The upgrade from i5 3450 to R5 3600 is quite significant in terms of performance.
The upgrade from i5 3450 to R5 3600 is quite significant in terms of performance.
I come from Eastern Europe and my monthly pay is likely a fifth of what others earn in the West. With what I have, the 3600 represents the highest amount I can afford. Finding an older model with better performance but stronger CPU is unlikely, though a decent alternative with similar or even higher specs—like a Ryzen 5 from the same generation or another brand—could work. It wouldn’t be rare to find something like an I7 7700K, which would definitely surpass my current I5 3450 and likely keep me satisfied for at least five years. Plus, it offers more cores and threads, which will help with video editing and other tasks.
However, there’s concern about the benchmark scores. Passmark rates my older I5 around 4,000 while the 3600 scores 17,000—a massive gap. Userbenchmark claims an 18% speed boost, but their numbers seem questionable. If I’m getting a 60 FPS with an old 4-core processor, I’d expect only 70 FPS with the newer 3600’s 6 cores and 12 threads. That difference is surprising and raises doubts about the accuracy of those results.
The 3600 edges near an 8700K, whereas the 3300X leans toward a 7700K. Avoid relying on Userbenchmark—it's misleading. Your 3450 would face serious issues with a 1080Ti, especially if you play certain games. The 3600 offers a significant improvement.
You're seeing the 3600 output. Besides your Intel board and DDR3 RAM, you'll likely need to upgrade your CPU and possibly your motherboard. The two boards you found—Gigabyte AM4 GA-A320M-H and ASRock AM4 B450M-HDV R4—both support the 3600 socket, so they should work together. The choice between them depends on your budget and preferences; the price difference is only about $10. For RAM, your current DIMMs (DDR4 16GB at 2666MHz) are compatible with both boards, but you may want to match them for stability. If you're planning a GPU upgrade later, ensure your motherboard supports it.
The ram and the board are both quite disappointing. Regarding the board, for the b450, the Pro 4, the Vdh max, and the Tomahawk max are all viable options. For the b550, a Pro model is recommended, with a Vdh of Tomahawk and mortar. Aorus Pro is suggested, along with Strix f. Steel Legend. Generally, these are decent choices, though some come at a higher price. Technically they can be adjusted to 2666, but it's better to get a kit. A 3600 cl16 or a 3200 cl14/16 would be suitable.
They come with more ports and connectors than you might expect, which is great for flexibility. As long as they support the full performance of non-overclocked CPUs—especially the 2666—I’m happy. The issue isn’t just the extra features but whether they run smoothly without lag or stutter.
Bad transistors, no cooling fins. It won’t run a six-core setup, unfortunately. Getting a 3600 unit doesn’t mean you need to push it to overclocking limits. Just turn on XMP settings. Also, Ryzen performs better with quicker RAM since it reduces delays from multiple cores. Sadly, they can’t handle a six-core configuration as mentioned. All the boards I mentioned earlier are fine. A professional-grade 4 chipset typically costs around $80 and is solid.
This model appears suitable for a professional setup. Regarding configuration, you likely won't need to adjust BIOS, RAM speeds, or other settings—just assemble and power it on.
Thanks a lot! It seems you might have avoided a lot of expenses by using this setup. With your new Ryzen 3600 and 1080Ti, compared to your older I5 and the RX 470 with 4GB and 8GB DDR3 RAM, I’m excited to try it out.