Every PC builder faces a pivotal decision: how to balance cost savings with future performance. It’s a classic dilemma, particularly when considering major platform shifts. Many enthusiasts wonder if they can save a few dollars now by opting for slightly older, yet still capable, hardware. This often leads to questions about choosing between mature, budget-friendly platforms and the cutting-edge, more expensive alternatives.
The video above touches on a specific version of this very question: is it sensible to build a new gaming PC in 2025 using an AM4 platform with a Ryzen 7 5800X and an RTX 4070 graphics card, primarily to save money compared to an AM5 system featuring a Ryzen 5 7600X? While the instinct to save money is perfectly understandable, especially given the rising costs of PC components, a deeper look reveals why this approach might not be the best long-term strategy for many builders.
Understanding the AM4 vs. AM5 Platform Choice for Your PC Build
When you’re embarking on a new PC build, the choice of platform — specifically the CPU socket and its associated motherboard chipset and RAM type — is arguably the most fundamental decision. The AM4 platform, which supports AMD’s Ryzen 1000 through 5000 series CPUs, has been a workhorse for years. It’s known for its broad compatibility and the affordability of its DDR4 memory.
In contrast, AM5 is AMD’s latest socket, introduced with the Ryzen 7000 series processors. This modern platform exclusively uses DDR5 RAM and brings with it newer chipsets, offering features like PCIe Gen 5 support. For a new PC build, especially in 2025, understanding the implications of these generational differences is crucial, affecting both initial cost and future upgrade potential.
The Immediate Savings of an AM4 Build
There’s no denying that opting for an AM4 platform for a new PC build can lead to significant immediate savings. As noted in the video, choosing an AM4 Ryzen 7 5800X over an AM5 Ryzen 5 7600X means more than just a cheaper CPU. Furthermore, you’ll benefit from the lower cost of AM4 motherboards, which have been on the market for a long time and have seen their prices stabilize and decline.
In addition, DDR4 RAM, required for AM4 systems, is considerably less expensive than its DDR5 counterpart. These combined savings, spanning the CPU, motherboard, and memory, can easily amount to anywhere from $100 to $200, making AM4 appear very attractive on a tight budget. However, these upfront savings come with a trade-off that impacts the longevity and upgradeability of your gaming PC.
Performance & Longevity: The Three-Generation Gap
The Ryzen 7 5800X is a powerful CPU, especially for gaming, and paired with an RTX 4070, it will deliver excellent performance today. This combination can handle most modern games at high settings, offering a solid gaming experience. Despite its capabilities, the 5800X represents a CPU architecture that is several generations old compared to current offerings.
Specifically, the 5800X uses AMD’s Zen 3 architecture, while the 7600X is based on Zen 4. This represents a two-generation leap in core architecture, along with the subsequent Zen 5 architecture already on the horizon. Each new generation brings improvements in Instructions Per Cycle (IPC), power efficiency, and overall performance, meaning newer CPUs can do more work per clock cycle. Building a $1200 to $1500 system around a three-generation-old CPU in 2025 means you’re investing heavily into a platform that is rapidly aging, potentially bottlenecking your high-end graphics card sooner than expected.
Future-Proofing Your Gaming PC: Why AM5 Excels
One of the strongest arguments for choosing AM5 for a new PC build, even if it costs a bit more upfront, is its future-proofing potential. AMD has committed to supporting the AM5 socket through at least 2025, and likely beyond. This commitment means that if you start with an AM5 motherboard today, you can expect to upgrade your CPU to future generations without needing to replace your motherboard and RAM.
This single factor profoundly impacts the long-term value of your system. When you decide to upgrade your processor, perhaps in two or three years, you will only need to purchase a new CPU. Your existing AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM will remain compatible, saving you significant money and hassle down the line. Conversely, an AM4 system offers no such upgrade path for future CPU generations, effectively making it a dead end for new CPUs.
The Benefits of DDR5 RAM
Another crucial element of the AM5 platform is its exclusive use of DDR5 RAM. While DDR4 is cheaper and still performs adequately, DDR5 offers higher clock speeds, greater bandwidth, and improved efficiency. Initially, the real-world performance gains of DDR5 over DDR4 for gaming were modest, but as game engines and software become more optimized for the higher bandwidth of DDR5, the performance gap is widening.
In a couple of years, as games demand more from system memory, DDR5 will likely become a more significant performance factor. If you’ve invested in an AM4 system with DDR4, you’ll find yourself stuck with an older memory standard, missing out on potential performance uplift. Upgrading from DDR4 to DDR5 would require a complete platform overhaul, including a new CPU, motherboard, and RAM, negating any initial savings.
Strategic Budgeting for Your Next PC Build
So, what does this mean for someone looking to build a new PC in 2025 while keeping costs in check? The key is strategic budgeting and understanding where to best allocate your funds. For most new PC builds, especially those around the $1200-$1500 mark with components like an RTX 4070, investing in a current-generation platform like AM5 is generally the smarter long-term move.
If your budget is extremely constrained, perhaps under $800, then an AM4 build might make more sense, but with caveats. For such a low budget, you’d likely be looking at a less powerful graphics card than an RTX 4070, along with a more modest CPU. In this scenario, the total cost of the system is low enough that the future upgrade limitations are less impactful because the entire system is designed as an entry-level, cost-effective solution without significant expectations for future high-end upgrades.
Alternatives to Maximize Value
If the goal is to save money on your PC build without sacrificing future upgrade potential, there are other strategies to consider. One approach is to start with a more modest AM5 CPU, such as a Ryzen 5 7500F or even a Ryzen 5 7600 non-X, which can be more budget-friendly than the 7600X. This still provides an AM5 foundation, allowing for future CPU upgrades down the line.
Additionally, you could scale back on other components initially, like opting for a slightly less expensive power supply unit (PSU) or a smaller solid-state drive (SSD), knowing these are easier and less costly to upgrade later than a core platform change. Another option is to keep an eye out for sales and bundle deals on AM5 motherboards and DDR5 RAM, as prices continue to fluctuate. Ultimately, for any new PC build in 2025 that aims to last, prioritizing the modern AM5 platform over an aging AM4 setup will provide far greater value and flexibility in the long run.
