I'm in the process of upgrading my old PC, which currently has a Ryzen 3 2200G. My options are getting a used Ryzen 5 5600X for $170 CAD or a Ryzen 7 5800X for $270 CAD. I want to stick with the AM4 socket until AM5 is released. I already have 32GB of RAM and I'm planning to install a 16GB 5060 Ti graphics card. Which CPU would be the better choice for my setup?
4 Answers
For gaming, the 5600X is solid and shouldn't feel slow compared to the 5800X. Also, you might want to look for deals on the 5060 Ti—paying $800 CAD doesn't seem great when you could get a 9070 XT for $1000 CAD, which is much faster.
It depends on what you're using it for! If gaming is your main focus, the performance difference between the 5600X and 5800X won't be that noticeable, so I'd recommend going for the cheaper 5600X.
Thanks! I am leaning towards gaming a bit more but also doing some programming and light creative work, no streaming planned.
If you're looking for better performance, you might want to consider the 5500X3D or 5700X3D instead; they can be found around $350 and offer good value for the performance.
I'd suggest going for the 8-core CPUs, like the 5800X, for better future-proofing. You might even find a used 5700X which could be a great middle ground in terms of price and performance, but avoid the 5700G without a dedicated iGPU if you can help it.

Good point! I actually received the 5060 Ti as a gift. Do you think it's worth selling it to invest in the 9070 XT?