On July 7, AMD celebrated the release of its new Ryzen 3000 series. What do the new processors bring and for whom is the upgrade worthwhile? Is the new generation worth it for gaming and how does it perform with multimedia? We answer the most important questions for gamers.
New Generation. The new 3000 generation is a significant evolution of the 2000 generation, providing a further developed Zen 2 microarchitecture on a 7nm base.
In particular, the transition from Zen+ to Zen2 brings a huge leap in power and efficiency, as does the doubled L3 cache, which is very interesting for gaming. AMD refers to this as GameCache. But for whom is the upgrade worthwhile and what should be considered when buying a new CPU? We address the following questions:
- Which Ryzen 3000 is the best?
- Which Ryzen 3000 is best for gaming?
- What do the benchmarks look like?
- Do I need new RAM and a motherboard for my Ryzen?
- Are there alternatives for office users?
We primarily address those who want to use the Ryzen 3000 for gaming.
The most important information about AMD Ryzen 3000 first
Which Ryzen 3000 is worth it for gaming? For gamers, particularly the Ryzen 7 3700X and Ryzen 5 3600 are interesting.
If you’re into overclocking today, you should buy the Ryzen 5 3600 and skip the X variant, as with overclocking, the values of the X model can be easily reached.
The Ryzen 7 3700X offers two additional cores for work or streaming, and it also provides a few extra FPS for gaming, but it costs about €140 more than the 3600.
While the Ryzen 9 3900X and the upcoming Ryzen 3950X are theoretically the most powerful Ryzen CPUs, they are not interesting for pure gamers, as hardly any modern game can really utilize 12 or 16 cores. These processors are mainly aimed at professional users and enthusiasts. This is also reflected in the price of nearly €530. Of course, you can play well with these CPUs, but if the focus is on gaming, it’s overkill.
Which Ryzen 3000 offers the best price-performance? The current price-performance tip is definitely the new Ryzen 5 3600. It offers more than enough performance for most mid-range games with six cores and 12 threads. Moreover, with a 6-core processor, you’re well-prepared for the future.
Is there a bundle with games? Yes, when you buy a Ryzen processor, you receive the Game Pass, essentially a Netflix for games, free for a subscription duration of 3 months. Included are games like Metro Exodus, Sea of Thieves, or Forza Horizon 4. When Gears 5 is released, it will also be part of the Game Pass.
Are the old Ryzen processors of the 2000 series still worth it? Thanks to the announcement of the Ryzen 3000 series, prices for the predecessor models are dropping. The Ryzen 5 2400G, which comes with plenty of power and an integrated graphics chip, now costs just over €100 and the six-core Ryzen 5 2600 also costs around €120. The 2700X is now worth a look for bargain hunters – currently available at Mindfactory for under €240.
For those interested in upgrading, it may be worthwhile to keep an eye on the old second generation as well and to wait a month or two until prices continue to fall.
If you own a processor from the Ryzen 2000 series, the upgrade is only marginally worthwhile, as the second generation processors are very fast. For those of you looking to assemble a new PC, it makes sense to take a look at the new 3000 generation, as they are cheaper than Intel processors and do not lag behind the current Intel competition in the third generation. In particular, the Ryzen 5 3600 is a price-performance tip. More on that later.
Intel or Ryzen?
Should I buy a Ryzen 3700 (3600) or prefer the i7-9700K (8700K)?
When it comes to pure gaming performance, Intel processors like the i7-9700K or i9-9900K of the latest generation are still at the top.
However, especially compared to the second Ryzen generation, AMD has significantly caught up: On average, the new Ryzen processors are 5 to 15 percent behind Intel, but they consume significantly less power, offer highly efficient technology with 7nm manufacturing, and cost significantly less.
You would have to pay at least €380 for an Intel Core i7-9700K, depending on the retailer. The performance is comparable to an i7-8700K. According to benchmarks from GameStar, the advantage of the new generation in gaming is under 5%.
The Ryzen 5 3600 comes close in many games and costs €170 less. Especially at 4K and WQHD resolutions, there is hardly any noticeable difference anymore. Exceptions prove the rule.
At higher resolutions, the GPU is usually the bottleneck anyway, so the money would be better spent on a more powerful graphics card. The new super generations from Nvidia or the Radeon 5700X from AMD are now available, but only from August, when partner cards with better coolers will arrive.
And when it comes to video rendering or compute-intensive software, the new Ryzen processors outperform the competition and show their true potential. In so-called multicore applications, the new Ryzen generation is at the top. Therefore the new Ryzen generation provides a better overall package in terms of price, gaming, and application.
However, if you want maximum gaming performance, you have to go for the i9-9900K. That comes at a cost and is at least €480.
Benchmarks for Ryzen 3600 and 3700X
Benchmark Battlefield V, 1920×1080, with Asus GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, playable 45+ fps
| Processor | FPS, Average | |
| Ryzen 5 2400G | 85 | – 11 percent |
| Ryzen 5 1600X | 95 | 100 percent |
| Ryzen 5 2600 | 108.8 | + 14 percent |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | 137.8 | + 44 percent |
| Ryzen 7 3700X | 149.0 | + 56 percent |
| Intel Core i7-8700K | 142.4 | + 49 percent |
| Intel Core i9-9900K | 148.6 | + 55 percent |
Benchmark Assassins Creed Odyssey, 1920×1080, with Asus GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, playable 45+ fps
| Processor | FPS, Average | |
| Ryzen 5 2400G | 62.4 | – 13 percent |
| Ryzen 5 1600X | 72 | 100 percent |
| Ryzen 5 2600 | 79 | + 10 percent |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | 85 | + 14 percent |
| Ryzen 7 3700X | 87.5 | + 21 percent |
| Intel Core i7-8700K | 88.3 | + 22 percent |
| Intel Core i9-9900K | 94.2 | + 31 percent |
Benchmark Far Cry New Dawn, 1920×1080, with Asus GeForce RTX 2080 Ti, playable 45+ fps
| Processor | FPS, Average | |
| Ryzen 5 2400G | 75.5 | – 13 percent |
| Ryzen 5 1600X | 86.4 | 100 percent |
| Ryzen 5 2600 | 104.2 | + 21 percent |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | 116.5 | + 35 percent |
| Ryzen 7 3700X | 121.6 | + 41 percent |
| Intel Core i7-8700K | 134.9 | + 56 percent |
| Intel Core i9 9900K | 141.8 | + 67 percent |
The benchmarks are from the excellent Ryzen 3000 test by Computerbase. Take a look at the site if you prefer a larger selection and additional details on the processors.
The average benchmark of 9 games in Full HD shows very well how close the CPUs are:
Summary: When is the Ryzen 3600, 3700 or 3900 worth it?
For me, the upgrade is worth it if I…
- … own a first-generation Ryzen processor (1000 series)
- … want to invest for the long term
- … are interested in new architecture (Zen 2) and energy efficiency
- … already own a new motherboard with an AM4 socket or am willing to invest around €50 in a new motherboard.
- … my processor is over 3 years old (Intel Broadwell or Haswell generation)
- … enjoy and actively game
- … do a lot of video rendering, encoding, and image editing, and generally rely on resource-intensive software
It is not worth upgrading for me if I…
- … own an A320 motherboard, for which compatibility has not yet been confirmed
- … own a second-generation Ryzen (at most 15 percent more performance)
- … own an Intel processor from the seventh or eighth generation (Skylake, Coffee Lake and Refresh)
- … mainly use my PC for office and simple multimedia tasks
I own the Ryzen 5 2600. Is it worth upgrading to Ryzen 3600 or 3700X?
If you own the predecessor Ryzen 5 2600, then the upgrade is not really worthwhile for you, unless you are interested in the approximately 15 percent more performance for a premium of €90. However, the situation could be different as soon as the new processors, including the 3700X, appear in discounted offers. Let’s put it this way: There is no rush.
When switching from the first generation, we are already talking about over 30 percent increased performance. Here, this is significantly more noticeable.
However, it still holds true that the performance of the processors strongly depends on the game being played. So far, very few games support more than 4 cores. The Ryzen 5 3600 or 3700X with six and eight cores, respectively, could, however, be a good investment in the long run.
However, the 3700X would make the most sense. With 8 cores, it is a more sustainable investment, and the performance boost in gaming compared to the 2600 is over 20%.
All processors in price comparison
| Processor | Prices | Cores/Threads | Performance | Consumption |
| Ryzen 9 3950X | ? | 16/32 | 3.5/4.7 GHz | 105W |
| Ryzen 9 3900X | €529 | 12/24 | 3.8/4.6 GHz | 105W |
| Ryzen 7 3800X | €429 | 8/16 | 3.9/4.5 GHz | 105W |
| Ryzen 7 3700X | €349 | 8/16 | 3.6/4.4 GHz | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 3600X | €265 | 6/12 | 3.8/4.4 GHz | 95W |
| Ryzen 5 3600 | €209 | 6/12 | 3.6/4.2 GHz | 65W |
| Ryzen 5 3400G | €159 | 4/8 | 3.6/3.9 GHz | 65W |
| Intel i7 9700K | €420 | 8/8 | 3.6/4.6 GHz | 95W |
| Intel i9 9900K | €500 | 8/16 | 3.6/5 GHz | 95W |
Where is the best place to buy the new Ryzen 3000? At Mindfactory or Alternate, you will find good availability and thus low prices.
For whom are Ryzen 5 3600 and Ryzen 5 2600 recommended?
Recommended for gamers. Those who enjoy gaming, multitasking, and want to upgrade and clean their PC should consider the new Ryzen 3000 series: The new Ryzen 5 3600 offers more than enough performance for €200 and you don’t need to worry for the coming years.
Currently, the 3600X is not worth it due to the high price. However, the predecessor Ryzen 5 2600 remains a recommendation as it only delivers 14 percent less performance but costs around €120, which is about €80 less than the Ryzen 5 3600 (€209).
For those who primarily game, watch a video, or listen to music in the background, the Ryzen 5 3600 is completely sufficient; the Ryzen 9 3950X and 3900X are not worth it for the average gamer, as modern games cannot utilize 12 or 16 cores and most gamers do not want to invest €500.
Those who enjoy gaming and also work on the PC, partly with resource-intensive tasks, should consider the 3700X and higher if they have the necessary funds available. Especially the 3700X with 8 cores is a strong all-rounder and even a few percent stronger in gaming. And having 8 cores will likely become even more important in games in the future.
Conditionally suitable for office PCs. Simple tasks like writing emails, chatting, or watching a video do not require much power, so it’s not worthwhile for you to buy the new series; even simple CPUs from AMD’s Athlon series or Intel’s Celeron series, which are available for under €80, are sufficient. With a faster APU like the Ryzen 5 3400G/ 3 3200G, you can also play undemanding titles and leave Intel’s HD graphics solutions far behind.
What should I consider when upgrading?
Which motherboard (socket) do I need for Ryzen 3000?
AMD has introduced the new AM4 socket with the Ryzen processors. This is expected to be supported until at least 2020 and is mandatory for all new Ryzen processors. If you already have a new motherboard with a B450 or X470 chipset, then the upgrade might be worthwhile since you only need a new processor, and your motherboard will only need an update afterwards.
New is the X570 chipset, which brings PCIe 4.0 support. However, if you don’t want to be particularly innovative right now, you don’t need this yet.
Is my old A320 motherboard compatible with the new Ryzen?
However, if you have an A320 motherboard, there could be compatibility issues, as not all boards will likely be supported. Here, information from manufacturers is slowly coming in, but some BIOS updates are also already available. Otherwise, it’s best to wait and contact support to see if a BIOS update is coming. If you do not yet have a Ryzen processor and are using an Intel processor or a non-Ryzen processor from AMD, you will definitely need a new motherboard. The most affordable motherboard is available for around €50, which you must also consider when purchasing a CPU.
What are affordable motherboards for beginner Ryzen 3600?
Recommended are, for example, the Asus TUF B450-Plus Gaming, Gigabyte B450 Aorus, or the MSI B450 Gaming Plus, which work well in combination with the new Ryzen 5 3600. Also compatible and slightly cheaper would be the ASUS Prime A320M-K. Perfect for those who want to upgrade and save some money. However, it is not sustainable.
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What RAM for Ryzen 3000? You should also note that you need DDR4-capable memory (RAM) for the new processors. Older motherboards may still use DDR3, even though DDR4 has been in use since autumn 2012. Never insert DDR3 memory into DDR4 slots, as this will damage your motherboard and processor!
The Ryzen processors particularly benefit from higher RAM speed. If you want to buy new memory, make sure the frequency is at least 3000Mhz. The sweet spot goes up to 3773Mhz, but that can get quite expensive. Not only for RAM but also for the motherboard, which must first support such a high frequency.
In terms of price-performance ratio, those with 3000 or 3200Mhz are recommended, especially since they can also be overclocked if you want to squeeze out that extra one percent. Good RAM sticks are available from Corsair, Micron (Ballistix Sport), or G.Skill.
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Note: Make sure your motherboard supports the memory.
Which motherboard for overclocking the Ryzen 3600 or above 3700?
If you plan to overclock your processor significantly and/or use a Ryzen processor with 8 cores or more, you should consider a stronger motherboard with good VRM cooling.
For ATX cases: The MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon is recommended. It not only supports the new processors, but also offers good cooling options for many cores and supports very fast RAM (DDR4-3466+). If you need a very lavish setup and want to install two graphics cards (SLI), go for the similarly named X470.
For enthusiasts: If you place value on the PCIe 4.0 interface because a next-generation SSD is already planned, you might consider purchasing the X570 Gaming Plus. For regular users, however, the X570 chipset is hardly recommended at this time.
For mATX cases: The B450M Mortar from MSI is a good option.
For ITX cases: If you want something even smaller, the Asus ROG Strix B450-I and MSI B450I Gaming Plus are good options.
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Other questions about Ryzen 3000
Do I need a graphics card? Yes, because the new processors do not have a graphics chip! Therefore, you will need a graphics card. Exceptions are the Ryzen 5 3400G and the Ryzen 3 3200G, both of which come with a Vega graphics chip and do not require a graphics card. This is interesting for those of you who do not play demanding and current titles but primarily watch videos or work on PCs.
Can I use a Ryzen 3000 with an Nvidia graphics card? Currently, there are increasing reports of problems and blue screens when Nvidia cards are operated with 3000 series processors. While Nvidia is developing a fix, it may take a while for the update to be rolled out. Although these errors also affect AMD users, the majority of the issues come from Nvidia owners. Such teething troubles are always to be expected at launch.
Do I need a cooler for the Ryzen 3000 CPU? No, usually not, a cooler is included with the BOX version. However, caution: there is a special TRAY version at Mindfactory where this is not the case.
The new 3000 processors also do not require thermal paste, as AMD has soldered the thermal interfaces.
If you plan to do extensive overclocking or want to run your CPU at a lower temperature, you should consider a better cooler. The liquid coolers from Corsair are recommended. The only downside is that switching from the official cooler to a custom cooler voids the warranty according to AMD.
Do you need a suitable graphics card along with a processor? We have reviewed the new RX 5700 XT for you:
Can I play Destiny 2 with a Ryzen 3000? PC players with the Ryzen 3000 CPU from AMD cannot currently play Destiny 2 with the expensive new processor. The manufacturer has apparently identified the problem. A fix is supposed to come in the form of a BIOS update soon.
Ryzen 3000 APUs for office users and combo users?
What about the new Ryzen APUs? APU stands for Accelerated Processing Unit and indicates that the processor also has a graphics chip onboard. These are particularly interesting for those of you who mainly use office applications or only play occasionally, as there is far too much power in the new processors for pure office users, who do not need a 6 or even 8-core processor, and for these users, purchasing a graphics card is also not worthwhile.
Is a Ryzen 3000 APU worth it?
Advantage of an APU. The advantage of the APU is that the chip handles the work for everyday tasks while the graphics card starts only for gaming. Processors like the Ryzen 5 3400G or Ryzen 3 3200G are therefore more than sufficient for office applications or most MOBA titles like Overwatch or League of Legends. In the second generation, the Ryzen 5 2400G is recommended, but the 3400G is particularly recommendable for gaming.
And the Ryzen 5 3400G APU achieves over 60 FPS in Full HD even in Fortnite, when played on lower settings.
- You can find the Ryzen 3400G at Saturn for €159* – Game Pass for 3 months included
Pure office users could also consider the very affordable AMD Athlon 200GE (€45), which is completely sufficient for email, writing, and similar applications, as these tasks do not require a next-generation processor.
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