Best GPUs For Ryzen 5 2600 – [Buyers Guide]

As the saying goes, ‘Old is gold.’ In the current market, going with an older CPU isn’t really a bad idea sometimes. Launched in 2018, the Ryzen 5 2600 is an affordable CPU with a six-core and twelve-thread configuration and a 65W TDP.

Of course, being a non-“G” CPU means that it doesn’t have integrated graphics. So, you’re going to need a GPU to be able to play games and stream with it. In this article, I’ve listed five GPUs which will provide great performance without burning a hole in your wallet.

Ryzen 5 2600 Specs

Here are the technical specifications of the Ryzen 5 2600:

• Socket: AM4
• Cores and Threads: 6C/12T
• Max. Memory Capacity: 64GB DDR4-2933
• Integrated Graphics: No
• Boost Clock: 3.9 GHz
• TDP: 65W
• Cooler Included: AMD Wraith Stealth

You can click here for more info about this CPU from AMD. So, with that in mind, let’s read more about these five GPUs…

Top 5 Best GPUs for Ryzen 5 2600 in 2022:

1. EVGA GeForce RTX 2060 SC Gaming – Best Overall

SPECS:

• Memory: 6GB GDDR6
• Stream Processors: 1920
• Base Clock: 1.36 GHz
• Boost Clock: 1.71 GHz

The RTX 2060 is still a relevant GPU in 2022. When you look at the other GPUs from the past, it stands out as a good budget-focused card. The EVGA RTX 2060 SC Gaming adds many features on top to sweeten the deal.

First, let’s talk about performance. It has a higher boost clock, going from 1.68 GHz on the reference card to over 1.71 GHz. You can check gaming benchmarks here. It can easily reach 80+ FPS in games like Apex Legends and Squad. To keep an eye on wattage and apply overclocks, you can also download EVGA Precision x1. There’s also ray tracing support.

All in all, the RTX 2060 SC Gaming from EVGA is a well-built card. It has the required bells and whistles to pair well with the Ryzen 5 2600 for a budget 1080p gaming and streaming PC.

2. ASUS GTX 1050 Ti – Best on a Budget

SPECS:

• Memory: 4GB GDDR5
• CUDA Cores: 768
• Base Clock: 1.29 GHz
• Boost Clock: 1.39 GHz

Although it launched all the way back in 2016, the GTX 1050 Ti can be a good choice in some PC builds even today. If you’re on a budget and just want to play most AAA titles at around 60 FPS in Medium settings, this card will deliver that without any issues.

Let’s go over the basic specs: it has 4GB GDDR5 VRAM, 768 CUDA cores, and a boost clock of 1.39 GHz. As you can see in this gaming benchmarks video, it delivers a mostly lag-free 30 to 60 FPS gaming experience in titles like Cyberpunk 2077, Elden Ring, and Dying Light 2.

I’ll admit, 4GB VRAM is a bit limiting these days, especially when you pile on live streaming. But if you’re on a budget, this isn’t exactly a bad option. It’s built well, relatively quiet, and looks good.

3. EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Super SC Ultra Gaming – Best Value for Money

SPECS:

• Memory: 6GB GDDR6
• CUDA Cores: 1408
• Base Clock: 1.53 GHz
• Boost Clock: 1.80 GHz

If you’re looking for a card with decent 1080p gaming and streaming performance, the GTX 1660 Super has been the go-to option for a long time. This factory-overclocked version of the card from EVGA has many extra goodies on top: powerful cooling, overclocking potential, and high energy efficiency.

When it comes down to performance, it packs 6GB GDDR6 VRAM and 1408 CUDA cores, which is sufficient for most games. Of course, the lack of ray tracing and DLSS might hurt based on your use case, but I don’t think it should be a major deal-breaker for most users.

The GTX 1660 Super might be quite old at this point, but it still packs a punch. Get this one if you’re after maximum bang for your buck. The EVGA SC Ultra Gaming also has a no-RGB, all-black design for a clean look.

4. EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 XC Gaming – Best New Nvidia Card

SPECS:

• Memory: 8GB GDDR6
• CUDA Cores: 2560
• Base Clock: 1.55 GHz
• Boost Clock: 1.84 GHz

Belonging to the latest RTX 3000 series lineup with the Ampere architecture, the RTX 3050 is a popular mid-range GPU. It fits well with budget CPUs like the Ryzen 5 2600. This unit from EVGA has a compact, twin-fan design, and provides an impressive price-to-performance ratio.

With 8GB GDDR6 VRAM over a 128-bit memory bus and 2560 CUDA cores under the hood, this card is excellent at 1080p but also manages to jump over 1440p 60FPS at times. You can check gaming benchmarks here. Ray tracing performance is decent too, but requires you to either lower details or enable DLSS to touch 60 FPS at 1080p.

Everything considered, definitely go for the EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 XC Gaming if you have the necessary budget for it. Besides being a 1080p powerhouse, it’s well-built, stealthy, and runs cool.

5. MSI Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT – Best New AMD Card

SPECS:

• Memory: 8GB GDDR6
• Stream Processors: 2048
• Base Clock: Not Stated
• Boost Clock: 1.84 GHz

Built on AMD’s latest RDNA 2 architecture, the RX 6600 XT has a lot to offer in the 1080p-focused GPU lineup. This unit from MSI has a dual-fan configuration for efficient cooling. For video output, it has three DP v1.4 ports and a single HDMI port.

If you go by AMD’s numbers, it delivers excellent performance at 1080p in titles like BF5, Apex Legends, and Resident Evil Village. You can also check gaming benchmarks for CoD Warzone and Cyberpunk 2077. Anyway, there’s no denying that it’s a 1080p card with some room for 1440p.

In a nutshell, if you’re focused on 1080p gaming and streaming, and you want to go for a card by Team Red, the RX 6600 XT is worth considering. For guidance in choosing the right monitor for this GPU, check out my article here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ryzen 5 2600X a Better CPU?

It depends on your use case and budget level. Last time I checked, the 2600X cost only 99 cents more than the 2600, but that could change over time. In terms of specs, it has the same configuration but a higher boost clock of 4.3 GHz and a TDP of 95W. It also comes with a Wraith Spire cooler.

Which Monitor Is Best for the Ryzen 5 2600?

Going with the right CPU and GPU pair is essential, but choosing a good monitor shouldn’t be neglected either. With most of the GPUs on this list, a 1080p 144Hz monitor should be sufficient. If you’re feeling lost, check out my post on the top seven monitors for streamers here.

Wrapping Up

As far as value-focused GPUs go, I’ve talked about some of the best ones in this article. The Ryzen 5 2600 will pair well with any of these, but be sure to go with one that meets your requirements.

I would go for either the RTX 3050 XC or the RX 6600 XT any day, but you can also choose the GTX 1050 Ti or the GTX 1660 Super if you want to get the best value for your money. Overall, I hope you found the right GPU to pair with your Ryzen 5 2600 in this article!

Read More From Get On Stream:

• Best GPUs For Ryzen 7 3700X
• Best GPUs For Ryzen 2200G CPU
• Best GPUs For Ryzen 5 5600