I'm looking to upgrade my Ryzen 5 2600 without changing my motherboard or RAM due to rising costs. My budget is $250, and I'm seeking recommendations for the best AM4 socket CPU suitable for gaming. For reference, I have an RX 5700 XT graphics card.
6 Answers
You might also want to explore the Ryzen 9 5900X/5950X, but those may push the upper limit of your budget. The 5700X and 5800X are going for around 135-160 if you're looking for something more affordable.
Your best bets around that price are probably the Ryzen 5800X or 5800XT. Just make sure your current motherboard can support a more powerful CPU. If you've got a budget board, you might want to stick with the Ryzen 5600 or 5600X. Also, consider that you may need a BIOS update for compatibility.
The 5700X is great too, especially since its power consumption is similar to the 5600.
Unfortunately, prices for X3D chips have shot up recently, making it hard to find good deals. You can generally get the Ryzen 5900X for under $250, but anything that's an X3D will cost you more than that. Just a few months ago, you could grab a 5600X3D or 5700X3D for around $250, but that's no longer the case.
I've had a great experience with the 5900X paired with a 6800XT; no bottlenecks at all. If gaming is your focus, I think the 3D models perform best, but you'll need to check on current pricing.
AM4 CPUs are still kicking! I run a 5800X at 4.4GHz with 1.2V, though I did lose the silicon lottery on that one. Just keep in mind the cooling!
I recently bought a used 5800X3D for about 200 euros. If you're open to used options, maybe consider that route, especially since I sold my 5700X for 120.
Could you clarify what you mean by a low end motherboard? I have a B350-F ROG Strix, and I updated my BIOS to use a 5800X3D without any issues.