Question Best 65W AMD Processor + Motherboard - Home office use, some gaming

[alexb75]

Hi all,

I am STILL on my old Z97 Pro/Intel Core i7-4790K processor, with 32GB RAM, with GTX 1070 GPU. It's still working OK, but I just feels a bit slow now, it doesn't have enough PCI-E lanes for latest SSDs, no USB-C, and not Windows 11 compatible (not that big a deal).

I also have an almost silent PC setup with a silent Case with Noctua U12S cooler, so heat dissipation and quiet and cool setup is most important, hence looking at 65W CPUs ONLY! Usage is 50% home office/coding, 30% photo/video editing, 20% gaming!

So, based on these, WHICH AMD 65W CPU fits the best for a future proof setup? Also, what ATX motherboard to go along with it?!

 

[Order 66]

Ryzen 9 7900 and an A620 motherboard. The A620 is designed to be used only with 65W CPUs

 

[alexb75]

Ryzen 9 7900 and an A620 motherboard. The A620 is designed to be used only with 65W CPUs

Thanks, but that seems overkill and kind of outside my budget, if the extra cores are worth it, I'd spend the extra but not sure if I need more than Ryzen 7 7700, or even 7600! What would I gain over 7700?

 

[hotaru.hino]

If you don't really care about the option of upgrading the CPU later, a Socket AM4 board with say a Ryzen 5600 would be fine here.

If you really want the option to upgrade the CPU later, then a socket AM5 board with a Ryzen 5 7600 would still be plenty.

 

[Peksha]

5800x3d + b550 mobo

 

[alexb75]

If you don't really care about the option of upgrading the CPU later, a Socket AM4 board with say a Ryzen 5600 would be fine here.

If you really want the option to upgrade the CPU later, then a socket AM5 board with a Ryzen 5 7600 would still be plenty.

Thanks, AM4 might do too, I am reviewing the benchmarks and there's a good chunk difference between them, but may not be as huge in real life. AM4 CPUs are almost half the price!

Question on AM4 vs AM5... how much money do I save with DDR4/AM4 mobo by going that route?! I'd like min. 32GB RAM.

 

[hotaru.hino]

Question on AM4 vs AM5... how much money do I save with DDR4/AM4 mobo by going that route?! I'd like min. 32GB RAM.

While I can't do an exact comparison, with parts that I would choose between the two you're looking at spending at least $150 more for an AM5 based system.

 

[Hotrod2go]

While I can't do an exact comparison, with parts that I would choose between the two you're looking at spending at least $150 more for an AM5 based system.

Then can relax knowing support for AM5 until 2026.... unlike AM4.

 

[alexb75]

Thanks guys, what I find interesting is that price difference between DDR5/4 isn't that huge, BUT AM5 motherboards are all significantly more expensive! Like the full featured models are easily into $300-400.

Which motherboard, ATX format, would be a good value with most features needed for my use case (maybe I'd do mild OC) just need all the latest connectivity, BT 5.0+, enough slots and ports, maybe ethernet 2.5Ghz... but most importantly a motherboard to run cool and quiet.

 

[hotaru.hino]

Thanks guys, what I find interesting is that price difference between DDR5/4 isn't that huge, BUT AM5 motherboards are all significantly more expensive! Like the full featured models are easily into $300-400.

Which motherboard, ATX format, would be a good value with most features needed for my use case (maybe I'd do mild OC) just need all the latest connectivity, BT 5.0+, enough slots and ports, maybe ethernet 2.5Ghz... but most importantly a motherboard to run cool and quiet.

Aim for a B650 motherboard. Since you're not planning on running a power hungry processor, you won't need to worry about say the VRM which better ones tend to be shuffled onto the more expensive boards. And while they may not contain the absolute latest and greatest, for basic home office use, you likely won't need those anyway.

 

[Peksha]

Thanks guys, what I find interesting is that price difference between DDR5/4 isn't that huge, BUT AM5 motherboards are all significantly more expensive! Like the full featured models are easily into $300-400.

Which motherboard, ATX format, would be a good value with most features needed for my use case (maybe I'd do mild OC) just need all the latest connectivity, BT 5.0+, enough slots and ports, maybe ethernet 2.5Ghz... but most importantly a motherboard to run cool and quiet.

All Zen 4 (and 7700x) it's not 65W TDP CPU. Real power >>> 80W (avg 100W) for max load.

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Review - The Best Zen 4 for Gaming

With the Ryzen 7 7700X, AMD is introducing their fastest Zen 4 processor for gamers. In our review we found out that gaming on the 7700X runs better than the 7900X and 7950X, thanks to the single CCD design of the 7700X. Just like on other high-end AM5 CPUs, temperatures are a problem though.

www.techpowerup.com

Real 65W CPU - Zen 3 max 8 core (+5800x3d)

 

[Order 66]

All Zen 4 (and 7700x) it's not 65W TDP CPU. Real power >>> 80W (avg 100W) for max load.

AMD Ryzen 7 7700X Review - The Best Zen 4 for Gaming

With the Ryzen 7 7700X, AMD is introducing their fastest Zen 4 processor for gamers. In our review we found out that gaming on the 7700X runs better than the 7900X and 7950X, thanks to the single CCD design of the 7700X. Just like on other high-end AM5 CPUs, temperatures are a problem though.

www.techpowerup.com

Real 65W CPU - Zen 3 max 8 core (+5800x3d)

all non x and non 3d ryzen cpus are 65W example: 7600 non x is a 65W CPU

https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-7600

 

[alexb75]

Aim for a B650 motherboard. Since you're not planning on running a power hungry processor, you won't need to worry about say the VRM which better ones tend to be shuffled onto the more expensive boards. And while they may not contain the absolute latest and greatest, for basic home office use, you likely won't need those anyway.

I think that's all I need, APART FROM, #of SATA! It looks like only 4 is available. I already have 4 SATA drives, 2xHDD, 1xSSD, and 1xBlueray. So, it would limit future expansion if needed, although I guess I would could just replace one HDD with a larger if need to expand, and then use m2 for SSD.

 

[alexb75]

all non x and non 3d ryzen cpus are 65W example: 7600 non x is a 65W CPU

https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-7600

Thanks, from what I can tell, they're all 65W normal operating, while 88W max. Which is OK for me.

What it still baffles me is HOW they can do 6/8/12 cores with SAME wattage?! Makes no sense...

 

[Peksha]

I think that's all I need, APART FROM, #of SATA! It looks like only 4 is available. I already have 4 SATA drives, 2xHDD, 1xSSD, and 1xBlueray. So, it would limit future expansion if needed, although I guess I would could just replace one HDD with a larger if need to expand, and then use m2 for SSD.

6+ sata b650/b650e mobos:

https://pcpartpicker.com/products/motherboard/#s=41&c=160,161&h=0,6&K=6,13

 

[alexb75]

Thanks guys... apparently there's no B650E with 6 SATA ports, some B650, but I found some reasonably priced X670E models. I am thinking of sticking with X670E, as upgrading motherboard is always the hardest, while in future I might change CPU, etc...

What do u all think of these motherboards? These two are quite reasonably priced, similar to B650e models. What are they missing?!

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/42...htning-atx-am5-motherboard-x670e-pg-lightning (4 SATA)

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/fCGbt6/asrock-x670e-pro-rs-atx-am5-motherboard-x670e-pro-rs (6 SATA)

For $20 more, I can get these:

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bGfxFT/msi-mag-x670e-tomahawk-wifi-atx-am5-motherboard-mag-x670e-tomahawk-wifi

https://pcpartpicker.com/product/8yjBD3/asus-tuf-gaming-x670e-plus-wifi-atx-am5-motherboard-tuf-gaming-x670e-plus-wifi

I might wait for Black Friday and get one of the above...

 

[alexb75]

So, during Black Friday (and still), no 65W CPU was on sale... HOWEVER, you can get 7900X, or 7700X at MUCH LOWER prices than 65W versions!!! Which is insane.

Is there an easy way to UNDERCLOCK, and run those X models COOL, for normal operations, and crank it up during video ripping, or gaming?

I essentially want a low power, cool and SILENT PC during 80-90% of daily use, and only need high power during specific tasks.

Thanks

 

[Peksha]

So, during Black Friday (and still), no 65W CPU was on sale... HOWEVER, you can get 7900X, or 7700X at MUCH LOWER prices than 65W versions!!! Which is insane.

Is there an easy way to UNDERCLOCK, and run those X models COOL, for normal operations, and crank it up during video ripping, or gaming?

I essentially want a low power, cool and SILENT PC during 80-90% of daily use, and only need high power during specific tasks.

Thanks

Yes, just disable turbo in bios. For more efficient also enable and configure PBO. Enjoy.

P.s. For example 5950x use ~80-100W CB23 all-core base freq + PBO. Zen 4 more efficient.

 

[alexb75]

Yes, just disable turbo in bios. For more efficient also enable and configure PBO. Enjoy.

P.s. For example 5950x use ~80-90W CB23 all-core base freq + PBO. Zen 4 more efficient.

AM4 even cheaper, should I just do AM4?

 

[Peksha]

АМ4+5800x3d (also "in future"), but EOL, but cheaper.
AM5+7800x3d in future (also upgradable), more efficient, but expensive.
Why x3d? Both CPU locked at 65W, with auto turbo - no need toggle BIOS. Just one time enable PBO.