If you have a gaming PC that is getting old but still has a graphics chip you are happy to use, you may be wondering what the cheapest upgrade you can buy for Christmas. The Ryzen 7 9800X3D is the best gaming CPU available at the moment. It is veryexpensive, but there is an alternative that is much cheaper: the Ryzen 7 7700X3D.
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The cheap X3D AMD is a great upgrade for any budget gaming computer. It comes with the performance-boosting 3D-V-Cache. You don't have to spend a fortune to get the motherboard, RAM and cooler you'll need. You can upgrade your system for less than $370, and it will keep your computer running smoothly for many years to come.
The best budget PC upgrade
- AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D | $197 @ Amazon
- $90 @ Amazon
- $45 @ Amazon
- $34 @ Amazon
Total cost = 366.36
AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D
The Ryzen 7 is the best gaming CPU for the money. There are cheaper processors which are still good for gaming, but I always choose this one. I used it in my test rig and reviewed it earlier this summer.
It's powerful enough to handle tasks other than gaming, thanks to its eight cores and sixteen threads. It's capable of video editing, photo manipulation, and offline rendering.
The secret sauce of this chip is the additional 64 MB L3 cache that's bonded to the main chiplet. This gives a total 96 MB last-level cache. It won't make a difference in some games (but won't worsen them either), but it will boost minimum frame rates in CPU-heavy scenarios.
ASRock Phantom Gaming
This ASRock AM4 motherboard is the most basic of them all. However, you can still install two SSDs as storage and it also has a PCIe slot for graphics cards. It doesn't have onboard Wi-Fi, but it has a free M.2 key E slot and a mounting bracket to allow you to install one if necessary." data-widget-type="deal" data-render-type="editorial">
There are better AM4 boards than this ASRock B550, but if you want to save the most money possible, it's a good choice.
You can add more storage by purchasing an SSD adapter card and installing it in one of the spare PCIe slots. You have six SATA slots that you can use to add drives if you still need more.
The number of USB ports is a bit sparse on the rear IO panel. Six USB ports is a bit too few, but there are at least three USB headers.
This model is not overclocked, but you don't have to. You can just slap the chip in (not literally as you will bend all the pins!) Add some RAM and a cooler, then you're good to go.
Team Group DDR4-3200 32 GB
This Team Group set is a great value and comes with plenty of speed." data-widget-type="deal" data-render-type="editorial">
Every gaming PC requires RAM. Every computer needs RAM, whether you're gaming or running a fridge. But if you're gaming, then you need a large memory kit with low latencies and a fast speed.
This Team Group 32 GB DDR4 Kit has RGB lights all over. While you may want to spend extra money on these things, it's not worth it when you are on a budget.
AMD's AM4 Ryzen CPUs are best paired with RAM that runs at 3,200 MT/s with a CAS Latency of 16. Don't spend extra on something with higher numbers, as you won't see any benefit in games.
Thermalright P120SE
Amazon: $34.49The Ryzen 7 5700X3D is a bit hot, but you don't really need a large AIO liquid cooler to handle the heat. Thermalright's air cooler is not just a good value for money, but also a very good one." data-widget-type="deal" data-render-type="editorial">
The Ryzen 7 5-700X3D does not come with a cooling system. While you may be tempted to use the one you already have, why would you want to do that? Buy the Thermalright PS120SE instead. It's the only cooler you'll need for that Ryzen chip.
Do not be fooled either by the low price. It is a very capable machine. I have three of these machines in my office, some as spares and others for testing. They can handle processors that are much larger with ease.
The installation can be a bit fiddly and the fans can be noisy when they are running full-pelt. But these are minor complaints.
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