I'm putting together a new PC and I'm considering the Ryzen 3 3100. How well does it perform with current tasks? I want to know if I can game while also having apps like Spotify or Discord running in the background. I'm aiming to play games like GTA Online, Horizon Zero Dawn, and Forza Horizon 5 at 1080p on medium settings with a goal of 60 fps. I currently have an RX 570 4GB GPU and 16GB of RAM (2x8). I'm being offered the Ryzen 3100 for $20, but there's also a Ryzen 5 5500 available for $75. Since my total budget for the remaining parts (motherboard, case, PSU, and storage) is $180, what should I do?
5 Answers
Definitely look into the used market for components if you’re not already. If you can, aim for at least a Ryzen 3600, as it'll offer significantly better performance for modern gaming.
I suggest going with the 5500 (or even a newer AMD release when you can) and consider upgrading to an RX 6600 or 7600 in the future to boost your gaming performance. The 3100 is okay, but not ideal for what you're looking to play at the moment.
If you can swing it, I'd recommend the Ryzen 5 5500 for $75. You could also consider increasing your budget a bit—storage prices are sky-high, and a decent SSD could take up most of what you have left for the rest of the build.
The Ryzen 3 3100 can handle older games but might struggle with newer titles due to its limited cores and threads. The Ryzen 5 5500 is a better bet for modern gaming and can accommodate your needs better overall, especially with more cores and threads.
Given your tight budget, the Ryzen 3100 could suffice for now, especially since you're using an older RX 570. Build your system with it, and monitor its performance. You might even want to check out some videos showcasing similar setups to get a better idea.

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