Pay an additional $30 for the 3600 CL18 model or purchase a 3200 CL16 (Ryzen 3rd gen CPU).
Pay an additional $30 for the 3600 CL18 model or purchase a 3200 CL16 (Ryzen 3rd gen CPU).
Hey everyone, I'm putting together a new PC for basic animation and graphics work. So far, I've picked these parts: Mobo - B450 Tomahawk Max (new), CPU - Ryzen 5 3600X (new), GPU - Rx 570? It's not top-notch but it fits my budget, and my current setup is GTX 660 with a PSU from EVGA G3 850W. I already have some SSDs. I'm considering 3600 CL16 or 3400 CL14 for better performance, but those are out of budget. A 32GB RAM would be nice, but I'm leaning toward 16GB to stay within my limits. I have a choice between Corsair Vengeance LPX 16GB (~$115) and G.Skill RipJaws V 16GB (~$85). The latter has looser timings on the 3600 CL16, but I've heard Ryzen prefers higher speeds. I'm not sure if that extra $30 is worth it. *note* I haven't changed RAM speeds before, but I think tightening them this time might help. Thanks all ahead! *update* I found out Corsair Vengeance LPX doesn't have a QVL—something new to note. Since Ryzen seems sensitive to RAM speed, I'm going with RipJaws V, which happens to include the Tomahawk Max. For the 3600 Cl18, G.skill Trident Z is another option around $125, but it makes me question whether the performance gain justifies the cost. So I'll stick with the cheaper 3200 CL16 as suggested. Thanks! Edited Nov 29, 2019 by zua93117
You don’t require a lot of power supply unit. It won’t cause any damage, and it might even save some money.
Thanks! I'll choose the more affordable RAM choice. Oh wow, that PSU was from my old setup… but it was a B+ in the previous tier list. I wasn’t aware of the risks involved.
You might consider more affordable options: 100$ MSI B450-A Pro : https://pcpartpicker.com/product/pBWfrH/...b450-a-pro 100$ MSI B450 Gaming Plus MAX : https://pcpartpicker.com/product/BHBhP6/...g-plus-max This model also fits with 3600, though you may need to update the BIOS initially. The first two include Ryzen 3xx compatible BIOS and support for Bios Flashback. 90$ ASRock B450 Pro4: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/PCKcCJ/...-b450-pro4 which is about 100$, saving you 15-30$ (varies by retailer). You won't require a 850w PSU; opt for a 550w-650w one. The RX 570 uses up to roughly 170w, the Ryzen 3600 stays under 100w and the rest stays between 50-100w, so a 550w PSU is sufficient. An RX 590 costs $180 and stays under 250w... with the savings on board and PSU, you can afford it. For instance, the Sapphire Pulse model: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/6h66Mp/...289-06-20g
Zen 2 CPUs are more flexible than earlier models, so you won’t need to worry about QVL. There’s also a 3600MHz 16CL kit from G.Skill available for $70 (US price).
Thanks for the input! The PSU came from my old machine, but it's only been around about two years. I've been comparing MSI B450 motherboards for quite some time. Ultimately, I chose the Tomahawk Max because of its VRM performance. Gaming Pro Carbon AC had the best VRM among those boards, though it's a bit pricey compared to other B450 options. Since Tomahawk doesn't require much VRM upgrading, I went with it. I'm not very familiar with computers, so I wasn't sure if tweaking the VRM further would be safe—especially since Gaming Plus has a smaller heat sink. I considered saving money by opting for non-max versions, but bigger BIOS chips could offer better settings and future-proofing. Upgrading to Ryzen Gen 3 with faster RAM support sounds appealing, though I'm not sure how crucial those aspects are. I can buy the RX 570 for $160, but the RX 590 looks like a much better value at an extra $20. Thanks!
It's advised to note that Zen 2 models tend to be more flexible overall. However, since most XMP profiles are validated only on Intel hardware (which is the norm), compatibility might still be an issue. You should manually adjust the clock speeds and primary timings in the BIOS/UEFI settings. Adjusting the primary timings—especially the CL value—can improve performance.