Assessing a Ryzen upgrade from 3600: cost-effective or not?
Assessing a Ryzen upgrade from 3600: cost-effective or not?
Hey everyone, seeking some CPU tips here. I recently upgraded my setup in February, and with hardware prices being quite steep, I had to cut back on the CPU choice. Now I have two rigs for gaming—both powered by Ryzen 3600 chips. One uses a B450 motherboard, the other a B550. The B550 model comes with an RTX 3070 and the B450 has an RTX 2060. Both are running smoothly, but I’m thinking about boosting the 3070 for 4K gaming without going all the way overclocked. My goal is to get a solid edge for 4K without spending too much. The 3060 should only limit the 3070 by around 10%, though I’m not entirely sure. I’ve got some spare cash, and I want my rig to stay in good shape for years. The other machine will go to the kids once they’re more responsible with it. Apart from that, it’s working fine except for 4K Cyberpunk, which I double-checked against NASA data. I’m hoping to keep both rigs running well without needing major upgrades for a while. The cooler on the 3600 might need replacing, but it doesn’t get too hot anyway—especially since I live in the UK. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The feedback I got in person was quite different from what the benchmarks said, so I’m open to hearing your thoughts. I’m not an expert, but I appreciate your help!
For a 4K60 experience the 3600 frame rate should be ideal. When handling such high resolution the GPU will handle the most demanding tasks, your CPU shouldn't be an issue. If you aim for smoother performance at higher FPS—like 120—you might need to upgrade your hardware, though achieving 4K120 with any GPU isn't feasible. Edited July 8, 2021 by Forfaxify
The 5800X would stand out thanks to its extra threads and single-core performance. 8 cores are expected to become the standard for future gaming, following the latest console releases. A 5950X wouldn't be worthwhile even with a budget upgrade. If your setup isn’t focused on gaming, go with the 5900X—it offers the best value and 12 cores could help with other tasks. Certain titles like Cyberpunk already support 12 cores, but it’s mainly useful for productivity beyond just games.
The comparison to a 5800x at 4k results in zero improvement. Upgrading the GPU won’t significantly boost performance when gaming at 4k resolution.
Thanks for your quick replies! It seems like a solid 4K experience is out of reach for most people. I’m interested in a 1080p 144Hz monitor—it’s top-notch—and a 4K TV, though it does have some stuttering issues. I understand the RTX 3070 isn’t a powerhouse but it works fine. The 4K TV is restricted to 60Hz, and even with my RTX 2060 it can exceed that at high settings. I’m torn between getting another display or sticking with what I have. A huge 4K screen with smooth performance would be ideal, but they’re expensive and I’m already cautious about big tech purchases lately!
Great, you can still earn over £100 for the 3600 unit, which should help out. I think the stock cooler included with the CPU will work just fine. No need to overclock—just let me know if you'd like a more affordable alternative.
These are mainly designed for gaming with some everyday tasks like YouTube viewing. The setup isn’t demanding and should work fine. A standard 700W power supply should suffice. It seems the system draws around 450W directly.
Interesting! The video implies the upgrade isn't worth it for many games with a 3070. I think this situation will shift soon. I definitely won’t be purchasing a 3090 right now due to current market conditions. The only exceptions are my current games, except for Cyberpunk at 4k, which even a 3090 struggles to handle. I've seen some videos achieving 45-50 fps at 4k, which isn't great, especially after spending a huge sum on the setup.