Choose between the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3800X for your build.
Choose between the Ryzen 5 5600X and the Ryzen 7 3800X for your build.
when you trade off single-core speed for extra cores that aren't needed, it can feel unnecessary. I own a 3600 and 3900X, and I enjoy multitasking while gaming on two monitors on both systems. The performance differences are pretty similar for most games today.
It's not about whether someone can't use it, but rather what matters most to them. Generally, I don’t really focus on that, but in this case about "new CPU with fewer cores versus older with more," I wanted to see if single-core performance or multi-core options were relevant for the person in question. I’m not trying to judge anyone’s choices—I just want to know if the newer model would actually help them.
Staying with existing components until a code change demands more powerful parts traps you in a cycle of becoming outdated. By the time you realize you must upgrade, you often face higher costs to acquire additional hardware for the transition. When the 9900K was released, most didn’t require eight cores; having five and a clock speed of 3.3 GHz was sufficient—even if seven cores were unnecessary. Perhaps we should focus on CPUs with fewer cores but higher performance per core, instead of the other way around.
Focus on practical options when both parts are readily accessible, preferably from the same retailer. The BIOS update requirements vary by processor—only the upcoming AM5 release is likely to appear soon. After that, any chip based on AM4 will face increasing "obsolete" costs and limited availability, making unexpected issues more expensive.
If your goal is a system lasting three years, choose the 5600X. For longer longevity, consider the 3800X/XT; however, the 5800X is the top recommendation. Performance in games may become more apparent with eight cores compared to six or eight, but by then you might prefer a newer, more affordable CPU. Personally, four cores with eight threads is the bare minimum in 2021, while six cores with twelve threads offers a solid balance. Even a single Intel 10-core chip could work well—depends on budget, of course. But if you plan to upgrade again in a few years, buying the 3800 seems unnecessary.
Are you looking for a Zen 3 5600? In my region it's been out of stock for a while. The 5800 isn't that popular, so finding one should be simple. If you're in the budget for a GTX 1060, I'd recommend going for the 6-core model and investing in something better. The unboxed description matched what I remember correctly. This advice should help if you're not aiming for competitive play. For those who rely on gaming, it's worth getting top-tier hardware.
Not exactly, my 3800XT remained roughly 20% quicker than the 5600X for all-core Cinebench R20. That's just one story.