AM4 build — $925
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5700
- Graphics: ASUS GeForce RTX 3050
- Motherboard: MSI MPG B550 Gaming Plus
- Memory: G.SKILL RipjawsV - 32GB - DDR4 - 3600MT/s
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AM4 vs AM5: the real price of AMD's newer platform
Updated Sep 13, 2026. Prices come from our catalogue and may have changed.
In our catalogue AM4 boards have a median of $100 and AM5 boards a median of $213, a median gap of $113. Two $1,000-budget builds land close: the AM5 build is $901 and the AM4 build $925, a $24 difference. AM5 spends on the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX and gets the Sparkle Arc A310 GPU and 16GB DDR5, while AM4 spends on the ASUS GeForce RTX 3050, Ryzen 7 5700 and 32GB DDR4.
AM4 vs AM5 in our catalogue today
| Metric | AM4 | AM5 |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest part | $70 (ASRock B550M-HDV) | $123 (GIGABYTE B650 Eagle) |
| Median price | $100 | $213 |
| Parts in catalogue | 17 | 22 |
| Max memory speed (MT/s) | 3,200–5,300 | 6,600–9,600 |
| M.2 slots | 1–2 | 2–5 |
| PCIe x16 slots | 1–5 | 1–3 |
Same $1,000 budget, one build each side
AM5 build — $901
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 8500G
- Graphics: Sparkle Arc A310
- Motherboard: MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX
- Memory: Corsair Vengeance RGB RS - 16GB - DDR5 - 6000MHz
AM5 costs $24 less than AM4 on this $1,000 build.
Cheapest AM4 parts
- ASRock B550M-HDV$70 at Newegg
- GIGABYTE B550M K$70 at Newegg
- ASRock B550 Phantom Gaming 4 AC$80 at Newegg
Cheapest AM5 parts
- GIGABYTE B650 Eagle$140 at Newegg
- Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming$145 at Newegg
- GIGABYTE B850M Eagle ICE$157 at Newegg
Frequently asked questions
Is AM5 worth the extra cost over AM4?
It depends on your priorities. The median AM5 motherboard in our catalogue is $213 versus $100 for AM4, so AM5 boards carry a higher entry price. But on a fixed $1,000 budget our generated builds finished only $24 apart, so the platform choice mainly shifts where the money goes rather than total spend.
Can I reuse my AM4 parts on an AM5 build?
No. AM4 and AM5 use different CPU sockets and different memory, so an AM4 CPU and DDR4 RAM will not fit an AM5 motherboard, and an AM5 CPU and DDR5 RAM will not fit an AM4 board. A platform switch means a new motherboard, CPU and RAM together; the case, power supply and storage are the parts that can carry over.
Which build should I pick on a $1,000 budget?
If you want more graphics headroom in the build as generated, the AM4 side is the one with the ASUS GeForce RTX 3050. If you would rather start on the newer socket and later upgrade the 16GB of DDR5 RAM, the AM5 side with the Sparkle Arc A310 is the entry point. Both builds spend roughly the same $1,000 budget, so it comes down to GPU now versus platform later.
Why did both builds land near $1,000 if AM5 boards cost more?
Because a fixed budget forces trade-offs. The AM5 build spent more on the MSI MAG B850 Tomahawk MAX at $200 and 16GB of Corsair DDR5 at $245, but spent less on the Sparkle Arc A310 at $140 and the Thermalright Assassin X120 Refined SE at $18. The AM4 build put $257 into the ASUS GeForce RTX 3050 and $220 into 32GB of DDR4.
How many AM4 and AM5 parts are in the catalogue right now?
Today there are 17 AM4 parts, starting at $70 for the ASRock B550M-HDV, and 22 AM5 parts, starting at $123 for the GIGABYTE B650 Eagle. More AM5 options does not mean cheaper options: the AM5 median sits at $213 against $100 for AM4.
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