If you’ve still got a Ryzen 5 3600X in your build at the end of 2025… honestly, no shame in that. It’s still a solid 6-core, 12-thread CPU that holds up surprisingly well, especially when paired with the right GPU. But here’s the thing — when you’re gaming at 1080p, modern titles tend to lean more on the CPU. And because the 3600X is getting older, that’s where it can start to show its age.
So if you’re aiming for smoother performance, sometimes bumping up to 1440p can actually help — it shifts more of the workload to the GPU, which lets the CPU breathe a bit. Sounds weird, but it’s true in a lot of games.
With that in mind, let’s break down some of the best GPUs to pair with your 3600X — whether you’re gaming at 1080p, looking to push 1440p, or just want the best bang for your buck in 2025.
GPU link:
- RX 6600: https://amzn.to/4a8LmB4
- RX 6600 XT: https://amzn.to/4ie2t6K
- Arc B580: https://amzn.to/3MaF1ew
- RX 9060 XT: https://amzn.to/4o42ISY
- RTX 5060 TI: https://amzn.to/3Mcl5b9
- RTX 5070: https://amzn.to/48C0WmF
- RX 9070 XT: https://amzn.to/48ITuGn
RX 6600 and RX 6600 XT
Let’s start on the lower end with the RX 6600 and RX 6600 XT. These two still crush 1080p. The non-XT model usually sits around $199, while the XT runs a bit more. Both are power-efficient, cool, and work beautifully with the 3600X. If you’re into esports or just want stable high settings at 1080p — this is your safe pick.
Intel Arc B580
Now if you want something newer and slightly more capable, look at the Intel Arc B580 — about $249 right now. It offers solid 1080p and even dips into 1440p pretty comfortably. Intel’s made a lot of progress with drivers, and for this price, it’s honestly one of the most interesting value cards on the market. Plus, you get features like AV1 support and solid content creation performance.
RX 9060 XT
But here’s my personal favorite: the RX 9060 XT at $349. This card is just in the sweet spot — it’s fast, efficient, comes with 16GB of VRAM, and delivers excellent 1080p and 1440p gaming. For most people pairing with a 3600X, this is the card I’d recommend. It doesn’t bottleneck easily, and it gives you some future breathing room if you upgrade the rest of your rig later.
RTX 5060 Ti
Now, if you’re leaning toward Nvidia, there’s the RTX 5060 Ti at $429. You’re getting better ray tracing, DLSS 3, and Nvidia’s feature-rich ecosystem. But here’s the catch — at 1080p, you might see some CPU bottlenecking with your 3600X, especially in CPU-heavy games. At 1440p, that’s less of an issue, and the experience becomes smoother overall.
RTX 5070 & RX 9070 XT
Then up top, there’s the RTX 5070 around $527, and RX 9070 XT sitting at $629. These are powerful GPUs aimed at high-refresh 1440p and entry-level 4K. They’ll technically work fine with your 3600X, but in a lot of titles, your CPU might start holding them back — so unless you’re planning to upgrade your CPU later, these might be overkill.
So here’s the bottom line:
If you’re sticking to 1080p or want strong 1440p performance without overspending — go for the RX 9060 XT. It’s fast, it’s well-priced, and it plays incredibly well with the 3600X. Want Nvidia features? The RTX 5060 Ti is a solid pick, just be aware of the price and CPU pairing. If you’re really on a budget? The RX 6600 is still a killer deal for under $200.
And remember — your CPU might be older, but pairing it smartly with the right GPU can still get you fantastic performance. Let me know your budget and resolution in the comments, and I’ll help you dial in the best combo.
