Is It Worth Waiting for Ryzen 5000?

Tough to say: Personally, I currently use a Ryzen 9 395, a 16-core beast. Despite its power, my experience with Intel's I-9 (presumably referring to the Intel Core i9) has been much smoother for me. Intel consistently offers better performance, quality, and durability in the type of work I do. The Ryzen I'm using now feels like a sluggish beast, often getting hung on even the most basic processes. Despite my efforts to improve its performance, it hasn't budged. I'm constantly annoyed by its shortcomings.

No 4000 Series Ryzens: A Misnomer

There's no 4000 series Ryzen desktop CPU available right now. The so-called G series APUs are actually 3000 series CPUs with integrated graphics. Similarly, the mobile variant labeled 4000 is simply a 3000 series with integrated graphics. This naming discrepancy was addressed by AMD when they skipped the 4000 series numbering. The new 5000 series Ryzens, released recently, are impressive and seem to outperform everything else, including Intel's top-tier solutions.

Was It Worth Delaying?

The decision to wait for Ryzen 5000 depends heavily on your current setup and the tasks you perform. If you were stuck with less powerful CPUs or nothing for a long time, the leap to Ryzen 5000 might be a significant upgrade. On the other hand, if your current setup is already performing satisfactorily, the added performance might not render much of a difference in your daily routine. The upgrade could either greatly enhance your experience, or it might not make a noticeable difference.

Laptop Only Series vs Desktop

While there are no desktop Ryzen 4000 series CPUs, the Zen3 architecture was indeed launched last month for desktops, under the Ryzen 5000 series for AM4 sockets and B550 / X570 chipset motherboards. Older B450 and X470 motherboards can only benefit if they receive a BIOS update. These updates are beta versions and come with a warning: they are irreversible. You must have a Zen2 or Zen1 Ryzen processor to make the update. If you're lucky enough to find a Zen3 in stock with a reasonable price, you can then swap to the new Ryzen 5000 processor.

Maximizing Zen3 Performance

To fully leverage the Zen3's PCIe 4.0 technology, you'll need to upgrade to a B550 or X570 chipset motherboard. This is particularly beneficial if you have an PCIe 4.0 SSD. However, it's not necessary for newer NVIDIA or AMD GPUs, as they do not saturate the PCIe 3.0 x16 lanes.

Conclusion: Should You Wait?

Whether you should wait for Ryzen 5000 depends on various factors, including your current setup and your specific needs. If you're currently stuck with older or less powerful CPUs, Ryzen 5000 might be a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're already content with your current setup, the wait might not be worth it. As with any such decision, it's a case-by-case scenario, and the upgrade could either be a game-changer or a non-event.