AMD's first Ryzen 8000 desktop processors are here: the $329 8700G, $229 8600G, $176 8500G, and the OEM-only 8300G. The new 4nm APUs appear to be adaptations of the Ryzen 7040 laptop processors we tested last year, with the latest-generation Zen 4 CPU cores and powerful RDNA 3 graphics capabilities. AMD is bringing two top-of-the-line chips, the Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G, which feature Ryzen AI hardware not offered in the rest of the lineup.
See also: AMD: Ryzen 7000X3D gaming processors coming February 28th
To evaluate these new models, we tested their performance both standalone and paired with a discrete graphics card. In both scenarios, we discovered impressive capabilities – which could make the Ryzen 8700G or 8600G a smart choice for entry-level gaming, media PCs, or as a temporary solution while you wait for a next-generation graphics card.
While the eight-core Ryzen 8700G and the six-core 8600G are separated by a significant price gap (MSRP), the two processors are surprisingly similar in many aspects. The 8700G only has 2MB more L2 cache (8MB vs. 6MB), a 100MHz higher boost clock speed (5.1GHz vs. 5.0GHz), and a more powerful Wraith Spire compared to the smaller Wraith Stealth included with the 8600G. The TDP, L3 cache size, and AI are all the same. However, the biggest differences are in graphics performance, with the 8700G featuring a more capable Radeon 780M graphics solution with 12CUs compared to the 8600G featuring an 8CU 760M.
For AMD Ryzen 7000 processors, the motherboard is the ASRock X670E Taichi, while for Intel processors the Gigabyte Aorus Z790 Master takes over.
For storage, we use a Lexar NM790 PCIe 4.0 NVMe 4TB SSD and a Corsair MP600 Mini 1TB for a few extra games. The system is completed with a Corsair RM1000x 1000W power supply. Testing was done with the latest Windows and BIOS updates (2.06.AS03 Beta) installed.
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Cinebench's R20 single-thread benchmark shows only a small difference between the two APUs, with the 8700G at 664 and the 8600G at 621 – both noticeably behind the 700s recorded for the Ryzen 7000 desktop processors and more in line with the previous-generation Ryzen 5000 models – which is not surprising for an APU based on a part of the laptop dedicated to graphics.
The multi-core performance results also show a drop in performance compared to the full Ryzen 7000 desktop, with the 8700G falling behind the 7700X despite having the same core count (6888 vs 7894) and the same goes for the 8600G and 7600X (5304 vs 6063). However, these remain well ahead of the Ryzen 5000 parts, meaning you won't be at a major disadvantage even in the most demanding multi-core tasks.
Based on the results, the 8700G and 8600G APUs are impressive, offering excellent integrated graphics performance and nearly on par with a Ryzen 7000 CPU when paired with a discrete graphics card. This is great news for system builders, whether you're looking for a temporary solution while you save up for your favorite graphics card, or a low-power, low-noise permanent PC that can still play less demanding games at decent frame-rates. The 8700G and 8600G also include AI capabilities.
See also: AMD: Launches its own Ryzen 7040 processors for laptops
That you also get a reliable cooling solution with either chip is welcome. Based on my occasional monitoring of temperature , the 8700G seemed to run hotter than the 8600G despite both having the same 65W power draw, so it makes sense to pair it with a larger Wraith Spire cooler instead of the smaller Wraith Stealth.
Source: eurogamer
