So what am I running...
I run a Win2019 HyperV server, on which one VM is my main fileserver... the main host also acts as a NAS storing my Music and Video (6 drive double parity HD's, 3 drive Cache acceleration) - CPU is AMD 2400G, Motherboard is X570, 64Gb RAM. - The server sometimes gets a bit slow when I run additional VM's to experiment with various things - would run better with a CPU having more cores (4700g/5700g?)
My main home PC, is a DIY HTPC, using a HDPLEX H5 heatsink case, B550 m/board, with Ryzen 4750G CPU... I have the CPU slightly constrained, to keep its TDP below 80W - the case can handle a GPU with passive cooling as well, but I am still working through the complexities of doing that. (it is fitted with 16Gb RAM) - so this one is completely silent, no fans - sits in the main stereo/HT setup, and is my primary source component.
What do I need, and how much performance is needed - well, based on visual acuity, screen watching distance in my lounge/HT, etc... 1080p is all that is required - 4k gains me nothing, while making the CPU and GPU work harder! - HDR is potentially a gain, although I have yet to enable it - I have very little wide gamut material or streaming, and what I have seen, didn't look any different in my setup, with my room constraints. (bright room, large floor to ceiling glass lots of sun!)
I need it to support all my video and audio formats (easy!)
So my thinking in terms of upgrades....
1) Upgrade the CPU in the HTPC, while keeping it to a 65W TDP - move from the 4750G to perhaps a 5700(X)
2) Upgrade the HTPC GPU to an RX6600 - which can be passively cooled by the case heatsink - requires a bit of undervolt and underclock - but no more than the same chipset in the configuration used for laptops! - need to limit it to around 80W.
3) Trickle down the 4750G to the server - doubling its core's - should allow it to run more smoothly
That makes best use of my existing hardware, boosts performance and extends lifetime of each platform ...
Ryzen 7000 - yes, interesting - but what do I gain? - the TDP as proposed at present rises from the existing models at 65W, to new models at 105W - this is starting to push the cases heatsink abilities - and for what? - at the resolutions I run, I can achieve 60FPS+ on the games that I play (mostly older and mostly strategy) - with the addition of an external GPU, I should be able to raise the performance to where it can handle more demanding, modern games at higher FPS - as long as I keep to 1080p.... which with my 65" screen, and 2.5m viewing distance, is the highest resolution that provides me with any resolution gains. - going to 4K provides no visible improvement (unless I move 1m closer to the screen)
So yeah - at this stage, there is no gain - performance of the SSD's and HD's in my systems are adequate to my requirements, and a long long way from being a bottleneck - I feel I can "sweat" my platforms for another CPU Generation or 2.
My old HTPC still works (Phenom X6 1065T, 16gb DDR2 RAM) - but something is wrong with its GPU - which is running really nasty hot - it has been my backup system (always nice to have a backup) - I semi-retired it, in my (successful) efforts to make a silent fanless PC - but if it weren't for that GPU fault, it is still perfectly capable of running all the software I use. (no it does not support Win11.... so it is truly reaching EOL)
Right now, I really don't see a place for a Ryzen 7000.... overkill, it would gain me nothing, and would require new M/B's and new RAM - I can wait another couple of Generations.