I'm putting together a budget AM4 system and need help choosing a processor. I initially considered a new Ryzen 5 4500 for about €67, but its relatively small 8MB cache makes me hesitant despite the good buyer reviews. I'm also looking at a used Ryzen 7 2700X for around €30, which seems like a great deal, although its older architecture and higher power consumption are concerns. The Ryzen 5 5500 would be newer and faster for gaming, but at roughly €89 it stretches my budget. A used Ryzen 5 3600 is also priced too high in my area at around €100. The system will use a GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, 16GB of RAM, an NVMe SSD, and an ASRock B450 motherboard. I mainly want to play older games at 1080p and use the computer for everyday tasks. Which CPU makes the most sense?
2 Answers
The Ryzen 5 4500 and Ryzen 5 5500 generally benefit from the newer architecture, so they’re likely better gaming choices than the 2700X despite having fewer cores. The 4500’s 8MB cache is worth keeping in mind, but with a GTX 1060 and older 1080p games, it may still be perfectly adequate. If you can comfortably afford it, the 5500 is the strongest option of the three; otherwise, the 4500 offers a reasonable budget balance.
At only about €30, the used Ryzen 7 2700X is also a defensible choice. It has more cores and was a strong processor for the generation of games you’re targeting, so it should handle older titles and everyday use without trouble. Its higher power draw and older design are drawbacks, but the very low price makes it attractive if the chip is tested and working properly.
That matches most of the comparisons I’ve seen. I was second-guessing the 4500 because people seem to dislike it, but the newer architecture probably makes more sense for this build.