aren’t significantly cheaper than AM5, but this would also mean needing to upgrade MOBO and RAM, increasing costs. I’m wondering if starting fresh would be a better option.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer! My Current System is: CPU - AMD 3600 MOBO - B450 Tomahawk MAX RAM - 16GB 3000MHz DDR4 GPU - AMD 6650XT Please list the specs to your build like so: CPU: CPU cooler: Motherboard: Ram: SSD/HDD: GPU: PSU: Chassis: OS: Monitor: include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time. This has mostly come to my attention more since the release of the Borderlands 4 specs. https://www.corsair.com/us/en/explo...5a...LLwBrSeCrx You actually meet the minimum system requirements for the game(at the time of writing). I also went looking on PCPartPicker with United Kingdom selected as the region, a 5800X3D( £679, as every other listing shows out of stock, apart from Amazon) is more expensive than a 9800X3D( £405 ). If you want to upgrade while retaining AM4's platform, you would need to hunt for deals on local marketplaces or Ebay, which I'd advise against. I would change the case in 2025, for a better ventilated front panel. Due to your ram, you've left some performance on the table. AM4 loved working with tight latencied dual channel, DDR4-3200MHz ram kits(Ryzen 3000 and above on B450 chipset) or tight latencied dual channel, DDR4-3600MHz ram kits(Ryzen 5000 on B550 chipset). Rectifying that wouldn't be a cost effective route if going brand new ram kit. It's best if you stylized your thread with info asked of in this thread; *How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice* How to Ask for New Build or Upgrade Advice First off, respect where respect is due - this is an adaptation of the Animal's *How To Ask For New Build Advice* Sticky. I created this because there's a lot of posts nowadays asking for upgrade advice both on here and on the CPU forums, and I feel... forums. and the community would be offered more context to your predicament, and the community will chime in worthwhile suggestions.
PCPartPicker Parts Selection
CPU:
*
AMD Ryzen 7 7700X 4.5 GHz 8-Core Processor
(£228.00 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
*
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE 58 CFM CPU Cooler
(£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard:
*
ASRock B850 Pro-A ATX AM5 Motherboard
(£144.50 @ NeoComputers)
Memory:
*
Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£85.99 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card:
*
Asus PRIME OC Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Video Card
(£562.99 @ Box Limited)
Case:
*
Montech AIR 903 BASE ATX Mid Tower Case
(£48.94 @ CCL Computers)
Overall Total:
£1100.41
Costs encompass shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest-priced items based on specified parameters
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-08-11 14:24 BST+0100
Ryzen 7 7800X3D + RX 9070 XT + wifi / bluetooth
PCPartPicker Parts List
CPU:
*
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor
(£336.97 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler:
*
ID-COOLING FROZN A620 PRO SE 58 CFM CPU Cooler
(£29.99 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard:
*
MSI B850 GAMING PLUS WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard
(£169.99 @ Amazon UK)
Memory:
*
Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 Memory
(£85.99 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card:
*
Asus PRIME OC Radeon RX 9070 XT 16 GB Video Card
(£619.99 @ Amazon UK)
Case:
*
Montech AIR 903 BASE ATX Mid Tower Case
(£48.94 @ CCL Computers)
Final Amount:
£1291.87
All prices contain shipping, taxes, and any available discounts
*Lowest cost components determined according to criteria set
Thank you for your feedback, I wasn't aware there was a template available. Running the build through systemrequirementslab.com showed that the main issue was my CPU having only 6 cores while the game requires at least 8. That's why upgrading the CPU seemed like a good idea. You mentioned you might want to improve your RAM, but if I'm purchasing new components, I think going for DDR5 would be the best choice.
PCPartPicker Parts List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D 4.2 GHz 8-Core Processor (£336.97 @ Amazon UK)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB 66.17 CFM (£29.00 @ Computer Orbit)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B650 GAMING X AX V2 ATX AM5 (£133.95 @ AWD-IT)
Memory: Patriot Viper Venom 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL30 (£85.99 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: PowerColor Reaper Radeon RX 9070 16 GB Video Card (£499.99 @ Overclockers.co.uk)
Case: Montech AIR 903 MAX ATX Mid Tower Case (£54.98 @ Scan.co.uk)
Total: £1140.88
Includes shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
Created by PCPartPicker
2025-08-11 14:48 BST+0100
5.0 isn't required in this case. A 9070 isn't fast enough to fully saturate a 4.0 x16 bus. The performance difference is similar to that between a 7900xt and a 4.0 bus, with even a 5090 performing almost as well. It's essentially just a small margin of error.
Your r5-3600 features 6 cores yet offers 12 processing threads, which seems adequate.
The issue lies in whether your system is constrained by CPU or graphics capabilities.
Try this basic check:
Launch your games with reduced resolution and visual effects.
This can slightly strain the graphics card.
An increase in FPS suggests your CPU can handle better graphics settings.
If FPS remains unchanged, it points to a CPU bottleneck.
You could switch to a model like the 5800X for more threads and improved single-thread speed.
Min requirements need an 8-core chip for Borderlands 4.
https://www.corsair.com/us/en/explo...lB...hnQHehuQMk
OP: A simple upgrade would be a 5800x, focusing on the CPU side. It satisfies the suggested CPU needs, though GPU performance might still fall short.
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X 3.8 GHz 8-Core Processor
(£123.99 @ Box Limited)
Total: £123.99
Prices cover shipping, taxes, and available discounts
Generated by PCPartPicker
2025-08-11 17:26 BST+0100
You might also consider a 9070/9070xt; it could slightly reduce performance in a 3.0 x16 slot, but I wouldn’t anticipate major drops since a 5090 only drops around 4%
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
*
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor
(£117.99 @ Box Limited)
Total:
£117.99
Costs cover shipping, taxes, and applicable discounts
*Selected lowest prices based on specified parameters
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-08-11 18:37 BST+0100