I'm considering replacing my Ryzen 5 3600 with a Ryzen 5 5600 because the extra cost is fairly small. My graphics card is an RTX 4060, and I mainly play CPU-intensive games such as Dota 2, Crusader Kings 3, and Hearts of Iron IV. My motherboard is an ASUS Prime A320M-K, so I'm also unsure about compatibility and BIOS support. My budget is limited, and I'd like to know whether this inexpensive upgrade makes sense or whether I should keep the 3600 and save for a larger upgrade later.
3 Answers
The Ryzen 5 5600 is a reasonable upgrade for this system, especially in CPU-heavy games. You should see better minimum frame rates and smoother performance, although it won’t be a dramatic transformation. Check ASUS’s CPU support list and update the BIOS while the 3600 is still installed before swapping processors. Selling the old CPU could also reduce the effective cost.
If you can save longer, a Ryzen 7 5700X—or another stronger AM4 chip—would provide a more noticeable upgrade than the 5600. That said, it only makes sense if your motherboard and BIOS officially support it, and if the price fits your budget. For a low-cost upgrade right now, the 5600 is the safer value choice.
The 5600 should generally be a good match for an RTX 4060 and is much better suited to those strategy games than the 3600. Just confirm the required BIOS version for the ASUS Prime A320M-K before buying; chipset branding alone doesn’t guarantee support. If the board supports it and the price difference is small, upgrading is worthwhile.
I’m worried that putting a Ryzen 7 chip or anything faster into this A320 board could cause problems, so I’d rather avoid that risk and keep the upgrade modest.