Choose between Ryzen 3600 and 2700X just for gaming purposes.
Choose between Ryzen 3600 and 2700X just for gaming purposes.
You're looking for a CPU focused on gaming performance with a long lifespan, ideally lasting 5 to 6 years. After reviewing benchmarks, sustained 3600 performance isn't impressive. What's your expectation for it in 2-3 years? You mentioned past experience with i5 vs i7, which is helpful.
No one knows what's coming, so it's hard to be certain. Right now, the 3600 seems like the most reliable choice. Upgrading on AM4 is also straightforward.
It will likely remain functional for another two to three years.
3600 offers superior performance even when handling everyday non-game activities.
R5 3600 offers improved IPC. 2700X provides better performance for multitasking and rendering; 3600 is quicker for gaming, especially at high refresh rates. For the next 2-3 years, I can't forecast accurately. 6c/12t remains reliable, being the most popular CPUs. When midrange was led by 4c/4t i5s, game developers created titles for them, and at higher tiers, 4c/8t CPUs were used. 6c/12t is now more common in the midrange range, with developers targeting both and moving up to 8c/16t for premium systems. Unless they aim for next-gen hardware, they won't build games that won't run on most devices.
It hinges on your target resolution, refresh rate ambitions, the number of games you play, and your budget. At 1080p/60Hz it's hardly a factor, and the 2700x offered solid value for BF at just $159. With 1440p it becomes less critical since high-end GPUs (like 1660 or above) usually struggle to maintain 60fps in this price range. I’d lean toward the 2700x if you’re not aiming for ultra-high refresh rates like 1080p/144+, especially if the 2700x is reasonably priced. For pushing 1440p refresh, a more powerful GPU will be needed, making a 3600 seem like a compromise for a $700 system. A 3700x seems more sensible here. Even with a 2080ti, fps differences between 2700x and 3700x at 1440p+ are minimal, and a GPU from today’s 2060s should keep up for several years before needing an upgrade. That benchmark might better predict future performance. My take: 1080p/60-75 is fine with 2700x (or 2600), 1440p/60-75 is solid with 2700x (or 2600), 1080p/144 is great with 3600 (or higher), and 1440pl144 with 3700x (or better) offers more room for growth.
You're expecting your RX 580 to be replaced by a better GPU in 2021, possibly an AMD model that still performs well.
I own a 2700X that functions perfectly for now, I intend to upgrade it into an in-home server eventually, so I favor more cores. For gaming, the 3600 clearly stands out as the best choice with only minor price increases. The only additional drawback with the 3600 is its cooler isn’t top-notch. The 2700X includes a solid cooler that’s adequate if you don’t aim for overclocking and tolerate some noise. With the 3600, you may need to upgrade later to support higher boost frequencies. Still, the 3600 remains better than the 2700X for gaming.