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It is easily the best bang for buck CPU on the market, that allows pretty much 99% of workflows that require a PC. Gaming? Check. Programming? Check. Graphics d

It is easily the best bang for buck CPU on the market, that allows pretty much 99% of workflows that require a PC. Gaming? Check. Programming? Check. Graphics design? Check. Video editing: also check (but on the lower end, true that). It has also some really fantastic thermals, it does not produce that much heat. I use it in a fully fanless / passive cooling setup and it works great.

thoraway1010 6y ago
IntelliJ stuff is usually slow (I like smaller form factor machines). Finally with the 3600 performance is at least reasonable and not annoying. It took forever to get bundled, but you can get Lenovo and I think HP prebuilt machines for this as well - for work I don't like handbuilding a machine.
topbanana 6y ago
I built a new PC around one just this weekend. Turned out I'd forgotten to plug in the CPU cooler fan and it ran great. Big cooler though
blattimwind 6y ago
I don't have first hand experience with higher spec build on the single CCD Zen 2 chips, but the dual CCD chips are not particularly good in terms of thermals. Only the very best of air coolers can handle them, and are not particularly quiet doing so. Idle CPU power consumption is unimpressive and at 50-70 W exceeds what older systems achieved for the entire system.
- iagooar 6y ago
  I had more problems with the 3700X although on paper it is 65W TDP (same as the 3600). In practice it gets much hotter and draws more power. The 3600 never gave me any problems.
threentaway 6y ago
Which case (and GPU) did you go with?
- iagooar 6y ago
  Streacom DB4, one of the most beautiful passive cases around. It matches Apple-level design, it's stunning. As GPU I had the Gigabyte GTX 1650 mini and the Gigabyte GTX 1660 TI mini. The 1650 is definitely easier to put in a passively cooled system, but the 1660 TI is much more powerful.
fetus8 6y ago
I just built a new machine around this CPU back in March too. I built a new machine specifically for playing Half-Life: Alyx, and couldn't be happier with this CPU. My thermals were pretty great with the stock CPU cooler, but I ended up going with a Noctua NH-U14S which might be a little overkill, but when playing Half-Life: Alyx, I stay between 45-60c which seems pretty good to me. The game runs at a perfect framerate on High settings with the AMD 5700XT, 32GB of DDR4 RAM on the Vive Pro. I may end up upgrading to a Ryzen 7 4XXX series when they come out, but for now, this CPU is performing great. Def best bang for your buck.
- greggyb 6y ago
  > but I ended up going with a Noctua NH-U14S which might be a little overkill Yes. I have the same cooler* on a Threadripper 3970X with 280W TDP. The only thing that it can't handle is a sustained all-core load for >10-15 minutes. Even at all-core load it still turbos above base clock (but less than max turbo). Technically a different SKU with a larger base plate, but otherwise the same design.
fokinsean 6y ago
> It has also some really fantastic thermals Granted my case doesn't have the best airflow (NZXT h210i), I was getting pretty high CPU temps with the stock cooler. Averaging mid to uppers 80s during gaming, High 50s idle. I went ahead and ordered a Noctua cooler which should be coming today actually. Hoping it helps.
- mrguyorama 6y ago
  The 3600 stock cooler is GARBAGE. Any load at all and it would eventually climb up to 95 degrees. I tried re-seating it, using different thermal compound, just blowing more air at my computer, but nothing fixes the fact that there's so little material in the cooler, and it's just not that functional. It can handle small but bursty loads, but any constant one easily overcomes it's pitiful performance. That said, $30 aftermarket cooler will keep you at 50 degrees even during max load. Great chip for the money and I'm super happy with it
  - JeremysIron 6y ago
    I just got one myself and in my system, it seems like a fairly hot puppy. I see it idle around 50-60C and load at 70C or more. This was with an aftermarket cooler, although I may not have applied the thermal paste well. I haven't done any thorough testing but it seems hotter than the rather old i5 that it replaced.
JeremyNT 6y ago
I built a new system with one of these last December, and it has been a great experience for everything I have thrown at it. I wasn't sure whether I'd stick with it or upgrade later - I mainly got it just to "get into" the Ryzen ecosystem, as this article suggests many do - but so far I see absolutely no reason for anything more. One thing I didn't realize at the time is that the 3000 series is "end of the line" for B450 motherboards, which should be a real consideration for anybody eyeing a new system with this CPU now. As this article suggests it leaves you in an awkward spot. I opted to upgrade there to a X570, but only barely; a lucky decision, as it turns out!

thoraway1010 6y ago

IntelliJ stuff is usually slow (I like smaller form factor machines). Finally with the 3600 performance is at least reasonable and not annoying. It took forever to get bundled, but you can get Lenovo and I think HP prebuilt machines for this as well - for work I don't like handbuilding a machine.

topbanana 6y ago

I built a new PC around one just this weekend. Turned out I'd forgotten to plug in the CPU cooler fan and it ran great. Big cooler though

blattimwind 6y ago

I don't have first hand experience with higher spec build on the single CCD Zen 2 chips, but the dual CCD chips are not particularly good in terms of thermals. Only the very best of air coolers can handle them, and are not particularly quiet doing so. Idle CPU power consumption is unimpressive and at 50-70 W exceeds what older systems achieved for the entire system.

iagooar 6y ago
I had more problems with the 3700X although on paper it is 65W TDP (same as the 3600). In practice it gets much hotter and draws more power. The 3600 never gave me any problems.

threentaway 6y ago

Which case (and GPU) did you go with?

iagooar 6y ago
Streacom DB4, one of the most beautiful passive cases around. It matches Apple-level design, it's stunning. As GPU I had the Gigabyte GTX 1650 mini and the Gigabyte GTX 1660 TI mini. The 1650 is definitely easier to put in a passively cooled system, but the 1660 TI is much more powerful.

fetus8 6y ago

I just built a new machine around this CPU back in March too. I built a new machine specifically for playing Half-Life: Alyx, and couldn't be happier with this CPU. My thermals were pretty great with the stock CPU cooler, but I ended up going with a Noctua NH-U14S which might be a little overkill, but when playing Half-Life: Alyx, I stay between 45-60c which seems pretty good to me. The game runs at a perfect framerate on High settings with the AMD 5700XT, 32GB of DDR4 RAM on the Vive Pro. I may end up upgrading to a Ryzen 7 4XXX series when they come out, but for now, this CPU is performing great. Def best bang for your buck.

greggyb 6y ago
> but I ended up going with a Noctua NH-U14S which might be a little overkill Yes. I have the same cooler* on a Threadripper 3970X with 280W TDP. The only thing that it can't handle is a sustained all-core load for >10-15 minutes. Even at all-core load it still turbos above base clock (but less than max turbo). Technically a different SKU with a larger base plate, but otherwise the same design.

fokinsean 6y ago

> It has also some really fantastic thermals Granted my case doesn't have the best airflow (NZXT h210i), I was getting pretty high CPU temps with the stock cooler. Averaging mid to uppers 80s during gaming, High 50s idle. I went ahead and ordered a Noctua cooler which should be coming today actually. Hoping it helps.

mrguyorama 6y ago
The 3600 stock cooler is GARBAGE. Any load at all and it would eventually climb up to 95 degrees. I tried re-seating it, using different thermal compound, just blowing more air at my computer, but nothing fixes the fact that there's so little material in the cooler, and it's just not that functional. It can handle small but bursty loads, but any constant one easily overcomes it's pitiful performance. That said, $30 aftermarket cooler will keep you at 50 degrees even during max load. Great chip for the money and I'm super happy with it
- JeremysIron 6y ago
  I just got one myself and in my system, it seems like a fairly hot puppy. I see it idle around 50-60C and load at 70C or more. This was with an aftermarket cooler, although I may not have applied the thermal paste well. I haven't done any thorough testing but it seems hotter than the rather old i5 that it replaced.

JeremyNT 6y ago

I built a new system with one of these last December, and it has been a great experience for everything I have thrown at it. I wasn't sure whether I'd stick with it or upgrade later - I mainly got it just to "get into" the Ryzen ecosystem, as this article suggests many do - but so far I see absolutely no reason for anything more. One thing I didn't realize at the time is that the 3000 series is "end of the line" for B450 motherboards, which should be a real consideration for anybody eyeing a new system with this CPU now. As this article suggests it leaves you in an awkward spot. I opted to upgrade there to a X570, but only barely; a lucky decision, as it turns out!