Best budget CPU for an RX 6600 XT build?

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Totally agree with DeadlineDodger about the BIOS stuff. As someone who is always worried about breaking things, that was my biggest fear when I started. I actually went with the Intel Core i5-12400F because I found it super stable and didnt want to mess with potential BIOS updates on older AM4 boards. It pairs perfectly with the 6600 XT and I havent had a single crash yet. Quick tips for a stress-free build:

• If you go Intel, maybe look at the Gigabyte B660M DS3H AX DDR4. It has been rock solid for me and usually works out of the box.
• Stick to a reputable PSU like the Corsair RM650 650W 80 Plus Gold just to be safe. Never cheap out on the power supply or you might regret it later!

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100% agree

In my experience, you honestly cant go wrong with either, but for a 1080p rig with an AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT, the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 is usually the better value play. I've built dozens of mid-range systems over the years and the 5600 stays cool and delivers crazy good 1% lows for the price.

Here is why I usually lean toward Team Red for budget builds:
1. Motherboard costs are lowkey cheaper since B550 boards are everywhere and super affordable.
2. You can enable Smart Access Memory (SAM) with an all-AMD combo, which gives a nice little FPS boost.
3. It comes with a decent enough stock cooler, whereas the Intel Core i5-12400F runs a bit hotter under load iirc.

That said, if you find a killer deal on a LGA1700 board, the i5 is basically equal in gaming. But yeah, if prices are close, grab the Ryzen and put the savings toward more RAM or storage. gl with the build!

Seconding the recommendation above. Honestly, for the safest long-term stability i'd grab the AMD Ryzen 5 5600 to pair with that AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT so you can use Smart Access Memory without any driver headaches.

Had a moment to think about this more and I wanted to ask... what motherboard are you planning to use? Honestly, everyone talks about the chips themselves, but I'm always worried about BIOS compatibility. If you buy a slightly older board to save money, you might get stuck with a pc that wont even boot without a firmware update. Its a total pain if the board doesnt have a bios flashback button and you dont have a spare chip lying around. Also, what power supply are you rocking? I've seen too many budget builds get ruined because someone reused an old office pc psu that couldn't handle the power spikes from a modern card like that. Its definitely worth double checking those specs before you buy anything.

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