Budget AM4 PC upgrade: how to check an ASUS Prime B450M-A II, Ryzen 5 5500, 32 GB RAM and Thermalright Assassin bundle before you build

Step 1: List what is in the budget AM4 upgrade kit

• The kit: an AMD Ryzen 5 5500 (6 cores, 12 threads) bundled with an ASUS Prime B450M-A II, plus 32 GB of DDR4 as two 16 GB sticks and a Thermalright Assassin tower cooler.
• Six cores and twelve threads are plenty for most people: browsing, email, office work and some basic games.
• Two 16 GB sticks are meant for dual channel; if a listing does not say it is a dual-channel kit, a single 32 GB stick is the other option.

Note: The video was used for an economical repair for a customer, not a gaming build.

Step 2: Make sure the CPU and motherboard work together out of the box

• If you buy the CPU and the motherboard separately, confirm they are compatible before you order.
• The cheapest board may only support your CPU after a BIOS update, and without another compatible CPU lying around you may not be able to do that update.
• Buying a matched bundle avoids wasting time and money on extra parts just to get the PC to start.

Caution: A CPU that the board's current BIOS does not support will not work until the BIOS is updated.

Step 3: Read the motherboard's key specs (AM4, B450, DDR4, M.2, PCIe)

• Socket AM4, AMD B450 chipset; the box lists support for 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen Ryzen, Ryzen with Radeon Graphics and Athlon.
• Four DDR4 memory slots; always check that the RAM you buy is compatible with the board.
• Storage: an M.2 slot and several SATA ports, with RAID 0/1 support.
• Expansion: one PCIe 3.0 x16 slot for a video card plus smaller PCIe 2.0 x1 slots; also 1 Gb Ethernet, USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) and an Aura Sync RGB header.

Step 4: Check BIOS FlashBack and the protection features

• BIOS FlashBack lets you reflash the BIOS from a USB thumb drive if something goes wrong.
• 5X Protection III: SafeSlot, surge-protected LAN, overvoltage protection, stable power and a stainless steel back I/O panel.
• The board is labeled Windows 11 ready.

Step 5: Decide between onboard video and a separate video card

• The board has video outputs, which are fine for browsing, email and basic games – not for real gaming.
• If you are a gamer, add a separate video card in the PCIe x16 slot.
• Having onboard video is a useful backup to hand the customer something that works if a video card fails.

Note: The rear video outputs only work with an AMD processor that has built-in Radeon graphics (the box lists “Ryzen with Radeon Graphics”). Check your exact CPU on AMD's spec page before counting on them.

Step 6: Look at the stock cooler's limits

• This Ryzen box includes a small stock heatsink with one fan.
• If you work somewhere hot (like the desert) or stress the computer a lot, this heatsink may not be enough.
• Most modern CPUs slow down or shut off by themselves when they get too hot, but a better cooler avoids that.

Step 7: Check the tower cooler's socket support

• The Thermalright Assassin X 120 SE Plus works with Intel LGA 1700, 1200 and 115x and AMD AM4 and AM5.
• The box carries a hologram label.
• At about $22 it is a very economical upgrade over the stock cooler.

Step 8: Read the fan specs (speed, noise, bearing)

• The sheet lists dimensions, 1500 RPM fan speed, a low noise level of about 25 dBA, airflow and static pressure.
• The fan uses an S-FDB bearing rather than a basic sleeve-type fan.
• Bigger, slower fans are quieter than the small stock fan.

Step 9: Compare the tower cooler with the stock cooler

• The tower cooler is much bigger than the factory cooler and has two fans.
• If one fan fails, the second fan and the large heatsink still keep the CPU cool, so it is unlikely to burn.
• Next: install the CPU and cooler on the AM4 board (see the related guide linked at the top).