Compare AMD Ryzen R5 5600 with Intel Core i5-12400F plus Radeon RX 6600.
Compare AMD Ryzen R5 5600 with Intel Core i5-12400F plus Radeon RX 6600.
I'm starting to assemble a PC for my sibling and am struggling to choose between these two processors with the Radeon RX 6600. Right now, they enjoy playing simulation games like Sims 4 and Crusader Kings III with numerous mods, and they might tackle some triple-A titles in 1080p. Their usage pattern for software is as follows: Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe After Effects, and Adobe Premier Pro.
Currently, I'm weighing these two setups:
1. R5 5600 (~$130 USD) + Asus TUF B550M-PLUS WIFI II (~$131 USD) = $1,234 MYR ~$261 USD
2. i5-12400F (~$137 USD) + Gigabyte B760M DS3H AX (~$132 USD) = $1,261 MYR ~$269 USD
Here are the components for the R5 5600 build. Upgrading to the i5-12400F and a B760M motherboard would add about $8 USD.
The CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 3.5 GHz (~$130 USD)
Cooler: ID-COOLING SE-214-XT 68.2 CFM (~$16 USD)
Board: Asus TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS WIFI II (~$131 USD)
RAM: Corsair Vengeance LPX 16 GB (~$40 USD)
Storage: Silicon Power A60 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME (already bought)
GPU: Asus DUAL Radeon RX 6600 8 GB (~$214 USD)
Case: 1st Player T3 Gaming Case (~$33 USD)
Power Supply: 1st Player SteamPunk SP-650SP (~$64 USD)
Remaining budget: $2,936 MYR (~$627 USD)
My sibling won’t plan any upgrades for several years, so durability is key. From reviews it looks like the i5-12400F edges out for gaming, while the R5 5600 shines in productivity tasks. I’m also thinking about the Intel Core i3-12100F—it seems promising for games but might struggle with Adobe apps. Also, Wi-Fi is essential.
If improvements existed, the i5 would perform significantly better, especially on AM4 platforms where it could reach 5700X, 5800X3D, and 5900X models. On Intel systems, it would support the latest generation chips (12th, 13th) and possibly a refresh of the 13th as the 14th. Overall, I’d prefer a more robust power supply.
Choose Intel for speed in this scenario, but if your sibling isn't gaming often, go with AMD. It should handle Paradox titles well and the 6600 performs quite nicely overall. Creative Cloud will also run smoothly. Intel's base clock is low, so with proper cooling you should match AMD performance, and the difference will be minimal.
The peak turbo output for the 12400 model reaches 117 W, and both units have a TDP of 65W. Your friend’s overclocked 5600 stays under 75°C during stress with the AMD Wraith cooler. Yes, you should consider AMD options. Intel isn’t great here—it lacks an unlocked multiplier. Try tweaking a few or all cores slightly; that should beat Intel, since it was only about a 10% gap initially.
Avoid relying on tier lists that only cover a tiny fraction of tested PSUs. A 650W gold priced at $65 is still reasonable compared to new units, especially considering the quality of available options. I still recommend used models since they often offer better value.
The cost of a 40-50$ unit gives you an 850W gold, which is a solid upgrade. In Indonesia, you can find competitive prices—around $200 for a 6700XT and even lower. That means you might be able to snag good deals on used units there too.
RAM and SSD brands don’t really matter much; most components come from the same manufacturers. A 32GB chip costs about $62 new, and you can often get better deals by sourcing used parts.
You could also look at overclocking options or using bare PCBs with OEM parts to boost performance without breaking the bank. For example, a $47 package for two PCBs can deliver speeds up to 3800/4000, though you’ll need some manual tuning.
Samsung or Hynix chips are preferred because they’re reliable, but you can still achieve good speeds with the right setup. The 5500 series is a solid choice, though you’ll need to verify compatibility with your tower’s cooling and case size.
If you’re in Indonesia, consider checking local shops or online platforms like ToKopedia or Bukalapak for used parts. A B350 Tomahawk for $60 or a B450 for $80 are both reasonable options.
If you have access to a used B3/450, adding a $10 Wi-Fi card could work well. In general, the sweet spot for quality cases is around $30-40, especially with local brands and Chinese manufacturers.
Here’s a revised version of your message:
First, thank you for your thorough response. To clarify, my sibling is looking for completely new components for the PC. Regarding the power supply, do I really need such a high wattage unit? An 850 W seems excessive for this setup. Also, how can you judge the quality of a power supply if you think the PSU tier list isn’t trustworthy?
We’re still planning to go with the RX 6600 because my sibling wants a brand new graphics card, and it offers good value for the price. I agree on the RAM choice—I’ve found Kingston Value 16 GB sticks at around 150 MYR each. My sibling prefers the 1st Player T3, and clearance for the graphics card is fine. I’ll still verify the CPU cooler clearance; if it’s too bulky, we might use the stock one temporarily.
What makes you think the R5 5500 is worth considering? It lacks PCIe 4.0 support and has half the cache compared to others. Right now, I see it on Shopee for 429 MYR. I was also thinking about the motherboard, but the built-in Wi-Fi (2x2) lets it connect to a Wi-Fi AP and act as a hotspot. Since my sibling uses this feature often, finding a Wi-Fi card with similar capabilities isn’t cheap, so the overall cost will remain similar. I know a local app that sells used parts—Carousell—but I doubt my sibling would be interested in buying something secondhand.
Well, it looks like I spotted a solid new 6700xt for 1090 somewhere. There seems to be more options around the 1000 range, but this one includes protection. From the review, the 6600 runs about 40% slower at 1080p and 50% slower at 1440p based on 12 game averages. If you're looking for a much worse gaming experience than expected, it might fit the bill. It's not that the tierlist is bad or unreliable; there are plenty of good, unrated choices. Also, people often depend too much on tierlists when there are many solid alternatives, and the list focuses a lot on technical specs that don’t really matter in practice.
For parts, the New 5700x808 myr is available for $173. The 5500x is at $428 myr / $92. The PA120SE 140x is $30,000 myr. If the HMA82gu6djr8n isn’t in stock, there’s another option at $150 myr / $32. The Samsung M378A2K43DB2 works too, just ensure you’re not overspending over 150 myr for more alternatives.
If you want something cooler at a lower price, the Strix B450-f gaming 400 myr / $86 is a good pick. The 6700xt for 1090 at $233 myr / $33 is also worth considering. For future GPU upgrades, the Zalman Wattner 1000w at $350 myr / $75 is an option. If you’re planning ahead, the Ps-700fk 170myr / $36 and the 750w UDMG 300 myr / $64 are available too.