Choose between Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel i9 9800X based on your needs.
Choose between Ryzen 5 5600X and Intel i9 9800X based on your needs.
You're evaluating upgrade options for your Ryzen 5 2600 setup. The 9800X and 5600X are both available at similar price points, while the X299 board will be a bit more expensive than the B550. For gaming, you mentioned it mainly plays games, but considering future needs like video editing and streaming, the 10850K ($650) or 5800X ($770) could offer better performance and versatility. It might be worth investing slightly more for those capabilities. Cheers!
Regardless of what you do, the follow-up CPU options for both AMD and Intel come with different sockets, so avoid investing heavily in a motherboard that won’t support future upgrades. What model do you currently have? Would a 3700X with eight cores be a good fit, priced similarly to a 5600? If you don’t plan to upgrade the motherboard, consider a chip that offers a comparable lifespan in terms of functionality. In practice, you’re more likely to hit GPU limits before CPU constraints, even on a 2600.
B550 is compatible with future upgrades? Intel does, but AMD doesn’t treat us the same. Overall, I’m in. If they locate a third-gen Ryzen, it’d save costs and keep you ahead.
i9 9800x delivers 165w, while 5600x provides 65w. Notice the variation. Upgrading to a higher-end cooler would be necessary, increasing expenses. The 5600x should function adequately with a budget cooler such as Hyper 212—likely your existing unit works too.
A third generation Ryzen processor would definitely make a difference. The design updates can't be shown using just numbers for cores and speeds. Check the comparison link for more details.
In 90% of scenarios the 5600X delivers superior performance. It's also more affordable, works well with a budget-friendly motherboard, and doesn't require an oversized cooling solution.
The point is op can keep working with their existing motherboard rather than purchasing a full replacement. Using the current board is more affordable than buying a new one.