Comparing AMD first, second, and third generation CPUs highlights their evolution in performance and features over time.
Comparing AMD first, second, and third generation CPUs highlights their evolution in performance and features over time.
The top choice for budget gaming and editing right now is a mid-range AMD CPU, such as the Ryzen 5 or Ryzen 7. Upgrading from the third generation to the first or second generation offers some benefits but may not significantly improve performance for most users. It depends on your specific needs and budget.
Early generation Ryzen chips are offering great value right now. If you're looking to upgrade a very old setup on a tight budget, these are solid choices. A Ryzen 5 1600 often comes around $80 or less, while the 1700X is just over $100. The Ryzen 5 2600 stays under $100 USD, and the Ryzen 7 2700X usually costs about $170. Third generation options are great for both gamers and professionals seeking performance without breaking the bank, delivering similar gaming experiences to Intel at a lower price, plus strong workstation capabilities if you need them. AMD provides solid value across all price ranges, with a single socket allowing upgrades spanning four generations.
Second generation works well on tight budgets, third generation fits a standard budget and offers strong performance at 3900x or 3950x/2700x. A 3600 provides excellent value for games, while 2600 suits budget gaming needs.
Usually I bypass the first generation, opt for the second for 1440p/4K gaming, then the third for 1080p for gaming or work—this gives me the best value I found. A 2600x model was listed at 110 USD, included Blender, and the 2700x version was 150 USD.
on a tight financial plan, around $500 for a full setup with roughly half spent on the motherboard, RAM, and CPU would be ideal. I’d avoid high-end models like the 2600-series, opting instead for an 1700 configuration. This allows smoother editing with better performance. Since the 1000-series RAM is limited to about 2666 MHz, I’d choose a lower-end RAM option. Invest in a solid B450 motherboard—such as the MSI B450 Tomahawk or ASRock B450/B450 Pro4—to set up for future upgrades. Eventually, you can move up to faster RAM and higher-end CPUs within a couple of years.
If your budget ranges from $650 to $900 total, aim for a decent B450 motherboard priced around $3600, paired with 3000-series RAM (around $900) and a CPU costing about $350–400. A 2700 processor would be a good fit if you can find it used for under $120, or if you already have an OEM build that only supports up to the 2700. With a weaker CPU like a 1500 or 2200G, the jump from 2700 to 3600 becomes more appealing, especially if the latter offers better value and performance for your needs.
For the first two generations, I generally suggest the third generation. The third generation adds nothing new while not significantly boosting performance. They might also become outdated soon, especially because they’re both 6C/12T.
However, if you really want 1080P at 144Hz gaming, boost the resolution up to 1440P or more. The CPU limitation will shift to the GPU. Presently, my VEGA64 struggles at 3440x1440 with a 75Hz display, but once Ampere and NAVI 23 arrive mid-2020, I’ll just accept it. The VEGA64 can still run the games I play at a fair frame rate and solid in-game performance (High or sometimes Very High).
The results show a notable contrast between the 2600 and 3600 models.