One of the hardest parts is balancing the CPU and GPU so that there’s neither excess nor deficiency, maximizing the power of both. As a gamer myself, I would like to share some optimized CPU + GPU combos tailored for specific needs. I hope this helps you choose the right CPU and GPU for your setup.
Affordability with High Performance: Core i3 9100F + GTX 1650 Super / RX 5500 XT
Currently, two graphics cards that can handle all eSports games and manage to run some AAA titles are the GTX 1650 Super and RX 5500 XT, both priced around 5 million VND.
The price-performance difference between them is negligible, so you can consider them rivals in the budget segment; the choice depends solely on your preference.
To optimally pair with the GTX 1650 Super and RX 5500 XT, you’ll need a CPU starting from the Core i3 8100. However, a more optimal choice is the Core i3 9100F. The Core i3 9100F outperforms the Core i3 8100, comparable to the Core i3 9100, yet is about 1.3 million VND cheaper than both. Its only weakness compared to the other two is that it lacks an iGPU, meaning it can’t output images on its own. However, this isn’t a major concern since a gaming PC definitely needs a dedicated graphics card, so you don’t have to worry about the iGPU.
With the Core i3 9100F + GTX 1650 Super or RX 5500 XT combo, you can smoothly run all eSports games right now. For current AAA games, you can also play at settings from medium upwards. If built cost-effectively, the total value of a case with this combo will be around 12 million VND.
Ray-Tracing Experience: Core i5 9400F + RTX 2060
The RTX 2060 is currently the most affordable RTX GPU, available for around 10 million VND. With the RTX 2060, you can run all current AAA games at the highest settings at Full HD resolution; for well-optimized games, you might even push it to 2K.
As for the CPU, since AMD released the Ryzen 3000 series, Intel has dramatically dropped the prices of its F-series CPUs (thanks AMD for everything). The F-series currently offers excellent price/performance ratios. Moreover, Nvidia card users often tend to choose Intel CPUs, so I will recommend the Core i5 9400F.
With this combo and a smart build, you’ll easily have a powerful enough PC to handle any game and experience Ray-Tracing within a budget of under 20 million VND.
Price/Performance is Everything: Ryzen 5 3500 + RX 5700 XT
If you are someone who doesn’t care about advanced features like Ray-Tracing or DLSS, and just need raw performance and higher FPS, then the beastly RX 5700 XT from AMD is the GPU you should aim for. In terms of pure performance, the RX 5700 XT even outperforms the RTX 2070, but it is significantly cheaper. While choosing the RX 5700 XT may mean missing out on Nvidia’s cutting-edge technologies, it compensates with superior FPS in games compared to the similarly priced RTX 2060 Super.
To optimally pair with the RX 5700 XT, you’ll need a CPU at least as powerful as the Ryzen 5 3500. The Ryzen 5 3500 itself is a CPU with an excellent price/performance ratio. It has 6 cores and 6 threads with a maximum clock speed of 4.1GHz, priced just over 3 million VND. It’s truly a steal for red team fans. For comparison, the overall score of the Ryzen 5 3500 is 8% higher than that of the Core i5 9400F (based on userbenchmark data). You can consider the Ryzen 5 3500 as the most affordable CPU strong enough to pair with the RX 5700 XT.
With the full AMD combo of Ryzen 5 3500 + RX 5700 XT, your PC will easily crush the current gaming world. For AAA games, you can easily play at the highest settings at 2K resolution. For eSports games, you’ll be able to harness the power of high-refresh-rate monitors such as 144Hz, 165Hz, or 240Hz. A PC with this combo will cost around 23 million VND or less.
Work and Play: Ryzen 9 3900X + RTX 2080 Super
If you’re looking for a GPU that can handle all game genres at 4K resolution, the RTX 2080 Ti will definitely satisfy you. However, its price is still quite high, easily in the thirty-something million VND range. For a more economical choice, go for the RTX 2080 Super. While it may not be as powerful as the monstrous 2080 Ti, it can still handle 4K gaming or 2K Ray-Tracing comfortably. To give you an idea of their power relationship, the RTX 2080 Ti is about 10% stronger than the RTX 2080 Super. However, the price for the RTX 2080 Super is only around 20 to 25 million VND, meaning its performance-to-price ratio is much higher than that of the RTX 2080 Ti.
The CPU I want to recommend for this combo is the Ryzen 9 3900X, which boasts impressive specs: 12 cores, 24 threads, a maximum clock speed of 4.6GHz, and overclocking capability. If you’re just gaming, you’ll never fully utilize the power of the Ryzen 3900X. It not only has enough strength to handle the RTX 2080 Super but also provides excellent multitasking capabilities and fast processing.
Whether you’re a streamer, editor, or engineer, the Ryzen 9 3900X + RTX 2080 Super combo will surely provide you with an amazing experience.
Max GPU: Core i7 9700F + RTX 2080 Ti
The RTX is undoubtedly a dream for every gamer; in Vietnamese market terms, the cheapest one costs as much as a Vision, while the most expensive is more than a Winner X. But you get what you pay for; the RTX 2080 Ti allows you to dominate all current games. Everything the RTX 2080 Super can do, the 2080 Ti can do even better.
To handle monstrous GPUs like the RTX 2080 Ti, you should have at least a Core i7 from the 8th generation onwards. However, since the 8th generation Core i7 has 6 physical cores, which is 2 fewer than the 9th generation, it won’t be as optimal for gaming. Therefore, I recommend going straight for the 9th generation Core i7. The Core i7 9700F has 8 cores and 8 threads, with a clock speed of up to 4.7GHz, which will help you effectively manage the RTX 2080 Ti.
If you spend wisely, the total cost for a PC with this combo will be around 60 million VND.
The Pinnacle: Core i9 9900K + RTX 2080 Ti
If you’ve reached this level, you’re probably just reading for fun and don’t need any advice from this article. Both the RTX 2080 Ti and the Core i9 9900K are considered the “dragon and phoenix” in the realm of PC hardware. This can be seen as the ultimate level that gamers can achieve. With this setup, in five years, you’ll still be able to handle AAA games comfortably, let alone current titles.
To set up a configuration with the Core i9 9900K + RTX 2080 Ti, you will need at least 65 million VND. Beyond that, you can venture into liquid cooling, custom cases, and various upgrades. In short, if you have this combo, congratulations! You’ve reached the path of the “great ones”.
BONUS
Configurations without GPU for Students
To be honest, this isn’t exactly a combo; I just want to introduce some options for those who haven’t yet been able to invest in a dedicated GPU. There are two CPUs with very strong integrated GPUs, enough for gaming like League of Legends, Dota 2, CS:GO, and casual play.
Athlon 3000
The Athlon 3000 has 2 cores and 4 threads with a clock speed of 3.5GHz. Currently, this CPU is priced at just under 1.4 million VND. If you spend wisely, you can easily build a student PC under 5 million VND with it. It comes with an integrated Vega 3 GPU. While not overly powerful, it is sufficient for basic entertainment, and it can even be overclocked. You can check the details of its capabilities in the article linked below.
Ryzen 3 3200G
With 4 cores and 4 threads, a clock speed of up to 4.0 GHz, and a price around 2.5 million VND, the Ryzen 3 3200G is also a worthy CPU to consider at this time. It is equipped with an integrated Vega 8 GPU, which is quite powerful, comparable to a GT 1030 (you read that right). With the Vega 8, the Ryzen 3 3200G can help you play League of Legends at max settings smoothly and even run PUBG on low settings with around 40 FPS without a dedicated card.
With 7 million VND, you can easily build a PC with the Ryzen 3 3200G for gaming, and later save up for a dedicated graphics card like the GTX 1650/1660 Super to enhance your setup.
These are the best combos currently available; I hope this helps you find your ideal setup!
According to Gearvn