Hey everyone! I'm currently using a Ryzen 7 1700x and I'm considering an upgrade. I'm really interested in the Ryzen 3600, but it's a bit pricey at $88, which is out of my budget of $56 (around R1000 in South African currency). The Ryzen 3500x looks cheaper, but I'm wondering if the performance drop will be noticeable. I've also heard the Ryzen 2600 could be a good option on a budget. My main use is gaming, along with some Zoom calls for work. Does hyperthreading really matter for gaming?
3 Answers
If you're looking for an affordable option, have you considered the AMD Ryzen 5 4500? It's around 54€ (like $60), which is pretty close to your budget and could be a decent upgrade.
The 3500x lacks hyperthreading, which means you're stuck with 6 threads compared to the 3600's 12 threads. That could make a difference in performance, especially in more demanding games.
Hyperthreading can vary in importance depending on the games you play. Some games do benefit from extra threads, while others don’t. It might be worth looking at what you play most often to decide. If you're not having major performance issues, waiting for the 5500 or 5600 to drop in price could be a better long-term choice.
True, but I found that the 3600 is a lot more expensive and hard to source second-hand. If I can get the 3500x cheaper, I'd consider it.