AM4 vs. AM5: Is It Worth Upgrading During the RAM Crisis

Performance testing highlights minimal gains from platform upgrades amid escalating DDR4 and DDR5 pricing.

Hardware by Shinji Okazaki on Dec 15, 2025

It has become more difficult to consider upgrading platforms given current hardware availability and pricing. Memory prices have risen dramatically, and availability has decreased, making system upgrades that once seemed possible now seem insurmountable.

The issue is not restricted to DDR5. Prices for DDR4 have risen significantly as well. 16GB DDR4 kits that used to feel disposable are now available for under £200. This makes even small system refreshes feel absurd. It looks like key memory makers are making production decisions to protect their margins rather than getting supplies back on track, which means consumers have to wait.

AM4 vs. AM5, Is It Worth Upgrading During the RAM Crisis, NoobFeed

The Reality of the RAM Crisis

In light of this, AM4 and AM5 are being contrasted once more in 2025, this time as a cost-and-value debate rather than as a generational display. There is a problem with RAM.

Pricing data from recent builds indicates the size of the spike. One year ago, 64GB of DDR5 memory cost £180. That same amount of space is now worth £600. A 64GB DDR5 kit that used to cost £185 is now closer to £800. These increases alone make upgrading difficult for most people.

Why the AM4 Question Matters Again

Many users of AM4 computers are wondering whether they are really being shut out of future updates because of the cost of RAM. A lot of places say that AM5 and CPUs like 9800X3D are the only good options. That assumption does not hold up when genuine test data are evaluated.

1080p Performance Comparison

At 1080p, the disparity between systems is present, but smaller than expected. Moving from 5700X3D to 9800X3D in Assassin's Creed increased the game's frame rate by 15%. Cyberpunk saw a 22 fps increase, from 163 fps to 185 fps. Other titles experienced boosts such as210fps to255fps,224fps to237fps,179fps to188fps, and202fps to214fps.

One outlier came in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, where performance went from 251 fps to 330 fps. By contrast, Black Myth Wukong showed only a three fps difference. Benchmarks like Steel Nomad and Port Royal showed absolutely no detectable improvement.

Across 11 tests, the average improvement landed at9.82%. That means the real-world increase is less than 10%, even if the new platform has faster memory and double the storage space.

1440p Results Change the Picture Even More

At1440p, the disparity narrows considerably. The performance disparities often decreased to single-digit frame increases, and several studies showed no change at all. Across the same test set, the average improvement was5.25%.

At 1440p, GPU limitations become more important, and CPU and memory upgrades matter less. At this level of detail, spending a lot of money on a platform update gets you very little in return.

Cost vs. Benefit

Adding an AM4 X3D processor to a GPU upgrade typically costs about the same as DDR5 RAM alone. There are still good ways to update if you are already on AM4 and don't have an X3D chip. Used marketplaces regularly have 7500X3D CPUs available.

5800X3D is also available; however, pricing remains high due to demand. People still don't give 7500X3D enough credit, even though it gives trustworthy results. For most individuals, updating to AM4 is a stable, low-cost way to extend the life of their PC without buying expensive memory upgrades.

AM4 vs. AM5, Is It Worth Upgrading During the RAM Crisis, NoobFeed

When AM5 Makes Sense

We don't think it's a good idea to switch from AM4 to AM5 right now, given the price difference. If you already made the jump, the time was important. Making the same move now is harder to justify.

Practical Advice in the future

Stay on AM4 if you are. Choose which upgrades to make. Focus on X3D processors and GPU enhancements rather than major platform updates. Ride out the current pricing cycle and avoid getting trapped in excessive memory costs.

AMD’s long-term socket support has kept AM4 viable well beyond expectations. That assistance continues to matter when budgets are under pressure. AM4 is still a reasonable and justifiable alternative until RAM prices stabilize.

If you are not upgrading, waiting is valid. Hibernate, maintain what you have, and reenter the market when things improve.

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