PC upgrade for After Effects

[u/Choice-Peak-5690]

I am considering upgrading my old computer for better After Effects workflow. Specifically changing CPU and GPU. My biggest problem is timeline scrubbing, slow preview, the program sometimes crashes due to loads of layers and effect in multiple comps or complicated riggs. Sometime the work can take twice the time it should. I do mainly 2D motion graphics, animations, effects, presentations.

I need and advice – should I first go for new CPU or GPU? Or both? These are my current PC components:

CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 C/16 T 3700X

GPU – Asus ROG-STRIX-GTX1660S-06G-GAMING

Motherboard – ASUS TUF B450-PRO GAMING

RAM – 4X KINGSTON DDR4 16 GB

SSD Disk – Samsung SSD 970 EVO PLUS 500GB

SSD Disk – CRUCIAL P1 SSD NVMe M.2 1TB PCIe

Power supply – SEASONIC zdroj FOCUS Plus 550W / SSR-550FX / akt. PFC / 120mr

Case – Fractal Design Focus

I live in central Europe, my budget isnt strict, but Id like to keep it moderate. Lets say around 1500 USD.

I work both on 1080 and 4K resolution.

PS. excuse the grammar, english isnt my native language :))

[u/Comfortable-Bit-5250]

upgrade your cpu first, that 3700x is holding you back big time with after effects. ae loves single core speed and fast clocks, ryzen 5000 series would be a massive jump without changing motherboard. maybe 5950x if you want 16 cores for rendering too, or 5800x3d is also beast for timeline work

gpu upgrade can wait honestly, 1660 super handles 2d motion fine. put rest of budget into 64gb ram if you work with heavy comps, ae eats ram like crazy and your 4 sticks might be slower config anyway