Question CPU or GPU upgrade

[goodboy84h]

Targets: 1080p gaming AAA title with smooth 1% lows

Hypothetically speaking if I have a 8600K paired with 5600xt, what would be a better upgrade
a. Moving from 8600K to R5 7500 for a cost of ~400$ with same GPU
b. Moving from 8600K to R5 5600 for a cost of ~300$ with same GPU
c. Moving from 5600xt to 6700xt for a cost of ~300$ with same CPU system

 

[Lutfij]

A build isn't comprised of just the CPU and GPU. We're going to need context, as in your full systems specs. Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
include the age of the PSU apart from it's make and model. BIOS version for your motherboard at this moment of time.

So in order to get the most out of your hypothetical Ryzen 5000 series upgrade, you'd need to be on a B550 chipset motherboard and DDR4-3600Mhz dual channel, tight latencied ram kit. If you went with AM5, then you're going to need a dual channel DDR5-6000MHz ram kit with AMD"s E.X.P.O advertised on it.

 

[goodboy84h]

Currently I am on 4770k with 5600xt lol, thats why hypothetical.

I could go from here to Z4G4 w-2135 (4x8GB 2666MHz) in ~250usd (with possibility of GPU upgrade)

or, I may go to 5600 (no OC, reliable MBD and PSU, 2x16GB 3200 MHz) in ~450$
but I am inclined to go 7500F (no OC, reliable MBD and PSU, 2x16GB 5600 MHz) in ~600$ since it will give me upgrade path later on with just CPU replacement

in either ryzen case, I will not be able to upgrade GPU any longer. 6700xt is around ~300$ (which is only possible under budget if I go Z4G4 build

 

[helper800]

Currently I am on 4770k with 5600xt lol, thats why hypothetical.

I could go from here to Z4G4 w-2135 (4x8GB 2666MHz) in ~250usd (with possibility of GPU upgrade)

or, I may go to 5600 (no OC, reliable MBD and PSU, 2x16GB 3200 MHz) in ~450$
but I am inclined to go 7500F (no OC, reliable MBD and PSU, 2x16GB 5600 MHz) in ~600$ since it will give me upgrade path later on with just CPU replacement

in either ryzen case, I will not be able to upgrade GPU any longer. 6700xt is around ~300$ (which is only possible under budget if I go Z4G4 build

What is the exact budget?

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 7500F 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($134.76 @ AliExpress)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WIFI6E ATX AM5 Motherboard ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL28 Memory ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Total: $414.74
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-03-12 13:34 EDT-0400

 

[goodboy84h]

Not exceeding 600$
Started on 200$ w-2135 machine (then decided to go w-2145)
Now thinking 5600 or 7400F

Let me rephrase my confusion. What I am interested is:
AAA titles gaming on 1080p (or 1440p if GPU upgraded)
Smoother experience (better 1% lows) is higher priority than fps (40 fps is okay too)
Longevity like 5-6 years without single upgrade and additional 2-3 years with GPU only upgrade

With above needs, which option is better:

a. W-2135/W-2135 + (6700xt or new GPU like 9060xt)
b. 5600x + 5600xt (maybe 6700 or new GPU like 9060xt)
c. 7400F + 5600xt

 

[helper800]

Not exceeding 600$
Started on 200$ w-2135 machine (then decided to go w-2145)
Now thinking 5600 or 7400F

Let me rephrase my confusion. What I am interested is:
AAA titles gaming on 1080p (or 1440p if GPU upgraded)
Smoother experience (better 1% lows) is higher priority than fps (40 fps is okay too)
Longevity like 5-6 years without single upgrade and additional 2-3 years with GPU only upgrade

With above needs, which option is better:

a. W-2135/W-2135 + (6700xt or new GPU like 9060xt)
b. 5600x + 5600xt (maybe 6700 or new GPU like 9060xt)
c. 7400F + 5600xt

Here is my complete reccomendation:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 9600X 3.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($223.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Gigabyte B850 EAGLE WIFI6E ATX AM5 Motherboard ($169.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Flare X5 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL28 Memory ($109.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF3 TT Premium 750 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply ($95.99 @ Amazon)
Total: $599.96
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-03-12 21:39 EDT-0400

The 9600x has about the same average FPS as the 5800X3D which is the pinnacle gaming chip for the AM4 socket. This still gives you room to upgrade the CPU in 3-4 years with whatever the best gaming chip in the AM5 socket. I added a very good PSU that will allow up to a 400w GPU with the rest of your build comfortably such as a 9070 XT. Next upgrade should definitely be a graphics card ASAP.