Missed the AM4 X3D Boat? Yeah… Me Too.
Let’s be honest AM4 upgrade options are now limited. Most of us on AM4 had that thought:
“I’ll grab a 5800X3D later… it’ll get cheaper… great plan!”
And then boom AM4 upgrade options had basically vanished, prices spiked, and second-hand ones are either:
- Worn to death from overclockers, or
- Priced like they’re made of solid gold mined from Mount Doom.
So if your CPU is holding back your GPU, what are your options… realistically?
Option 1: Grab a Non-X3D AM4 CPU (Still Worth It in Many Cases)
If you’re currently running something like a Ryzen 1600 / 2600 / 3600 / 3700X, even moving to:
- Ryzen 7 5700X
- Ryzen 7 5800X
- Ryzen 9 5900X (if you do multitasking / simming / editing)
…is still a big uplift, especially for DCS World, X Plane 12, MSFS, and modern titles that love more cores and better single-core speed.
These chips are still available new and reasonably priced.
Is it 5800X3D magic?
No.
But it’s the best remaining AM4 move that makes sense.
What about 5600 – 5600X Owners (Me too!)
If you’re already on a 5600 or 5600X, the uplift to something like a 5700X / 5800X / 5900X is there, but it’s not going to be night-and-day in DCS, X-Plane 12, or MSFS! These sims are heavily main-thread limited, and the real magic uplift for flight sim came specifically from the 3D V-Cache (5800X3D).
Moving to a higher-core or slightly higher-clock AM4 chip will give you smoother frame times and some headroom, especially in heavy scenery or multiplayer, but don’t expect a dramatic FPS jump.
If you’re on a 5600/X, the only meaningful AM4 upgrade for flight sim performance is the 5800X3D otherwise the gains are more “nice improvement” than “wow”.
Option 2: Watch for a 5800X3D… Just Don’t Overpay
If you absolutely want that sweet 3D cache boost:
- Set eBay / Facebook Marketplace alerts
- Look for gamers upgrading to AM5
- Avoid CPUs that have been hammered with voltage mods (ask about usage!)
A fair price in 2025:
$200–$260 USD / £150–£220 GBP
More than that? Walk away. It’s not worth it.
Option 3: Accept the Truth – AM5 Is the Real Upgrade Path!
I know!
Not what any of us wanted to hear.
But if you’re already thinking about:
- Future GPUs
- Better frame pacing
- Long-term platform updates
…then AM5 is the path forward.
And if you do go AM5 later:
- You can reuse your GPU
- Your PSU is fine
- NVMe drive is fine
The real cost is:
Motherboard + DDR5 + CPU
But once you’re in, you’re good for years.
Upgrade in Mid Tier Components Example:
If your considering keeping your current PSU (Power Supply & Case, Storage SSD/M.2 Drives and upgrading keeping your current GPU then here is a very general Mid Tier upgrade price.
You can go either cheaper or more expensive as you desire.
Here’s a rough guide for a mid-tier upgrade from AM4 → AM5, using a solid CPU + motherboard + RAM combo in the U.S. market. (Yes, I’m doing this too — I’m in the same boat.)
AM5 Upgrade Options Summary & Highlights
- AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D: Listed around US$359 in deals. Tom’s Hardware+2CamelCamelCamel+2
- Gigabyte B650 Eagle AX Motherboard: One board example at US$179.99. Best Buy
- ASUS B650M‑AY/W (WiFi) Motherboard: Lower‐cost AM5 board options have been seen at ~$124. Tom’s Hardware
- Corsair Vengeance DDR5‑6000 32 GB (2×16): Typical DDR5-6000 32GB kits being listed from US$120-$250, though recent trends show ~$160-$170 for standard kits. Wccftech+2Reddit+2
- Corsair Vengeance RGB DDR5‑6000 32 GB (2×16): Similar speed but premium style (RGB/heatsinks) which may push toward upper end of that range.
- The alternate listings (extra CPU & board entries) reflect market variations—used/open box deals or alternative vendors.
Estimated Cost for the Upgrade
Putting together one combo (CPU + decent board + RAM) you’re looking at roughly:
- CPU: ~ US$350-370
- Motherboard: ~ US$150-200 (budget board ~US$120-150, mid‐tier ~US$180)
- RAM: ~ US$120-200 (depending on brand/spec)
- → Total: ~ US$620 – US$770 (before tax/shipping)
This gives you a solid AM5 foundation with DDR5-6000 and a gaming-focused CPU.
Notes & Considerations
- The motherboard cost swings a lot based on brand, feature set (WiFi, VRM quality, form factor).
- DDR5 pricing fluctuates—while DDR5-6000 is “normal” for AM5 builds, you may pay more for lower latency or RGB/heatsinks.
- While the CPU deals show ~$359, some listings are higher; stock and demand affect pricing.
- Make sure your PSU, case, cooling, and GPU are all compatible—because upgrading platform means you’ll want everything to support the new hardware well.
- If you already have a strong GPU and good case/PSU, this upgrade path is fairly “clean.” If not, budget accordingly.
Option 4: Do Nothing (Yes, This Is Also Valid!)
If your games are playable and fun:
- Tune settings
- Cap FPS
- Use FSR/DLSS
- Adjust GPU scheduling
You might squeeze another 1–2 years out of AM4 without spending a penny. AMD may drip some unexpected new CPU’s but that’s a big gamble.
There is some tech available now on RTX 5000 and RTX 4000 GUPs with driver level Frame generation and upscaling for games/Sims that don’t have it. There is talk of the RTX 3000 series also getting this but we will have to wait and see if it eventuates.
Letsflyvfr.com reported this in January or 2025 and the RTX 4000 series had the upgrade mid year so that was impressive. Again we don’t know if or when RTX 3000 will get it but here are the two previous articles you may be interested in reading.
Nvidia RTX 4000 Driver-Level Frame Generation Arrives – RTX 3000 Next? (Post – July 2025)
So What’s the Best Move?
| Situation | Best Choice |
|---|---|
| You want a low-cost boost | 5700X or 5800X |
| You want best AM4 gaming | 5800X3D — only at a fair price |
| You care about future-proofing | Plan your move to AM5 |
| Your games run fine | Just enjoy your system for now |
Final Thought
You’re not alone. I wanted that 5800X3D too.
I pictured it. I dreamed AM4 upgrade options all night.
I even watched benchmark videos at 2am…
And then… poof — gone.
So let’s breathe, adjust expectations, and choose the upgrade path that actually makes sense — not the one we wish was still available.
Author
Brendon McAliece (Aka Gunnie) is a military veteran with 23 years working on Jet Fighters, their weapons systems and ejection seat/module systems as well as munitions and R&D. Involved with flight simulation since the 1980s, he has flown all the major flight simulators over the years.
He is an Australian expat who has lived in Malaysia, UK, Saudi Arabia and more recently Thailand. He is a multi-lingual blogger who loves to share his life experiences here on LetsFlyVFR.com and DreamingGuitar.com, with his lifestyle and Travel experiences Blog plus his Dreaming Coffee website.
Learn More @
DreamingGuitar.com – DreamingCoffee.com – LetsFlyVFR.com
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