Questions regarding CPUs and PC builds in general

I picked up this PC build about two and a half years ago.
https://prnt.sc/nzn8cl

It’s actually serving me pretty well for what I need, though I’m definitely feeling the itch to upgrade the CPU and maybe grab some extra RAM. So, two things on my mind. Since I know my way around hardware compatibility reasonably well, I want to know if it's even possible to just swap out the CPU for something better on this specific setup—and if so, what would you guys recommend?

Second, if I decided to offload this rig to fund a newer, beefier build, what kind of price should I be asking for it?

What's the general consensus on this configuration, and honestly, is it even worth selling right now?

Thanks

Oof, you definitely picked a pretty rough window to be buying CPUs 😬

The PC build is worth about $833... if I were looking at an upgrade path: I'd probably sell the CPU, motherboard, and RAM for around 800-$300 and once the new Ryzen series drops, grab a 6-core Ryzen 5 3600 paired with a new board and 16GB of faster RAM. That would likely run a bit over $1000.

EDIT: Ryzen 3000 launches on July 7th.

Honestly, pairing an RX 480 with a Ryzen 6 C 12 T just doesn't make much sense...

So, what about something like an RTX 2060 paired with an i5 6400 and single-channel 2133MHz RAM? 😬 I guess they'd see a pretty solid boost in demanding games. Maybe just wait to grab the GPU until after the RTX super and Nvidia releases come out.

Honestly, he should just stick with the RX 480 for now, but if we're talking about the long game, I’d definitely swap it out sooner or later.

If I had to pick a benchmark, it’d be Cities: Skylines. Between the heavy mods and everything else, that game absolutely hammers the CPU. Right now, my CPU is pinned at 100%, RAM is sitting around 80-90%, and the whole thing just chugs harder every time I expand the city.

I want something that can actually handle this and similar titles without redlining my hardware.

Also, where am I even supposed to sell old parts? Wouldn't it make more sense to just dump the whole PC and grab a new one? Honestly, the price gap probably isn't worth the headache of selling four individual components versus just trading in the whole rig.

So, I'm either looking to swap out the CPU for something better—assuming there's actually a decent upgrade path for this motherboard—or I'm just pulling the trigger on a full new build.
One more thing: shouldn't a decent GPU be worth more than $1,000?

Look, my take on this is more about the fact that the CPU is built to handle much beefier graphics cards. That Ryzen is significantly faster than an i5, so ideally, you’d want a GPU that actually keeps pace with it. It feels a bit like owning a top-of-the-line Bugatti but having a motor from an old Yugo under the hood. I mean, it'll run, but... there's a mismatch there. A Ryzen 6 C 12 T and an RX 480 just aren't in the same league when it comes to raw power. Honestly, if you're happy with how it performs, you can certainly leave it as is, but that CPU is capable of pushing way stronger cards. For instance, my brother uses a first-gen Ryzen 6 C 12 T paired with a GTX 980, which is about 10% more powerful than what you've got. Plus, with the newer 3rd gen Ryzen chips coming out, they're easily going to be at least 15% faster. So, yeah... it really just comes down to what works for you.

stormyviper2 said:Look, my point is more about the fact that this CPU is built for much beefier GPUs. That Ryzen is way faster than an i5, so you really should pair it with a better graphics card. It’s like owning a top-tier Bugatti but running it on a motor from a junker old car. I mean, it works, but... it’s just off. A Ryzen 6 C 12 T and an RX 480 aren't even in the same league. If you're happy with it, fine, leave it as is. But that CPU can handle way more power. My brother uses a first-gen Ryzen 6 C 12 T with a GTX 980, and his GPU is actually about 10% stronger. Plus, the newer 3rd gen Ryzen will definitely be at least 15% faster. So... whatever works for you.

1.
Your comparison is way too simplistic; it all depends on the context.
If they're playing on a 1080p 60Hz monitor, the RX 480 is perfectly fine for max settings in most games, maybe slightly below max in some.

2. It depends on the game. Titles involving heavy building, massive interaction, and constant calculations need a strong CPU. Graphics in Skylines isn't nearly as demanding as a modern first-person shooter.

3.
If you sell the whole PC, you'll get less money for the parts you don't actually need to ditch, and then you'd basically have to buy them all over again anyway (like the PSU and stuff), especially since a stronger GPU isn't even necessary right now.

4.
A Ryzen 5 3600 isn't overkill for that card in certain games, and honestly, it’s good to be future-proof so you can upgrade the GPU down the road without any headaches if you ever feel the need.

5.
Definitely wait for the new Ryzen release and let prices settle a bit—maybe this summer—then see what makes sense. A Ryzen 5 3600 is a solid choice, but we might see some very cheap options from the 2000 series, like a Ryzen 5 2600 for $333, which would be a great deal.

6. If you're picking up a new Ryzen, stick to B450 or X470 boards—they'll support the new CPUs, whereas those new X570 boards are going to be overpriced, and the extra features they bring won't even matter to the average user.

wiredotter14 said:1.
Your comparison is way too drastic and really depends on the situation.
If you're playing on a 1080p 60Hz monitor, an RX480 is plenty to hit max settings in most games, maybe slightly below max in a few others.

2. It depends on the game. For those simulation titles where you're building stuff with tons of interactions and calculations, you need a strong CPU. Graphics in Skylines aren't nearly as demanding as some new first-person shooter.

3.
If you sell the whole PC, you'll end up with less cash for the individual parts you don't actually need to get rid of. You'd basically just be buying the same stuff all over again (like the power supply and such), and you don't even need a beefier GPU anyway.

4.
A Ryzen 5 3600 isn't overkill for that card in certain games, not even now. Plus, it's good to be future-proof so you can upgrade your GPU down the road without any headaches if you eventually need to.

5.
Definitely wait for the new Ryzen release and let prices settle a bit. Aim for this summer and see what looks good. A Ryzen 5 3600 is a solid choice, but you might find some really cheap options from the 2000 series—for example, a Ryzen 5 2600 for $333 would be great.

6. If you're going with a new Ryzen, look at B450 and X470 boards. They'll support the newer CPUs, whereas the new X570 boards are going to be pricey, and most of the new features they bring won't even matter to the average user.

Would my current power supply be strong enough for these new CPUs, motherboards, and GPUs?

neonheron9 said:Would my current power supply be strong enough for those new CPUs, motherboards, and GPUs?

Yeah. For instance, a new Ryzen 5 3600 (6 cores, 12 threads) is going to pull about the same as your i5 6400 (65W)
Motherboards are the same deal—whether there's a 20W or 30W difference between boards doesn't really matter here.
Same goes for the GPU.
The RX480 is actually one of the bigger power hogs (pulling around 150W, maybe up to 200W). Newer Nvidia cards pull somewhere in that same range despite having much better performance, and with how technology is moving, whatever new card you buy probably won't exceed 200W anyway.

Either way, your PC build will likely pull around 300-350W, unless you go overboard and try to slap in some top-end GPU from $2667.

Maybe that game is just misreporting your CPU usage. It lists a Core Duo at 3GHz as the bare minimum, but recommends an fx 6300 or an i5 3470 at 3.2GHz. They suggest 6GB of RAM and a gtx 660 or HD 7870 for graphics, so on your PC build, it should absolutely fly if you're running Windows 7 or 8

wiredotter14 said:Yeah, for example, a new Ryzen 5 3600 (6 cores, 12 threads) will pull about the same as your i5 6400 (65W)
Motherboards are similar too; whether it's a 20W or 30W difference between boards doesn't really matter much.
The same logic applies to the GPU.
An RX 480 is actually mid-range when it comes to power draw (pulling around 150W, maybe up to 200W); newer Nvidia cards sit in that same ballpark but with way better performance, and since tech keeps advancing, whatever new card you end up buying probably won't break 200W anyway.

In any case, your PC build will likely pull around 300-350W, unless you go overboard and drop in a top-tier card from $2667.

The RX 480, especially the XFX GTR version, is actually pretty efficient. The RX 580 has a higher TDP because they cranked up the clocks. I doubt this specific model often tops 150W during gaming; there are plenty of reviews out there confirming that.

Bryan Taylor6 said:That game might be reporting your CPU usage incorrectly since the minimum requirement is just a Core Duo at 3GHz, while the recommended specs call for an fx 6300 or an i5 3470 at 3.2GHz, 6GB of RAM, and a GTX 660 or HD 7870. On your PC build, it should absolutely fly if you're running Windows 7 or 8.

With simulations, you can never really tell. You might blow the recommended specs out of the water, but as the simulation gets more complex, the load on the CPU grows exponentially. A Ryzen is ideal for those kinds of scenarios. 🙂

Bryan Taylor6 said:Maybe the game is just reporting CPU usage wrong. It lists a Core 2 Duo at 3GHz as the bare minimum, while the recommended specs call for an fx 6300 or an i5 3470 at 3.2GHz, 6GB of RAM, and maybe a gtx 660 or HD 7870. On your PC build, it should basically fly if you're running Windows 7 or 8.

It flies at first, sure. But once I drop in a Traffic Manager mod and the city actually starts growing, you hit a wall. You end up with the same speed whether you're on the slowest setting or the fastest in-game speed because the CPU can't handle the load—it's already pinned at 100%.

I run into the same thing with Rimworld. It runs better than Skylines, but once you get a massive colony going—I hit about 40 pawns once—you really feel the slowdown. The CPU just can't keep up.

Honestly, this setup is great for almost everything else. My GPU and CPU handle modern shooters just fine—no issues with Far Cry 5, GTA V, or even the newer DayZ 😁. But these simulation games? They'll eat your CPU alive the longer you play, and those are exactly the kind of games I love playing. haha

So, bottom line: just hang tight until the new Ryzen drops on July 7th. After that, you can just change motherboard (B450), CPU (either a Ryzen 5 2600 or 3600... depending on what's a better deal), and grab some RAM (16 GB)

Upgrading the GPU isn't really on my radar right now. Like I said, the one I have is doing its job just fine for now, maybe down the road though.

So, I’m running an i5 6400 paired with a GTX1060. I ran a few tests back when I was rocking a single 8GB stick of DDR4 2133MHz CL15, and compared that to what I have now: 2x8GB DDR4 2133MHz CL14.

It definitely makes sense to jump to a Ryzen 1600 if you're keeping that GPU. My i5 6400 and GTX1060 combo struggles in almost any CPU-heavy title—think Assassin's Creed Origins or Odyssey, or multiplayer modes in Battlefield. I don't want to list everything, but for those specific games, I actually sat down and spent time tweaking the in-game settings and the Nvidia Control Panel just to minimize bottlenecks and get playable FPS without constant stuttering.

As for the whole single vs. dual channel memory debate: yeah, you'll see higher minimum FPS, which naturally bumps up your average FPS, but it's not life-changing. It's not like you're going to jump out of your chair screaming with excitement. Still, having dual channel is better. Period. I suspect there might be even bigger jumps in some games I haven't personally tested.

Also, you've got it a bit wrong saying the Ryzen 1600 is "way faster" than the i5 6400. It isn't necessarily faster; in fact, the i5 6400 is slightly stronger in single-core performance, which matters for gaming. The real issue is that the i5 is just 4 cores and 4 threads, so you hit high CPU usage constantly. For modern, CPU-intensive games, 4 cores and 8 threads is really the bare minimum if you don't want your CPU pegged at 100%. That’s why even today, an i7 3770 actually handles things more smoothly alongside an RX470/570/480/580 or a GTX1060 than a newer i5 from the Skylake/Kaby Lake era or an i3 from Coffee Lake.

My advice? If you've got the itch to upgrade right now, grab a beefier GPU while prices are what they are. But if you need a whole new platform, the Ryzen 3xxx and 7xxx series are right around the corner. If it's not an emergency, I'd wait. Though, you could always pick up a budget-friendly Ryzen 1600/2600 + B350/B450 and 2x8GB DDR4 3000MHz setup for relatively cheap.

neonheron9 said:So the takeaway is just wait for the new Ryzen to drop on July 7th, and then change the motherboard (B450), the CPU (either a Ryzen 5 2600 or 3600... depending on what's cheap), and grab some RAM (16 GB)

A GPU isn't even my priority right now. Like I said, the one I have works fine for what I need for now. Maybe down the road, but not yet.

Yeah, exactly that. Something like 2x8GB at 3000MHz.
I haven't played tons of those world or city builders, but I've spent enough time in things like Hearts of Iron (map-based strategy) where you've got thousands of individual units and battles happening all at once. The game slows to a crawl there—you need serious RAM and CPU horsepower.
Even if the CPU isn't exactly max-an, a better processor speeds up the gameplay. It comes down to raw power and dealing with bad optimization when things get complicated. In your case, if the CPU is hitting 100%, it's mostly about pure brute force.

swiftfalcon89 said:My advice? If you're itching to spend, grab a stronger GPU now while prices are what they are. But you really need a new platform, and the Ryzen 3xxx and 7 series are right around the corner. If it's not an emergency, I'd definitely wait. Otherwise, you could pick up a new Ryzen 1600/2600 + B350/450 and 2x8GB DDR4 3000MHz for relatively cheap.

GPU prices aren't exactly glowing right now anyway, at least not for anything significantly better than what they've got currently.
An RX570 or a GTX1660Ti are decent buys, but they aren't a massive leap from what's already in the rig, and anything better than that is basically just old gen performance for a premium price.
No rush on the graphics card. Can easily wait until Navi drops, or Nvidia moves to 7nm (probably next year), etc.

wiredotter14 said:GPU prices aren't exactly looking bright right now, at least not for anything stronger than what he’s currently running.
The RX570 and GTX1660Ti are decent buys, but they aren't a massive leap from his current setup, and anything significantly better sits right in that awkward spot where you're basically paying previous-gen prices for mid-tier performance.
There’s really no rush to pull the trigger on a new card. He can easily hang tight until Navi drops, or wait for Nvidia to move to 7nm—probably sometime next year.

They might not be "bright," but they're about as low as you're going to get in the States right now. For instance, a GTX1660Ti is a solid jump in performance with noticeably lower power draw, and you can find dual-fan models with a 3-year warranty starting around $220. $0.77An RTX2060 with two fans and a 3-year warranty is roughly $0.97.

I was also chatting with someone who knows their way around the hardware market a bit better than we do, and they mentioned there's a real chance GPU prices could start climbing again this summer. That’s why I’m saying if you’ve got the itch to upgrade, you might as well just grab it now.

In that case, an fx 8350 would probably be the best CPU for this game since it's 8c 8t🙂

The game is just poorly optimized, plain and simple

swiftfalcon89 said:They aren't high-end, but they're basically the bottom tier you'll find at Best Buy. For instance, a GTX 1660Ti is a decent jump in performance, draws way less power, and you can grab one with dual fans and a 3-year warranty starting around $220-$0.77, or an RTX 2060 with dual fans and 3 years of warra $0.97.

I also chatted with someone who knows their stuff in the industry, and they mentioned there's a real chance GPU prices start climbing again this summer. That’s why I’m saying if you’ve got the itch to upgrade, just pull the trigger now.

That's all speculation. This crypto crash might happen, might not. Even if it does, it probably won't be as massive as last time or last nearly as long. Besides, nobody's in a rush; waiting out a three-month market swing isn't the end of the world.

Intel is dropping a new mainstream series soon, which could actually push prices down.

The Corsair shortage is over anyway.