Discussing switching from Intel to Ryzen processors.
Discussing switching from Intel to Ryzen processors.
I'm thinking about switching from Intel to AMD Ryzen CPUs and a motherboard. I want to know which Ryzen generation offers the best value for money. Also, what motherboard would fit your setup well? Your current rig runs an I7-7700 with Ryzen 480, 16GB RAM, and a gaming monitor. You mentioned needing performance for games like Arma 3 with mods, some video editing, and not wanting to limit your GPU options. The upgrade should stay under $300 or just over that. Don't plan major overclocking or complex setups.
the main choices that come to mind are: 1: CPU – AMD Ryzen 5 3600 3.6 GHz 6-core ($194.79 @ OutletPC) and Motherboard – MSI B450 TOMAHAWK MAX ATX AM4 ($114.99 @ Amazon), total $309.78. 2: CPU – AMD Ryzen 7 3700X 3.6 GHz 8-core ($327.89 @ OutletPC) with ASRock B450 Pro4 ATX AM4 ($89.99 @ Amazon), total $417.88. Both options seem suitable based on the provided link.
It would certainly help to have a resolution of 3700x for gaming.
Consider a Ryzen 5 3600 paired with a Gigabyte B450 Aorus M. The motherboard costs around 90 USD on Amazon, while the Ryzen 5 3600 is about 200 USD. The processor looks decent; I own one and it’s still having issues getting up and running, but overall it performs well as far as I understand.
Check the estimated cost for the motherboard and CPU together, or focus only on the CPU budget you've noted.
Are you looking for more slower cores or fewer faster ones? Currently, the 8-core 2nd generation Ryzen chips cost about the same as the 6-core 3rd generation models. The 3rd gen uses 7nm TMSC technology (similar to Intel's planned 10nm), whereas the 2nd gen operates on 14nm FinFET. The 3rd gen provides superior single-core performance but offers fewer options in terms of board availability. Motherboard choices aren't crucial since most boards except the A-series (which they appear to have stopped supporting after A320) can be overclocked. Ultimately, the decision hinges on your usage needs and budget.
It's a bit faster on the single-core side. 2700x remains solid for gaming within a reasonable budget. I think I'd suggest the B450 Tomahawk in any case.