I'm looking to improve my PC performance since it's been freezing during games, even ones with low requirements like Oldschool RuneScape. Is upgrading my CPU the right way to go? Here are my current specs:
- Motherboard: ASUS Prime A320M-K
- GPU: RX 570 4GB
- CPU: Ryzen 3 2300x
- RAM: 16 GB DDR4
- SSD: SAMSUNG 860 EVO 500GB
- HDD: TOSHIBA HDWD110 1TB
I'm thinking of getting the Ryzen 5 5500, but I noticed the Ryzen 5 5600 is about £40 more expensive. Any thoughts on the best direction?
2 Answers
Another solid option is the Ryzen 5 3600 or 5500. They perform similarly, but the 3600 supports PCIe 4.0 and has double the L3 cache, often at a lower price. Just keep in mind with your current setup, you'll want to see if it's worth it to upgrade your BIOS for the 3600. If you're unsure about L3 cache or PCIe, just know these features help with overall performance but aren't always critical for casual gaming.
If you're on a budget, I'd recommend considering the Ryzen 5 5600G as an APU, but it might not be the best pick here. It's generally not as powerful as your RX 570 and can even be pricier than just getting a regular 5600. So, it might end up being over budget. Better to stick with a solution that complements your GPU for gaming!
I agree! The 5600 is likely a better choice, especially for gaming. It pairs well with your RX 570 and should give you a nice performance boost without breaking the bank.

That's a good point! If you're worried about BIOS updates and the potential for mistakes, the 5500 might be the safer route as it’s more straightforward for compatibility.