Need a Ryzen CPU upgrade.

[HesCalledTheStig]

Currently running a Ryzen 5 2600 and it’s feeling a bit sluggish now. Have about $130ish to spend. Want to stay with my current AM4 motherboard.  Any recommendations?  I just upgraded my GPU to an RTX 5060 (I know it’s entry level but a big upgrade from my RX 570) and I feel like the 2600 is becoming a bottleneck. Thanks in advance. 

[Dedayog]

2 minutes ago, HesCalledTheStig said:

Currently running a Ryzen 5 2600 and it’s feeling a bit sluggish now. Have about $130ish to spend. Want to stay with my current AM4 motherboard.  Any recommendations?  I just upgraded my GPU to an RTX 5060 (I know it’s entry level but a big upgrade from my RX 570) and I feel like the 2600 is becoming a bottleneck. Thanks in advance. 

Best bet is going to be the 5600 at almost $150 new.  Grab a used one if possible.  Should be a pretty big upgrade over the 2600.

 

PCPartPicker Part List

CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 5600 3.5 GHz 6-Core Processor  ($147.94 @ Amazon) 
Total: $147.94
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2026-04-26 08:28 EDT-0400

 

Used for $120+$5.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/168332253328?_skw=ryzen+5600&epid=26054344937&itmmeta=01KQ4W8ZW45A3ASJG3F5RWXSS6&hash=item2731625890:g:DvoAAeSwK8Np7POj&itmprp=enc%3AAQALAAAAwGfYFPkwiKCW4ZNSs2u11xACH%2Bl8gmUyHuAuhDM3Zq0lpG5SS3FuWag6p9ptWoqrLj8YeEQM8FtAOLNQ6%2BHG84KZ1ZrorD4Gud53loZzNnQh45d4CbYbAYjHn8uPwRgT4gK7Mc9lMhTQ%2FsAgVhtVAZcRhykSkP2VKmmTZTEB4Njw%2FpXFNtH7evh7oXocID%2Bq%2FHQphIVEvfVwmRmatfqjGWeY0%2BwFXzu3sFxV69CV1ak7a%2Bls%2FEEd1wxBsJMXYdSyBA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR5z-o5y5Zw

[Millios]

Just now, HesCalledTheStig said:

I feel like the 2600 is becoming a bottleneck.

So you have not checked.

I suggest you go and check first by checking how much of your CPU is utilized during your games.

 

Nevertheless, in am4 the only worthwhile CPUs IMO are the 5700x3D and if the price is good the 5800x3D. Both are out of your budget, so I guess the 5600 is your only course of action and potentially used to get it without going over 130

[Fasauceome]

4 hours ago, HesCalledTheStig said:

Ryzen 5 2600 and it’s feeling a bit sluggish now.

What speed ram is accompanying your CPU 

[MistahHaskins]

16 hours ago, Millios said:

So you have not checked.

I suggest you go and check first by checking how much of your CPU is utilized during your games.

 

Nevertheless, in am4 the only worthwhile CPUs IMO are the 5700x3D and if the price is good the 5800x3D. Both are out of your budget, so I guess the 5600 is your only course of action and potentially used to get it without going over 130

I would also consider the 5600x even worthwhile - just upgraded to AM5 from that chip and it was doing everything perfectly fine with no issues.

[HesCalledTheStig]

On 4/26/2026 at 1:07 PM, Fasauceome said:

What speed ram is accompanying your CPU 

DDR4 3400 I believe. 

[Dedayog]

6 minutes ago, HesCalledTheStig said:

DDR4 3400 I believe. 

Check Task Manager.  Should be 3200 or 3600.  We can also gauge if it's set properly as well.

 

[Fasauceome]

4 hours ago, HesCalledTheStig said:

DDR4 3400 I believe. 

3200 and up is pretty good for Ryzen performance. A used ryzen 5 5600 or Ryzen 7 5700X would be the most cost effective move in my opinion 

[MistahHaskins]

4 hours ago, Dedayog said:

Check Task Manager.  Should be 3200 or 3600.  We can also gauge if it's set properly as well.

 

Is this picture taken straight from desktop? I am wondering why your using Intel Graphics and its not showing your 5060

[starsmine]

48 minutes ago, MistahHaskins said:

Is this picture taken straight from desktop? I am wondering why your using Intel Graphics and its not showing your 5060

that isnt OP

[FreddyWestside]

If you can't stretch $20 to the 5600x you're looking at a 5500 new or a 3800x/3900x used. I'd probably take the 5500 over 3800 (as long as my motherboard had a BIOS update) for the efficiency and warranty over a few percent performance... But the 3900x is a lot of processor for $130 if you have a good cooler.

[HesCalledTheStig]

2 hours ago, FreddyWestside said:

If you can't stretch $20 to the 5600x you're looking at a 5500 new or a 3800x/3900x used. I'd probably take the 5500 over 3800 (as long as my motherboard had a BIOS update) for the efficiency and warranty over a few percent performance... But the 3900x is a lot of processor for $130 if you have a good cooler.

I ended up grabbing the 5500.  It’s still a big upgrade over my 2600, was only $85, and I was able to talk my wife into letting me get a 32gb ram kit as well if I went with the cheaper CPU.  I was going to buy the ram used but I never have luck with used ram.