[SOLVED] New CPU for Data Science Suggestion

[w1teboy]

Hello, I am planning to build a new computer (~$1500 total) for primarily gaming, however I also would like to use it for a bit of data science work. I have already decided on an rtx 2080 (or super if the price is reasonable at the time I look to buy), however I'm unsure of what exactly I should look for in a CPU. I have done a little research with the Ryzen CPUs and it didn't seem that I would get enough of a benefit to be worth the cost of anything beyond a Ryzen 5 3600, however I'm relatively unfamiliar with what would be comparable on the Intel side or if anything is worth spending more for.

I don't necessarily simply want the best price to performance, however unless there is also a decent performance boost I am trying to consider that heavily due to this also being a gaming pc.

Thank you for any amount of help or insight you may be able to give.

 

[Lutfij]

You're good with AMD's Ryzen 5 3600. You're going to have to list the sort of games you'd like to play. Just gaming or will you include other tasks into the mix?

 

[1LiquidPC]

What resolution will your being gaming at, now and foreseeable future? If 1440P or above, even some 1080P, there really won't be a percieved difference between current Intel and AMD. 60Hz monitor, higher?

 

[w1teboy]

What resolution will your being gaming at, now and foreseeable future? If 1440P or above, even some 1080P, there really won't be a percieved difference between current Intel and AMD. 60Hz monitor, higher?

I have a AW3418DW (3440x1440p). I suppose that would've been important to consider, oops.

 

[w1teboy]

You're good with AMD's Ryzen 5 3600. You're going to have to list the sort of games you'd like to play. Just gaming or will you include other tasks into the mix?

I play a lot of Overwatch, Borderlands 3, League, but I'll also play the occasional more graphically intensive games as well.

I also plan on using a bit of Python on the computer for data science work in my spare time.

 

[1LiquidPC]

Nice monitor At that setting. With gaming, both Intel and AMD 3rd Gen would be very similar with your monitor. What is this data/science work you mention. Software wise, how does it handle core counts?

 

[w1teboy]

Nice monitor At that setting. With gaming, both Intel and AMD 3rd Gen would be very similar with your monitor. What is this data/science work you mention. Software wise, how does it handle core counts?

I'd like to do some deep/reinforcement learning, however everything I've encountered thus far doesn't really have a HUGE benefit from extra cores (although I could just be a bad coder of course). Obviously the extra cores would be nice but it's not a huge priority for me considering the fewest number of cores I'm looking at would be 6.

 

[1LiquidPC]

Ok. That is valuable input on use. Given your usage, the 3600 looks like a great choice. Plus, with the current AM4 socket, down the road a bit, you could always drop in a secondhand 12 or 16 core 3900x or 3950x if core needs/usage increases for gaming or productivity. Current Intel socket 1151 V2 is at the end with no future upgradability. Intel is going to socket 1200, then who knows after that in mainstream market. This all said, I'm very happy with, and can vouch for both modern Intel and AMD platforms as I have both. Strong performers either way.

 

[w1teboy]

Ok. That is valuable input on use. Given your usage, the 3600 looks like a great choice. Plus, with the current AM4 socket, down the road a bit, you could always drop in a secondhand 12 or 16 core 3900x or 3950x if core needs/usage increases for gaming or productivity. Current Intel socket 1151 V2 is at the end with no future upgradability. Intel is going to socket 1200, then who knows after that in mainstream market. This all said, I'm very happy with, and can vouch for both modern Intel and AMD platforms as I have both. Strong performers either way.

I never even thought about future upgradeability, that's an incredibly good point. Is it known whether the AM4 socket support the next generation of ryzen CPUs as well? Either way it sounds like the 3600 is what I'll get and I appreciate your insight!

 

[1LiquidPC]

Glad to help. Regarding upgradability for yet another generation, not entirely sure. AMD says their committed to the AM4 socket into 2020, which Zen 3 supposedly would launch as well in that time last I checked, but far to early to tell. They had difficulties getting Zen 2 to be backward compatible with AM4, so it may be pushing it for next gen. For now though, it should be a great build based on the 3600. AMD has sure made great strides these past few years with Ryzen. Sure it will treat you well.