AMD Ryzen 5 8600G review

AMD has lastly crafted a brand new set of processors with comparatively highly effective built-in graphics utilizing its newest CPU and GPU microarchitectures, Zen 3 and RDNA 3, giving rise to the Ryzen 5 8600G. It arrives on the scene devoid of rivals, save for its Ryzen 8000G sequence siblings and people from prior generations. On this restricted space of competitors, the 8600G comes out on high, however its worth turns into questionable when it’s in comparison with devoted processors and graphics playing cards

After testing the 8600G for the previous few weeks, I can confidently describe it as the very best gaming CPU with built-in graphics, in any other case often known as an accelerated processing unit (APU), for most individuals. The costlier Ryzen 7 8700G is reserved just for those who want extra processor efficiency. AMD hasn’t earned this accolade with out caveat, nevertheless, as this APU has some noticeable drawbacks.

Ryzen 5 8600G specs

The Ryzen 5 8600G CPU specs are closest to these of the Ryzen 5 7600, with each processors sporting six Zen 4 cores and 12 threads, with a TDP of 65W. Nonetheless, the 8600G distinguishes itself barely in the case of frequencies, with a barely decrease most clock velocity of 5GHz in comparison with 5.1GHz on the 7600, however a a lot larger base clock of 4.30GHz. It additionally solely has 16MB of L3 cache, half that of the 7600.

For all these similarities, although, the 8600G’s built-in graphics are way more succesful. Not solely does it pack extra compute items (CUs) than any Ryzen 7000 sequence processor, eight in whole, however every CU can be based mostly on the newest RDNA 3 GPU structure. Naturally, that is primarily what provides the 8600G larger ranges of built-in GPU (iGPU) efficiency versus the growing older, Vega-based Ryzen 5 5600G that it successfully succeeds, along with a a lot larger iGPU frequency of two.80GHz.

Not like its 5000 sequence predecessor, nevertheless, the 8600G matches into the AM5 socket and must be paired with DDR5 RAM. Whereas these two specs make constructing a PC with this APU costlier in comparison with an AM4 system, the distinction in efficiency and potential improve paths make its larger value worthwhile.

That mentioned, the 8600G and its siblings help fewer PCIe lanes than their 7000 sequence counterparts, they usually don’t help PCIe 5.0 both, topping out at PCIe 4.0 as an alternative. This makes them incapable of correctly supporting PCIe 5.0 NVMe SSDs, however they’ll nonetheless have the ability to run at 4x PCIe 4.0 speeds. Extra importantly, although, any devoted graphics card will likely be restricted to 8x PCIe 4.0. This doesn’t have an effect on right now’s pixel pushers an excessive amount of, however future GPUs utilizing a 16x PCIe 5.0 interface might show a problematic pairing for the 8600G, as they may solely get eight lanes of PCIe 4.0 bandwidth.

The 8600G can be one of many first desktop processors to characteristic a neural processing unit (NPU) to spice up efficiency in native AI workloads. As this has no bearing on gaming efficiency at this cut-off date, we received’t be exploring its capabilities, however this will likely change ought to Zen 5 CPUs, that are anticipated to launch later this yr, introduce picture or efficiency enhancing options utilizing an NPU.

Summarily, the 8600G’s specs can be a no brainer versus equally specced 7000 sequence processors had been it not for the markedly decreased variety of PCIe lanes. This, in fact, is talking from the angle of somebody seeking to finally pair the APU with a devoted graphics card. You probably have no intention of doing so, or don’t thoughts sacrificing some efficiency on a PCIe 4.0 card, it turns into a lot simpler to dwell with this disadvantage.

Ryzen 5 8600G efficiency

To measure the CPU and GPU efficiency of the Ryzen 5 8600G, we’ve run the APU by means of our traditional assortment of processor benchmarks, and we’ve additionally put the iGPU by means of an amended model of our graphics card check suite. These adjustments are detailed within the GPU benchmarks part of this overview, and are designed to current a extra lifelike use case of the 8600G.

Our check PC for the 8600G differs from our different CPU evaluations, with AMD offering a B650 motherboard and 6,400MHz RAM package for our testing along with the processor pattern itself. This setup is way more consultant of a setup befitting the 8600G, and likewise highlights some iGPU efficiency perception that may not have in any other case been doable utilizing our traditional reminiscence configuration.

Ryzen 5 8600G GPU benchmarks

Nearly all of the Ryzen 5 8600G’s enchantment lies in its iGPU, because the Radeon 760M included right here makes the 8600G an all-in-one chip for these unable or unwilling to incorporate a devoted graphics card of their PC. Whereas it’s not probably the most highly effective possibility in the marketplace, with the Radeon 780M within the Ryzen 7 8700G serving as the brand new champion, it’s shut sufficient to the purpose the place the 8600G comes away as the higher worth possibility.

Whereas this iGPU is highly effective in relation to the remainder of the market, it’s nonetheless very restricted in comparison with a devoted graphics card, even going way back to comparatively previous entry-level fashions, such because the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT. You’re basically locked into gaming at 1080p with low graphics presets whereas taking part in trendy video games on the 8600G, usually with body charges simply north of 30fps. Options like FidelityFX Tremendous Decision (FSR) upscaling may also help enhance efficiency, however the baseline from which it has to work is inescapably low.

The actual fact stays, although, that there isn’t a different CPU with built-in graphics that performs just like the 8600G at this value. Its iGPU efficiency is a large step above every little thing discovered within the Ryzen 5000G sequence, remodeling beforehand uneven video games into playable experiences. Whereas it has area of interest enchantment, seeing its capabilities in motion makes it onerous to not admire this chip.

Ryzen 5 8600G 3DMark Time Spy

3DMark Time Spy is an artificial benchmark that gives us with a normal impression of a GPU’s capabilities, working at 1440p with no ray tracing results enabled.

Missing scores for the Ryzen 5000G sequence, our solely factors of comparability are with funds graphics playing cards and CPUs with iGPUs not appropriate for gaming. That is admittedly unfair, nevertheless it nonetheless reveals the gargantuan GPU hole between the Ryzen 5 8600G and current-generation graphics playing cards.

Scoring 2,849, the 8600G is just slightly below 500 factors behind the Ryzen 7 8700G, a robust end result given their $100 value distinction. Nonetheless, bringing the Radeon RX 7600 into the combo sees the graphics card’s efficiency dwarf that of the 8600G by 393% with its rating of 11,199. To the 8600G’s credit score although, it equally leaves the mighty Ryzen 7 7800X3D feeling equally small, beating its rating of 704 to the tune of 404%.

These outcomes, and people in the remainder of this overview, had been achieved utilizing the RAM’s EXPO profile, boosting its velocity to six,400MHz from its inventory velocity of 4,800MHz. Operating the dual-channel 32GB package at 4,800MHz resulted in noticeably worse efficiency from the iGPU, so in case you’re hoping to get probably the most out of the 8600G, goal for the 6,000MHz candy spot in the case of reminiscence frequency.

Ryzen 5 8600G Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 is now formally playable within the full sense of the phrase on a desktop processor, because the Ryzen 5 8600G musters a median body fee of 41fps. Simply as importantly, and impressively, the 8600G additionally surpasses the 30fps minimal body fee ground essential to hold the expertise from turning right into a slideshow.

The Ryzen 7 8700G is simply 5fps forward of the 8600G, in each minimal and common body charges, succinctly highlighting the distinction in worth between these APUs in the case of iGPU efficiency. Sure, the 8700G is extra highly effective, however the majority of its worth lies in CPU efficiency, as we’ll discover in additional element in later benchmarks.

That is, in fact, utilizing the sport’s ‘Low’ graphics preset at 1080p, so whereas Cyberpunk 2077 is playable you received’t be taking a look at Night time Metropolis in its greatest (neon) gentle. We are able to afford ourselves extra headroom, nevertheless, by means of using AMD FSR 2.1 upscaling.

As we’re taking part in Cyberpunk 2077 at 1080p, I’ve opted to make use of the ‘High quality’ preset to attenuate any loss to picture constancy whereas additionally netting a welcome efficiency enhance. Doing so sees a 9fps bounce in common body fee and a 10fps enhance to the minimal body fee, which naturally makes for a smoother expertise but additionally provides you headroom to show up the graphics presets.

The 8600G does help FSR 3 body era, however Cyberpunk 2077 is but so as to add the characteristic, and enabling it wouldn’t be really useful with these body charges anyway (with the corporate setting the really useful ground at ~60fps). Nonetheless, it’s price remembering that this software is out there ought to you’ve gotten it accessible in much less demanding video games.

In the meantime, the included Wraith Stealth Cooler does job of maintaining the temperatures of the 8600G in test, with the CPU topping out at 77.3°C and the utmost GPU temperature clocking in at 65.5°C. As with different non-X Ryzen 7000 sequence processors, there actually isn’t any have to swap it out for a extra highly effective cooling system.

Ryzen 5 8600G F1 23

F1 23 highlights the stunning capabilities of the Ryzen 5 8600G in much less demanding video games, reaching triple-digit body charges. Utilizing the sport’s ‘Extremely Low’ graphics preset, we obtain an 82fps minimal body fee and 101fps common body fee, each nicely in extra of the 60fps ground you’d need for a racing sport.

These sorts of outcomes give us the room to push efficiency additional with FSR upscaling, or claw again some picture constancy by upping our graphics settings. I do want that F1 23 supported FSR body era, although, as I’m curious to see how a lot additional the characteristic might assist push the 8600G’s efficiency.

As with Cyberpunk 2077, the superior iGPU within the Ryzen 7 8700G doesn’t pull all that a lot additional forward of the 8600G. At worst, there’s a mere 10fps separating the 2 APUs, which doesn’t matter very a lot in any respect on this situation, as every chip is already pushing over 100fps.

Ryzen 5 8600G Complete Warfare: Warhammer 3

Once we flip to Complete Warfare: Warhammer 3, the restrictions of the Ryzen 5 8600G rear their head, as the sport stretches each the CPU and GPU in its Mirrors of Insanity benchmark. A good common body fee of 35fps is sadly undermined by a minimal body fee of 20fps, with probably the most intense scenes of battle proving an excessive amount of for the iGPU to take care of a constant body fee.

The Ryzen 7 8700G equally suffers, persevering with to supply meager positive aspects towards the 8600G. Sadly, there’s little we will do to alleviate the stress right here, as Complete Warfare: Warhammer 3 doesn’t help FSR upscaling. We might use Radeon Tremendous Decision (RSR) to offer some respiratory room, however the high quality of its upscaling in comparison with a local FSR implementation is worse to the purpose that I don’t advocate utilizing it, notably at 1080p when the tech has so few pixels with which to work.

Complete Warfare: Warhammer 3, then, serves as a reminder then that not all video games will likely be playable on these APUs, except you’re comfy with turning down the graphical dial within the purest pursuit of efficiency, picture high quality be damned.

Ryzen 5 8600G CPU benchmarks

As a CPU, the Ryzen 5 8600G is succesful however a lot much less exceptional in comparison with its capacity to function a graphics card stand-in. As we highlighted earlier, it has the same specification to the Ryzen 5 7600 save for variations in clock velocity and L3 cache. That’s not forgetting the discount in supported PCIe lanes, in addition to its lack of PCIe 5.0 help.

This isn’t to completely dismiss the 8600G as a CPU, because it nonetheless has loads of efficiency to supply in video games and does decently in additional production-oriented workloads. It’s simply that choosing any 8000G sequence chip, purely as a processor, over a similarly-specced or priced Ryzen 7000 sequence chip solely is sensible in case you want an iGPU for greater than a show output.

Ryzen 5 8600G 3DMark CPU Profile

Unsurprisingly, the Ryzen 5 8600G finds itself on the backside of our chart because it’s the least succesful CPU amongst our factors of comparability. Utilizing all 12 of its threads, the 8600G scores 6,386, falling 573 factors behind the Ryzen 5 7600X, which sports activities the identical thread rely. The distinction right here comes right down to clock speeds, cache, and TDP, with the 7600X sporting larger values in all three classes, and we’d anticipate to see the Ryzen 5 7600 sit between the 2 processors.

Naturally, the Ryzen 7 8700G and Core i5 14600K pull a lot additional forward with a bigger quantity of threads at their disposal, 16 and 20 respectively. The 14600K has the best TDP (125W) of all of the CPUs listed right here and, just like the Ryzen 5 7600X, incurs the extra value of a separate CPU cooler buy. A extra apt level of comparability can be the Core i5 14400, which sports activities a 65W TDP, features a cooler, and is priced equally to the 8600G. Even so, its built-in graphics would pale compared to any 8000G sequence chip.

Regardless of sporting a decrease enhance clock, the 8600G by some means manages to drag forward of the 8700G within the 3DMark single threaded benchmark, albeit solely barely. Nonetheless, every 8000G processor finds itself falling behind the 7600X and 14600K, which every boast larger clocks and extra energy at their disposal.

Ryzen 5 8600G Cinebench 2024

Cinebench 2024 proves to be an unkind benchmark for the Ryzen 5 8600G, as its relative specification shortcomings as soon as once more depart it decidedly behind the Ryzen 5 7600X. This isn’t stunning and as soon as once more highlights that whereas the 8600G is a compelling APU, its processing energy shouldn’t be the first motive to succeed in for it in favor of a extra conventional CPU.

The variations are much less stark in Cinebench 2024 as soon as we swap from multi core to single core rendering, however as soon as once more each the Ryzen 7 8700G and 8600G discover themselves in the back of the pack. Regardless of there solely being 8 factors between them and the frontrunner, the Ryzen 5 7600X, each level issues all of the extra right here, shaving minutes off of a complete render time.

Ryzen 5 8600G Civilization 6

Turning away from artificial benchmarks, Civilization 6 supplies fertile floor to check the CPU chops of the Ryzen 5 8600G and its rivals in a real-world gaming situation. Beginning with the sport’s vanilla ‘AI’ benchmark which incorporates a small quantity of computational duties to finish, the APU is slower than each the Ryzen 5 7600X and Core i5 14600K.

The typical flip for every faction is accomplished in 7.44 seconds by the 8600G, 1.47 seconds behind the 7600X. Whereas that’s not a large distinction on paper, that additional time spent ready earlier than you can also make your subsequent transfer is extra noticeable in follow. Nonetheless, a lot because it’s the worst end result right here, it’s on no account terrible and stays spectacular when you take into account the APU can be rendering the sport’s graphics concurrently.

Naturally, because the complexity of every flip grows within the Gathering Storm AI Benchmark, the hole between the 8600G and the frontrunner, now the Core i5 14600K, widens. Now, the distinction within the common flip time between the APU and the quickest CPU has grown to 2.12 seconds. Talking from expertise, late-stage Civilization 6 video games towards AI require a lot baseline persistence that the additional ready time isn’t as noticeable as it’s earlier on.

Ryzen 5 8600G value

At $229, the Ryzen 5 8600G is without doubt one of the least expensive Zen 4 processors ever, matching the MSRP of the Ryzen 5 7600 and placing it in competitors with the likes of the Core i5 14400. Nonetheless, the Ryzen 5 7600X can now be frequently discovered nicely under its $299 MSRP, making it a better-value purchase in case you can afford to spend some additional bucks on an honest cooler.

Comparisons to equally priced CPUs solely matter, nevertheless, in case you’re planning to pair the 8600G with a graphics card. Taking a look at different APUs, the 8600G comes out on high when it comes to general worth in comparison with the Ryzen 7 8700G, offered you don’t want the additional processing energy for artistic or manufacturing work.

Intel doesn’t have any CPU that may compete with the 8600G, so your solely viable cheaper various can be the Ryzen 5000G sequence, because the cheaper 8000G sequence chips’ specs are too compromised to advocate. There’s nonetheless worth in these parts, however you’d be investing in a platform with restricted improve paths, notably as new AM4 CPU inventory dries up.

With all this in thoughts, the 8600G is sensibly priced for individuals who want a CPU with a succesful built-in GPU. Nonetheless, as pressured in earlier sections of this overview, stretching your funds to accommodate a CPU and GPU combo will present higher efficiency and long-term worth. In case you can’t, for no matter motive, then simply make sure you’re comfy with the 8600G’s shortcomings, notably in the case of its PCIe lane help.

Ryzen 5 8600G conclusion

As an APU, the Ryzen 5 8600G is undeniably spectacular when it comes to efficiency and worth relative to different choices in the marketplace. Nonetheless, it turns into way more troublesome to advocate to anybody seeking to pair their processor with a devoted graphics card, both instantly or sooner or later.

It’s admittedly unattainable to match its $239 value level with a present or final era CPU and GPU combo, however a further $65 on the time of writing can web you a Ryzen 5 5600 and GeForce RTX 3050 over on Newegg and that’s with out contemplating the financial savings you’d make with an AM4 motherboard and DDR4 RAM. Whereas the graphics card in query is on no account a stellar alternative, it would nonetheless completely wipe the ground with the Radeon RX 760M within the 8600G.

For these looking for a do-it-all chip, although, for a tiny construct or an affordable entry to the AM5 platform, then the 8600G is the chip to purchase. Its worth as a GPU substitute is significantly better than the 8700G, which is the place nearly all of the enchantment lies for these 8000G sequence processors. Simply make sure you’re comfy with its limitations, each when it comes to efficiency and specification, earlier than grabbing one.

Ryzen 5 8600G alternate options

If the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G isn’t the precise match for you, take a look at these alternate options:

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G

In order for you probably the most highly effective APU in the marketplace, look no additional than the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G. Whereas its iGPU doesn’t present that rather more efficiency than the 8600G, its $100 larger value level nets you a further two cores that assist give it a big leg up in the case of processor-intensive duties.

AMD Ryzen 7 5700G

In case you can’t afford the whole value of placing collectively an AM5 system and want an APU, then the Ryzen 7 5700G needs to be your subsequent port of name. Be warned, nevertheless, that its Vega CUs are significantly much less highly effective than those discovered within the 8600G, as are its Zen 3 cores, however it’s decidedly cheaper to construct a PC with it.

Learn our AMD Ryzen 7 5700G overview for extra particulars.