The video explores budget-friendly CPU upgrades for Star Citizen on AM4 DDR4 systems, highlighting that while the Ryzen 5800 X3D offers strong performance, Intel’s 12th-gen 12700 KF provides even better value despite requiring a new motherboard. It also notes that Star Citizen’s engine increasingly benefits from CPUs with more cores and threads, making higher-core-count processors a worthwhile investment for smoother gameplay without fully switching to expensive DDR5 platforms.
The video discusses upgrading a PC for playing Star Citizen on a budget, focusing on systems using AM4 motherboards with DDR4 RAM. The presenter starts with a typical setup of a Ryzen 3600, 32GB DDR4 RAM, and an RTX 3080, which struggles to deliver smooth performance in Star Citizen, especially in cities like Lville, where frame rates dip below 30 FPS. Although upgrading to a high-end CPU like the Intel 9800 X3D would significantly improve performance, the cost is prohibitively expensive, mainly due to the high prices of RAM and new components.
The presenter explores more affordable CPU upgrade options while retaining existing DDR4 RAM. Upgrading from a Ryzen 3600 to a Ryzen 5600 or a Ryzen 3700X yields only modest improvements in frame rates, with no major gameplay impact. Interestingly, the Ryzen 3900X, which has more cores and threads, performs better than both the 5600 and 3700X, suggesting that Star Citizen’s engine may be becoming more optimized for multi-threading over time, a shift that warrants further investigation.
The Ryzen 5800 X3D, considered the best AM4 processor for gaming, offers a significant performance boost in Star Citizen, particularly in demanding city environments. However, its high secondhand price of around £330 makes it an expensive upgrade. The 5700 X3D is a slightly cheaper alternative but still costly. Despite these prices, these CPUs represent some of the best options for DDR4 users seeking to improve their Star Citizen experience without switching platforms.
Switching to Intel, the presenter tests the 13700 KF paired with the same DDR4 RAM and finds it outperforms the Ryzen 5800 X3D. However, buying these newer Intel CPUs secondhand carries risks due to known degradation issues, making the slightly older 12700 KF a safer and more affordable choice. The 12700 KF offers comparable performance without the reliability concerns, and although it requires a new motherboard, it may be the best value upgrade for DDR4 users wanting a significant performance increase.
In conclusion, while DDR5 and newer platforms remain expensive, DDR4-based systems still have viable upgrade paths for Star Citizen players. The Ryzen 5800 X3D remains a top AM4 choice, but Intel’s 12th-gen 12700 KF offers compelling performance for those willing to switch platforms. The video encourages viewers to consider their budget and priorities, noting that Star Citizen’s engine may now benefit from CPUs with more cores and threads, making certain higher-core-count processors more worthwhile than previously thought.