AMD’s AM4 platform has had an impressively long run since it debuted back in 2016, powering everything from entry-level office PCs to high-end gaming rigs. Over the years, it supported six generations of Ryzen processors, earning praise for its unmatched backward and forward compatibility. But with the rise of AM5 and newer technologies, many are asking if AM4 is still worth considering in 2025.
For gamers focused primarily on 1080p or 1440p performance, AM4 continues to hold its own surprisingly well. Processors like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D still deliver excellent gaming performance that rivals some newer chips. In games that rely heavily on single-threaded performance or benefit from AMD’s 3D V-Cache technology, the 5800X3D often matches or even outperforms some of the early AM5 processors in frame rates at lower resolutions.
However, if your needs go beyond gaming and into more demanding workloads like video editing, 3D rendering, or streaming, AM5 begins to show its advantages. The newer platform offers faster memory support, higher bandwidth through PCIe 5.0, and much better multi-core performance with the latest Ryzen CPUs. Professionals and creators who need the best performance for productivity tasks will find AM5 a much better long-term option.
One of the most appealing aspects of AM4 in 2025 is its affordability. You can build an AM4-based system for significantly less than an equivalent AM5 setup. Motherboards, memory, and even processors on AM4 are much cheaper, which makes it a smart choice for budget-conscious builders or for anyone upgrading an existing system.
That said, it’s important to remember that AM4 is at the end of its lifecycle. AMD has stopped introducing major new CPUs for the platform, aside from the occasional low-cost refresh. The most recent AM4 release, the Ryzen 5 5500X3D, is aimed at specific regions and budget segments rather than enthusiasts. This means that while AM4 is still a solid option today, there are no future upgrades coming for the socket.
If you already have an AM4 system, upgrading to one of the high-end Zen 3 processors like the 5800X3D or 5700X3D can breathe new life into your build. On the other hand, if you’re building entirely new, AM5 is the better choice for long-term support, access to the latest features, and future CPU generations.
In the end, AM4 in 2025 is all about priorities. If you want great gaming performance on a budget or need a cost-effective upgrade for an older build, AM4 is still a smart and capable choice. But if your goal is to build something that will stay relevant and upgradeable for years to come, it’s time to move on to AM5.
