Update the CPU assessment
Update the CPU assessment
Consider upgrading your CPU for better performance. You might want an A10 9700 or a higher-end model like the RYZEN 3 1200 or 1300. Both offer solid options for low to medium graphics. Which one fits your budget best?
Right now I have an Athlon 3000G without an integrated graphics card. I recall a friend who owns an A10 9700, not modified at all, and it performs excellently in games. With a budget of 25k ARS, I could sell the processor for around 30k ARS. Just using it in a program that needs heavy CPU power, like War Thunder at lower settings, would be ideal. The processor wouldn’t run at full capacity all the time.
The A10 processors underperform compared to the Athlon. The Athlon 3000G uses the Zen architecture, which is significantly more advanced and efficient. The main improvements would come from the Ryzen 3 series, but a Ryzen 5 would offer better performance for your budget.
You're finding it confusing how your partner can handle the game at high speeds while you need to play it at a lower setting. The comparison videos might highlight differences in performance, but your experience is valid. It's worth exploring why this discrepancy exists.
For most games the graphics card takes priority, but without more specifics about the titles and your PC setup it's difficult to judge. I’d opt for a Ryzen 3 2300X instead of the 1200, or a Ryzen 3 2500X rather than the 1400, simply because your Athlon model features Zen+ cores, whereas the 1000 CPUs have Zen cores and perform a bit slower. I still support the idea that a Ryzen 5 with a 2600 or 3600 would be a much stronger overall CPU choice. I understand your budget is limited, so these options may not fit within your price range.
Do you and him share the same amount of RAM? Is it the same graphics card? Are the game settings identical? There are many reasons the A10 might perform better, especially since RAM is the most important factor. Do you have two RAM sticks?
I recently purchased a GTX 750 Ti with 2GB DDR5 memory, which does matter, but the CPU stays unchanged and causes a bottleneck. Back then, both of us had 16GB of RAM and only processors with built-in graphics. He ran his memory at 2400MHz while I used 2666MHz, since that was the highest supported by our CPUs. Still, his CPU kept outperforming mine.
If your motherboard is compatible, you can use any AM4 processor. The 1300X isn't too trendy these days, but a 1600 is readily available at a low price.