Wanting to upgrade CPU

[alyssaisnotcoool]

Hi everyone. I've had this pc for awhile, but I was thinking it was time to somewhat upgrade. I got my 1660super around like twoish years ago, but I wanted to upgrade my CPU. But I have no clue what to upgrade to. I was thinking maybe a Ryzen 5 5600X but I was unsure if it would work with my motherboard. (Idk this pc stuff). I am also a little on a tight budget. But I appreciate all advice in advance.
Thanks!



Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Six-Core Processor
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. A320M-S2H-CF
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (6 GB)

 

[ShrimpBrime]

It does support Ryzen 5000 series processors. The board will need a bios update and you MAY loose support for the current 2600 because the bios chip only has so much storage capacity for code.

 

[dirtyferret]

why do you want to upgrade? If it's for gaming that GPU will hold you back more than your current CPU

 

[dgianstefani]

Get a 5700X3D or hold out for a platform upgrade. Zen 3 non X3D isn't worth it when it's already three generations old.

 

[QuietBob]

What kind of games do you play and what are you hoping for with a CPU upgrade?

 

[AtiAmd]

There is no real reason to upgrade....leave it as it is.

 

[Why_Me]

Hi everyone. I've had this pc for awhile, but I was thinking it was time to somewhat upgrade. I got my 1660super around like twoish years ago, but I wanted to upgrade my CPU. But I have no clue what to upgrade to. I was thinking maybe a Ryzen 5 5600X but I was unsure if it would work with my motherboard. (Idk this pc stuff). I am also a little on a tight budget. But I appreciate all advice in advance.
Thanks!



Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Six-Core Processor
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. A320M-S2H-CF
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (6 GB)

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: *AMD Ryzen 5 5600 3.5 GHz 6-Core Processor (£98.99 @ Amazon UK)
Total: £98.99
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
*Lowest price parts chosen from parametric criteria
Generated by PCPartPicker 2025-02-10 21:18 GMT+0000

 

[80-watt Hamster]

Get a 5700X3D or hold out for a platform upgrade. Zen 3 non X3D isn't worth it when it's already three generations old.

USD250 kind of in opposition to "tight budget".

why do you want to upgrade? If it's for gaming that GPU will hold you back more than your current CPU

What kind of games do you play and what are you hoping for with a CPU upgrade?

Hearken to the words of these, for they are wise.

 

[freeagent]

Get a 5700X3D or hold out for a platform upgrade. Zen 3 non X3D isn't worth it when it's already three generations old.

Sad but true. Unless you can run the shit out of it.. but even then.. X3D is still better most of the time for games. Especially MSFS 2020.

 

[DaemonForce]

I was thinking maybe a Ryzen 5 5600X but I was unsure if it would work with my motherboard.

The good news: The 2600 is right in the middle of the compatibility stack and lower-mid performance which means you have options.

The bad news:

The board will need a bios update and you MAY loose support for the current 2600 because the bios chip only has so much storage capacity for code.

We still don't know if this is the real reason but one way road tends to be the outcome on these older 300/400 series boards for the upgrade.
What this means is there's a very good chance that once you go to a newer CPU like 5000 series, you're not going back to 2000 series for any reason.
I'm guessing your uncertainty about the 5600X means you would like to go to something more than a straight 6c/12t upgrade.
The current market temper is pretty good about 8c/16t at the moment:

Otherwise...5600X tray chip:

I'm not sure what you do that requires more CPU at the moment but it would definitely help steady desktop games and VR a bit.

 

[mechtech]

If you do get something, might want do to it sooner than later...........just incase

 

[ShrimpBrime]

The good news: The 2600 is right in the middle of the compatibility stack and lower-mid performance which means you have options.

View attachment 384282

The bad news:

We still don't know if this is the real reason but one way road tends to be the outcome on these older 300/400 series boards for the upgrade.
What this means is there's a very good chance that once you go to a newer CPU like 5000 series, you're not going back to 2000 series for any reason.
I'm guessing your uncertainty about the 5600X means you would like to go to something more than a straight 6c/12t upgrade.
The current market temper is pretty good about 8c/16t at the moment:



Otherwise...5600X tray chip:


I'm not sure what you do that requires more CPU at the moment but it would definitely help steady desktop games and VR a bit.

I would not attempt higher than 5600X on this motherboard.

But totally worth the upgrade on the same platform. 30% or more per core.

BTW, a 200ge and 220ge will post the board no matter what bios is installed. These are what AMD used with the boot kit (no longer available). So at least there's a fail safe. Seen 15$ on ebay, but shipped from Malaysia instead of China. (Hint to someone mention tariffs. They mean precisely dick).

 

[DaemonForce]

I would not attempt higher than 5600X on this motherboard.

Oh I have my reservations about it too. They all start with Gigglebyte.
Any shot at locking BCLK at stock speeds?
How about setting memory timings anywhere above 2667 speeds?
Does the chipset run hot by default? There are so many questions that will be invariably answered with get a better board.
Does filling that M.2 slot do something to sata ports or PCI-E lanes in the main slot? I really don't want to find out.
Due to the age of the board you know all those PCI-E lanes are going to be trapped at gen 3 speeds anyway.

Looks like a 4+2 power design which means it's going to be uPI and ONSemi.
I don't have a whole lot of faith in this one to behave that well but I've been surprised before.
I don't like Intersil controllers and this non-enthusiast board is like the one type where it's good to dump them.
But maybe OP has something different. Either way, I would cap it with a 5700X/5800X and call it good.

(Hint to someone mention tariffs. They mean precisely dick).

They don't mean anything to us but certain parts of the market are scared stupid and will likely stay that way until mid-March.
Luckily CPUs and boards look okay. Probably the best possible time to shop for them. This is probably fine.

 

[nomdeplume]

Though not a reality in many places. If possible jump immediately on a better gpu at price you can safely live with. Then invest time inside your PC using software tuning to maximize stability of attainable performance.

Keep your ears open and stay flexible towards unexpected moves upwards.

 

[ShrimpBrime]

Oh I have my reservations about it too. They all start with Gigglebyte.
Any shot at locking BCLK at stock speeds?
How about setting memory timings anywhere above 2667 speeds?
Does the chipset run hot by default? There are so many questions that will be invariably answered with get a better board.
Does filling that M.2 slot do something to sata ports or PCI-E lanes in the main slot? I really don't want to find out.
Due to the age of the board you know all those PCI-E lanes are going to be trapped at gen 3 speeds anyway.

View attachment 384293

Looks like a 4+2 power design which means it's going to be uPI and ONSemi.
I don't have a whole lot of faith in this one to behave that well but I've been surprised before.
I don't like Intersil controllers and this non-enthusiast board is like the one type where it's good to dump them.
But maybe OP has something different. Either way, I would cap it with a 5700X/5800X and call it good.

View attachment 384295

They don't mean anything to us but certain parts of the market are scared stupid and will likely stay that way until mid-March.
Luckily CPUs and boards look okay. Probably the best possible time to shop for them. This is probably fine.

No, can't lock BCLK, but it'll never hit 100mhz anyways.

My Asus version of this board supported 3200mt/s

Has very basic bios

Chipset is on cpu die, so yes/no, south bridge is under 5w, doesn't require a heatsink.

OP didn't say anything about storage problems. Can enable/disable sata in bios. Using m.2 just shares lanes with gpu. Otherwise, I'm not really sure if M.2 just turns off some sata ports.

VRMs. The board bios will only allow so much power draw period. Probably has a low thermal threshold before throttle as well.

However, Ive done over 7ghz on 4+2 VRM AM3 motherboard and FX processors. But that was a different deal, the board was completely unlocked for OC like modern B400 series boards.


Tldr
5600X. He won't need more.

 

[Why_Me]

Hi everyone. I've had this pc for awhile, but I was thinking it was time to somewhat upgrade. I got my 1660super around like twoish years ago, but I wanted to upgrade my CPU. But I have no clue what to upgrade to. I was thinking maybe a Ryzen 5 5600X but I was unsure if it would work with my motherboard. (Idk this pc stuff). I am also a little on a tight budget. But I appreciate all advice in advance.
Thanks!



Processor: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 Six-Core Processor
Motherboard: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. A320M-S2H-CF
Graphics card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER (6 GB)

Don't listen to the peeps pushing the 5600X. Get a 5600 (non X) and call it a day.

 

[80-watt Hamster]

Don't listen to the peeps pushing the 5600X. Get a 5600 (non X) and call it a day.

5600 and 5600X are selling for the same money right now. Unless one's set on a bundled cooler (or finds a smokin' deal), there's not really any reason to choose non-X atm.