Ryzen 5 3500 vs 3600
Ryzen 5 3500 vs 3600
The 3500 suits a gaming-oriented PC well. Having 12 threads is excessive, but you can still upgrade later when needed. Select any MSI B450 motherboards with "Max" in the name will come ready for Ryzen 3000 chips. Look for a bazooka or tomahawk option. The Asrock B450M/AC offers a mid-range CPU and graphics card—no bottleneck concerns expected.
The main component for dual graphics card support is the motherboard. You’d likely need an X470 board, possibly an X570 if you’re aiming for better performance (like the Asus X570 Prime for a more affordable option), though the RX 460s can work on the right setup. Are you thinking about a 450-watt power supply? That’s a solid choice but make sure it’s reliable.
I wouldn't purchase a nonSMT chip around 2020 unless finances were very limited. It's an efficiency feature that I believe should be common now. You'll likely see it in certain games and become more apparent with newer titles, especially if you play multiple tasks at once.
I would cover it myself. I had issues with the i5 and I feel the same at 3500/9600.