1600AF future proofing
1600AF future proofing
You're considering upgrading from your current setup. The Ryzen 1600AF could work well, but it might limit how fast future GPUs can run. You'd want to check the maximum supported GPU speed in your system settings to see how much room you have before hitting a bottleneck.
You'll likely rely heavily on game quality and your graphics settings. The 1600af won't show much improvement in single-threaded performance. The main bottleneck will probably match what you already have. I wouldn't push for 1080p gaming unless you're targeting a 1660, 2060, or 5500xt. Unless you're planning a Ryzen 3 upgrade within the next year or so, skip that CPU change. Save your budget and consider mid-range models later this year unless you have urgent needs.
Upgrading to 1600AF/2600 means you're chasing outdated improvements. Switching to a third-gen device later is pointless. If you can afford it, move straight to the latest generation and skip the middle step. Otherwise, a 1600AF will still serve you well, but don't rush upgrades before the chips' value fades.
The 1600AF is built on Zen+, which doesn’t outperform a modern 4th gen i5 for gaming—especially since CPU gains have slowed over the years. The R5 3600 (or 3500/3500x) would be a better choice, offering longevity up to around a 2080Ti if the game isn’t extremely demanding. Even then, it should work well with a 2070S or 5700XT. Because future titles usually push GPU needs much faster than CPU, you can expect solid performance across at least two generations of graphics cards.