Just catching up on this thread! I went through this choosing between the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 and the AMD Ryzen 5 7600. I actually picked the 5600 to save on DDR5 costs for my AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT build. It handles 1440p well enough, but honestly, I'm basically stuck on AM4 now. It's a decent option, it just depends on your upgrade needs. gl!

For your situation, I would suggest getting the AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D instead of the basic 5000 series. It usually floats right around $190-$200 and is a total beast for 1440p gaming because of that 3D V-Cache. I actually built a mid-range rig recently with a standard chip and unfortunately it was not as good as expected... the 1% lows were pretty rough in newer games. Honestly I was kinda disappointed with it. Going with the 5700X3D is basically the best way to max out an AM4 build without the massive cost of DDR5 RAM and an AM5 Motherboard. You save a ton of cash on the platform but still get performance that competes with much more expensive setups. It solves that upgrade path worry because you're starting at the top of the pile for that socket anyway. Definitely the smartest way to spend ur money right now imo. gl!!

Honestly, looking at the current market trends and price-to-performance benchmarks, most builders overlook the tray-only options that offer the best bang for your buck right now. If you really want to stay under that $200 ceiling but still jump to a modern platform, you should definately look for the AMD Ryzen 5 7500F. It is basically the same silicon as the higher-end mid-range chips but without the integrated graphics, and it usually retails much lower if you find a reputable vendor. From a broader market research perspective, while the Intel Core i5-13400F is a decent competitor in this price bracket, sticking with AMD for the socket longevity is the smarter play for an experienced builder. Going with an older socket now means youre buying into architecture that is already being phased out. DDR5 prices have stabilized significantly lately, and the IPC gains on the Zen 4 architecture are pretty substantial for 1440p gaming, especially for keeping your 1% lows stable in newer titles. Tbh, if you look at the total cost of ownership over the next few years, the AM5 path is actually more budget-friendly:

• Hunt for a 7500F or a discounted tray-version 7000 series chip
• Pick up a value-oriented B650 motherboard
• Grab a 6000MHz CL30 RAM kit Going this route avoids the upgrade tax you would pay in a few years when you realize you need a new platform anyway. Its a wierd time for pricing but the platform jump is realy worth the extra bit of effort.

For your situation, I went with the older setup recently and unfortunately I regret it. Performance was not as good as expected, and I feel STUCK now. idk but if you can swing the extra cash for the newer platform, just do it.

• better speed
• easier upgrades
• better value Honestly, saving cash now basically means buying a new motherboard later anyway. You keeping this for a while??