Ryzen 5 3600

Best RAM & Memory Timings for Ryzen 3000 Processors (inc. 3600/X, 3700X, 3800X, 3900X)

July 25, 2019 by BuildPicker Leave a Comment

PC builders are finally getting their hands on the new Ryzen 3000 series of processors, including the Ryzen 5 3600, Ryzen 7 3700X, 3800X and the Ryzen 9 3900X, and for those looking to do a build with one of these, many will be asking the same question – what are the best RAM kits, memory speeds and CAS latencies for Ryzen 3000 builds?

In this guide, we will focus on what the best RAM speeds and types are for Ryzen 3000 processors, and recommend the best RAM for each selected CAS latency and frequency, drawing from value options, low-profile options and best all-round RAM options for Ryzen 3000.

Optimum CAS Latency and Memory Speed for Ryzen 3000

1. DDR4 3733 MHz – Absolute best performance

From the horses mouth itself, AMD has claimed that 3733 MHz CL17 is the fastest RAM speed Ryzen 3000 processors can support without issues with latency and the controller. Infinity fabric is only supported up to memory clock speeds of 3733 MHz, and thus memory speed is very important until you reach 3733 MHz, and above this speed is where lower latency becomes more important.

3733 CL17 RAM isn’t cheap, so we recommend going for this RAM truly if money is no object, AND you don’t plan on overclocking your RAM (which I believe voids warranty if you do). If money is an object and like many PC builders, there is a budget to your build – then we recommend opting for 3600 MHz CL16 or instead 3200 MHz CL14 memory for Ryzen 3000 processors.

Reasons to pick 3733 CL17 over other RAM speeds:

For maximum performance out of the box, without overclocking
For builders where money is no object and want the best memory for Ryzen 3000, period

2. DDR4 3600 MHz CL16 – Price/performance sweet spot

Claimed by AMD themselves, 3600MHz CL16 has been tested to be the price/performance sweet spot memory speed and timings for Ryzen 3000, and personally, we would trust what the manufacturer recommends – if you do have a budget for your Ryzen 3000 build but want the optimum performance without going all-out on memory.

AMD has shown 3600 CL16 to have the same latencies as 3200 MHz at CL14 latency, but with 3600 CL16 you have the added benefit of greater bandwidth and better performing Infinity Fabric.

Reasons to pick 3600 CL16 over other RAM speeds:

Best price/performance RAM for Ryzen 3000, as claimed by AMD
Perfect if you don’t plan on overclocking the memory since fantastic performance out of the box.
More bandwidth and faster Infinity Fabric than 3200 Cl14.

3. DDR4 3200 MHz CL14 – Best budget option & for those who want to OC their RAM

If you can’t afford the high price tag of DDR4 3733 MHz CL17 RAM and you are happy overclocking the RAM, then we recommend going for a 3200 MHz CL14 B-Die memory kit. With 3200 CL14 you can overclock the RAM to a higher frequency using infinity fabric whilst retaining a lower latency than you would if you have a 3733 MHz RAM. It shouldn’t be difficult at all to overclock the 3200CL14 RAM up to 3600CL15 without issue.

3200Mhz CL14 RAM also is well suited for Ryzen 3000 since they are typically good bins, and pretty much all Samsung B-die memory – which means they are perfect for overclocking with Ryzen Zen 2 processors. In addition, 3200CL14 is better supported for B450, X470 and X370 chipset motherboards running Ryzen 3000 processors, since these chipsets won’t typically support memory much faster than 3200 MHz.

Reasons to pick 3200 CL14 over other RAM speeds:

Usually well binned
Cheapest option out of the three
Great performance
Can overclock using Infinity Fabric for additional memory speed
Typically Samsung B-die (great compatibility for Ryzen)
Better compatibility with previous AMD chipsets such as X470 and B450

Samsung B-Die and Ryzen 3000: Why to pick B-Die memory for Ryzen builds

It is becoming fairly common knowledge that for Ryzen builds, Samsung B-Die memory performs far better and has far better compatibility with Ryzen IMC than any other type of memory manufacturer, and to be honest, nobody really knows the exact reason why. Therefore, if you’re looking to build with a Ryzen 3000 processor, we recommend to pair it with a B-die memory kit.

There has been speculation that Samsung will be ending production of B-die RAM, but that only applies to 20nm B-die RAM, whilst 14nm B-die will remain in production.

Moreover, early benchmarks of RAM compatibility with the new Ryzen Zen 2 / 3000 processors also shows Micron E-die to perform well with the new AMD processors, and in some instances perform better than Samsung’s B-die memory.

All models we will be recommending in this guide will have Samsung B-die memory, to ensure you get the maximum memory performance out of your upcoming Ryzen build. If you want to check a specific memory kit if its B-die, this website is a useful tool to check.

Best DDR4 3600 CL16 RAM for Ryzen 3000

Crucial Ballistix Elite 3600CL16 RAM — Pictured: Best value 3600 MHz CL16 memory

The best value 3600 MHz CL16 RAM kit comes from Crucial with their Ballistix Elite series, coming in either 16GB (2x8GB) or 32GB Kits (8GBx4). These are Samsung B-die that are perfect for Ryzen Zen 2, and feature heat spreaders with a height of 41mm, and timings of 16-18-18-36 and 1.35V voltage. These are the best, cheapest low profile sticks should you want B-die, 3600 MHz and CL16 for Ryzen 3000 processors such as the 3600, 3700X, 3800X and 3900X.

If you’re looking for the best overall performance RAM for Ryzen 3000, then we recommend the G.Skill TridentZ RGB 3600 MHz CL16 memory kit. This is also Samsung B-Die DDR4 memory and features a super sleek aluminum heatsink with controllable RGB design, and will perform great whilst looking fantastic in any build. This DDR4 3600CL16 memory kit is mid-range priced for the memory speed, and has a rating of 16-16-16-36 and features XMP 2.0 and a height of 44mm.

Best DDR4 3200 CL14 RAM for Ryzen 3000

If you’re looking for the best overall 3200 CL14 RAM for Ryzen 3000, you’re probably to get as much bang for your buck compared to the other Ryzen recommended memory speeds. Thus a great performance for its price 3200 CL14 RAM kit we would recommend is G.Skill TridentZ series of RAM. This 3200 CL14 B-die memory offers a great performance for its price point and offers a sleek design with an aluminum heat spreader and timings of 14-14-14-43.

G.Skills Flare X series — Pictured: Cheapest 3200 MHz CL16 memory

The best, cheapest 3200MHz CL16 RAM we would recommend for Ryzen 3000, which is a little bit cheaper than the TridentZ series is G.Skills Flare X series. This B-die DDR4 memory is 3200Mhz CL14, with a timing of 14-14-14-34 and is XMP enabled, and is perfect for overclocking to higher speeds using infinity fabric. With a height of 40mm, it is also one of the best low profile 3200MHz CL14 memory sticks available for Ryzen 3000, too.

There you go, we have covered our recommended and standout memory kits and speeds for Ryzen 3000, and think one of these kits will be suited for any Ryzen 3000 build, whether it be on a budget or enthusiast-grade level. Below, I will leave a useful resource should you want to do any further research and look at all available Samsung B-die RAM for 3200MHz CL14 and 3600MHz CL16 – the best memory speeds for Ryzen 3000.

Best Motherboards to Pair with the Ryzen 5 3600

July 8, 2019 by BuildPicker Leave a Comment

Released on July 7th, the Ryzen 5 3600 is AMD’s new mid-range CPU offering aimed to take the crown from the Intel Core i5-9600K – offering impressive performance, speed and efficiency for just $199. This 6 core, 12 thread processor is ideal for those looking to build a budget Zen 2 gaming PC that is focused on getting as much performance for its price.

Build a Ryzen 5 3600 system, we recommend its important to do your research and pick the right components to pair with the Ryzen 5 3600, such as the motherboard, graphics card and CPU cooler. Doing so will mean you’re getting the most performance out of your Ryzen 5 3600, helping improve cooling perfromance, connectivity and features, as well as ensuring the GPU and CPU are well matched to ensure there is no bottlenecking between the components.

In this guide, I will focus on the best motherboards for the Ryzen 5 3600, given that the Ryzen 5 3600 is focused on a low price but maximum performance, I will pick appropriate motherboards compatible with the Ryzen 5 3600 that also offer tonnes of performance whilst at a low, affordable price.

I am picking B450 motherboards that have BIOS flashback allowing you to update the BIOS to support Zen 2, and the main manufacturers that support this feature are MSI and Gigabytes AORUS Crosshair motherboards. In general, MSI has nailed their VRM design for the B450 motherboards and generally are regarded to be the motherboard manufacturer to pick should you want to overclock your B450 motherboard and get the best possible performance out of your Ryzen 5 3600.

What chipsets are compatible with the Ryzen 5 3600?

AMD announced a new chipset designed for the new Ryzen 3000 processors, called the X570 chipset. This features the new PCIe 4.0 standard which offers a huge increase in performance for NVMe SSDs, with up to 5GB/s bandwidth. Previous generation AMD chipsets, such as the X470, B450 and B350 chipsets are all compatible with Zen 2, and just require a BIOS update out of the box.

X570 vs B450 for Ryzen 5 3600 Build?

If you aren’t planning on utilising the PCIe 4.0 on X570 chipsets, which is likely if you’re doing a budget Ryzen 5 3600 build, then we recommend building with a B450 chipset motherboard. The B450 motherboards are compatible with the Ryzen Zen 2 processors, either out of the box or just requiring a BIOS update – so make sure whichever one you pick has the update or has a BIOS flashback function for updating the BIOS. X470, X370 and B350 motherboards are too compatible, but the B450 lineup, in general, offers great VRM performance and features at a low price point, often around $100.

In this guide, I will mainly focus and select the best B450 motherboards for the Ryzen 5 3600, since these are the best suited for the mid-range gaming builds – with a fantastic price/performance ratio and generally well regarded VRMs for overclocking the Ryzen 5 3600.

Best Motherboards for Ryzen 5 3600 Builds

Award	Design	Model
Best B450 motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450 Tomahawk
Best micro ATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450M Mortar
Best mini ITX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC

Best B450 motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

This section is focused on the absolute best B450 motherboard that is ideal for heavy overclocking the Ryzen 5 3600 – due to having great VRM components and allowing for stable and efficient power delivery. Right now in 2019, the MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC is by far the best B450 motherboard on the market, with a best-in-class VRM quality that will be able to push the Ryzen 5 3600 to very high overclocks – as well as having BIOS flashback built in allowing for you to update the BIOS to support the Ryzen 5 3600. This motherboard has a 9+2 phase design and VRM heatsink that is unrivalled in the B450 range of motherboards.

With a large feature-set including WiFi built in, 6 fan headers, 6 SATA3 and dual M.2 slots – the Gaming Pro Carbon AC has pretty much anything you could want in a mid-range Ryzen 5 3600 build.

The only negative about this B450 motherboard, priced at $160, is that it lacks voltage offset which will make overclocking a little less easy – but the VRM and large feature set makes up for this, and thus gets our award for the best motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600.

Best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

If you want the absolute best bang-for-your-buck motherboard for the Ryzen 5 3600, then the MSI B450 Tomahawk is the B450 motherboard to go for. Retailing at just under $100, the B450 Tomahawk offers the best performance at an entry-level price point – built on a very impressive 4+2 phase design and great VRM, meaning that overclocking on a budget is a possibility with the Ryzen 5 3600 and B450 Tomahawk.

Importantly, the B450 Tomahawk features BIOS flashback which is important for compatibility with Zen 2, and features USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports on the rear I/O along with a Type C port – something we are impressed by given the sub $100 price point.

Best micro ATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

Interestingly, with the Zen 2 and X570 chipset announcement from AMD, there was only one announced X570 motherboard for the micro ATX form factor. For any micro ATX Ryzen 3600 build, we recommend the MSI B450M Mortar – which is regarded as the smaller B450 Tomahawk. Despite the smaller form factor, the B450M mortar has a best in class VRM and heatsink design, better than any other VRM seen on any other mATX B450 motherboard. The B450M mortar also features BIOS flashback, USB Type C and dual M.2. slots, albeit the second slot only running at PCIe 2.0 x4 speeds, not 3.0 x4.

If you want to build a micro-ATX Ryzen 5 3600 system, then you can’t go wrong with the B450M Mortar – this micro-ATX B450 motherboard would even be capable for a 12 core Ryzen 9 3900X!

Best mini ITX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600

The MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC is a highly capable ITX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600 builds having a best-in-class VRM over any other ITX B450 motherboard, meaning its more than capable of overclocking the Ryzen 5 3600 even in a small form factor enclosure.

With inbuilt WiFi, 4 SATA, DisplayPort, ALC887 audio and fast M.2 slots all packed into this ITX form factor, this mini ITX motherboard will provide plenty of features, performance and connectivity for Ryzen 5 3600 builds in 2019, and at just $120. Absolute bargain.

Update: This ITX motherboard, nor does any ITX B450 motherboard, have USB BIOS Flashback built in, which means you will have to see if retailers will update the BIOS so it is compatible out of the box. There are workarounds, but it won’t be as simple as a BIOS update via USB.

Summary

Award	Design	Model
Best B450 motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450 Gaming Pro Carbon AC
Best budget motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450 Tomahawk
Best micro ATX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450M Mortar
Best mini ITX motherboard for Ryzen 5 3600		MSI B450I Gaming Plus AC

Best Graphics Cards for Ryzen 5 3600 Builds

July 8, 2019 by BuildPicker Leave a Comment

It’s July 8th, and the Ryzen 5 3600 has officially been released in North America – meaning PC builders can finally begin to spec and build their upcoming Ryzen 5 3600 build.

Looking at early benchmarks and reviews, it is becoming clear that the Ryzen 5 3600 is offering fantastic performance for its price, with benchmarks showing this mid-level tier CPU performing close to its bigger brothers, the Ryzen 7 3700X, 3800X and even Ryzen 9 3900X!

In this guide, we are going to focus on what the best graphics cards are to pair with the Ryzen 5 3600, to get the most performance out of your Ryzen 3000 build, and ensure there is no sort of bottlenecking from the graphics card or the other way around.

This is an exciting time right now in 2019 to build a PC so hopefully, this guide, should you want to be building with the Ryzen 5 3600, help you build the most powerful and capable Ryzen 5 3600 PC in 2019.

Best Graphics Cards to pair with the Ryzen 5 3600

Award	Graphics Card	Memory	Ideal for..
Best AMD graphics card for Ryzen 5 3600	AMD Radeon RX 5700	8GB GDDR6	1440p 60Hz (Ultra)
Best NVIDIA graphics card for Ryzen 5 3600	NVIDIA RTX 2060 Super	8GB GDDR6	1440p 60Hz (Ultra)
Best budget graphics card for Ryzen 5 3600	AMD RX 580 8GB	8GB GDDR5	1080p 144Hz (High)

1. AMD Radeon RX 5700

Released alongside Ryzen Zen 2 CPUs, the AMD Radeon RX 5700 has been poised and positioned to compete against the upcoming RTX Super series of graphics cards, specifically the RTX 2060 Super.

Even before the release of the RX 5700, AMD announced a price cut to the upcoming series of graphics cards, making the RX 5700 even better value for its impressive performance numbers.

The Radeon RX 5700 is built on the new 7nm Navi 10 GPU, up to 7.95 TFLOPs thanks to its 8GB GDDR6 memory with a base clock of 1465 MHz and boost clock of 1725 MHz.

In our eyes, we see the new RX 5700, retailed at $379, as the ideal graphics card to pair with the Ryzen 5 3600, since they are both mid-tier components, but offering almost enthusiast levels of performance but without the corresponding price point.

2. RTX 2060 Super

Nvidia has been killing it the past few years when it comes to their graphics card performance, and the newly announced RTX 2060 Super is set to improve on their hugely successful RTX 2060 card – aimed at mid-level gaming builds, such as for 1080p gaming, and low end 1440p gaming. There has been a claimed gain of 10-20% in performance over the previous generation RTX 2060 – only commanding a small price premium.

The RTX 2060 Supers initial performance numbers show this mid-range graphics card perform essentially the same as the more expensive, previous generation RTX 2070. For $100 less, the new RTX 2060 Super begins to offer high-end performance and make it affordable and attainable for nearly any PC builder out there on a budget.

The RTX 2060 Super is based on the existing Turing architecture, with a 14 GB/s memory speed with 8GB of GDDR6 memory, and a factory rated boost clock of 1650 MHz, base clock at 1470 MHz. The founder’s edition features a great dual fan design, 2-slot in width and a TDP of 175W, and a recommended system wattage of 550W – using an 8-pin power connector.

We think the price point of the RTX 2060 Super could make it an absolute hit – and think it is the one of the best graphics cards to pair with the Ryzen 5 3600.

3. AMD RX 580 8GB

For those who want to build a super-budget Ryzen 5 3600 build and perhaps the RTX 2060S or RX 5700 is slightly just out of budget, then the best budget graphics card we recommend to pair with the Ryzen 5 3600 is AMD’s RX 580 8GB.

Often compared to the previous generation RTX 2060, the RX 580 offers great performance for less than $200, being able to offer 1080P gaming at 60FPS (medium-high settings) and even 1440p gaming. The price to performance ratio of the RX 580 is completely unmatched at this price point, and you can’t go wrong picking this budget graphics card for the Ryzen 5 3600. Featuring 8GB of GDDR5 memory with a boost clock of up to 1411 MHz, and an effective 8000 MHz memory, this AMD-based graphics card is built to perform.

In terms of which is the best RX 580 8GB to go for, we would recommend the Sapphire Radeon Nitro+ card, with a dual fan design offering great cooling, as well as decent thermal and noise performance and sleek design.

The best graphics card under $200 for 2019, hands down.