Trying to decide on a cpu and gpu

[Aaralli]

I have most of the parts to make a PC, including case, motherboard, psu, ram, and ssd. I originally wanted to run a Ryzen 5 3400g with no graphics card until I get enough money to buy a pretty good one, but I have an old GTX 680 and I thought maybe I could use that with a Ryzen 5 2600 for the same or a similar price. Which is the better option? This PC is for my father, and he does some gaming, but he quote "literally does not care about graphics quality or performance, as long as it runs."

[callmejaccob]

Depends on if he needs to use 12 threads or 8 threads. I believe the performance will be similar because of the improvements made in the third generation of Ryzen.

[Aaralli]

2 minutes ago, callmejaccob said:

Depends on if he needs to use 12 threads or 8 threads. I believe the performance will be similar because of the improvements made in the third generation of Ryzen.

He only does office-work and gaming. I know more cores doesn't really help with many games yet, so should I just go for the 3400g?

[callmejaccob]

2 minutes ago, Aaralli said:

He only does office-work and gaming. I know more cores doesn't really help with many games yet, so should I just go for the 3400g?

Most likely. The single core performance will provide a better experience than more cores.

[IrishJ]

7 minutes ago, callmejaccob said:

Depends on if he needs to use 12 threads or 8 threads. I believe the performance will be similar because of the improvements made in the third generation of Ryzen.

Whoppa! the 3200G is still zen+ so same architecture, the 2600 would be the more future proof variant.

I'd go for the discrete GPU if you can confirm that it is working.

 

[ZephCloud]

i'll go for the 2600..since they are in the same architecture and 2600 has more cache...

[callmejaccob]

1 minute ago, IrishJ said:

Whoppa! the 3200G is still zen+ so same architecture, the 2600 would be the more future proof variant.

I'd go for the discrete GPU if you can confirm that it is working,

 

Except it is a 3400G. Also, third gen ryzen has higher single core performance, or that's what I've been told.

[Ralf]

1 minute ago, callmejaccob said:

Except it is a 3400G. Also, third gen ryzen has higher single core performance, or that's what I've been told.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen+#Desktop_APUs

[IrishJ]

3 minutes ago, callmejaccob said:

Except it is a 3400G. Also, third gen ryzen has higher single core performance, or that's what I've been told.

Not a factor.

 

12nm finfet = zen+

https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-3400g

check your facts beforehand, could cause someone to purchase the wrong thing.

[Aaralli]

4 minutes ago, IrishJ said:

Not a factor.

 

12nm finfet = zen+

https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-3400g

check your facts beforehand, could cause someone to purchase the wrong thing.

3400g and 2600x are both Zen+, are they not? So they're both 12nm and would both have similar single core performance?

[callmejaccob]

5 minutes ago, IrishJ said:

Not a factor.

 

12nm finfet = zen+

https://www.amd.com/en/products/apu/amd-ryzen-5-3400g

check your facts beforehand, could cause someone to purchase the wrong thing.

Except the 3400G does have better single threaded performance than the 2600. 

 

https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/amd_ryzen_5_3400g_review/11 

[GrockleTD]

1 minute ago, Aaralli said:

3400g and 2600x are both Zen+, are they not? So they're both 12nm and would both have similar single core performance?

Correct

[IrishJ]

Just now, Aaralli said:

3400g and 2600x are both Zen+, are they not? So they're both 12nm and would both have similar single core performance?

that's exactly the case
You'll get the same singlethread performance + extra cores at a lower cost.


Also I was replying to callmejaccob.

[Aaralli]

1 minute ago, IrishJ said:

that's exactly the case
You'll get the same singlethread performance + extra cores at a lower cost.


Also I was replying to callmejaccob.

Okay. I'll probably go with the 2600 then. Thanks. Also, totally unrelated, but I was just looking at your post on the totally custom PC, and that looks like the coolest thing I've ever seen in my entire life and I want to congratulate you on your creativity!

[callmejaccob]

2 minutes ago, IrishJ said:

that's exactly the case
You'll get the same singlethread performance + extra cores at a lower cost.


Also I was replying to callmejaccob.

Except you won't. The 3400G has higher single thread perfomance. https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/amd_ryzen_5_3400g_review/11 perhaps do your research?

[Aaralli]

3 minutes ago, callmejaccob said:

Except you won't. The 3400G has higher single thread perfomance. https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/amd_ryzen_5_3400g_review/11 perhaps do your research?

That graph shows the 2600 as having higher single threaded performance though...

EDIT nevermind I was wrong, I read the wrong line

[IrishJ]

3 minutes ago, callmejaccob said:

Except you won't. The 3400G has higher single thread perfomance. https://www.overclock3d.net/reviews/cpu_mainboard/amd_ryzen_5_3400g_review/11 perhaps do your research?

https://www.techspot.com/review/1878-amd-ryzen-3400g/

 

okay, the 2600 beats it in every benchmark except power consumption.

[callmejaccob]

1 minute ago, Aaralli said:

That graph shows the 2600 as having higher single threaded performance though...

It ranks it by multi-threaded performance. Comparing the single thread (smallest bar) the 3400G has better single-threaded performance than the 2600.

[callmejaccob]

2 minutes ago, IrishJ said:

https://www.techspot.com/review/1878-amd-ryzen-3400g/

 

okay.

Exactly. It may lose out in multi-core performance, but single core beats out the 2600. Not by much, but it still does.

[IrishJ]

4 minutes ago, callmejaccob said:

Exactly. It may lose out in multi-core performance, but single core beats out the 2600. Not by much, but it still does.

so basically you're saying that in the real world it performs better? and for a use case like that only that matters. Lower price higher performance.

the 3400G is only a viable option if you don't have the option to run a dedicated gpu.

[callmejaccob]

Just now, IrishJ said:

so basically you're saying that in the real world it performs better?

the 3400G is only a viable option if you don't have the option to run a dedicated gpu.

Did I mention real-world performance? No.

Although the increased single core performance has the possibility of slightly improving performance in some games. 

Also, the GTX 680 is an older card, and in the case that it dies, there is no longer use for the PC if he has no other GPU. This provides a fall back plan in case that occurs, because it is used for office work, a fall back plan is somewhat necessary. 

[Aaralli]

1 minute ago, callmejaccob said:

Did I mention real-world performance? No.

Although the increased single core performance has the possibility of slightly improving performance in some games. 

Also, the GTX 680 is an older card, and in the case that it dies, there is no longer use for the PC if he has no other GPU. This provides a fall back plan in case that occurs, because it is used for office work, a fall back plan is somewhat necessary. 

I also have an AMD R9 270X, and both that and the GTX 680 are in near-mint condition. I reapplied thermal paste and thermal pads to the cards just last year. They're clean and have been kept in anti-static containers. I have a backup.

[callmejaccob]

1 minute ago, Aaralli said:

I also have an AMD R9 270X, and both that and the GTX 680 are in near-mint condition. I reapplied thermal paste and thermal pads to the cards just last year. They're clean and have been kept in anti-static containers. I have a backup.

Then by all means, go with the 2600. As long as you have a backup, then you're good.

[IrishJ]

1 minute ago, Aaralli said:

I also have an AMD R9 270X, and both that and the GTX 680 are in near-mint condition. I reapplied thermal paste and thermal pads to the cards just last year. They're clean and have been kept in anti-static containers. I have a backup.

Yeah, like i said, I would go for the 2600 or even 2600X should be in a similar price range.

[Aaralli]

1 minute ago, callmejaccob said:

Then by all means, go with the 2600. As long as you have a backup, then you're good.

 

1 minute ago, IrishJ said:

Yeah, like i said, I would go for the 2600 or even 2600X should be in a similar price range.

Thanks, to both of you. Your somewhat heated debate has been very helpful in making my decision.