[SOLVED] best cpu and ram combo

[spanconstant5]

I am building a low budget with a ryzen 2600, 1. is there a better option for $120 than a 2600 2. what is the best clock speed ram to buy for my CPU? ( I should say I am willing to go up a little on price (under 200) but I am running ultra-low budget and $350 max for CPU, mobo and ram is my limit) (would intel be a better cost per performance value even with a different motherboard and adding a cooler) I am running an rx570 4gb for my gpu

 

[Barty1884]

1. Yes - the Ryzen5 1600AF. It's a 2600 in all but name, and can be found for $85 USD on Amazon (assuming you're in the US, and it's not out of stock. Won't let me check from Canada).

2. For a 1600/2600, 3000-3200Mhz with the lowest CL possible is the best way to go.
2x8GB 3200MHz CL16 can be had for $65-$73
2x8GB 3000MHz CL15 can be had for marginally more.
Personally, I'd opt for 3000MHz @ CL15 in the same pricepoint, but if every penny is going to count, the $65 kit of CL16 3200MHz will work just fine.

No, at the pricepoint, Intel (new, at least) is not going to represent any better "value".

Example:
PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 (14nm) 3.2 GHz 6-Core Processor ($85.00)
Motherboard: ASRock Fatal1ty B450 GAMING K4 ATX AM4 Motherboard ($84.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($74.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $244.97
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-04-13 17:05 EDT-0400

<$250. There's a few different motherboards in the <$100 range that are viable, I just picked an ATX board.

Vs.

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-9600KF 3.7 GHz 6-Core Processor ($194.99 @ B&H)
CPU Cooler: be quiet! Pure Rock Slim 35.14 CFM CPU Cooler ($30.58 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock Z390M Pro4 Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($107.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($74.98 @ Amazon)
Total: $408.54
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-04-13 17:07 EDT-0400

6core, 6 thread, overclockable to bring you roughly on par with the Ryzen. $409.
You could save ~$130 dropping to an i5-9400F, but you trade off clockspeed, overclocking, a bottom of the barrel motherboard AND you still end up more expensive:

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor ($149.97 @ Walmart)
Motherboard: ASRock H310CM-DVS Micro ATX LGA1151 Motherboard ($53.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial Ballistix 16 GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3000 Memory ($74.99 @ Adorama)
Total: $278.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2020-04-13 17:09 EDT-0400

 

[spanconstant5]

what about the i3-9400f if there is a better intel for a little more, I am willing to get it. i was budgeting on the ryzen as I knew it needed more expensive ram vs. the intel which doesn't really care about ram speed

 

[Barty1884]

I mean, check benchmarks for the games you want to play - but IMO, the R5 1600AF/2600 is going to be viable much, much longer vs a strict quad-core i3-9100F, for the same general ballpark.

Yes, Ryzen really benefits from faster RAM moreso than Intel (although Intel can still benefit, to a point) - but we're well past the point of RAM being particularly expensive.

For the same capacity (2x8GB in my example), your cheapest kit available today is 2400MHz and STILL $62.49 whereas a 3200MHz kit can be had for $65. It's a non-issue these days.

 

[spanconstant5]

I mean, check benchmarks for the games you want to play - but IMO, the R5 1600AF/2600 is going to be viable much, much longer vs a strict quad-core i3-9100F, for the same general ballpark.

Yes, Ryzen really benefits from faster RAM moreso than Intel (although Intel can still benefit, to a point) - but we're well past the point of RAM being particularly expensive.

For the same capacity (2x8GB in my example), your cheapest kit available today is 2400MHz and STILL $62.49 whereas a 3200MHz kit can be had for $65. It's a non-issue these days.

I am playing grand theft auto 5 with mods, battlefield, csgo, need for speed, xplane

 

[spanconstant5]

and would this ryzen need an aftermarket cooler? also on the amazon page that have a radar chart and it shows the i5-7600 being better for 1080p gaming

 

[Barty1884]

I am playing grand theft auto 5 with mods, battlefield, csgo, need for speed, xplane

Those, especially mods, are more CPU intensive than anything else. CS:GO might perform marginally better with the i3, but the R5 is the better buy.

and would this ryzen need an aftermarket cooler? also on the amazon page that have a radar chart and it shows the i5-7600 being better for 1080p gaming

No, it ships with a perfectly adequate stock cooler.

 

[spanconstant5]

how long would this setup most likely last with being good for gaming (I need only 2 years)

 

[Barty1884]

how long would this setup most likely last with being good for gaming (I need only 2 years)

Nobody can predict the future, but a 6core/12thread CPU should be viable for comfortably more than 2 years of use.