I'm looking to build a PC with an RTX 3060 that has 12 GB of VRAM, but I'm torn between two CPU options: the R5 3600, which is priced at $80, and the R5 5500, costing around $130. What are your thoughts on which one I should go with?
2 Answers
I'd recommend going with the R5 3600. It's a solid performer for most games and won't hold back your 3060. Plus, it saves you $50, which you can put towards other components or upgrades later!
Honestly, the R5 5500 is relatively new, but in this case, I'd still go for the 3600 unless you're able to budget more for the R5 5600. It's usually a better choice, especially if you can find it used or the tray version at a good price.

But why choose the 5500? It has less L3 cache and doesn't support PCI-E 4.0. Being newer doesn't mean it's better.