Advice Please - Update Existing System Elements or Replace Completely

[Teloriun]

Having had really good feedback over the last 10 years, I'd appreciate your input once more. It's a bit of an open ended conundrum really.
Currently running an AM4 system, and to be fair, its still pretty good most of the time. I'm wondering whether I can tweak elements of the system to get a few more years out of it without breaking the bank too much.
I think the x3d CPUs may be overkill for my needs and if I have to go that way, maybe I should update to AM5, but tbh I don't know.

As always appreciate your time and respect your feedback.

Purchase Timeframe: 2-4 weeks

Budget: Depends on pathway, 500/1000?

Usage: Gaming @ 1440p, no VR. Still heavily into Total War games, Bannerlord, Baldurs Gate and some FPS (eg. 2042, BF5, Warzone) - I want to play Cyberpunk and BF6 decent visually (I'm old, no longer sweaty and prefer eye candy)

Preferences: Team Red for CPU, either for GPU.

Current Hardware: dates relate to when they were added to system if relevant

Lian Li Lancool II ARGB Midi-Tower Case - Black 2022
Corsair RM Series RM65 PSU 2022
Sapphire Radeon RX 6700 Pulse Gaming OC 10GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card 2022
AMD Ryzen 5 3600 Gen3 6 Core AM4 CPU/Processor with Wraith Stealth Cooler 2019
MSI AMD Ryzen B450M MORTAR MAX AM4 MicroATX Motherboard 2019
Crucial Ballistix Sport LT BLS2K8G4D32AESEK 3200 MHz, DDR4, DRAM, 16 GB (8 GB x 2), CL16, Red 2019
ViewSonic VX2718-2KPC-MHD 27 inch Curved Gaming Monitor, 2K QHD (2560 x 1440), 165Hz, 1ms, Dual Integrated Speakers, Adaptive Sync, DisplayPort, 2x HDMI, Flicker Free, Low Blue Light Filter 2021
Samsung 840 250GB (OS drive)
Samsung 860 QVO 1TB
Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 1TB (yes, mechanical, lol)

Peripherals: N/A - will use current mouse, kb and monitor

Special Needs/Requirements (inc Wi-Fi): Run out of space often with games (patches and mods), need an M.2 type drive 2/4tb if poss. If updating to AM5, then I guess Wifi/Bluetooth might be a bonus, not a necessity though - I use a hub with powerline adapter currently.

 

[tamzzy]

You can upgrade your current setup. Your mobo will need a bios update beforehand

5700x3d
Thermalright peerless assassin 120 se
32gb ram
9070 (non-xt)
2tb nvme ssd

 

[Tetras]

Budget: Depends on pathway, 500/1000?

This is a max budget upgrade, though if you only have the stealth cooler I'm not sure you'd like the results with the 9700X

It also misses out the new M.2/SSD you wanted.

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 9700X Eight Core 5.50GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-02676) = £269.99
• 1 x Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WIFI6E (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-GIG-03859) = £149.99
• 1 x TeamGroup Vulcan EXPO 32GB (2X16GB) DDR5 PC5-48000C38 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit - Black (FLABD532G6000HC38ADC01) (SKU: MY-0B2-TG) = £79.99
• 1 x PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Reaper 16GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-PWC-04020) = £499.99

Total: £1,007.95 (includes delivery: £7.99)​

Alternative with the SSD (there's a cooler in the CPU box, though I think the same "wraith stealth"):

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DW-AM) = £160.99
• 1 x Gigabyte B650 EAGLE AX (Socket AM5) DDR5 ATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-GIG-03573) = £124.99
• 1 x PNY XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-51200C36 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-PNY-04564) = £77.99
• 1 x PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Reaper 16GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-PWC-04020) = £499.99
• 1 x Crucial T500 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-CRU-01090) = £131.99

Total: £1,003.94 (includes delivery: £7.99)​

 

[Gray2233]

If I was spending £270 on a CPU purely for gaming right now I'd opt for the 7600X3D over the 9700X personally.

Currently out of stock at OCUK but they no longer have a monopoly on the part in the UK.

A £15-20 Thermalright single tower HSF should be enough cooling for it too tbh, pretty low TDP, I'm fine with one on the higher TDP 5800X3D.

 

[Teloriun]

Appreciate all your responses. Leaning towards sticking my current setup, but have a few follow up questions (sorry).

AM4
Already have an updated BIOS so that should be OK.
Regarding the M.2, I realise it'll drop down to gen3 speeds, but am I limited to drive size or specific drive?
For memory, presumably if I match existing 3200 MHz, DDR4, 16 GB (8 GB x 2), CL16 I should be ok?

AM5
Rough worth for existing CPU, MOBO, GPU and memory if I manage to sell? (realise its buyers market, but I'd want to get rid quickly to make space so wouldn't go top end worth)

Just to double check, all below are correct for AM4?

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Reaper 16GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-PWC-04020) = £499.99
• 1 x Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE Black Dual Tower CPU Air Cooler (SKU: COO-TLR-03285) = £34.99
• 1 x Crucial T500 2TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-CRU-01090) = £131.99
• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D Eight Core 4.1GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-01799) = £218.99
• 1 x Team Group Vulcan Z T-Force 16GB (2x8GB) DDR4 PC4-25600C16 3200MHz Dual Channel Kit - Grey (SKU: MY-0AK-TG) = £39.95

Total: £933.90 (includes delivery: £7.99)​

 

[NetMan]

am I limited to drive size or specific drive

No but if you find a bargain somewhere double check what type of cache it has and the endurance rating

if I match existing 3200 MHz, DDR4, 16 GB (8 GB x 2), CL16 I should be ok

Maybe...
Maybe not...

Using 4 sticks puts more stress on the memory controller on the CPU which can cause the system to become unstable unless you run the memory at a lower speed.

I don't know if its a common problem but I've read that it has been known for a manufacturer to change the IC's so two sets of RAM purchased at different times might not be the same spec but could be branded the same.

So its best to avoid using 4 sticks with AMD unless you really need a lot of RAM.

Rough worth for existing

Don't think second hand prices are allowed to be discussed outside MM.

Just look at one of the places that has recently sold listings to get an idea.

Personally I think the second hand market is a bit of a mess and prices often seem very high for old kit.

I would only consider buying something local that I could collect which narrows your market and I wouldn't buy 3600 unless it was a bargain if there were say a 5600 listed for not a lot more I'd pick the newer chip.

Just to double check, all below are correct for AM4?

That RAM is listed on Overclockers page as having an XMP profile to set the speed on Intel boards so you might need to set the speed manually on AM4.
You need EXPO to set the speed on AMD but you might need to reduce the speed manually anyway if you use 4 sticks... Oops thats DDR5 on AM5 not DDR4 on AM4 (thanks tamzzy)

To confuse things further some ram might have bothe XMP and EXPO profiles built in...

A review on Overclockers page still suggests XMP on this RAM doesn't work well on AM4 boards...
"After installing into a ROG Strix B450-F Gaming II motherboard, this is detected as 1.2V, 2400Mhz memory and some of the timings are wrong. Can be corrected in the BIOS, but be warned that this happens. Otherwise, so far has been flawless."

 

[tamzzy]

That RAM is listed on Overclockers page as having an XMP profile to set the speed on Intel boards so you might need to set the speed manually on AM4.
You need EXPO to set the speed on AMD but you might need to reduce the speed manually anyway if you use 4 sticks...

To confuse things further some ram might have bothe XMP and EXPO profiles built in...

incorrect. EXPO only exists for DDR5.
for AM4/DDR4, AMD uses XMP (or DOCP as they call it)

 

[tamzzy]

Appreciate all your responses. Leaning towards sticking my current setup, but have a few follow up questions (sorry).

AM4
Already have an updated BIOS so that should be OK.
Regarding the M.2, I realise it'll drop down to gen3 speeds, but am I limited to drive size or specific drive?

just tidied up the list with cheaper compnents:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D Eight Core 4.1GHz (Socket AM4) Processor - Retail (SKU: PRO-AMD-01799) = £218.99
• 1 x Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB Black CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: COO-TLR-02724) = £29.99
• 1 x Team Group MP44L 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-TMG-03129) = £99.94
• 1 x PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Reaper 16GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-PWC-04020) = £500.00

Total: £856.91 (includes delivery: £7.99)​

i've not specced RAM here as the prices at OCUK are prohibitively expensive - look elsewhere

 

[tamzzy]

For memory, presumably if I match existing 3200 MHz, DDR4, 16 GB (8 GB x 2), CL16 I should be ok?

possibly, but possibly not. for best compatibility, 2x 16gb will be the safest
if you want to chance it, then you can try 4x 8gb sticks

 

[tamzzy]

if you want to jump to AM5, you can do so for about ~£100 dearer than an AM4 upgrade:

My basket at OcUK:

• 1 x AMD Ryzen 5 7600 Six Core 5.10GHz (Socket AM5) Processor - Retail (SKU: CP-3DW-AM) = £160.99
• 1 x Asrock B850M-X WiFi R2.0 (Socket AM5) DDR5 mATX Motherboard (SKU: MOT-ASR-05290) = £124.99
• 1 x PNY XLR8 Gaming EPIC-X 32GB (2x16GB) DDR5 PC5-51200C36 6000MHz Dual Channel Kit (SKU: MEM-PNY-04564) = £77.99
• 1 x PowerColor Radeon RX 9070 Reaper 16GB GDDR6 PCI-Express Graphics Card (SKU: GRA-PWC-04020) = £499.99
• 1 x Team Group MP44L 2TB SSD M.2 2280 NVME PCI-E Gen4 Solid State Drive (SKU: STO-TMG-03129) = £99.95
• 1 x Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE ARGB Black CPU Cooler - 120mm (SKU: COO-TLR-02724) = £29.99

Total: £1,001.89 (includes delivery: £7.99)​

the 7600 trades blows with the 5700x3d for games in general, but it is 6 cores vs the 5700x3d's 8 cores
if you play specific games, eg: MSFS/MMOGs/FPS (such as BF/COD), then the X3D chips lead in performance

also the thing with buying AM5 now is that you "only" have 1 generation left of CPU upgrades
if you max out am4 now with a 5700x3d, then you won't need to upgrade to am5 and can skip the whole generation altogether...your next big upgrade will be am6 or the intel equivalent
if you buy into am5 now, in a few years you'd be asking the same question: max out am5 or jump to am6

 

[Teloriun]

thanks again. i'll stick to the AM4 for now, parts ordered and i'll look into memory (2x16) separately to help reduce issues.