Which CPU Should I Choose: Ryzen 5 3600, 5500, or 5600?
Asked by
GamingGuru89
I'm considering upgrading my CPU and I've narrowed it down to the Ryzen 5 3600, 5500, and 5600. Right now, the 3600 and 5500 are about the same price—around 100 CAD—while the 5600 is about 100 CAD more. I'm not sure if the 5600 is worth the extra cost. My setup includes a 6600 XT GPU, and I plan to game mainly at 1080p. Additionally, the 3600 supports PCIe 4.0 and has a larger L3 cache, but my motherboard doesn't support PCIe 4.0 anyway. What do you all think?
Answers
Honestly, I'd go for the Ryzen 5600. It's definitely a step up from the other two options in terms of gaming performance, especially if you're looking for better frame rates and future-proofing your build. It’s worth the extra cash!
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Just wanted to add that while the 5500 might be cheaper, it has a smaller L3 cache and is locked to PCIe 3.0, which isn't ideal for future-proofing. If you're planning to keep this build for a while, I’d go for the 5600 or even the 3600.
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If you're looking at the 3600 and 5500, they perform similarly, but the 5600 will give you about 10-20% more performance overall. If you're thinking long-term and possible upgrades in the future, the 3600 might hold up better because of its PCIe 4.0 support.
FutureProofed99: Exactly! Plus, the 3600 has additional cache, which makes it slightly better for gaming now and in the future.
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I have a 5600X and it’s a fantastic performer! It handles 1440p gaming really well and I scored it at a great price. If you can find one around 134 CAD like I did, you should definitely grab it!
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It’s also worth mentioning that if you see a good deal on AliExpress for the 5600, go for it! A lot of users have scored them pretty cheaply and reported quick shipping without issues.
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BudgetBuilder99: I don’t know about being twice as good, though. I'd personally stick with the 3600; it’s more than capable without breaking the bank.