AMD, the signature technology company, is set to release its latest hybrid processors for desktop PCs – the Ryzen 8000G series. Industry reviews have praised the powerful integrated graphics and overall performance of the series’ two top models: the octa-core Ryzen 7 8700G and the hexa-core Ryzen 5 8600G. However, there are mixed views about the pricing of these chips.
# Processor Specifications
The next-generation hybrid processors from AMD incorporate Zen 4 cores (and Zen 4c in the lower models), and RDNA3 graphics. The Ryzen 5 8600G contains six cores with 12 threadings, a base frequency of 4.3 GHz and a peak frequency of 5.0 GHz. It also incorporates Radeon 760M integrated graphics with 8 executive units (512 streaming processors) clocking up to 2800 MHz.
On the other hand, the flagship Ryzen 7 8700G comes with eight cores, sixteen threads, and frequencies of 4.2 and 5.1 GHz. It boasts a more powerful Radeon 780M integrated graphics with 12 executive units (640 streaming processors) and a clock of 2900 MHz. Both chips feature a built-in XDNA AI engine. The recommended prices for these processors are $229 and $329, respectively.
# Performance Comparison
The Ryzen 8000G series, as touted by AMD, claims that its integrated graphics can outperform the GeForce GTX 1650. However, when the claim was tested by the team at [Computer Base](https://www.computerbase.de/2024-01/amd-ryzen-8700g-8600g-test), it was found that a system running on Intel Core i5-12500 with GeForce GTX 1650 performed a whopping 31% faster on average. Likewise, the Ryzen 5 7500F and Radeon RX 6400 CPU-GPU pairing, which costs significantly less than the Ryzen 7 8700G, performed 30% faster on average.
# Gaming Tests
AMD argues that the higher models in the new series are designed for budget gaming PCs capable of delivering comfortable gaming in 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. Indeed, the new chips deliver a comfortable gaming experience on 1080p, albeit at low graphic settings. Even in games like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, the Ryzen 7 8700G delivered a playable performance of 28 FPS. Other games had better results: over 30 FPS in Baldur’s Gate 3, 66 FPS and above in Dota 2, and over 105 FPS in Counter Strike 2.
# Applications and Benchmark Tests
When only the CPU performance was considered, the Ryzen 7 8700G matched the performance of the Core i5-12600K and Ryzen 7 7700, whereas the Ryzen 5 8600G performed on par with the Ryzen 5 7500F, Ryzen 5 5600X, and Core i5-13400F.
[TechSpot](https://www.techspot.com/review/2796-amd-ryzen-8700g/) conducted a test on the Ryzen 7 8700G and saw similar results with Computer Base. For instance, F1 2023 saw an impressive 125 FPS performance from the chip, a 2.2x improvement compared to Ryzen 7 5700G. In Spider-Man Remastered, the Ryzen 7 8700G delivered 68 FPS.
# Memory Performance
The Ryzen 8000G series showed substantial dependency on RAM for its performance. Best results were achieved with DDR5-7200 memory, with performance gains ranging from 3% to 19%, according to Computer Base. TechSpot’s tests indicated up to a 10 FPS increase when switching from DDR5-5200 to DDR5-7200.
# Final Thoughts
Ryzen 7 8700G seems unjustifiably expensive. However, the Ryzen 5 8600G embodies a more appealing and balanced option providing a comfortable gaming experience at a cheaper cost than a low-end modern processor and discrete graphics card. It presents itself as an excellent option for budget gaming. Nonetheless, reviewers observed that “The idea of a gaming APU for budget users always sounds great, but in practice, they just never quite fast enough.” According to TechSpot.
