It feels like AM4 has proven why longevity is important for PC hardware. Most people don’t want to – or have the funds to – upgrade regularly. The fact that AMD just launched a new AM4 CPU, the Ryzen 5 5600F, shows that Team Red still hasn’t given up on the last-gen platform, nearly nine years after it was first released.

We recently put out a poll to gauge what current (or recent) AM4 users think of the platform. It was a pretty mixed bag of results, but it shows that those of you with this aging hardware are happy with your setup, X3D or not. Not a big surprise given the widespread popularity of chips like the Ryzen 5 5600X, which still holds up for many tasks nearly five years later.

At the time of writing, two-thirds of respondents are sticking with AM4. Less than 10% want to switch to Intel. The poll also suggests some users still wish to upgrade to X3D within the AM4 ecosystem before moving on.

When will AM4 stop being good enough?

AMD eventually moved onto AM5 with the Ryzen 7000 series, and has since told us that socket longevity will be a key goal for the platform. There have been three AM5 desktop generations (7000, 8000, and 9000 series), but many people don’t feel pressured to upgrade just yet.

The reality of it is that upgrading means forking out for a new AM5 motherboard and DDR5 RAM, putting a dent in the idea of a budget-friendly build. It’s worth saying that AM5 affordability has improved a lot since it first launched, but those on earlier Ryzen generations can just throw in a 5000 series chip without any extra upgrades, for extremely cheap on AM4.

There will come a time when AM4 processors no longer have the performance to justify the price, but sometimes it feels like this socket doesn’t quit. Sales reports show AM4 CPUs continue to outsell Intel in the DIY market, especially thanks to the popularity of 2024’s Ryzen 7 5700X3D (now that the 5800X3D has been discontinued), squeezing every last bit of performance gamers can get before moving on to a fresh AM5 build.

After nearly nine years of AM4 and nearly five years of the 5000 series, it’s incredible to see how long this socket has lasted. AMD has proven that longevity is key; something Intel has yet to imitate. We’d recommend anyone building from scratch to go for AM5, given all the great AM5 deals and bundles these days, but AM4 is still massively relevant – there’s no doubt about that.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.