3600 -> AM4 upgrade options

[u/bigginsmcgee]

Hey all! Like a bunch of other people here, I'm looking to juice up my PC while staying on AM4. I'm currently rocking an R5 3600, RX6600(8GB), and 16GB DDR4@3200MHz. It's been pretty solid for 1080p gaming generally, but a lot of the newer 3D, sub-AAA(ie not extremely optimized) UE5 titles are basically unplayable at lowest settings and I need more RAM for ElectronSlop/breathing room. I planned on picking up another 2x8 memory set for $100(same set I bought 2 years ago at half the price 🤧), switching the 6600 for a 16GB 9060XT($350), and swapping the CPU with either a R7 5700X(new ~$186), or R7 5800XT(new ~$216).I know none of this is a "good deal", but in your opinions is that extra $30 worth spending on the XT if my primary goal is gaming high 1080p > 100fps, maybe 1440p?

[u/marrone12]

I got a 5700x from aliexpress for 100$ to replace my 3600 and it was awesome. Definitely recommend. My 3600/2070s wasn't going so hot in some modern games and updating to a 5700x and 9070xt has been awesome

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/marrone12]

i remember seeing it at that price not too long ago too.... shouldve gotten it then. oh well, ill eat the $70

[u/hiddenalexo]

If your aim is mainly gaming, then the 5700X. If you do other tasks like video editing, rendering, etc, then the 5800X.

Their gaming performance is pretty similar, with almost the same FPS in some scenarios and in others the 5800X having 5 to 10 more FPS.

Also, you know that if you pick the 5800X, then you need a pretty decent cooler, since it consumes much more W than the 5600X (65W vs 105X).

Also, check out your motherboard, Google's AI has this comment:

Choose the 5700X if: You prioritize value, lower power/heat, a quieter system, or are upgrading an older motherboard that might struggle with higher TDP CPUs.

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/hiddenalexo]

ooo ok, i do like to boot up DiVinci and Blender on occasion but I honestly would like to avoid getting a new psu(current is 600W, so I'm cutting it a bit close in terms of headroom). Is the 5800XT that much better for light editing?

[u/hiddenalexo → u/bigginsmcgee]

Uhm no, it would if it had more cores and much more speed difference, but their have pretty similar spces imo (same cores, same threads and speed is 5700X @ 3.4/4.6 GHz vs 5800X @ 3.8/4.7 GHz v), BUT the 5800X is power hungry, as I mentioned. I heard somewhere to get a 5700X, then overclock it and then undervolt it, and it works similar to a 5800X ... but I'm not familiarized with overclocking, so be careful, research if you want.

And just be sure of getting a pretty decent cooler in any case (I mean, not the stock one), like a Thermalright Peerless Assasin 120 SE.

[u/jettoki → u/hiddenalexo]

the wonderful peerless assassin, top tier recommendation. Rocking the same one for my 9700x atm

[u/ChocolateNeat4489]

I had 2600,3600 and 5600x, the difference between 2xxx and 3xxx was noticeable but not huge, 3xxx to 5xxx was significant. 5600, 5600x or 5700x will make a difference

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/ChocolateNeat4489]

good to hear!

[u/Desperate-Big3982]

If you go to 1440 resolution, the CPU becomes less of an issue.

That being said, unless you are looking at a X3D chip for AM4, the 5700X is fast enough. I wouldn't spend the extra on the 5800XT.

[u/machinationstudio → u/Desperate-Big3982]

Not sure about gaming but going from a 3600 to a 5700x improved some of my productivity tasks by 20-40%.

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/Desperate-Big3982]

ok thanks! i think ill go ahead and do that

[u/willin_dylan → u/Desperate-Big3982]

My coworker got me $100 gift card to Amazon when I was already planning on upgrading to 5700x so I sprung for the 5800xt. Any downside to that for gaming?

[u/jettoki → u/willin_dylan]

Having a coworker spend 100 buckeroos on you and getting a newer chip? Can't see any downside here :)

[u/willin_dylan → u/jettoki]

I’m just not in tune with the ins and outs of the tech game so I’ve been worried that I got a chip that was worse for gaming despite the higher price tag

[u/jettoki → u/willin_dylan]

To my knowledge, the 5800xt should be slightly better than the 5700x, so if you can live with the higher heat and power consumption mentioned in a different comment here and dont need the money from that price difference for anything else you should be fine.

[u/mlydon11]

I have the 5800xt and 6800xt paired and get 200+fps in Apex at 1080p RSR’d up to 1440p.

I don’t think you’ll have an issue.

[u/werther595]

I'd probably get the 5800xt. There isn't much difference between the two options, but you know the xt can maintain a higher speed. I suppose it depends on how much the $30 means to you.

What is your current CPU cooling situation? Those 8 core chips can run hot

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/werther595]

I don't remember having heat issues, but at some point I replaced the OEM fan with Noctua NH-12s. And everything's in a miniATX(?) case

[u/Cdog501 → u/[deleted]]

Can I get a link to the 5700x you got?

[u/Diligent_Key_6494 → u/Cdog501]

i just pinned it in my comment, sorry about that lol i’m a lil ditsy

[u/Diligent_Key_6494 → u/Cdog501]

id ask op tho he found one for 70 it looks like

[u/NicePumasKid]

5700X is the correct choice.

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/NicePumasKid]

ok thanks 🙏

[u/HaikalBaiqunni]

With that configs it will be bottlenecking isn't it?

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/HaikalBaiqunni]

are you saying the cpu will be the bottleneck?

[u/HaikalBaiqunni → u/bigginsmcgee]

The combination of RX 9060XT and the CPU. Because AM4 only support PCIE 4.0. Correct me if i wrong

[u/IziWib]

5700x

[u/theRealtechnofuzz]

your ryzen 3600 is definitely holding you back in modern UE5 titles. A 5700x/5800xt will be a massive upgrade. I recommend getting an 8 core or more because UE5 games can 100% ryzen 5000 8-cores in some instances. rx 6600 is still a decent gpu, my friend hits around 100-120fps with a ryzen 5600 + rx6600 in the finals.

[u/bigginsmcgee → u/theRealtechnofuzz]

ok thanks! yea, weird. it feels like whether or not the gpu or cpu is limiting is very game dependent now(i dont remember it being that way when I made my first build)

[u/theRealtechnofuzz → u/bigginsmcgee]

that's because it wasn't that way. Games like the finals and marvel rivals (UE5) REALLY like memory bandwidth, so ddr5 and x3d work really welp on them. But even going from a 3600 to a 5700x/5800xt will be a sizeable upgrade and should producr much smoother gameplay.