0-20k Upgrading from i5 3550: i3 12100F vs Ryzen 3600 for Gaming and Long-Term Usage

Dhanush

Beginner
Hey mateys!

I'm looking to upgrade my current build, which consists of an i5 3550 and a GTX 1660 Super. The i5 3550 is quite old and is bottlenecking the performance of my GPU. I'm considering two options: the i3 12100F and the Ryzen 3600.

For gaming, I know the i3 12100F outperforms the Ryzen 3600, especially when paired with my existing GTX 1660 Super. However, I'm also thinking about the long-term usage of my build, beyond gaming.

I'd like to know which processor is better suited for non-gaming tasks, such as:
  • Video editing and content creation
  • Streaming and multitasking
Considering I already have the GTX 1660 Super, I'm looking for a processor that will not only provide a good gaming experience but also handle other tasks efficiently.

From what I've gathered, the Ryzen 3600 has more cores and threads, which could be beneficial for tasks that utilize multi-threading. On the other hand, the i3 12100F has a higher single-thread performance, which might be advantageous for tasks that rely on single-threaded workloads.

I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences with these processors. Which one do you think is better suited for my needs, considering both gaming and long-term usage?

Thanks in advance for your input!
 
I'd love to hear your opinions and experiences with these processors. Which one do you think is better suited for my needs, considering both gaming and long-term usage?
They're close enough in performance to make either pick a 'safe' choice. For Adobe apps, I'd go with the Intel build because it gives you the option to swap in a 12600K down the line, which outperforms a Ryzen 7 5800X in the Adobe suite.
 
Honestly both are good but for future upgrade you might have a better options with intel because its a newer platform. long term in gaming you would have x3d option with amd which is huge
 
So, what is your budget for the upgrade? It makes no sense to upgrade a super old system with old hardware. The old Ryzen cpus were ok, but not good. Intel would be better. But if you have the money for a ryzen 5600 or 5800x, it would make much more sense. Also you will need an Am4 board.