[SOLVED] Ryzen 5 2600 ----> Ryzen 5 3600. Is new mobo needed?

Mar 27, 2020
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Hi,

My specs:
CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600
MOBO: gigabyte a320m-hd2
GPU: GeForce GTX 980
RAM: 16GB DDR 3000Mhz
PSU: EVGA 500W 80 bronze


I want to change CPU for a 3rd gen (3600) and a GPU for GTX 1080.

Tell me should I buy a new MOBO? I know that a320 which I have is compatible (https://www.gigabyte.com/Motherboard/GA-A320M-HD2-rev-10#kf ) because of AM4. I probably have only to update BIOS.

I don't want to slow down new CPU or sth. I cannot find an answer anywhere (except this YT video
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF8EuEfKH3Q
).

IMO changing my MOBO will be waste of money.
What do you think about this guys?

Greetz,
Kuba
 
Solution
If you want to upgrade the CPU, a Ryzen 3600 is not particularly power-hungry, so I suspect it should run reasonably well on an A320 board, provided it offers BIOS support for 3rd-gen Ryzen processors, which that board appears to do with an update. I would probably try it first (after updating the BIOS with your existing processor), and only replace the board if you happened to encounter any performance anomalies.

I want to change CPU for a 3rd gen (3600) and a GPU for GTX 1080.
Were you planning to buy a GTX 1080 new or used? Unless pricing is substantially different in Poland, it might be worth looking at newer cards with similar levels of performance at lower price points. For example, an RTX 2060, RX 5600 XT or RX 5700...
Mar 27, 2020
15
2
15
I know that GPU is more important. I will get 50% performance by changing gtx 980 for gtx 1080.
And next 20% by changing r5 2600 for r5 3600. I don't want to make a bottleneck for new GPU.

And If I will change CPU right now I will pay less next time (because r5 2600 is worthy 400PLN and r5 3600 700PLN. So I will pay only 300PLN for new CPU. And same situation will be next time when I will change r5 3rd gen for 4th gen).
 
So that was my question

should I change MOBO before changing a CPU?

People say it won't make any difference for this CPU.
You don't need to, but in my opinion, it is better to upgrade the motherboard without upgrading the CPU. You are not going to get 20% more gaming performance, more like 10%, especially on 1440p. A better motherboard will let you OC that 2600 and will support 8+ core CPU in the future, a better investment.
 
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If you want to upgrade the CPU, a Ryzen 3600 is not particularly power-hungry, so I suspect it should run reasonably well on an A320 board, provided it offers BIOS support for 3rd-gen Ryzen processors, which that board appears to do with an update. I would probably try it first (after updating the BIOS with your existing processor), and only replace the board if you happened to encounter any performance anomalies.

I want to change CPU for a 3rd gen (3600) and a GPU for GTX 1080.
Were you planning to buy a GTX 1080 new or used? Unless pricing is substantially different in Poland, it might be worth looking at newer cards with similar levels of performance at lower price points. For example, an RTX 2060, RX 5600 XT or RX 5700, which at least in the US, can be found brand new for a similar price as what a GTX 1080 sells for used, while offering similar level of performance in most newer games.
 
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Reactions: kubacapo
Solution
Mar 27, 2020
15
2
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Were you planning to buy a GTX 1080 new or used?
My friend wants to sell used GTX 1080. So I have a good price (900 PLN) and I know this GPU history.
New RX5700 cost about 1500 PLN. RTX 2060 the same.

All YT vids shows r5 3600 should provide 10% - 30% more performance in gaming than r5 2600. I think It is worthy to sell 2600 for 400 PLN and buy for 700 PLN 3600.
 
I know that GPU is more important. I will get 50% performance by changing gtx 980 for gtx 1080.
And next 20% by changing r5 2600 for r5 3600. I don't want to make a bottleneck for new GPU.

And If I will change CPU right now I will pay less next time (because r5 2600 is worthy 400PLN and r5 3600 700PLN. So I will pay only 300PLN for new CPU. And same situation will be next time when I will change r5 3rd gen for 4th gen).
You won't get 20% improvement in gaming where you'd most likely see very small gains, if any. Most likely not enough to notice and especially so with the upgrade in GPU at the same time, which won't be bottle necked unless you game at 720p and maybe not even then if not a a 1080ti.

It would only show noticeable improvement in CPU intensive processing such as rendering, video encoding etc. And also most likely be closer to 15% than 20.

Like everyone is saying: upgrade mobo first. You could probably get a lot better improvement by doing that since you could now overclock the 2600, maybe even get the memory up to 3200.
 
Last edited:

logainofhades

Titan
Moderator
I put it above upgrading the 2600 to a 3600.

Why? The motherboard is not going to affect gaming performance in any meaningful way. An R5 3600, in an A320 board, will outperform a 2600 in any other board, regardless of chipset. It really isn't necessary to change, until a much higher end CPU is required. Even a 65w 3700x would still be ok, in an A320, as a temporary measure. It's not till you start wanting a 3900x or 3950x, that I would say replace it. I wouldn't recommend an A320, for any new build, but if it is already being used, reuse it, and spend money on things that will actually benefit performance, first. Get the better board later, to give you that better future support. Frankly the order should be GPU, a 3600, or 3700x, then better board. Performance over features should always be the priority.
 
Why? The motherboard is not going to affect gaming performance in any meaningful way. An R5 3600, in an A320 board, will outperform a 2600 in any other board, regardless of chipset. It really isn't necessary to change, until a much higher end CPU is required. Even a 65w 3700x would still be ok, in an A320, as a temporary measure. It's not till you start wanting a 3900x or 3950x, that I would say replace it. I wouldn't recommend an A320, for any new build, but if it is already being used, reuse it, and spend money on things that will actually benefit performance, first. Get the better board later, to give you that better future support. Frankly the order should be GPU, a 3600, or 3700x, then better board. Performance over features should always be the priority.
With AM4's limitless upgrade-ability I consider flexibility of options better than a little performance gain (especially with a GTX 1080). For 3700X it might be a different story, but for a 3600 I still won't justify upgrading. The 2600 is good enough and if you really want to upgrade, consider aiming higher for the future, either to a 3700X (which would probably need a better motherboard soon after) or something else better which only possible with a better board.
 
Mar 27, 2020
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You would need at least a 2070s, I would think, to see any real difference.
After few tests I am afraid I have to agree with you.
Difference between 2600 and 3600 is only few FPS in games (AC Odyssey and RDR 2). The only place I can see proper difference is 3DMARK. It shows about 20% more performance.
But in mentioned games GPU has more than 90% of usage, and CPU has less than 50% of usage...