I'm currently using a Ryzen 5 3600 with an RTX 3060, but I'm only getting around 100 FPS in competitive FPS games at 1920×1080, even with the lowest settings. I'd like to keep the 3060 for now and upgrade the rest of the system, preferably moving to AMD's AM5 platform. I may buy a 240 Hz monitor soon, and I don't have a strict budget. What CPU, motherboard, memory, and other components would make sense for this kind of upgrade?
3 Answers
A 240 Hz monitor doesn’t automatically mean you need a top-end graphics card if you’re playing low settings, but the 3060 may still become the limiting part in some games. Start with the CPU and platform upgrade, then monitor GPU usage and frame times. If the GPU is near full load, upgrade the graphics card afterward; if it isn’t, the faster CPU should provide the bigger improvement.
Before replacing everything, check whether your current motherboard supports a BIOS update for a Ryzen 7 5800X3D or a similar upgrade. That would let you stay on AM4 and reuse your DDR4 memory, potentially giving the 3060 a worthwhile boost for much less money. It won’t offer the same upgrade path as AM5, but it may be the better value if your main goal is more FPS right now.
At 1080p on low settings, the Ryzen 5 3600 is likely holding back your frame rate. For a new AM5 build, an X3D processor such as the Ryzen 7 7800X3D would be a strong choice for high and consistent FPS. Pair it with a B650 motherboard and 32 GB of DDR5-6000 memory. You can keep the RTX 3060 initially and upgrade the graphics card later if you move to higher resolutions or need more GPU performance.
That only makes sense if the existing board has adequate BIOS support and power delivery. Since the goal is specifically AM5, a new platform with 32 GB of DDR5 is the cleaner long-term option.