I'm really stuck here. I recently upgraded my CPU from a Ryzen 3 3200G to a Ryzen 5 3600, thinking it would boost my performance. I've been using the old CPU for about five years, and I expected this upgrade to significantly help with gaming and performance overall. Here are my specs: a SAPPHIRE RX580 GPU, MSI A320M-A Pro motherboard, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, and a Corsair CV650 power supply.
Before the upgrade, I had to use the integrated GPU to access the BIOS because the GPU wouldn't display anything until Windows loaded. I updated the BIOS prior to installing the new CPU, which resolved the display issue with the GPU. I also installed the latest GPU drivers without using DDU first because I thought that would prevent conflicts.
After the upgrade, everything seemed fine at first. But soon, I realized there was no audio output. I tried reinstalling the Realtek drivers, and even though the mic input was recognized, all audio jacks—front and back—stopped working except the mic jack.
Worse, despite expecting better performance, my system is running poorly. For instance, games like Valorant are now unplayable. Enabling secure boot causes my PC to fail to boot, forcing me to reset the BIOS. I have clean installed a ton of drivers already, but I'm seeing lower FPS in games and noticeable input lag. Everything just feels sluggish.
3 Answers
How do you know the performance dropped? Are you monitoring in-game FPS or load times? It's possible you're still using the iGPU without realizing it or that the GPU drivers are the issue. Consider checking that before doing a full OS reinstall.
I get it; it’s daunting! You could back up your files first. Just to be safe, check your drive letter settings when you reinstall.
Did you make sure to install or update the chipset drivers? Also, the issues with secure boot might suggest your BIOS settings are off—check if Legacy BIOS is active, as that can really mess things up with secure boot.
Honestly, it sounds like a complete reinstall of Windows might be your best option at this point. You've run into several issues that could be stemming from conflicting drivers. Also, if you could have gone for a Ryzen 5 5600, it could have been a more substantial upgrade, but I get that funding is tight for you!
I wish I could have gone for the 5600 too, but budgeting is really hard right now. Saving up took two months! Just trying to find a solution.
I've noticed lower FPS and more input lag in games—it just feels worse overall. I’m not using the iGPU, but reinstalling the OS is a bit scary for me.