Seeking advice on new platform to build with

ShadowChaser · January 10, 2023

Helping a friend piece out a build that's going to take place in the coming month and I'm really going back and forth on what platform to put him on. Given that he has about $1.2k to spend I wanted to target ~$500ish for the primary platform (CPU/Mobo/RAM/Cooler) so that there's $500 for gpu and $200 for the case and psu. He's got decent periphs and such so no need for an upgrade there, but a 6700K and 1070 is really quite long in the tooth and I'm sure this would be leaps and bounds over what he currently has. Since the primary focus is gaming only I've decided to stick with 16GB of ram as upgrading that is quite simple down the road should it ever become necessary.

The three choices that immediately came to mind were the following:

1. AM4 Holdout (5800X3D + semidecent AM4 mobo + 16gb of fast DDR4)

2. AM5 Entry level (7600 + semidecent AM5 mobo + 16gb of middling DDR5)

3. Rkt Lake Midrange (13600KF + semidecent B660 + 16GB of middling DDR5)

I priced out the platforms and immediately threw out the first idea. 5800X3Ds are still well over $300 and that's just not worth it since in terms of gaming it's roughly on par with the 7600(X).

A 13600KF on DDR4 reaches price parity with a 7600 on DDR5, presumably the 13600 would do better as though it's slower memory the improved latency should favor it? We're talking 3200CL16 or 3600CL18 vs 5200CL36

7600 Platform Cost

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7600 4.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($230.00)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Assassin King SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($22.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock B650M PG RIPTIDE Micro ATX AM5 Motherboard ($169.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: *Patriot Viper Black 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR5-5200 CL36 Memory ($69.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $492.87

13600 D4 Platform Cost

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-13600KF 3.5 GHz 14-Core Processor ($308.67 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Burst Assassin ARGB 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler ($22.33 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: MSI PRO B660M-A DDR4 Micro ATX LGA1700 Motherboard ($129.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: *Silicon Power GAMING 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16 Memory ($40.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Total: $501.98

If we're talking short term obviously the intel platform is better since it's both better for gaming and in productivity, but looking a few years down the road I do believe that the amd system might be the better choice since an in socket upgrade will likely be more feasible compared to the intel one. Thoughts?

Batman x · January 10, 2023

I am pursuing the AM5 route and actually just bought the Patriot Ram but paid the extra $5 for 5600. I am doing the same thing you are minus the motherboard ( I want ATX). I really like going AM5 because of the longevity it will have in the space. That would be my choice.