Have you considered looking for suggestions to improve your current setup?
Have you considered looking for suggestions to improve your current setup?
I have an AMD Ryzen 3 2200G processor installed on a B450M DS3H motherboard. My RAM setup includes two Patrio Viper 4 modules, each with 4GB of 288-pin DDR4 memory. For storage, I use a Western Digital Blue SN550 M.2-2280 NVME SSD with 500 GB capacity. The graphics card is an XFX Radeon RX 570 with 8GB of RAM. My case is the Cougar MX330 Mid Tower model, featuring a full acrylic transparent window and USB 3.0 connectivity. The power supply I’m using is a CORSAIR CX Series CX550, rated at 550W ATX12V / EPS12V and certified with 80 PLUS BRONZE. My operating system is Windows 10.
Currently, I play Marvel Rivals, averaging around 50 FPS, though it can drop to 30-40 depending on the situation. In indoor environments, I sometimes reach 60 FPS, but my average remains between 40 and 50. This performance is at the lowest settings, using 1280x720 resolution.
I considered upgrading to a Ryzen 5 3600, but that recommendation was made five years ago and I’m unsure if it’s still worth it. My plan is to start with a CPU upgrade first, and then explore other possible improvements later. Ideally, I’d like to keep the overall cost under $100 for this purchase. Thank you.
What is the age of the PSU in your system? Where are you based? How much are you investing for this upgrade? Which store do you prefer for purchasing? You might consider updating the BIOS to the newest version and installing a Ryzen 5000 series processor, though the current VRM design may restrict performance. Your setup would have gained more from a dual channel, low-latency DDR4-3200MHz RAM configuration. Switching to a B550 chipset board would improve it with a DDR4-3600MHz dual channel and tighter latency RAM.
I noticed your recent changes, assuming you're in the USA;
https://www.newegg.com/amd-ryzen-5-...1j...v-xi-SsnUN
but your system's performance remains constrained.
Finally, Marvel Rivals is similar to Call of Duty Black Ops 6—they consume many resources and can be buggy at times.
I’m fine with aiming for the 5600. Could you clarify why performance is being restricted? I might consider upgrading the motherboard after getting a CPU.
My build is roughly 5 to 6 years old, so the PSU should match that age.
I’m based in NYC and usually shop on Amazon or Newegg. Right now I have around $150 available for a new CPU!
EDIT: I went with 2x8GB at 3200MHz, and the Ryzen 5600 is currently installed.
Your motherboard doesn't have metal heatsinks on the CPU's Voltage Regulator Modules. If you install a more capable processor, the VRMs may become warmer as power needs rise. When the CPU is not running, adding VRM heatsinks won't make much difference, but trying to overclock a new processor with PBO could cause bare VRMs to reach temperatures above 100°C.
With the newest BIOS updates, you might fit a Ryzen 5800/5900 series CPU with a standard 105W TDP, though PBO increases this to 142W. To power a 5950X at 142W, your VRMs could overheat significantly and enter current-limiting mode to avoid damaging the MOSFETs.
In contrast, your older 2200G model has only a 65W TDP. That's why experts suggest using a motherboard with VRM heatsinks if you plan to install a very power-hungry CPU, especially when using PBO, for better performance gains relative to power use.
Your new 5600 has a 65W TDP and an 88W PPT, so it should work fine on a board without VRM heatsinks. Regarding the CX550, I purchased a few in 2024 to revive old systems, but the PSUs arrived poorly—lightweight, low-quality construction, thin wires, and insufficient outputs. They were the most affordable "acceptable" options available locally, costing around US $68 each. There aren't many good choices like this near me.
I usually use Corsair RM750/850 PSUs in most builds because I need several SATA power connectors for hard drives. The CX550 has a short warranty of just five years, and better PSUs are now widely available. It would be wise to consider upgrading to something more reliable when budget allows.