Choose between Ryzen and Intel processors.
Choose between Ryzen and Intel processors.
I notice some folks recommending Ryzen 3600, while others mention 3700X. Right now I'm playing at 1080p, and a friend with a 3600 gets about 10 to 15 frames per second more in games on similar hardware except for the CPU. If the 3700X doesn't really add performance then I'd stick with 3600.
Do you want the highest possible refresh rate for 1080p? What is your screen's refresh speed?
3700x OC equals 3800x OC only if you're losing money. Nearly every 3700x can reach up to a 3800x, which is quite straightforward to adjust. A 3600 offers solid gaming performance and should match the speeds of both 3700x and 3800x. It has two fewer cores, but most games don't rely heavily on them—some do, and many will. So: 3700x and OC it
You already possess a motherboard capable of handling 3700x or higher. A solid Z390 and a 9400f would be ideal, but if you're aiming for the 9700k, it's worth considering. Your board should handle the Ryzen 4000 series well next year, and 3700x will offer a noticeable boost now. With a 1080ti, the performance gap between these options won't be significant. For a 2080ti, the difference is roughly 5-10%, depending on the game. As long as your GPU is limited to a Ryzen 3000 with DDR4 3600 speed and CL16 or better, you should maintain similar results. Check out "F4-3600C16D-16GVKC" – it's around $80 and well-suited for maximizing performance without breaking the bank. NewEgg still carries it and ships internationally if you're outside North America.
If you recently purchased a 200$ 3600, it should provide a comparable performance lift. Typically, a 3700x offers about a 5% improvement over a 3600, while a 3600 matches the 3000 with DDR4 3600 and CL16+ RAM. Ask your friend about their RAM speed if they're not using a 3600 – that will affect the results more than you think.
3700x remains better for CPU-intensive games (especially newer DX12 titles) or when multitasking (streaming, YouTube). I wouldn't recommend it unless it's on sale for around $330, like during Black Friday. At $3800+, it's usually only stable at 4.4+GHz with good cooling. Most users can only reach 4.15-4.3Ghz under similar conditions. The LN2 record for Ryzen 3000 is still around 5.9GHz, but it's not worth the extra $70 unless you're targeting that specific benchmark. If it drops to about 10% more expensive, I'd only suggest it if it comes back soon.