[SOLVED] Which CPU to go for? (Upgrading from an FX 6300 to Ryzen

[RhysN]

I’m relatively new to building pcs and I’ve had a “gaming” pc for a few years but it’s really outdated and I’m looking for an upgrade.

I currently have an FX 6300 CPU with a GTX 1050 2GB and 16gb ddr3

I’m looking at buying a Ryzen CPU bundle on amazon but don’t know what to go for.

My options are either:
ADMI CPU Motherboard Bundle: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 CPU Six Core 3.9GHz CPU, ASUS Prime B450M-K Motherboard, Corsair Vengeance LPX 8GB 3000Mhz DDR4 RAM

Or

Components4All AMD Ryzen 5 2400G 3.6Ghz (Turbo 3.9Ghz) Quad Core Eight Thread CPU, ASUS Prime B350M-A Motherboard & 8GB 3200Mhz Corsair DDR4 RAM Pre-Built Bundle

Unless someone recommend a better option

I will plan on using my 1050 graphics card in the pc until I can upgrade to a better one, I wouldn’t use the integrated graphics

I’m not looking to spend a load of money just enough so I can play certain games such as GTA V, Arma 3, ARK and possibly Battlefield V etc.
The bundles come pre built with mobo

 

[RhysN]

and bundles might have a bad value so it is better to buy only components and not bundles

I’ll do some comparing but I’m more likely to go for a bundle as I haven’t learnt anything about building a PC from scratch (I’ve only replaced and added minor parts such as gpu, power supply and SSD)

 

[RhysN]

If you have a Micro Center near you they have "bundles". They do not restrict what cpu or motherboard you purchase as a bundle, as long as purchased at the same time.

I’ll have a look around but I live in a small town so if there are any it may be a bit far out but I could possibly drive to a place if it’s close enough, thank you

 

[86zx]

Basically if you look at a motherboard online and it says good for ryzen first gen and second gen it’s not gonna be compatible with a 3600 out of the box and will need to be updated to work with that cpu and the only way to update the motherboard most of the time is to use a older cpu that is supported in its current state. Definitely do a lot of research about computers before you buy and build. Most b450 boards need to be updated to work with a ryzen 3000 series cpu

 

[RhysN]

Basically if you look at a motherboard online and it says good for ryzen first gen and second gen it’s not gonna be compatible with a 3600 out of the box and will need to be updated to work with that cpu and the only way to update the motherboard most of the time is to use a older cpu that is supported in its current state. Definitely do a lot of research about computers before you buy and build. Most b450 boards need to be updated to work with a ryzen 3000 series cpu

So I may be better off getting a 2600 and getting a better graphics card? Due to my lack of knowledge

 

[Luke45]

Not going to lie I have no idea what a bios update is?
Also I’m currently looking at getting a Ryzen 3600 with 8gb ram then upgrading my gpu to GTX 1660 at a later date, will this be strong enough for AAA titles?

i dont know how to explain it on english. bios is a firmware on your motherboard which controls your motherboard and lets you bot your windows. and when procesors come out with motherboard they are compatible and then when new architecture is released bios needs to update to make your motherboard able to control the procesor. and you should buy at least 1660 ti. and can you tell me resolution of your monitor

 

[Luke45]

Not going to lie I have no idea what a bios update is?
Also I’m currently looking at getting a Ryzen 3600 with 8gb ram then upgrading my gpu to GTX 1660 at a later date, will this be strong enough for AAA titles?

i dont know how to explain it on english. bios is a firmware on your motherboard which controls your motherboard and lets you boot your windows. and when procesors come out with motherboard to the shop they are compatibled bioe and then when new architecture is releass needs to update to make your motherboard able to control the procesor. and you should buy at least 1660 ti. and can you tell me resolution of your monitor

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Bios essentially a program in your motherboard that your motherboard relies on to be able to see what configuration your computer has.

I will say I've got the ryzen 3600. Just purchased it and upgraded from a 1700x, and it is a great CPU.

When you go to look at graphics cards, the 1660 ti isn't a bad card, but I would pass on a 1660 ti due to its price. The better value would be a 1660 super for about 230 dollars. It's about 50 dollars less than the ti, but is only 3-5% slower.

I have one of those with the 3600, and I also have a 144hz 1080p monitor. I can run battlefield 1 very smooth. Even in conquest battles etc at ultra settings. That said I can see maybe getting a better card late this year or early next year. I will see. But it's not a bad card for the money.

If you do opt for a 2600, you might see if there 2600x is near the same price. If so, get that if it's only 5 or 10 more as it will have higher clock speeds out of the box.

Also, if you do have microcenter near you, they usually have a deal going where if you buy a cpu, you will get 20 dollars off the motherboard as well.

 

[RhysN]

i dont know how to explain it on english. bios is a firmware on your motherboard which controls your motherboard and lets you boot your windows. and when procesors come out with motherboard to the shop they are compatibled bioe and then when new architecture is releass needs to update to make your motherboard able to control the procesor. and you should buy at least 1660 ti. and can you tell me resolution of your monitor

I see, I’m currently using 1920 x 1080 as I had an old TV lying around and my old monitor was only 1366 x 768 😂

 

[RhysN]

Bios essentially a program in your motherboard that your motherboard relies on to be able to see what configuration your computer has.

I will say I've got the ryzen 3600. Just purchased it and upgraded from a 1700x, and it is a great CPU.

When you go to look at graphics cards, the 1660 ti isn't a bad card, but I would pass on a 1660 ti due to its price. The better value would be a 1660 super for about 230 dollars. It's about 50 dollars less than the ti, but is only 3-5% slower.

I have one of those with the 3600, and I also have a 144hz 1080p monitor. I can run battlefield 1 very smooth. Even in conquest battles etc at ultra settings. That said I can see maybe getting a better card late this year or early next year. I will see. But it's not a bad card for the money.

If you do opt for a 2600, you might see if there 2600x is near the same price. If so, get that if it's only 5 or 10 more as it will have higher clock speeds out of the box.

Also, if you do have microcenter near you, they usually have a deal going where if you buy a cpu, you will get 20 dollars off the motherboard as well.

So would it be possible for me to find a “bundle” with a motherboard that directly supports the 3600 so I wouldn’t need to fiddle around with updating any bios or anything? Thanks for the recommendation I will try to look into a 1660 or higher. If I did have to settle for a 2600 with a GTX 1660 would it be a major decrease compared to what it would be with a 3600?

 

[RhysN]

Bios essentially a program in your motherboard that your motherboard relies on to be able to see what configuration your computer has.

I will say I've got the ryzen 3600. Just purchased it and upgraded from a 1700x, and it is a great CPU.

When you go to look at graphics cards, the 1660 ti isn't a bad card, but I would pass on a 1660 ti due to its price. The better value would be a 1660 super for about 230 dollars. It's about 50 dollars less than the ti, but is only 3-5% slower.

I have one of those with the 3600, and I also have a 144hz 1080p monitor. I can run battlefield 1 very smooth. Even in conquest battles etc at ultra settings. That said I can see maybe getting a better card late this year or early next year. I will see. But it's not a bad card for the money.

If you do opt for a 2600, you might see if there 2600x is near the same price. If so, get that if it's only 5 or 10 more as it will have higher clock speeds out of the box.

Also, if you do have microcenter near you, they usually have a deal going where if you buy a cpu, you will get 20 dollars off the motherboard as well.

Also just to confirm I’m looking at:
ADMI CPU Motherboard Bundle: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6 cores, 4.2GHz boost, ASUS Prime B450M-K Motherboard
Where it’s pre built and tested should this mean the motherboard supports the 3600 so I shouldn’t need to worry about bios?

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Keep in mind I came from a 1700x which is a first gen part. To be honest, the 1st generation part played just fine for me. I really didn't need to upgrade. But I will say after doing so, it feels like the 3600 is smoother. Like not as many frame drops etc. It's not like the 1700x was bad, or that there were frame drops often or anything. Just the 3600 seems to have a higher frame rate and just smoother at a higher refresh rate as well. But even if you ran a Ryzen 1600 for example, it's still going to game.

On a budget, the 2600 is going to be great. I would however skip the 1660. The 1660 super is only 30 dollars more than the regular 1660 super. So I would either go for that card, or if you want to spend more money, I would then look at the 5600xt or the 5700, or a 2060.

As far as compatible boards to a 3600, I think the b450 boards by MSI that are labeled MAX are compatible. But if you shop at a local place like a microcenter, they may update the bios for you on a board that may not be ready out of the box before you leave the store. It would be worth asking.

 

[Gmoney06ss]

Also just to confirm I’m looking at:
ADMI CPU Motherboard Bundle: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6 cores, 4.2GHz boost, ASUS Prime B450M-K Motherboard
Where it’s pre built and tested should this mean the motherboard supports the 3600 so I shouldn’t need to worry about bios?

If it's prebuilt and tested you can probably assume it's compatible and you wouldn't need to worry about bios updating. Maybe reach out to the seller to verify compatibility. Or post a link. But if they are selling it bundled and built/tested, it would almost have to be ready to go.

Imo, if you're comfortable to swap out a board/cpu and put in some ram. You would have very little issue actually building it yourself. There are tons of YouTube guides, and plenty of folks on here willing to help through any possible issues. It may save you a little cash, which may help you grab the better cpu.

 

[ZOG_]

Money saving, and buying tips:

Imo, the Ryzen 3600 and 2700x ..
Are the only two options for price to performance.
Anything less won't last, anything more is overkill.

Exhaust your local options first.
Don't be afraid of the second hand market!
You may be able to score every item half price, and gently used.
Letgo.com and Offerup.com are my two new favorites.
Facebook Marketplace, or craigslist is good too.

For a spare build:
I got a Ryzen 1600 for $50
A320 mobo for $20
And a single 8GB stick for $20

Do you have a Micro-Center?
Their CPUs are listed $10 - $20 cheaper than online retailers
And they also come with a $20 discount on a motherboard.
Also, on their website, you can shop for Open Boxes (returns).
My 16GB 3200mhz was just $5 more than the unopened 8GB 3200mhz

 

[RhysN]

Keep in mind I came from a 1700x which is a first gen part. To be honest, the 1st generation part played just fine for me. I really didn't need to upgrade. But I will say after doing so, it feels like the 3600 is smoother. Like not as many frame drops etc. It's not like the 1700x was bad, or that there were frame drops often or anything. Just the 3600 seems to have a higher frame rate and just smoother at a higher refresh rate as well. But even if you ran a Ryzen 1600 for example, it's still going to game.

On a budget, the 2600 is going to be great. I would however skip the 1660. The 1660 super is only 30 dollars more than the regular 1660 super. So I would either go for that card, or if you want to spend more money, I would then look at the 5600xt or the 5700, or a 2060.

As far as compatible boards to a 3600, I think the b450 boards by MSI that are labeled MAX are compatible. But if you shop at a local place like a microcenter, they may update the bios for you on a board that may not be ready out of the box before you leave the store. It would be worth asking.

Alright thank you, I’ve read the reviews on Amazon and a bunch of people have said it’s plug in and play where the bios are already updated thankfully, so I’ll probably go for the 3600 then buy at least 1660

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Just my opinion depending where your located. But if you go for the 1660, get the 1660 super. The 1660 usually goes for around 200. The super can be found for around 230. And if the super is compared to the faster 1660 ti, it is only about 3-5% slower. So pretty much very little difference. At 1080p, it's not a bad setup.

At 1080p I can run battlefield 1 at max settings. Don't have battlefield 5 yet. But a lot of other games can run if not max settings, then high settings which still looks great.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

BIOS is the 'Basic Input/Output System' a simple program that governs how all your components talk to each other and gets your PC started. If you have a B450 board that hasn't been upgraded, it won't be able to recognize the Ryzen-3000 series chips, and therefore the computer won't run. the MSI Tomahawk series has an upgraded bios, but honestly isn't THAT much cheaper than an entry-level X570 ($115 for a Tomahawk, $144 for a low end X570 right now)

Basically updating BIOS, by fixing issues and adding new information, improves your PCs overall performance.

 

[ohio_buckeye]

Once you get on the platform, what is amazing, I'm running my 3600 on an ASRock B350 that I maybe paid 60 something for at least a year or more ago. Amazing it runs this well.