Swapping a CPU on its own rarely works out cheaper once you account for a new motherboard and matching RAM, which is why the AMD upgrade kit exists as its own category. Buying CPU, motherboard and memory bundled together in South Africa now starts under R4,500, and the range stretches from an integrated-graphics budget build right up to a current-generation AM5 platform. Here is what each price tier actually gets you.

Quick Answer

An AMD upgrade kit is available at Evetech from R4,399 including VAT, and 48 kits are currently available. The entry option is built around a Ryzen 5 3400G whose integrated Vega graphics remove the need for a separate card, while kits from R5,999 upward pair a dedicated-graphics Ryzen chip with a B550 or B650 board and matching memory. Which tier fits you turns almost entirely on one question: do you already own a GPU?

💰 Current AMD upgrade kit prices in South Africa

Prices verified 16 July 2026. These are in-stock models at Evetech, cheapest first, and every price includes VAT.

  • MSI A520M-A PRO Kit - Ryzen 5 3400G + 16GB DDR4: R4,399
  • AMD Ryzen 5 5500 B550 Gaming Upgrade Kit: R5,999
  • AMD Ryzen 5 5500 Upgrade Kit w/ B550 WiFi II: R7,199
  • AMD Ryzen 7 5700 B550 Upgrade Kit with 16GB DDR4: R7,999
  • AMD Ryzen 7 8700F + MSI B650M-P DDR5 5600 Upgrade Kit: R8,499
  • AMD Ryzen 7 5700 B550 Upgrade Kit w/ 16GB DDR4 3200: R9,499

The cheapest kit stands apart from the rest of the list: the Ryzen 5 3400G has integrated Vega graphics built into the chip, so it is a complete no-GPU-needed platform on its own, ideal for a first PC, an office machine, or a placeholder while you save for a graphics card. Everything from the Ryzen 5 5500 upward is a dedicated-graphics CPU that assumes you already have, or will buy separately, a GPU to pair with it. The one outlier at R8,499, the Ryzen 7 8700F kit, is the only entry running AMD's newer AM5 platform with DDR5 memory rather than the older AM4 socket with DDR4, which is why it costs more despite sitting mid-list on price. See the full current range on the Ryzen 7 upgrade kits page.

🔧 AM4 versus AM5: which platform to buy into

Most of this list runs AM4, AMD's older but still fully supported socket, paired with DDR4 memory and a B550 motherboard. It is the cheaper route and a completely valid one if you are not planning further CPU upgrades down the line, since AM4 is effectively at the end of its upgrade path. AM5 with DDR5, represented here by the Ryzen 7 8700F kit, costs more today but has far more road ahead of it, since AMD is releasing its current and future desktop chips on that socket. Planning to drop in a newer processor down the line while keeping the same board? AM5 repays the premium. Treating this as a one-time refresh you will leave alone for years? AM4 still does the job for less. Compare entry-level options on the Ryzen 5 upgrade kits page.

🎮 Matching the kit to what you actually need

If you already own a capable graphics card, any kit from the Ryzen 5 5500 upward gives that GPU a modern CPU platform to run on without bottlenecking it in most games. If you do not own a GPU yet and budget is tight, the Ryzen 5 3400G kit is a genuinely usable starting point for esports titles and everyday use at lower settings, with the option to add a discrete card later once the motherboard and RAM are already sorted. For anyone planning a heavier build with a mid-range or high-end GPU, stepping up to a Ryzen 7 kit gives more headroom for CPU-demanding titles and multitasking. Buyers who want the most current platform and top-tier performance should look at the Ryzen 9 upgrade kits page.

🛒 Where to buy an AMD upgrade kit in South Africa

Evetech's 48 AMD kits start at R4,399 including VAT and span Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 across both sockets, with delivery countrywide and manufacturer warranty on every component. The reason to buy AMD as a bundle specifically is socket sprawl: AM4 and AM5 boards take physically different chips and different memory, and a Ryzen CPU that looks like a bargain on its own is worthless against the wrong board. A pre-matched kit takes that mistake off the table, which matters more on AMD's side than anywhere else in the parts list.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an AMD upgrade kit cost in South Africa?

AMD upgrade kits open at R4,399 including VAT at Evetech. The Ryzen 5 and Ryzen 7 options mostly fall between R5,999 and R9,499, set by the chip, the board and the socket.

What is included in an AMD upgrade kit?

A Ryzen processor, a board that fits it, and RAM of the right type for that socket. It swaps out the core of an ageing PC while your case, power supply, storage and graphics card carry over.

Should I buy an AM4 or AM5 AMD upgrade kit?

AM4 with DDR4 is cheaper and still capable, which suits a one-time refresh. AM5 with DDR5 asks more upfront but leaves room to fit a newer chip later on the same board.

Does the Ryzen 5 3400G kit need a graphics card?

No. The Ryzen 5 3400G carries integrated Vega graphics and runs without a discrete card, which makes it a complete budget platform by itself.

Is an AMD upgrade kit cheaper than buying the parts separately?

Usually yes, or close to it, and the kit is pre-matched, so you cannot end up with a Ryzen chip that will not seat in the board you bought for it.

Rebuilding on Ryzen? Evetech's AMD kits run from budget AM4 bundles through to current AM5 platforms. Decide whether you want the cheaper socket or the one with room to grow, then pick from there.