No idea which CPU to buy
No idea which CPU to buy
I noticed the Ryzen 5 5600x is listed at £300, but I wasn’t aiming for that price on a CPU even when it’s back in stock. I thought a CPU around £200-250 would be enough for solid performance, though I’ll go with what fits best since my budget isn’t set. Buying a new CPU, motherboard, or RAM just to add another one that slows things down doesn’t make sense.
I doubt it would justify the additional £80-100. The advice to skip the 3600x at 1440p 144fps suggests it's not worth the investment.
Building a gaming setup today means choosing an 8C/16T CPU to stay ahead of future upgrades. New consoles rely on 8-core Zen 2 processors, and current titles are leveraging those extra threads. Top picks include 10700k/10800k, 3700X/3800X, and 5700X/5800X. For optimal performance, go with the Ryzen 5000 series; for value, the Ryzen 3000 series works well. Intel is now available at reasonable prices in some markets. Avoid 4 or 6 core chips unless you mainly play FPS or games with less demanding threading.
Cyberpunk, Metro and Bannerlord 2 are examples that require at least 15 threads or utilize as many as available. Distributing the game's processing across more cores usually results in a better experience, especially in crowded worlds like Bannerlord 2 or Cyberpunk, where a more active environment means fewer bottlenecks. This challenge becomes less pronounced with older titles or rail-based games (such as most FPS), though they still need more effort from limited cores and may require simplifying background tasks. While you might handle a 6-core/12-thread system easily now, performance could change in a few years as more games demand it. My general guideline is to aim for at least the core count of today’s consoles when using a gaming PC. On my 3900X, Cyberpunk ran smoothly without other processes—except for Steam, of course.
This plan isn't wise—DDR5 will likely cost a lot, just like DDR4 before it. As suggested, a Ryzen 5 3600 or 7 3700X would be better choices. The i5-10600K isn't worth the extra 80 to 100 pounds; opting for a stronger Ryzen model is a smarter investment if you're willing to spend more.
You're considering how your components might need updates over time. It's common to plan for future upgrades, especially with reliable parts like AMD's consistent socket design. For a long-lasting setup, focusing on mid-to-high range CPUs makes sense if you want stability and performance for years. I noticed that AMD has maintained the same socket for many years, which is encouraging. Based on your goals, a mid-range CPU should keep up with your needs for several years. Regarding RAM, faster speeds can definitely boost performance, especially with newer CPUs. Right now, I'm leaning toward the Ryzen 5 3600X, though I see some tests showing the i5 10th gen performing better. The price gap is noticeable, but always keep an eye on future advancements.
The gap between a 3600 and a 5600x is significant when it comes to performance. Even if you manage to buy a 3600 for 200 dollars, the savings don’t justify the slower speed. The 3600 just isn’t fast enough for long-term use. Keeping your GTX 1080 won’t change much, but upgrading later would make more sense with a 5600x. We haven’t seen CPUs that deliver such strong gaming results at this price, even the 10600k had some issues right out of the box. The 5600x offers better value without the same silicon risks.
Thanks for your guidance and the input from the community. After researching different CPUs, I realized it’s worth the delay and extra cost to get the 5600X, especially since my old PC has been limiting performance for a long time. Spending £180 on the CPU was a smart investment if I want reliable performance now and in the future. Joining the stock-checker Discord was a great move—I managed to snag a 5600X just in time, though it sold out fast! Now I’m focusing on finding a compatible motherboard, RAM, and a suitable CPU cooler.