[SOLVED] Need help with budget AMD CPU for Productivity ($200 range)

[dewi_arashi]

Upgrading from Ryzen 3 3200G, TLDR at the bottom

Usage scenario is I would like to use this PC for everything I do with 3 monitors.

• Gaming 1080p with streaming 720p (nothing fancy just game + cam)
• Video editing (not professionally, just hobby)
• Working : as Programmers mostly running local web servers, docker containers, VM, and spotify/youtube in the background
• just say if I use Linux as my main OS for work and use VM to run windows for exclusively gaming, streaming, editing. in this scenario which one would work best.
• waiting and jumping straight to zen 3 is not an option since where i live new tech always hoarded and resold at higher price
• currently only have 250GB Sata SSD because my 1tb hdd corrupted, so also looking for more storage
• Interested in zen 3 but probably very far in the future where they're below $200 and probably second-hand.
• currently on A320 Motherboard, planning to upgrade (in 2 or 3 months later) to B450 if 2700/2600 is the choice or B550 if the choice is 3600.
• currently no plan to upgrade the GPU, since it did great with 3 3200g so I think it will hold up with the upgrade.

Current spec is

• (2x8) 16GB 3200Mhz RAM
• RX 580 4GB
• ASRock A320 HDV R4.0

TLDR : so I currently have these 4 plans all with $200 price range, Which one is better for 40% Gaming 60% Productivity

1. Ryzen 5 3600 + Stock Wraith Spire + 500GB HDD
2. Ryzen 5 2600 + Stock Wraith Spire + 1TB HDD + 500GB NVME
3. Ryzen 3 3100 + Stock Wraith Spire + 1TB HDD + 500GB NVME
4. Ryzen 7 2700 + Wraith Prism + 1TB HDD (tray, so Wraith Prism bought separately)
5. Ryzen 3 3300x cannot be found here

NOTE : sorry for the cluttered post, I really don't know how to make a better format

 

[Eximo]

I don't think you can go wrong with an 8-core processor for productivity. Depends on how much you value getting an NVMe SSD.

 

[dewi_arashi]

I don't think you can go wrong with an 8-core processor for productivity. Depends on how much you value getting an NVMe SSD.

I don't really need NVMe at the moment, I could get it along with a B450 in the following month.

how do you think the 2700 perform for the next 1-2 years? because I'm planning to not upgrade at all for that time. (is 2 years long in terms of PC Parts? I'm new to pc building so this was my first PC and first upgrade)

 

[Eximo]

My CPU is more then two years old, not like it has lost its capabilities. Just that newer products can do it faster. Ryzen 1700 is still a decent processor. Won't recommend anyone go out and buy one if the 2700 and 3700x are available and reasonably priced. 5700x should be amazing, but I imagine they will be hard to get a hold of this year.

That said, if you want long term support, B550 or one of the cheaper X470 motherboards would make more sense for a drop in Zen 3 chip.

 

[dewi_arashi]

My CPU is more then two years old, not like it has lost its capabilities. Just that newer products can do it faster. Ryzen 1700 is still a decent processor. Won't recommend anyone go out and buy one if the 2700 and 3700x are available and reasonably priced. 5700x should be amazing, but I imagine they will be hard to get a hold of this year.

I see, that's reassuring.

That said, if you want long term support, B550 or one of the cheaper X470 motherboards would make more sense for a drop in Zen 3 chip.

The reason I was going with B450 was : on my previous research the B550 does not support anything below Ryzen 3000, and the B450 ($70) is the budget version of X470 ($150) with update for zen 3 coming later next year.

 

[neojack]

if you need a productivity chip on the cheap , check for ryzen 7 1700 sold at aliexpress for like 100$usd.

the drawback is, you need a beefier motherboard and a cooler.
while a ryzen 3 3100 is on par with a i7 7700k and can run on stock cooler in your motherboard.

check benchmarks for the productivity score of ryzen 3100 vs 1700


i just ordered parts for friend. she is like 60% gaming 40% productivity, coming from a FX8350. decided for a ryzen 3100

on the other hand, if you have good cooling/motherboard/PSU , a 2700 will laugh at all kind of loads you can throw at it. I have mine since 2 years and still don't feel limited at all. it's awesome for winrar.

 

[dewi_arashi]

if you need a productivity chip on the cheap , check for ryzen 7 1700 sold at aliexpress for like 100$usd.

the drawback is, you need a beefier motherboard and a cooler.
while a ryzen 3 3100 is on par with a i7 7700k and can run on stock cooler in your motherboard.

check benchmarks for the productivity score of ryzen 3100 vs 1700


i just ordered parts for friend. she is like 60% gaming 40% productivity, coming from a FX8350. decided for a ryzen 3100

on the other hand, if you have good cooling/motherboard/PSU , a 2700 will laugh at all kind of loads you can throw at it. I have mine since 2 years and still don't feel limited at all. it's awesome for winrar.

No aliexpress for me, my country has 35% tax and 20% custom fee for imported electronic goods. and 1700 is only $10 cheaper than 2700 here.

my PSU is also very good (i think), it was Tier A in this post, and for cooling my case is open most of the time (i cleanup everyday so no dust) and in AC room 24/7

 

[neojack]

technically your motherboard officially supports the Ryzen 2700
https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/A320M-HDV/index.asp#CPU

But for safety, make sure you have a fan blowing on the VRMs
undervolting the cpu will help too (not sure if possible on A320, if not try to set the max CPU frequency in windows power plan. i do this a lot on laptops. setting it to max 90% instead of 100% saves a lot of heat)
install the latest chipset drivers to get an update to the ryzen balanced plan and select it. set maximum processor state to 90%

also check the minimum bios version needed on the link i provided

 

[dewi_arashi]

technically your motherboard officially supports the Ryzen 2700
https://www.asrock.com/mb/AMD/A320M-HDV/index.asp#CPU

But for safety, make sure you have a fan blowing on the VRMs
undervolting the cpu will help too (not sure if possible on A320, if not try to set the max CPU frequency in windows power plan. i do this a lot on laptops. setting it to max 90% instead of 100% saves a lot of heat)
install the latest chipset drivers to get an update to the ryzen balanced plan and select it. set maximum processor state to 90%

also check the minimum bios version needed on the link i provided

for the BIOS it's already the newest since my previous 3 3200g need it (V 4.0).

and by fans blowing to the VRM do you mean a case fan or an actual desk fan (like this one) blowing into the case?

 

[egda23]

You don’t speak at all of the GPU. Your 3200G has an integrated GPU, but you do realize that non of your new Ryzen propositions has an iGPU and you NEED a seperate GPU with those CPUs

 

[dewi_arashi]

You don’t speak at all of the GPU. Your 3200G has an integrated GPU, but you do realize that non of your new Ryzen propositions has an iGPU and you NEED a seperate GPU with those CPUs

my current gpu is PowerColor RX 580 4GB, I list my current spec on the second list on the main post

 

[neojack]

for the BIOS it's already the newest since my previous 3 3200g need it (V 4.0).

and by fans blowing to the VRM do you mean a case fan or an actual desk fan (like this one) blowing into the case?

i mean a case fan

 

[dewi_arashi]

i mean a case fan

ok I just checked my case and it can hold 4 fans, 1 In the back near the IO, 3 in the front.

does 4 fans with 1000 rpm each will suffice?

 

[neojack]

Case airflow will help only if your side panel is closed

lauch a productivity task for at least 15 mins and check VRM's temps continuously. ideally you want them under 60C
you can install hwMonitor to get the temps

if it's too hot, you can add a small fan or two towards the motherboard, like so