A lot is changing in the desktop PC space thanks to the competition between AMD and Intel. AMD’s recent Ryzen CPUs have stormed into the market with incredible performance and affordable pricing. And while Intel still holds the edge at the high-end in terms of gaming, it’s easier to recommend an AMD…
A lot is changing in the desktop PC space thanks to the competition between AMD and Intel. AMD’s recent Ryzen CPUs have stormed into the market with incredible performance and affordable pricing. And while Intel still holds the edge at the high-end in terms of gaming, it’s easier to recommend an AMD chip to most people right now. Now, with the entry-level Ryzen 3 parts, that is more true than ever.
AMD is finally launching the Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X parts. These are both four-core/eight-thread CPUs running on the Zen 2 architecture. The 3100 has a base clock of 3.6GHz with a maximum boost clock speed of 3.9GHz for $100. For the 3300X, you’ll get 3.8GHz that boosts to a max of 4.3GHz for $120. Both products come with the Wraith Stealth cooler. They are also compatible with AMD’s new B550 chipset.
In some ways, these are some of the most impressive CPUs you can buy. Sure, the Ryzen 7 3700X with eight cores is astounding. And the Ryzen 5 3600’s six cores and 12 threads make it an awesome option for gaming and livestreaming.
But for most gamers, a $100 or $120 Ryzen 3 is all they will need. And that’s a huge leap forward in terms of affordability.
A few years ago, anyone looking to build a price-conscious PC had one real choice when it came to the CPU: the Intel Core i5.
This option would give you four-to-six cores for $180-to-$240 depending on the year you would buy. It would also give you decent single-threaded performance, which is crucial for the majority of games.
