Top CPU choice for B450M-A PRO MAX
Top CPU choice for B450M-A PRO MAX
Your current setup looks solid with a Ryzen 5 3600, an MSI B450M-A PRO MAX, 32GB DDR4 at 3600mhz, and an RTX 3060 12GB. Upgrading the CPU seems like a smart move, but choosing the right one can be tricky due to the newer Ryzen lineup. Consider what you need for gaming or productivity and explore options like the Ryzen 7 5800X3D or an AMD Ryzen 9 5900X if you're looking for more power. If you prefer staying with your current GPU, a mid-range upgrade might be enough. Let me know your priorities and I can help narrow it down!
Do you believe there’s solid merit to an upgrade? I’m here to assist regardless—there are still many solid reasons. You might consider a CPU refresh and plan for future GPU improvements. The AM4 architecture continues to deliver, so at least moving to an 8-core processor makes sense. Yes, an 8-core option is ideal now; the trade-off between losing two cores and gaining more isn’t worth it. For performance, I’d suggest the R7 5700X, 5800X or 5800XT depending on your budget. More expensive choices with higher cores include the R9 5900 (12 cores), 5900X (12 cores) and 5950X (16 cores).
If you’re still undecided and unsure about the benefits, it’s best to hold off and save your funds. The decision is yours—choose what feels right for you.
You use the PC for gaming only. A 3600 and 3060 12GB combo works well for most titles and won’t break a sweat. You might find AM4’s best gaming CPU like the 5700X3D or 5800X3D, but they’re not worth the high price (often over $500) because of supply issues. Upgrading the CPU without a new GPU makes sense only if you’re playing specific games and adjusting settings. If you mainly run older games at lower resolutions like 1080p or 1440p and are okay with the performance, there’s little need to upgrade.
You're experiencing poor performance in games like Monster Hunter Wilds despite playing at 1080p. The issue might stem from the game's optimization level, and upgrading certain settings or components could improve stability.
For Wilds it might be better to upgrade the GPU rather than the CPU, since the R5 3600 can handle the game smoothly above 60 FPS, achieving averages of 85-95 FPS. On medium settings, the 3600 performs poorly around 40 FPS on native, but with FSR+FG it should reach 60-70 FPS.
For your setup with a 650W Gold PSU, consider a GPU that matches your power needs and performance goals.