AMD Ryzen 3 is considered the stepping stone into performance computing. These processors appeal to those with a tight budget but still looking for something that can do some heavy lifting.
As such, AMD Ryzen 3 CPUs are great for budget gaming rigs. Generally, they can quickly meet the requirements of most AAA games out there. Therefore, the short answer to the question “is Ryzen 3 good for gaming?” is a yes.
However, the more comprehensive answer to the question depends upon the following:
- What games do you wish to play?
- What dedicated graphics card will you install on your PC?
- What model and generation of the Ryzen 3 CPU do you have
The only relative issue with Ryzen 3 CPUs is that they are quad-core, meaning they have four cores. Ideally, gaming requires six cores for optimal frame rates.
In addition to that, high-end graphics cards CAN get bottlenecked with a four-core CPU. So let us start this article with a critical discussion:
TABLE OF CONTENTS
How Many Cores do AAA Games Need?
Before I discuss whether Ryzen 3 is suitable for gaming, let me address the elephant in the room: how many cores do games ideally need?
When talking about AAA titles, many games ask for a minimum of 4 cores but a recommended count of 6. Have a look at the following table:
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements | |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Intel Core i5-3570K (4 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 4915 | Intel Core i7-4790 (4 Cores / 8 Threads) Passmark: 7213 |
| Resident Evil Village | Intel Core i5-7500 (4 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 6061 | Intel Core i7-8700 (6 Cores / 12 Threads) Passmark: 13080 |
| Watch Dog Legions | Intel Core i5-4460 (4 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 4796 | Intel Core i7-7700 (4 Cores / 8 Threads) Passmark: 8621 |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Intel Core i5-4460 (4 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 4796 | Intel Core i7-6700 (4 Cores / 8 Threads) Passmark: 8056 |
| Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 | Intel Core i5-4460 (4 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 4796 | Intel Core i5-8400 (6 Cores / 6 Threads) Passmark: 9216 Ideal Spec Requirements: Intel Core i7-9800X (8c/16t) (Passmark: 18366) |
| Elden Ring | Intel Core i5-8400 (6 Cores / 6 Threads) Passmark: 9220 | Intel Core i7-8700K (6 Cores / 12 Threads) Passmark: 13867 |
Additionally, in the following charts by DSOGaming.com, you can see that many games benefit from a 6-core CPU. You can see that many games reach their best optimal performance with a 6-core CPU.
Finally, the following video shows that a 6-core CPU gives the best results for many games.
Read in Detail: How Many Cores Do Games Need?
Also Read: Is Quad Core Processor Good for Gaming?
Games and Graphics Card BOTH Use Multiple Cores
You must note that not just the games need a good CPU; high-end graphics cards must also be paired with a similarly powerful CPU.
In other words, there must be a parity between the graphics card and the CPU.
A Ryzen 3 CPU should NOT be paired with a high-end CPU like AMD RX 6900 or NVIDIA RTX 3080. Instead, Ryzen 3 CPUs are a good match for mid-range graphics cards only, such as the NVIDIA RTX 3060.
So Is Ryzen 3 Good For Gaming?
For the majority of the games out there, a Ryzen 3 CPU is sufficient, mainly if you are on a tight budget or plan to buy a mid-range dedicated graphics card at best.
Of course, the model and the generation of the Ryzen 3 processor you also choose matters.
You should invest in the Ryzen 3 CPU from the latest generation, particularly if you are building a gaming PC.
Here is a list of the popular Ryzen 3 CPUs
| CPU | Specs | Platform | Passmark Score |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3200G | 4 Cores 4 Threads 3.6-4.0 GHz | Desktop | 7197 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 2300X | 4 Cores 4 Threads 3.5-4.0 GHz | Desktop | 7563 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3100 | 4 Cores 8 Threads 3.6-3.9 GHz | Desktop | 11653 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3300X | 4 Cores 8 Threads 3.8-4.3 GHz | Desktop | 12721 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 5300G | 4 Cores 8 Threads 4.0-4.2 GHz | Desktop | 12955 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3300U | 4 Cores 4 Threads 2.1-3.5 GHz | Laptop | 5778 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 5400U | 4 Cores 8 Threads 2.6-4.0 GHz | Laptop | 11871 |
- Scores are taken from CPUbenchmark.net
As you can see from the table above, there is a huge difference in performance between model to model and from generation to generation.
I recommend you use the top-of-the-line Ryzen 3 CPUs to build a decent-budget gaming rig.
Hence. for desktops, I would recommend either the Ryzen 3 3300X or the AMD Ryzen 3 5300G.
Take, for instance, the CPU requirements and the corresponding Passmark score for Elden Ring’s recommended hardware. The game requires an Intel Core i7-8700K 6-core processor with a Passmark score of 13867.
None of the Ryzen 3 CPUs currently can support this game at its recommended requirements, and none of the Ryzen 3 CPUs have a high enough Passmark score.
Another issue with Ryzen 3 CPUs is that they can quickly become obsolete as the gaming industry evolves.
Also Read: How Long do GPUs Last?
A Note on AMD “G” and Non “G” Series CPUs
This is a critical point to note.
There are two types of AMD DESKTOP CPUs:
- G series CPUs aka APUs
- Non-G series CPUs
The G series CPUs, such as the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G and AMD Ryzen 3 5300G, feature integrated graphics cards.
The non-G series CPUs, such as the AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 3300X, DO NOT feature integrated graphics.
If your AMD CPUs DO NOT have integrated graphics, then the video output ports on your motherboard will NOT work as they rely on the CPU’s integrated GPU to function.
Also, to point out, while AMD integrated graphics cards are superior to Intel’s integrated graphics card, an integrated graphics card generally is NOT sufficient for quality gaming in any form.
Also Read: Is Integrated Graphics Good Enough?
Is Ryzen 3 Good for Online / eSports Titles Games?
Popular online and eSports titles such as League of Legends, Fortnite, World of Warcraft, etc., do not have a full system requirement:
| Minimum Requirements | Recommended Requirements | |
| Minecraft | Intel Core i3-3210 (2 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 2061 | Intel Core i5-4690 (4 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 5583 |
| Roblox | Single Core | Single Core |
| Rocket League | 2.5 GHz Dual Core | 3.0+ GHz Quad Core |
| Fortnite | Intel Core i3-3225 (2 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 2187 | Intel Core i5-7300U (2 Cores / 4 Threads) Passmark: 3746 |
| CS: GO | Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2 Core / 2 Threads) Passmark: 873 | |
| League of Legends | 3.0 GHz | 3.0 GHz Dual Core |
As such, a Ryzen 3 can be considered overkill for the popular eSports and MMORPG titles.
Not only is the sheer CPU power of the Ryzen 3 series sufficient, but if you opt for the “G” series graphics card, you could even do without a dedicated graphics card for games like Minecraft, Rocket League, League of Legends, etc.
However, if you are a gamer worth your salt and even remotely indulge in playing AAA games or games at high graphics settings, you must procure a decent dedicated graphics card.
Also Read: Build Guide for PC Without Graphics Card
Final Words
So the short answer to the question “is Ryzen 3 good for gaming” is a yes. It is sufficient, particularly for budget gaming builds.
However, the recommended way to go is to choose the Ryzen 5 or Core i5 CPU. Ryzen 5 / Core i5 CPUs meet the requirements of almost all games and graphics cards today and are also significantly future-proof.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Is AMD Ryzen 3200G Good for Gaming?
For AAA games, no, AMD Ryzen 3 3200G is NOT recommended for gaming unless you wish to play on potato graphics settings.
For popular online titles such as the League of Legends, DOTA 2, Warcraft, etc., the AMD Ryzen 3 3200G should suffice.
2. Is Ryzen 3 Better than the i3 for gaming?
Not necessarily. Ryzen 3 is the AMD equivalent of Core i3. Within a similar generation, a Ryzen 3 goes toe-to-toe with the Intel Core i3 CPUs.
Ryzen 3 3300X released in 2020 far exceeded the performance of the 10th gen Intel Core i3 10300 released in the same year.
A cat-and-mouse game is usually played between AMD and Intel, so there is never a definitive winner between Ryzen 3 and Core i3.
3. Is Ryzen 3 better for gaming than Intel processors?
Ryzen 3 processors are known for their strong multi-threaded performance, which makes them well-suited for both gaming and other demanding tasks.
In general, Ryzen 3 processors offer comparable gaming performance to similarly-priced Intel processors, although the exact performance can vary depending on the specific models being compared.
Additionally, Ryzen 3 processors often offer more cores and threads than their Intel counterparts, which can provide better multitasking performance for users who run multiple applications at once.
4. What is the price range for Ryzen 3 processors, and are they a good value for gaming?
The price range for Ryzen 3 processors can vary depending on the specific model and retailer, but they typically fall in the mid-range of the processor market.
Ryzen 3 processors offer strong performance for their price, making them a good value for gaming and other tasks.
However, users who are looking for the absolute highest performance for gaming may want to consider more expensive processors such as Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i7 or i9 models.
5. How much RAM is recommended for Ryzen 3 gaming builds?
The amount of RAM recommended for Ryzen 3 gaming builds depends on several factors, including the specific games being played and the user’s budget.
Generally, 8GB of RAM is the minimum recommended amount for gaming, but 16GB or more is recommended for users who run multiple applications at once or play more demanding games.
The exact amount of RAM needed for optimal performance can vary depending on the specific build and user preferences, so it’s important to research the specific requirements for each game and application.
Also Read: Is AMD Athlon Good for Gaming?
Also Read: Is NVIDIA RTX 3050 Good for Gaming?
