I'm upgrading from an i3-10100F with a GTX 1660 Super and an H410M motherboard. My PC is used only for gaming, and the Intel Core i5-12400F and Ryzen 5 5600 are priced similarly where I live. Which one offers better value, especially with my existing DDR4 memory? I'd also appreciate a reasonably priced motherboard recommendation for whichever CPU makes more sense.
3 Answers
Both processors are very close in gaming performance, so the better deal is usually whichever CPU and motherboard bundle costs less. Since you already have DDR4 and don’t plan to move to DDR5, the Ryzen 5 5600 paired with an affordable B550 board is a sensible budget choice. A B550M motherboard from a reputable brand should be more than enough for it.
The i5-12400F is also a strong option, especially if you find a cheap B660 or B760 DDR4 motherboard bundle. It generally has a little more CPU performance, but the difference may not be noticeable with a GTX 1660 Super. Avoid paying extra for a DDR5 board if you’re trying to keep the upgrade inexpensive.
For your use case, I’d choose based on the complete platform price rather than the processor alone. The Ryzen 5 5600 with a B550 motherboard is simple and affordable, while the 12400F can be the better buy if you find a particularly good CPU-and-board deal. Either one will be a substantial upgrade from the i3-10100F, though your graphics card may become the limiting factor in many games.
I’m already using DDR4 and don’t really see a reason to switch platforms or memory types, so keeping the total cost down is more important to me.