AMD Ryzen 5 8600G processor review

AMD has introduced its latest Ryzen 8000G desktop APU series, which serves as an upgrade to the current Ryzen APU lineup. This release signifies the debut of the initial 8000 series designed for the AM5 socket. Despite their name, these processors are essentially Zen4/RDNA3 mobile chips repurposed for desktop applications. The 8000G series from AMD integrates the most recent CPU and GPU architectures, combining Zen4/Zen4c and RDNA3 graphics capabilities. A notable feature of this series is the incorporation of the XDNA1 Ryzen AI accelerator in specific models like the 8-core Ryzen 7 8700G and 6-core Ryzen 5 8600G. These models feature a larger silicon footprint. Conversely, the 6-core 8500G and 4-core 8300G utilize a smaller Phoenix die and do not include the Ryzen AI processor. The 8300G, which includes Zen4c cores, is exclusively offered through OEMs and system integrators. Each SKU in this series maintains a default TDP of 65W and includes integrated RDNA3 graphics, available in variants such as Radeon 780M (12CU), Radeon 760M (8CU), or Radeon 740M (4CU).

AMD has conducted a comparison between the 8700G and 8600G models against Intel’s Core i7-14700K, which features integrated UHD Graphics 770 based on the Xe-LP architecture. This particular analysis stands out because Intel has yet to introduce a desktop series equipped with Alchemist integrated graphics. Initial performance estimates indicate that the Ryzen 8600G could potentially outperform the i7-14700K by 1.0 to 3.4 times in low-detail 1080p gaming, while the 8700G might achieve 1.1 to 4.0 times higher performance levels.

AMD has recently updated its approach to notebook processors for the AM5 socket, introducing a similar architecture with adjusted clock speeds and a higher Thermal Design Power (TDP). These processors are now available in AM5 format instead of Ball Grid Array (BGA). This update signifies a significant advancement for the AM5 socket, expanding the range of processors from eleven to fifteen. Notably, this expansion includes the first processors in the series with an integrated Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) capable of supporting gaming applications. Previously, the Ryzen 7000 series was limited to a 2 Compute Unit (CU) RDNA 2 integrated GPU, primarily used for rendering 2D content in Windows environments with limited gaming capabilities. The desktop versions of these processors, known as Phoenix, are segmented similarly to their notebook counterparts. There are two variants: one with pure Zen 4 architecture and the other with a combination of Zen 4 and Zen 4c cores. AMD’s recent announcement detailed the clock speeds for the Zen 4 cores, with plans to reveal the clock speeds for the less powerful Zen 4c cores soon. AMD consistently refers to their new APUs as “PXD” or “Phoenix Desktop” in the footnotes of their pre-release press materials. Furthermore, AMD has specified that the NPU clock speed for the Ryzen 8000G can reach up to 1.6 GHz, matching the performance of the top-tier solutions in the notebook category, known as Ryzen 8×40 Mobile or “Hawk Point.” Both Phoenix Desktop and Hawk Point have a maximum of 39 TOPS. Essentially, Phoenix Desktop and Hawk Point have similar specifications. The Ryzen AI feature will only be available in the two larger APUs designed for desktop use, while the two solutions with combined Zen 4-Zen 4c cores do not include this NPU in their hardware.

In a comparison between the 8700G APU and a setup consisting of a Core i5-13400F and GeForce GTX 1650 desktop graphics card, AMD anticipates that their integrated solution may offer gaming performance between 0.89 to 1.31 times that of the Intel/NVIDIA system. Productivity benchmarks are expected to show an improvement of 1.1 to 4.6 times. AMD emphasizes the benefit of not needing separate graphics and reduced power consumption, with specific numbers to be disclosed in forthcoming reviews.

The Ryzen 8000G series, known as ‘Hawk Point’, includes a range of different configurations, which are outlined below:

• Ryzen 7 8700G: 8C/16T, 4.2/5.1 GHz, R780M (12CU) at 2.9 GHz, 65W TDP.
• Ryzen 5 8600G: 6C/12T, 4.35/5.0 GHz, R760M (8CU) at 2.8 GHz, 65W TDP.
• Ryzen 5 8500G: 2C+4c/12T, 3.55/5.0 GHz, R740 (4CU), 65W TDP.
• Ryzen 3 8300G: 1C+3c/8T, 3.45/4.9 GHz, R740 (4CU), 65W TDP.

The specifications of the previous Ryzen 5000G ‘Cezanne’ and Ryzen 4000G ‘Renoir’ series are included for comparison, showcasing the advancements AMD has implemented in its newest APU series.