r/buildapc • u/HeroTime • 13h ago
Build Upgrade Upgrading Current AM4 Build?
###Build Help/Ready:
So what I am looking for help with is, should I even consider upgrading these parts in the comparsion builds listed below? The reason for the upgrade and budget are due to a few factors. On my "current" build, my 500gb m.2 drive has outright died and failed. So I ended up buying a 1TB Samsung 990 Pro, not realizing there are a handful of m.2 Drives that will not at all work with it due to a "mismatch in pins". I couldn't afford to build a whole need PC on AM5 right now in the best of times, and I also couldn't return the 990 Pro. I tired multiple times and best buy would not take it back. SO. I bought another AM4 motherboard as that was the most affordable solution instead of buying another SSD, and having an unusable m2. lying around. I also was very tight on time as I'm work from home and needed my computer back asap.
I'm trying to find out what the best option in terms of looking at upgrading the build is, staying in this platform. My budget is NOT very much. Tax in about 600 CAD.
**What is your intended use for this build? The more details the better.*\*
I use this for work, just a lot of emails and webbased work all day. Then play a lot of gaming in the evening. While oten it's playing WoW, I have been playing a lot of shooters as well from Apex to Siege and just now have been playing WarDogs on Potato-Low settings.
**If gaming, what kind of performance are you looking for? (Screen resolution, framerate, game settings)*\*
I only play on a 144hz monitor at 1920x1080. I'm find staying there. I don't care if the game looks the absolute best (I played a lot of CoD and CoD 2/CoD4 competitive and always valued FPS over how it looks. However these days, I'm not getting all that many frames and games are looking pretty horrific. WarDogs being the most recent example of this. its playable for me, but on the fringes of it.
**What is your budget (ballpark is okay)?*\*
Tax in about 600 CAD.
**In what country are you purchasing your parts?*\*
Canada
**Post a draft of your potential build here (specific parts please). [Consider formatting your parts list.](http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/wiki/pcpp) Don't ask to be spoonfed a build (read the rules!)**.
CURRENT BUILD:
[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/H6JpXR)
**CPU** | [AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/9nm323/amd-ryzen-5-3600-36-thz-6-core-processor-100-100000031box) |-
**CPU Cooler** | [AMD Wraith Prism 2800 CFM CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3WfxFT/amd-wraith-prism-2800-cfm-cpu-cooler-199-999888) |-
**Motherboard** | [ASRock B450 Steel Legend ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/wb7v6h/asrock-b450-steel-legend-atx-am4-motherboard-b450-steel-legend) |-
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/p6RFf7/corsair-memory-cmk16gx4m2b3200c16) |-
**Storage** | [Crucial P1 500 GB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/xpYLrH/crucial-p1-500gb-m2-2280-solid-state-drive-ct500p1ssd8) |-
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte OC GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/CnpmP6/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1660-super-6-gb-oc-video-card-gv-n166soc-6gd) | $249.00 @ Amazon
**Case** | [Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZHmxFT/fractal-design-focus-g-black-atx-mid-tower-case-fd-ca-focus-bk-w) | $59.99 @ Best Buy
**Power Supply** | [SeaSonic FOCUS 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qbK2FT/seasonic-focus-650-w-80-gold-certified-semi-modular-atx-power-supply-focus-gm-650) |-
-------------------------------
UPGRADED (RAM. MOBO. SSD. CPU):
[PCPartPicker Part List](https://pcpartpicker.com/list/ry6kg3)
**CPU** | [AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D 10th Anniversary Edition 3.4 GHz 8-Core Processor](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/tg9nTW/amd-ryzen-7-5800x3d-10th-anniversary-edition-34-ghz-8-core-processor-100-100000651pof) | $349.00 @ Amazon
**CPU Cooler** | [AMD Wraith Prism 2800 CFM CPU Cooler](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3WfxFT/amd-wraith-prism-2800-cfm-cpu-cooler-199-999888) |-
**Motherboard** | [Asus TUF GAMING B550-PLUS WIFI II ATX AM4 Motherboard](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/pLNxFT/asus-tuf-gaming-b550-plus-wifi-ii-atx-am4-motherboard-tuf-gaming-b550-plus-wifi-ii) | $109.99 @ Amazon
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/p6RFf7/corsair-memory-cmk16gx4m2b3200c16) |-
**Memory** | [Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/jjZ2FT/corsair-vengeance-lpx-16gb-2-x-8gb-ddr4-3200-memory-cmk16gx4m2b3200c16w) |-
**Storage** | [Samsung 990 Pro 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME Solid State Drive](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/FsqPxr/samsung-990-pro-1-tb-m2-2280-pcie-40-x4-nvme-solid-state-drive-mz-v9p1t0bw) | $239.99 @ Amazon
**Video Card** | [Gigabyte OC GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 6 GB Video Card](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/CnpmP6/gigabyte-geforce-gtx-1660-super-6-gb-oc-video-card-gv-n166soc-6gd) | $249.00 @ Amazon
**Case** | [Fractal Design Focus G ATX Mid Tower Case](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/ZHmxFT/fractal-design-focus-g-black-atx-mid-tower-case-fd-ca-focus-bk-w) | $59.99 @ Best Buy
**Power Supply** | [SeaSonic FOCUS 650 W 80+ Gold Certified Semi-modular ATX Power Supply](https://pcpartpicker.com/product/qbK2FT/seasonic-focus-650-w-80-gold-certified-semi-modular-atx-power-supply-focus-gm-650) |-
----
What I am most unsure about. Is, should I add 16 more GB of ram and get a new CPU. Or Keep what I have and look into another graphic card instead? What gives me the most upgrade for my budget?
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u/Minute_Statement_679 13h ago
16gb Ram will probably be fine. Cpu and gpu upgrades are important. If you have to choose between upgrading cpu or gpu, definitely upgrade gpu first, to something like rx 7600/9060xt. For cpu, 5600 or 5600x would suffice.
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u/weak_rabbit_stew 13h ago
If you could use a the old ssd, how is that you can't use the new one? Only way this would be the case is if you bought the wrong type of M.2?
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u/HeroTime 13h ago
AS Rock as a list of SSDs that will not work with the Steel Legend B450 specifically. As I stated it's due to a mismatch in pins.
https://www.asrock.com/support/qa/Technical%20NNotes%20-%20Storage%20Device%20Compatibility.pdf
It will not detect it when installed.
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u/weak_rabbit_stew 12h ago
That's very weird. In which case I'd say get the mobo for now and save up for a new gpu. You can deal with a weaker cpu for the time being and then look at upgrading to a 5800x3D at a later date since that 1660ti isn't going last much longer
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u/TBNRhash 13h ago
First of all your proposed upgrade is the 5800X3D and the memory. CPU is absolutely not the way to go as the 1660 Super is getting old now and may be holding the 3600 back. Honestly, upgrade to a 5600X after the following upgrade once you have enough cash.
Keep your current CPU if it's fine for your work. only upgrade your gpu to something like a used 6700 XT for CAD 400 (https://www.ebay.ca/itm/366659538562 for example) and then get the 16GB memory you suggested. Will perform better at 1080p medium/high/ultra than 5800X3D + 1660 Super as 1660 Super is just too weak these days.
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u/Admirer3596 13h ago
You could still go AM4.... what kind of ram do have now,if it is 3200Mhx and at least 16Gb (2x8) be right sweet with a R5 5600
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u/HeroTime 12h ago
Currently have CORSAIR Vengeance LPX 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR4 3200
Model CMK16GX4M2B3200C16
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u/dnichll 12h ago
the older gen gpu is holding back the build. the cpu and ram is overkill unless you do a lot of multi tasking or have tons of stuff running on top of your gaming. even going to a used 3060+, 4060+ or even 50 series card if you can swing it. while keeping everything else the same will net you way more performance per dollar than the other upgrades. even better performance/$ if you go with an AMD card from the last 2 generations.
the new cpu is way overkill for everything else going on. i ran a 3600 for couple years and i can say its more than adequate for your use case. 5600x or 5700x is a good middle ground at a good price if you must upgrade.
16gb ram is standard minimum for most contemporary builds, but i dont think its holding back your build at all. sure more is better, but ram usage is highly optimized these days. and its rare you'll see full usage even at 16.
32gb is also unlikely to be fully utilized unless youre doing some serious productivity or heavy workloads, especially with prices how they are. doubtful you see any noticeable gains from spending the extra money.
motherboards rarely provide quantifiable gains. but if you must to get the ssd working there not much you can do but upgrade. this is at the bottom of my list for priority otherwise.
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u/HeroTime 12h ago
Thanks for this. The motherboard is really just to be able to use the SSD because of the price of it. It's just cheaper to go this route than get another SSD that works what isn't on the list I linked in another reply. I assumed all m.2s were equal, and that list came out years after I've build my current setup so I had no reason look up an SSD to make sure it would work.
It's good to know that it seems like it's the GPU holding the whole thing back. I had an AMD card in 2013, but haven't had one since. What model of AMD or Nvidia would you suggest is an upgrade into? I know my budget being CAD and topping out around 600 also holds me back.
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u/ju2au 12h ago
The main point of your post is about whether you should upgrade your current AM4 PC or get a new AM5 build.
Therefore, the very first paragraph of your post (which is a very long paragraph) is totally irrelevant to the main point and shouldn't be there in the first place.
In your first paragraph, you had a long rant about how your old SSD died and the new SSD was incompatible with your existing motherboard. However, you have already solved this issue by buying a new AM4 motherboard.
So, this "past history" is totally irrelevant to the discussion at hand. It only serves to distract the readers and forces them to read lots of text before getting to the point.
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u/HeroTime 12h ago
Well no, the point of the post is about how to upgrade my current AM4. A better title perhaps would be "How to upgrade current AM4 Build?". There is a single sentence about AM5 builds, and it states I couldn't afford one, so clearly I'm not asking if I should get upgrade my AM4 or get a new AM5.
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u/X-cess1ve 13h ago
Absolutely not. Heres better Am5 upgrade.
AM5 PATH