Post
Ryzen 5 3600 Analysis in 2026: Is it still a viable option for gaming?
This video analyzes the performance of a gaming PC based on the Ryzen 5 3600 upgraded with a Radeon RX 6650 XT. Its ability to run modern games at 1080p is evaluated, considering whether it is still a viable option in 2026. Possible improvements and limitations of the system are also discussed.
1. 💻 Acquisition and initial state of the Ryzen 5 3600 PC
- ✅ The PC was acquired for £200 (approximately €270/US$).
- ✅ It comes with a Ryzen 5 3600 processor, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a decent power supply.
- ⚠️ The system included a GTX 960, considered a bottleneck for the Ryzen 5's potential.
00:00 - 00:38
1. 💻 Acquisition and initial state of the Ryzen 5 3600 PC
- ✅ The PC was acquired for £200 (approximately €270/US$).
- ✅ It comes with a Ryzen 5 3600 processor, 16 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a decent power supply.
- ⚠️ The system included a GTX 960, considered a bottleneck for the Ryzen 5's potential.
00:39 - 01:18
2. 🚀 GPU Replacement: Radeon RX 6650 XT as a solution
- ✅ The GTX 960 was replaced with an 8 GB Radeon RX 6650 XT.
- ✅ The RX 6650 XT is considered a good match for the 6-core, 12-thread Ryzen 5 3600.
01:19 - 01:51
3. ⚙️ System specifications and storage considerations
- ✅ The system has 16 GB of DDR4 RAM at 2400 MHz (it is suggested that faster RAM could improve performance).
- ⚠️ Includes SSDs and a 1 TB hard drive (the use of hard drives is discouraged in 2026 due to possible texture and loading problems).
- ✅ The hard drive was removed for sale.
01:52 - 02:20
4. ✨ System preparation and future potential
- ✅ The system was cleaned and the thermal paste was replaced.
- ✅ The system is considered suitable for 1080p gaming in 2026.
- ✅ There is potential for upgrading to a faster AM4 CPU and a more powerful graphics card (may require a higher capacity power supply).
- ✅ The RX 6650 XT is considered the best option within a reasonable budget and for the current power supply.
02:21 - 03:20
5. 🎮 Performance tests in Cyberpunk 2077 and Arc Raiders
- ✅ Cyberpunk 2077: Played with high preset and high textures, crowd density in medium. It stays at least 60 FPS with native resolution.
- ⚠️ The CPU gets a little hot, an aftermarket cooler is suggested.
- ✅ Arc Raiders: High preset with TSR enabled, native resolution. Average of 82 FPS, although with some occasional drops when changing areas.
03:21 - 04:12
6. 💰 RAM considerations and its impact on performance
- ✅ It is mentioned that 16 GB of RAM is enough for most games, although 32 GB would be ideal.
04:13 - 05:07
7. 🕹️ Performance in Battlefield 6 and CPU upgrade options
- ✅ Battlefield 6: 1080p with medium preset and native FSR. More than 60 FPS on average. The CPU is almost at its maximum capacity, but the GPU is also between 85 and 99%.
- ✅ Upgrades to CPUs such as the Ryzen 5 5600, 5700 or even the 5800X3D can be considered in the future.
05:08 - 05:53
8. ⚔️ Counter-Strike 2: Configuration and performance
- ✅ Counter-Strike 2: High preset at 1080p, MSAA disabled. At least 150 FPS are reached, with an average of 160 FPS.
05:54 - 06:43
9. 🏰 Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: Graphics settings and performance
- ✅ Kingdom Come Deliverance 2: 1080p with high preset and SMA2TX. It stays at least 60 FPS, although it is suggested to lower to medium preset for greater stability in dense areas.
- ✅ The GPU is the one that works the most in this game, with the CPU at 50-60% utilization.
06:44 - 07:29
10. 🌆 GTA 5 Enhanced and Helldivers 2: Performance and configurations
- ✅ GTA 5 Enhanced: 1080p with high RT preset and RTGI in high.
- ✅ Helldivers 2: 1080p with high preset. 80 FPS.
07:30 - 08:47
11. 🤠 Red Dead Redemption 2: Configuration and gaming experience
- ✅ Red Dead Redemption 2: Textures in ultra, the rest in medium, geometry in maximum, grass detail level in 2/10 and TAA in medium. 81 FPS in general.
- ✅ Performance decreases a bit in cities due to the higher CPU load.
- ✅ In general, it is considered a playable and consistent experience at this resolution.
08:48 - 08:54
12. 💬 Final thoughts and call to action
- ✅ It is concluded that the Ryzen 5 3600 is still a decent option for gaming in 2026, especially when combined with a GPU like the RX 6650 XT.
- ✅ It is recommended to use faster DDR4 memory if the price allows.