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If you're still using the Ryzen 5 3600, you aren't alone. Many people, myself included, still use this processor. That's because this CPU still has plenty of performance and doesn't require an upgrade, but your graphics card probably does. In fact, your games will run better if you upgrade your GPU rather than your processor.
That said, if you buy an overly high-end graphics processor, your Ryzen CPU could pose a bottleneck. So, this article features a list of the best graphics cards to pair with your Ryzen 5 3600.
Note: This list is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions.
List of the best graphics cards to pair with Ryzen 5 3600
1) AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT
Price: $379.00
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The AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT is more than capable of playing modern titles at QHD resolution at 60 FPS. Under the $400 mark, you cannot get a GPU better than this, and it's the highest-end graphics card you can pair with the Ryzen 5 3600 without causing serious bottlenecking.
It is also equipped with 12 GB VRAM, which is needed in many games at QHD resolution, and capable of playing various ray-tracing titles with good performance.
Pros
- Highest-performing video card on this list.
- Has 12GB VRAM, which is needed in games like The Last of Us: Part 1 and Hogwarts Legacy.
- Can also play ray-tracing games.
Cons
- A bit costly.
2) Nvidia RTX 4060
Price: $289.99
The RTX 4060 is the perfect mid-range graphics card to pair with your older Ryzen 5 3600 processor. It can deliver a decent 1080p gaming experience while consuming as little as 115W of power, which will help save on your power bill.
Nvidia RTX cards are known for their ray-tracing performance, and the RTX 4060 is no different. You can easily play many games with ray tracing on this GPU, and if the performance drops, you can always turn on DLSS 3 frame generation and boost your FPS.
Pros
- Excellent performance in modern games.
- Consumes very little power.
- Available at a decent price tag.
Cons
- Memory is slower, which hurts performance in game emulation.
3) Nvidia RTX 3060
Price: $240
The Nvidia RTX 3060 is a bit old at this point but still packs a lot of performance. It has a 12GB VRAM capacity and fast memory bandwidth, which is needed for games like The Last of Us: Part 1, The Talos Principle 2, and Hogwarts Legacy to run smoothly.
It can easily pair with your Ryzen 5 3600 without causing any bottleneck and deliver a significant boost in modern games compared to your old graphics card. It also supports ray tracing, but its performance won't be as good as RTX 4060.
Pros
- Available under $250.
- Has 12GB memory, which is needed in VRAM-hungry games.
- Has great performance in game emulation.
Cons
- Power consumption is a bit high.
4) Intel Arc A750
Price: $189
If you want the best performance in gaming under $200, buy the Intel Arc A750. It is highly competitive with the RTX 3060 and even beats it in some games, especially those with heavier ray-tracing effects. To top it off, it pairs well with the Ryzen 5 3600 without any bottlenecks.
Even at this price, Intel provided 8GB VRAM and much faster memory in this GPU. It can easily play most games at 1080p resolution with high settings at 60+ FPS. If you are willing to lower the graphics settings, it can even play some games at 1440p.
Pros
- Provides the best price-to-performance ratio.
- Can play some games at 1440p.
- Has its own XESS upscaling solution.
Cons
- Drivers aren't as stable as Nvidia and AMD.
5) Nvidia RTX 3050 6GB
Price: $169
This is the cheapest GPU on this list and works well with the Ryzen 5 3600. It can still play many popular games at 1080p resolution at 60 FPS. However, when performance dips below 60 FPS, you can turn on DLSS.
It only comes with 6GB of VRAM, which is a big downside. The offering is also slower than the Intel Arc A750, yet costs more for its DLSS support and better driver stability than the Intel Arc graphics card.
Pros
- Can play most games at 1080p without issues.
- Supports DLSS upscaling to boost its performance in supported games.
- Can be used without external power.
Cons
- Supports ray tracing, but its performance is not good.
These are the best graphics cards to pair with an older mid-range CPU like the Ryzen 5 3600. If you want my recommendation, go with the Nvidia RTX 4060. It is the most balanced GPU in terms of performance and power consumption.
