[SOLVED] What's the least expensive Ryzen build with best potential upgrade path? (must have APU+Cooler)

[hamlet_jones]

I want a new build, but I'm not prepared to break the bank.
(I'm going AMD, unless a strong argument can be made for Intel.)

Objectives:
1) significantly beat my overclocked Phenom 965 with onboard graphics. (Shouldn't be too hard, eh?)

2) Allow for upgrading in two or three years, doubling performance. This is a must. (Add a GPU when prices aren't so stupid, perhaps double RAM, upgrade CPU.)
3) Allow for some mid-range gaming.

I already have serviceable peripherals, cases, hhd, ssd, new seasonic power supply, etc.

So what can we do, what's the best Ryzen with APU and cooler, + Motherboard + RAM?
How low can we go, $$$, and still meet the objectives?

 

[camieabz]

2200G (there's only a choice of two) is the most affordable.

https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/products/compare/FGPKHx,RkJtt6/

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/AMD-Ryzen-5-2400G-vs-AMD-Ryzen-3-2200G/m433194vsm441832

2200G is most like the 1300x, while the 2400G is most like the 1500x

2200G is the most affordable, but if not planning to upgrade the CPU, you'll get more from the 2400G in multi threading IF your setup can take advantage of it. However, other than the multi threading there's not much between them in performance, and the 2200G is a LOT cheaper, so the price vs performance is better for the 2200G.

 

[hamlet_jones]

Why shouldn't my "setup" be able to take advantage of multi threading. I thought it was baked in the cake?

 

[dontlistentome]

Ryzen CPUs will be using AM4 motherboards for awhile, so CPU upgrading isn't going to be a problem.

I see two potential areas of problems. One, by using integrated graphics you will also be using some of your system ram for the graphics too. This means an 8gb(2x4gb) system becomes a 6gb system. The obvious move is to get 16gb(2x8gb) but DDR4 ram is costly. You will also want fast DDR4 ram for the Vega graphics, as in 2933 at least.

The other issue is 'midrange gaming'. I have no idea what you mean by that. Which games, which resolution, what kind of settings, and what kind of framerate are you looking for?

 

[hamlet_jones]

"Midrange gaming" I define as: anything but first person shooters.

If I have at least 4 RAM slots, I can get one or two sticks now, and populate the rest later. I can toss the 2200G for a big non-vega Ryzen upgrade down the road, and get a decent GPU at that time.

Two questions:

Will a Ryzen 2200G prove noticeably faster in everyday apps vs my current Phenom ii x4 965?

Which motherboards should I be looking at? E-350 APU? (apu what?
E-450 APU? 370? Too many choices! I want a solid board, good features, modest overclocking if I so choose... This is the one item I'm going to keep thru all the future upgrades.

(edited for clarity and loss of clarity)