Value of 7900x exceeds 5900x
Value of 7900x exceeds 5900x
I might need help stopping myself from spending £450 right now, so please understand. Right now my system includes a 6700X, Z170 motherboard, 16GB DDR RAM at 2400MHz and an Nvidia GTX970. As you can see, I no longer play games much, and I don’t plan to start any new ones. Most of the time I use it for work tasks—like connecting to a VDI, handling large spreadsheets, editing photos (mainly in Lightroom), and general computing. My setup is quite old, and I only noticed how frustrating it was to make video calls from home when my CPU stayed at 100% because of network load. Upgrading my RAM seemed like a good idea, but importing into LR felt a bit slow. I can find the Ryzen 5900X 2x32GB DDR4 @3600MHz B550 ASUS STRIX ATX board for around £450 on Amazon. These have been in my wishlist for some time; once they were over £700, I started thinking about moving to a Ryzen 9000 series or even the newer 7700X/7900X. Right now, the alternative would be a Ryzen 7 7700X 2x32GB DDR5 @6000MHz on an Asus B650 TUF board—about £650. The B550 with DDR4 is still a solid choice, but a 5000 series CPU feels outdated. I think it could keep running smoothly for another 4 to 5 years before needing a refresh, giving me time to upgrade my current machine for a long-overdue NAS. What do you think?
Honestly, the 5900x is much more than necessary for your needs, and having 64GB of RAM would be even better. My setup is already hot, which makes the cooler noisy. It worked well when it was new, but I wouldn't purchase it today. For your situation, I'd recommend a 7700x with 32GB RAM. The AM4 platform is outdated, so unless you're targeting very low-end builds, it's not worth it.
I’d prefer AM5 over AM4 in late 2024 for several reasons beyond raw speed. AM5 offers longer life and, unlike the 7500F, includes an integrated graphics unit—something the 5900X lacks. That could become important if you need to fix issues or rely on the GTX 970 elsewhere; otherwise it might not matter. In my view, PGA connections are inferior due to frequent pin issues, which often force me to bend pins under pressure. Sometimes retention quality on AM4 is so bad that removing the cooler can ruin the CPU. I’d favor LGA over PGA for longevity reasons. DDR5 RAM is expected to perform better over time compared to DDR4 and offers greater bandwidth now, enhancing overall stability. ECC DDR5 could be a solid choice if you value reliability, though it’s becoming more affordable. DDR4 ECC exists but may no longer justify its cost. With the rise in memory speed with DDR5, your apps will benefit. When replacing your motherboard, using AM5 parts ensures compatibility and simplifies upgrades or troubleshooting. For CPUs, an R7 7700 should suffice; even a budget R9 7900 works if you’re okay with potential overclocking risks.