Best GPUs for Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X in 2024 – our top picks

If you are on the hunt for the best GPUs for Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X, we have you covered right here.

For gamers and creative professionals looking for a budget build, both the Ryzen CPUs are quite good. Both processors offer 6 cores and 12 threads, which makes them capable of handling demanding games and multitasking workloads. But to get the best out of these processors, you need to pair it with an equally capable GPU.

Now, selecting the best graphics card to complement your AMD Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600x is pivotal in harnessing the full potential of your gaming or work setup. With that being said, we have researched, reviewed, and shortlisted some of the GPUs that we think would work well with Ryzen processors.

Products at a glance

How we selected the best GPUs for Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X

The selection process for the best GPU to pair with Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600x isn’t arbitrary; it’s grounded in rigorous testing and research. Performance benchmarks play a crucial role. By analyzing real-world performance across various games and applications, it’s possible to gauge how different GPU options hold up when combined with these CPUs.

Additionally, user feedback and reviews contribute invaluable insights. By understanding the experiences of others who have paired these specific CPUs with various GPUs, potential issues or advantages come to light, which might not be evident from benchmarks alone. Factors such as noise levels, heat output, and driver stability all come into play.

But what if the Ryzen 5 platform just isn’t what you’re looking for? Luckily, you can find the best GPU for Ryzen 9 5900X and 5950X if you’re hunting for a bit more power in your rig. Or maybe you need a GPU entirely tailored toward video editing? Our best GPU for 4K rendering and editing will set you in the right direction.

As Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X are both entry-level CPUs, you don’t need to pair them up with advanced or high-end graphics cards. This is why we think that the RTX 3070 is a good pick for your build.

To start with, the mid-range RTX 3070 comes with the previous-gen Ampere architecture. The card offers DLSS and ray tracing, which should give you boosted framerates as well as realistic image quality. Upon release, this was the best RTX 30-series card from a price-to-performance ratio.

In our review of RTX 3070, we saw that the card delivered excellent framerates for 1080p as well as 1440p gaming. For Cyberpunk 2077, we were able to get 98 FPS at 108op and 62 FPS at 1440p.

Overall, the RTX 3070 is a good option if your target resolution is 1440p. In the future, if you decide to opt for a more powerful processor, RTX 3070 will give you the scope for it. Plus, if you manage to get your hands on the card with a discount, we think this is a worthy pick.

What users say

On Amazon, the MSI Gaming GeForce RTX 3070 has a rating of 4.5 stars, and more than 400 people have rated it. Most customers were happy with the performance and price of the product. “This GPU is great my frames increased significantly coming from an RTX 2060,” one of the customers wrote in a review.

If you prefer to pair the Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600X CPU with an AMD card, then we think that the Radeon RX 6800 XT is a good pick. 

Now, the 6800 XT has 3840 Stream Processors (similar to NVIDIA’s CUDA cores), which handle graphics rendering, parallel processing, and overall graphics performance. A higher number of stream processors translates into better performance for your games. Further, the GPU comes with a 1700 MHz base clock speed and a boost clock speed of 2105 MHz, which are enough to run modern video games. 

In our 6800 XT review, we found out that the card excels at 1080p and 1440p gaming. We ran Cyberpunk 2077 on this GPU, and it delivered 129 FPS for 1080p and 81 FPS for 1440p. This means you can run most of the demanding games at these two resolutions. For 4K, the graphics card gave us 33 FPS, which is not bad, but the card struggles. 

As far as memory configuration goes, the GPU comes with a massive 16 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, which is a testament to what modern GPUs can achieve, especially when targeting the 1440p domain. With this beast in your arsenal paired with the Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600x, you’re looking at buttery smooth frame rates in 1440p across the board.

This GPU is suitable for gamers, especially those with a penchant for competitive gaming, where high, stable frame rates can make all the difference. But it’s not just for the gamers. If you’re into heavy-duty content creation, 3D rendering, or video editing, the RX 6800 XT, combined with the multitasking prowess of the Ryzen 5, will ensure your tasks are completed without a hitch.

What users say

On Amazon, the XFX Speedster SWFT319 RX 6800 XT has a 4.6-star rating, and more than 10,000 people have reviewed this range of XFX GPUs. As per the reviews, most people were happy with the performance and quality of the GPU. One of the reviewers says, “95% satisfied. Works as advertised but is overpriced with 359$ I paid for.” A few more users thought that the card was slightly overpriced.

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ASUS ROG Strix NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 OC Edition

Hands-on Review

4 /5

Editor’s Rating

How We Review

Specifications

• GPU: GA102
• CUDA cores: 8,704
• VRAM: 10GB GDDR6X
• Bandwidth: 760.3 GB/s
• Memory bus width: 320-bit
• Base clock speed : 1440 MHz
• Boost clock speed: 1905 MHz

Reasons to Buy

• Great for 1440p gaming
• Decent performance for 4K gaming
• 10GB VRAM + 320-bit memory bus is a powerful combo

Reasons to Avoid

•  May seem pricey

• Shop on Amazon

If you want a more powerful pick than the RTX 3070, then we think the RTX 3080 will check several boxes for you.

To start with, the GPU comes with 8,704 CUDA cores, which are directly related to the graphics performance – so more cores translate into better performance. Further, the Asus ROG Strix card offers a base clock speed of 1440 MHz and a boosted clock speed of 1905 MHz, so you should be able to overclock it easily.

As far as memory configuration is concerned, the GPU comes with a 10GB VRAM and a 320-bit memory bus, so you can expect blazing-fast speeds regardless of the task.

In our RTX 3080 review, we tested the card for gaming as well as synthetic benchmarks. The GPU gave us excellent performance for 1080p and 1440p gaming. Plus, it also gave us decent framerates for 4K. For example, we played Far Cry 6 on Max Settings and got 77 FPS at 4K. Overall, if you want to give your PC a significant boost, then you can consider investing in the RTX 3080.

What users say

On Amazon, the Asus ROG Strix RTX 3080 has a rating of 4.6 stars, and more than 260 people have rated it. Most people were happy with the performance and appearance of the card. “Card installed and works wonderfully. NO COIL WHINE!! I went from a gtx 1080 mini to this. Huge performance boost!!” one of the customers wrote in a review.

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XFX Speedster SWFT 210 Radeon RX 6600 CORE

Specifications

• Stream Processors: 1792
• VRAM: 8GB
• Bandwidth: 14 Gbps
• Memory bus width: 128-bit
• Base clock speed: 2044 MHz
• Boost clock speed: 2491 MHz

Reasons to Buy

• Good value for 1080p and 1440p
• 8GB GDDR6 memory is sufficient for most current games
• Budget-friendly option

Reasons to Avoid

• Might not be the most future-proof option
• 8GB VRAM may feel limiting

• Shop on Amazon

The RX 6600 is a good option if you want a budget GPU to pair with your Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600X processor. This is a mid-range card mostly used for 1080p or 1440p gaming. 

To start with, the mid-range GPU is built on the RDNA 2 architecture, which is a significant jump from the previous architecture. With RDNA 2, you get more computing units, faster clock speeds, Infinity Cache, and other advanced features. In short, you can expect better performance from the newer GPUs.

Coming to the RX 6600 specifically, the GPU has 1792 stream processors, which are the units responsible for the graphic heavy lifting. The GPU comes with a 2044 MHz base clock speed and 2491 MHz boost clock speed, which means the GPU can deliver smoother gameplay while playing fast-paced games.

As far as memory is concerned, you get 8GB of GDDR6  VRAM, which is sufficient to play most games at 1080p and 1440p. Now, higher resolutions and more complex graphics may need more than 8GB of VRAM, which is something you might want to consider while future-proofing. 

For this list, we have selected the PowerColor Fighter RX 6600 graphics card, which comes with a dual-fan cooling system. To be more specific, the GPU has two 90mm fans with an enlarged heatsink, which should give you efficient cooling when the card is under load.

What users say

On Amazon, the XFX Speedster RX 6600 GPU has a rating of 4.6 stars, and it has been reviewed by over 10,000 people. Most reviews mention that the users were satisfied with the performance, graphics quality, and the price of the card. One of the review reads, “This graphics card is amazing. Plays any game at 1080p comfortably. I mostly play GTA 5 and i get 120 frames per second on average at 1080p very high settings and it stays cool.” On the flipside, a few reviewers said that the GPU fans produce a bit of noise.

Considerations for a GPU and Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X

Here are a few things to consider before getting a new graphics card –

Complimenting GPU

When pairing a graphics card with the Ryzen 5 3600 or 3600x, it’s vital to consider a GPU that complements rather than overshadows or underutilizes the capabilities of these CPUs. These mid-range processors are well-suited for both gaming and multitasking, thus demanding a GPU that can keep up without causing unnecessary strain.

Resolution and refresh rate

Resolution and refresh rate aspirations also play a role in your decision-making. If you’re aiming for 1080p gaming at high refresh rates or venturing into 1440p territory, it’s essential to opt for a GPU that can comfortably manage these requirements without compromising on settings. Furthermore, the GPU’s VRAM, which affects texture loading and multitasking potential, and compatibility with software or games you regularly use should also be at the forefront of your considerations when building a PC around these parts.

Smart Access Memory

Additionally, when paired with an AMD GPU, the Ryzen 5 3600 and 3600X will both gain access to Smart Access Memory. This feature, which is only available on AMD paired tech, allows your components faster access to memory, streamlining workflows and making your PC a powerful rig.

Price

Don’t let the ever-changing prices of GPUs and CPUs overwhelm you. Set a budget upfront to keep things under control. Then, prioritize the features that are most important for your use. The good news is that there are fantastic graphics cards available at a wide range of price points. By setting realistic expectations based on your budget, you’ll land the perfect card that meets your needs without going over budget.

To snag a GPU at the ideal price, track its history using a tool like Camelcamelcamel. This website shows you price fluctuations over time, allowing you to jump on a deal when the price dips. Additionally, consider buying during seasonal sales like Amazon Spring Sale or Black Friday to maximize your savings.