Choose the option that fits your needs best.
Choose the option that fits your needs best.
Price-wise, you could find a 5600x model around 180 dollars on Amazon or a 12600k at about 270 dollars from Best Buy. With your 3060, the 1080p setup still makes sense unless you're looking to save a bit more.
The 12600k stands out as the top CPU choice, yet for casual gaming a 5600 or 12400f would suffice based on which is more affordable between the two.
Consider AMD's AM5 architecture or opt for a 12th Gen processor to prepare for the upcoming 13th Gen core eye seven. I personally tried the B660-G and 12400F with DDR5, though many advise against it. Intel claims a 20% performance boost when using their 13th Gen on DDR5 compared to DDR4. At least that's what people are saying these days.