AMD Ryzen Budget CPUs for Gaming

 

AMD Ryzen Budget CPUs for Gaming

    Everyone would agree to the fact that building a system with a limited budget is a very tough process sometimes. That’s one of the reasons why companies produce some relatively lower-spec CPUs at cheaper prices. Yet, cheaper does not mean weak or useless, in any sense. Because if you choose your system parts according to your actual needs, you get the performance you expect. That’s why in this article we are going to inform you about the best AMD Ryzen gaming processors for lower budgets. For many enthusiasts, the CPUs mentioned here are already known for being budget gaming CPUs.

    AMD Ryzen 3 1300X, a desktop CPU, one of the best budget processors according to the various user and expert reviews. You can also figure out this fact yourself by just looking at the key features of it. Here is a full 4-core CPU with a base clock frequency of 3.5 GHz and a max boost of 3.7 GHz. It is a well-designed CPU for daily tasks. And when combined with a discrete low to mid-range GPU, you could enjoy 720p gaming too. Of course, it is not a good fit for many of the contemporary popular AAA games.

    AMD Ryzen 3 2200G, on the other hand, allows you to do so much more with one CPU. We know it is not for advanced gaming. So, it is similar to the Ryzen 3 1300X in terms of key specs. However, It meets the budget system needs. The main reason for that is, it carries an integrated graphics card, allowing you to play some oldie-but-goldie games. In case you wonder, the integrated GPU is the Radeon Vega 8. And of course, you can always add a more powerful discrete GPU to your R3 2200G system.

    Now, we have something really powerful. It is the Ryzen 5 2600, another well-designed desktop CPU from AMD. It has a relatively lower price. However, it is a 6-cored, 12-threaded CPU. And it is kind of a famous CPU for these reasons. So, if your budget is limited, this is one of the best options you would get. With the right graphics card, it can run many popular games at 1080p for a long time from now. It has a base clock frequency of 3.4 GHz and a max boost speed of 3.9 GHz. Additionally, the L3 cache is 16MB. It has built on 12 nm CMOS and it is a member of Pinnacle Ridge, Zen+ architecture.

    For some more advanced gaming, we have the AMD Ryzen 5 3600. We see that the 3000 series has brought a significant increase in IPC, reduced workflow, and increased energy efficiency, in general. And this upgrade has provided useful improvements to the Ryzen 5 2600 where single-core performance is required, bypassing it with a large margin for games and other tasks. It is one of the most popular processors of 2019, with a clock speed capable of rising to 4.2 GHz in the boost mode.

Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 3300X

Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 3300X - Are They Budget Processors?

    AMD introduced the Ryzen 3 3100 and Ryzen 3 3300X desktop CPUs in March 2020, and today these CPUs are available globally. An article dedicated to these processors separately has already been published on our website. Therefore, for this article, we can look at some specific tests to get an impression in terms of price/performance.

    As you may know already, the Ryzen 3 3300X is about 10% faster than the Ryzen 3 3100. Thus, it is 20% more expensive. For that reason, between these two processors, the R3 3100 seems to be the one that is more likely to be called a budget processor. It is also very impressive that the six-core Ryzen 5 2600 is performing almost the same as the two new products or sometimes slightly ahead of them. This, of course, depends on the tasks they are running. 

    Recall that the new CPUs have only four cores each. It is also very impressive that the eight-core Ryzen 7 1700X is only slightly faster than the four-core Ryzen 3 3300X.

    If you compare it to Core i5-9400, a desktop CPU of the rival, you can say that it is the competitor for both Ryzen CPUs in terms of performance. But it is generally more expensive than both. 

    In short, depending on where you are looking at these facts, Ryzen 3 3300X and Ryzen 3 3100 are the processors that are offering some good price/performance rates for users. You can find more detailed information about the R3 3300X and the R3 3100 on our website. 

Ryzen 3 3300X

Ryzen 3 3100

Ryzen 3 3100

 

AMD Ryzen 3 3100 Review - An Affordable Option For Ryzen Lovers

    Before launching the Ryzen 3 3100, AMD initially announced moderate desktop processors with the Zen 2 microarchitecture. These were the well known Ryzen 5 3500 and 3500X. Both CPUs have six cores without multithreading and with 3.6 GHz base speed and 4.1 GHz max boost. Yet, they differ from each other only by the cache size of L3 (16 MB - 32 MB). The price tag was about $150, which approximately corresponds to the rival’s i5-9400F. 

    However, when the “relatively affordable” i3-10100 was ready for launch with four cores and eight threads. This development simply triggered AMD to take action for the same segment. Then, we saw Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X, so to speak, as a response. Thus, it is fair to say that the Ryzen 3 3100 is a quite humble and affordable CPU, in terms of specs and price tag.

Ryzen 3 3100 Gaming Performance

     AMD Ryzen 3 3100 is one of the most affordable processors among the Zen 2 microarchitecture CPUs. With a quad-core and eight-thread design, on various occasions (related to gaming tasks), Ryzen 3 3100 outperforms the six-core, twelve-threaded Ryzen 5 1600AF. Besides, when you compare the two in terms of heat issues, the Ryzen 3 3100 is easier to cool than the R5 1600AF with simpler cooling systems, thanks to the 7 nm design. 

    The base frequency of the Ryzen 3 3100 is 3.6 GHz, and with the help of Precision Boost, the max boost is up to 3.9 GHz. Besides, having an unlocked multiplier allows the R3 3100 users to overclock their CPU on motherboards with a B450 chipset and above. If you are a fan of less core power-dependent games, such as CSGO or Dota 2, it is more reasonable to save money by purchasing the R3 3100. On the other hand, if you’d like to get the highest and more stable frame rates with the games such as Red Dead Redemption 2 or Cyberpunk 2077, you may want to consider buying some other models like 3300X, which is simply the better version of 3100. 

Ryzen 3 3250U

 

AMD Ryzen 3 3250U Review 

    This is a newly launched hybrid mobile CPU from AMD. Launch date: 1/6/2020. As the name Ryzen 3 3250U indicates, this is actually a very close model to the previously released Ryzen 3 3200U, but, of course, there are some differences. For example, Ryzen 3 3250U comes with a lower max temperature. And unlike the Ryzen 3 3200U, the core architecture of 3250U is Dali. Likewise, the microarchitecture of this model is Zen but not Zen 2. We also have a 14nm design for Ryzen 3 3250U. 

    The supported memory type for the 3250U is DDR4-3200MHz. We see dual-channel support, as well. And since it is a hybrid processor, which is called an APU, it has an integrated graphics card onboard. 

    The graphics specs of the Ryzen 3250U is as following:

    Number of Graphics cores: 3

    Model: AMD Radeon Graphics

    And the main specs are, of course, the core count and the frequencies. We can say this is a relatively humble CPU, but as it is built for laptop platforms, it does what it should for your daily tasks. AMD Ryzen 3 3250U is a dual-core mobile CPU with 4 threads. There’s an extension called SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading Technology) which allows a stable and smooth multi-core performance. 

    The base clock speed for the 3250U is 2.6 GHz. Besides, the max boost clock speed is 3.5 GHz. The Ryzen 3 3250U has another important technology to prevent unintended ups and downs while the boost is active. It is the famous Precision Boost that facilitates more stable boosting.

Ryzen 3 3300X

 

AMD Ryzen 3 3300X Review - One Of The Fastest Ryzen 3 Processor For Gaming: Says Many Users

    First of all, we should say that many PC users think that despite being known as a budget-gaming processor, the Ryzen 3 3300X is designed for "intense gaming" tasks. Therefore, we are going to be seeing really high frequencies and the latest AMD technologies helping the CPU’s high performance. As AMD's relatively successful Zen architecture continues to advance, we see the marketing strategy in the desktop segment is dependent primarily on delivering high-performance solutions. Yet, here we are not talking about a high-end, titan-like processor. However, it is still a great match for those who are looking for a budget gaming processor. According to the segment it stands and the price tag it carries, the Ryzen 3 3300X offers more than you may expect. Of course, everyone has different expectations and needs. But At least, in general, this is what some of the reviews indicate. 

    Here, you should be aware of the fact that there’s a very similar yet different model of processor available. The Ryzen 3 3100 is built on the same architecture, using the many technologies the 3300X uses but the 3100 clearly has lower specs and offers lower performance. People tend to compare these two processors because they were launched together, so you should know simply the Ryzen 3300X is the better model between the two. 

AMD Ryzen 3 3300X Specs

    Besides being a Zen 2 budget-gaming processor. One of the most important features that the Ryzen 3 3300X carries is PCI 4.0. As many of you know, popular gaming consoles like Xbox and PS5 are pushing high-speed SSD’s like next-generation hardware. Therefore, shortly, it is very likely that the high-speed SSDs are going to be leaning on this feature a lot. 

    Other than this futuristic advantage, the power of the Ryzen 3 3300X is mostly coming from its clock speed, core count, and extensions. We see a 3.8 GHz base clock speed along with up to 4.3 GHz maximum boost clock speed. It has 4 cores and 8 threads on a 7nm Zen 2 microarchitecture. Therefore, SMT and Precision Boost 2 is a big advantage to improve user experience. There’s a double-channel DDR4-3200 memory support. And finally, we see this budget-gaming processor comes with another futuristic feature that is AMD Ryzen VR-Ready Premium. 

Ryzen 3 4300G

 

AMD Ryzen 3 4300G Review 

    We have another OEM only processor from the AMD Ryzen series. Ryzen 3 4300G processor was freshly released by AMD. Its release date is 21 July 2020. Therefore, the processor is designed on Zen 2 microarchitecture and It is suitable for desktop computers. Yet, as we said in the beginning, it is an OEM only product which cannot be purchased by individual customers. It means you need to find a particular model and setup from a manufacturer that is built on the Ryzen 3 4300G. 

    But we are still going to give you the basic info on its specifications. 

AMD Ryzen 3 4300G Specifications

    Firstly, it is a Zen 2 processor, so you see many improvements in various aspects, compared to its predecessors. Thus, let’s start with the total number of cores which are 4 and there are 8 threads. Of course, for many enthusiasts, the core count and thread count are important but, they also seek to have Simultaneous Multithreading Technology. Because this innovative technology allows multi-threading processes to be noticeably smooth and stable. 

    The base clock is 3.8GHz while the maximum processor clock frequency, when boosted, is up to 4.0 GHz.

Cache size: L1 - 256 KB, L2 - 2 MB, L3 - 4 MB.

Supported memory type: DDR4-3200. 

Maximum memory size supported: 64 GB.

Supported socket type: AM4. 

Power consumption (TDP): 65 Watt.

    Lastly, it is a desktop APU. So, you also have an integrated graphics card on the Ryzen 3 4300G. Here are the basic specifications of this integrated video processing unit; Radeon Vega 6 graphics are integrated into the processor with 6 cores operating at 1700 MHz. 

Ryzen 3 4300GE

 

AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE Review

    First of all, the Ryzen 3 4300GE is an OEM only product as it is written on the official product page. This means it is not currently available for users individually. Yet, the computer manufacturers may produce systems with this OEM only CPU. Thus, the Ryzen 3 4300GE gaming performance or other aspects are currently highly dependent on the manufacturer setups. Of course, you can always modify your system after purchasing, so it is always better to know what specifications your CPU has, as it is literally the core of any system. 

    The Ryzen 3 4300GE is relatively a fresh CPU, as it was launched on 7/21/2020. So, the PC setups that carry Ryzen 3 4300GE may become more diverse as time passes. We can never know but the company may allow users to purchase the CPU individually after some time. Today, we only know the specifications for sure. 

AMD Ryzen 3 4300GE Specifications 

    After seeing the basic info about the R3 4300GE, you will get the general idea of whether it meets your expectations in terms of Ryzen 3 4300GE gaming performance, or daily-use purposes. 

An APU with Quad-Core and 8-Threads 

    Firstly, we should mention that the Ryzen 3 4300GE is an APU, which means, it has an integrated video processing unit on it. This integrated graphics card is 6 cores, 1700MHz Radeon Graphics. It is more likely for manufacturers to produce systems with discrete GPUs, yet if you want to create a budget system, the APU would do fine anyway. 

    Other than that, R3 4300GE has a base clock speed of 3.5 GHz along with up to 4.0 GHz maximum boost speed. The memory support is DDR4-3200, dual-channel. It has effective extensions and technologies like Precision Boost 2 and SMT.

Ryzen 3 4300U

 

AMD Ryzen 3 4300U Review - A Strong Mid-Range APU by AMD

    The new AMD Ryzen 3 4300U processor delivers strong performance for mobile devices with quad-core power and Vega's built-in graphics. And all this is combined with the energy efficiency of Renoir's advanced 7nm core. 

    AMD Ryzen 3 4300U is a 4-core processor. Yet, in terms of mobile CPUs it has a satisfying base clock speed of 2.7 GHz. and a max. Boost speed of 3.7 GHz. It supports dual channel DDR4-3200 and LPDDR4-4266 memory. Level 3 cache size is 4 MB. TDP for the 4300U and its built-in components is 15 watts, although the manufacturer of a particular device can change it within 10 W - 25 W. The latest Zen 2 architecture has enabled the Ryzen 3 4300U to deliver performance at near the Ryzen 5 3500U level. Considering it is a mid-range mobile CPU, the Ryzen 3 4300U has sufficient processing power for many demanding tasks. 

Graphics Performance of AMD Ryzen 3 4300U’s Integrated Radeon RX Vega 5 Graphics Card

    In addition to 4 cores and 4 threads, the 4300U also includes a Radeon RX Vega 5 video processor. If we talk about the capabilities of an integrated graphics core, then Ryzen 3 4300U is approximately equal to Ryzen 5 3500U. Compared to the previous generation Radeon RX Vega 6 (Raven Ridge), Radeon RX Vega 5 has significantly increased its frequency, however, the graphics performance is still lower than Radeon RX Vega 6. 

Ryzen 3 1200 AF

 

 

AMD Ryzen 3 1200 [12nm] AF - Upgraded Architecture

    We know how Ryzen 3 1200 performs. But What is the difference between Ryzen 3 1200 12nm AF and the R3 1200? 

    Many of you know that AF or 12nm indicates that a processor has been renewed. With that being said, we mean the renovation of the architecture in terms of CMOS technology. AMD has a few models like that. Generally, these modified models have slightly higher clock speeds and/or more stability. Additionally, on Ryzen 3 1200 12nm AF, we see a memory controller that is better than the original product. Therefore, this whole information leads us to a higher overclock capacity. Even if the base clock speeds of the two brothers are the same, R3 1200 12nm gets better to overclock results. 

    R3 1200 12nm also offers a better experience in terms of stability, in general. Because of the upgrade from Zen 14nm to Zen+ 12nm. For those of you who didn’t have information on the original model, you can check out our Ryzen 3 1200 review article. 

Ryzen 3 1200 12nm vs Ryzen 3 1200 and Other Similar Models

    Right after the R3 1200 12nm was introduced, benchmark tests followed immediately. Now we share one of the famous Cinebench 15 comparisons related to R3 1200 12nm.

Cinebench R15 Multi-Core

Here, the first tests include the “OC=Overclocked” R3 1200 12nm.

Ryzen 3 1200AF 12nm OC = 654

Core-i3 9100F = 608

Ryzen 3 1200 AF 12nm = 565

Core-i5 7400 = 528

Ryzen 3 1200 =482

    As you can see here, the 12nm upgrade without the OC is still better than the non-modified 1200. 

    The situation is similar in the single-core test below;

Cinebench R15 Single-Core

Ryzen 3 1200AF 12nm OC = 168

Core-i3 9100F = 166

Ryzen 3 1200 AF 12nm = 145

Core-i5 7400 = 137

Ryzen 3 1200 =128

    Here it is also nice to see that an AMD processor performs better than its Intel equivalent in terms of single-core performance. 

AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200* Processor Specifications

• Cpu Cores : 4
• Threads : 4
• Clock Speed : 3.1GHz Up to 3.4GHz
• L1 Cache : 384KB
• L2 Cache : 2MB
• L3 Cache : 8MB
• Unlocked : Yes
• CMOS : 14nm
• Package : AM4
• PCI Express Version : PCIe 3.0 x16
• Thermal Solution (PIB) : Wraith Stealth
• TDP : Wraith Stealth
• Max Temp. : 65W
• System Memory Spec. : Up to 2667MHz
• System Memory Type : DDR4
• System Memory Channel : 2

Ryzen 3 2200U

 

 

AMD Ryzen 3 2200U Review 

    Ryzen 3 2200U is one of the mobile processors that is used on budget laptop systems. Even if people know what “budget laptop” means, they still want to have some degree of gaming performance. Thus, they ask questions like “Is Ryzen 3 2200U Good For Gaming?” when they seek advice. 

    Now, let’s talk about R3 2200U

Sufficient APU For Regular Use

    We know that AMD has a very powerful mobile APU CPUs available in the market. Yet, AMD Ryzen 3 200U is not one of them. Since R3 2200U is an entry-level mobile CPU, the graphics card aspect seemed relatively weaker. It offers the GPU power enough to run low-end games. With that being, mid-range games would eat all the available power, especially for the graphics side. But still, you can play a good portion of mid-range games at low/mid specs. However, some laptops carry additional GPUs along with R3 2200U APU. This kind of hardware configuration depends on the producers. Therefore, we have laptop models with Radeon R5 M420 or Radeon 535 Graphics. In this case, you can play even some high-end games like GTA 5. Still, you should use low settings. 

 

    All of the information above indicates that this CPU offers a quality user experience for daily-use. It is an affordable and reliable choice for office works, watching HD movies, surfing on the internet, etc. And you can still run many games with stability. 

Specs

    First of all, we see a Vega 3 integrated Radeon GPU on-board. As we mentioned, this gives you the entry-level graphics performance. It has 3 graphics cores. And the support for DirectX 12 Technology enhances the display performance. 

    On the processor side, we have a dual-core architecture with 4 threads. The base clock speed is 2.5 GHz. and boost capability is up to 3.4 GHz for this model. You can see that the CPU is also placed at the entry-level. DDR 4 is supported. 

AMD Ryzen™ 3 2200U Mobile Processor with Radeon™ Vega 3 Graphics Specifications

• Cpu Cores : 2
• Threads : 4
• Clock Speed : 3 2.5GHz
• L1 Cache : Up to 3.4GHz
• L2 Cache : 384KB
• L3 Cache : 1MB
• Unlocked : 4MB
• CMOS : No
• Package : 14nm
• PCI Express Version : FP5
• Thermal Solution (PIB) : PCIe® 3.0
• TDP : n/a
• Max Temp. : 15W
• System Memory Spec. : Up to 2400MHz
• System Memory Type : DDR4
• System Memory Channel : 2