Upgrade from Ryzen 7 1700 to Ryzen 5 5500
Upgrade from Ryzen 7 1700 to Ryzen 5 5500
It depends on whether you require eight processing units or a six-core processor that runs quicker, or which games you're playing on that machine.
Which board is being discussed? The Ryzen 5 5600 is recommended because it offers more cache compared to the 5500. Even though the 5600 is pricier, it remains a solid upgrade as it sits just above the 3600 but below the 5600—just a heads-up. If you own RAM modules with high-speed capabilities like Micron DDR4 or DDR5, you can push performance up to around 5000 with a 1:1 infinity fabric. The 5500 is essentially a modified 5600 with an disabled IGPU and a monolithic die, offering better IMC than typical non-APU chips. It doesn’t matter much, but if you ever need RAM with capable modules and a powerful motherboard, the choice is likely available.
I purchased the 1700 mainly due to its discounted price, which made me question whether an 8-core setup was necessary. Discovering that the 5500 is now available for 90€ sparked my interest in whether it could offer improved gaming performance. I enjoy a mix of esports games and AAA titles.
ROG Strix B450-F Gaming offers a higher price point, which is why some prefer the 5500 over the 1700. The performance boost from the B450-F compared to the 1700 isn't clear—your setup lacks fast memory, so the gains might be limited.
High speed RAM works best when overclocked, so binning isn't crucial. Just because you have a standard 3200 rating doesn’t mean it’s free from quality issues like Samsung Cdie or Hynix models. You can inspect the IC on the burner, but real gains usually require pushing the RAM to high frequencies and using quality components. Aim for max clock speeds—typically around 5000 MHz—but be aware that high freqs can cause temperature problems. For noticeable improvements, you’ll need a solid IC such as Micron Rev E or DJR, along with a good cooling solution. If you want to try, don’t push RAM above 4600 unless you’re comfortable with the risks; extreme speeds can really stress components. This setup isn’t for beginners, but copying profiles from others or using tools like Ram Tweaker can help you get started. Free hardware documentation is available, and a 3600 MHz RAM will likely outperform older models by a significant margin, especially in multi-core scenarios.