upgrades
upgrades
You're thinking about improving your system's performance. Right now you have a Ryzen 3 3100 with the stock cooler, running on an old B450 MATX motherboard from Gigabyte. You're considering upgrading to a Ryzen 5000 but aren't sure if it needs a BIOS update. Since you're not rushing, you're also planning to switch to an AIO water cooler and don't see much urgency on thermal or cooling issues.
Other points to note:
- You plan to use an RTX 2060 K for gaming and have 16GB of DDR4 3200 RAM (two 8GB modules).
- Your PSU is 650W with an 80+ Gold rating.
- The Ryzen 5000 should work well, especially if it's a lower-end variant.
- You're aiming to spend under 450 CAD before tax and maybe another 100 for a cooler if needed.
- You mentioned wanting some advice or suggestions.
The 3100 fits well in gaming with a 2060, but only upgrade if you're not focused on gaming. You can also get a 5600x and pair it with your existing motherboard after a BIOS update. The 5600x works without an AIO since it's power-efficient. The stock cooler is sufficient, but for quieter cooling options, a budget air cooler such as the Gelid Phantom or Arctic Freezer 34 Esports duo would be enough.
Typically, most B450/X470 boards need BIOS updates that back AMD 5000 series CPUs in the first quarter of 2021. If a board can handle one of those CPUs, why not maintain it and invest the extra funds into the processor or other system upgrades? An air cooler offering the same performance as an AIO would be more appropriate. For a CPU, opt for a 5600X to notice the benefits.
I also have roughly 150 dollars to spend on a used CPU. I was considering either a 1700 or a 2600x, leaning more toward the 2600x since it feels more balanced. However, my friends say I’m being a bit naive by thinking upgrading is a good idea, since both the 2600x and 1700 are actually downgrades. I’m not really sure yet.