We recently talked about the 2nd gen Ryzen 5 2400G APU the best performer in both CPU related tasks and low-end Graphics related tasks; it even beat 6-core Intel Core i5-8700K processor in multithreading tasks and Nvidia GT 1030 in Shadow of Mordor benchmark at very high settings. Showing the capabilities of the APU, there is another less powered APU which is meant for the extremely low-end but capable rigs. The AMD Ryzen 3 2200G is less powered and cheap version of the 2nd gen Ryzen 5. The $99 predecessor Ryzen 3 1200G was a huge success mainly because of the VEGA graphics which provided huge improvement boost in the integrated GPU stream for the low-end PC builders who could not buy even the low-end graphics card due to huge inflation in the market.
Dynamics of the market
This time around the dynamics of the market are changed, Graphics cards are now selling at a price that is even less than their MSRP and retailers are also offering deals and discounts to get rid of the old stock and make space for the new arrivals. Ryzen 3 would have to make space for itself this time as the market although is open but tough for the new arrivals. Ryzen 3 2200G is not a revolutionary device like its predecessor rather it is an evolutionary device that took the ‘goods’ of the last device made them better and ‘bads’ of the last device and try to make them better.
Specifications
The device is based on the Zen+ architecture that gives the device XFR and precision boost. Fabbed with 12nm FinFET process at Samsung and Global Foundries, which would make the chip denser boosting its proficiency and making it power efficient. The processor is now a quad-core CPU with the same number of threads as the number of cores.
The individual clock speeds are now higher with the base clock speed of 3.5GHz and boost clock speed of 3.7GHz the new CPU is almost 20% faster than the last gen CPU. The precision boost will overclock all cores simultaneously depending upon demand, while XFR boost works on a more professional manner. It changes the clock speeds to the processor from 25MHz to 100MHz depending upon cooling, if you have a better CPU cooler you would see better XFR boost results.
The Graphics department has also seen the incremental boost; it now has 8 VEGA compute units with the same configuration of 64 shader cores for every compute unit making the total count of the shader processors to be equal to 512. They are clocked at a stable frequency of 1100MHz, with overclockability enabled, but XFR boost determines the amount of overclocking required according to the task.
AMD has also increased the speed of the compatible memory with the processor; it now supports up to Dual channel DDR4 memory with clock speed up to 2933MHz. The new chipsets are also in the market, but the processor is compatible with the old AM4 sockets. However, AMD recommends new chipsets for a better experience. Lastly, the processor comes bundled with AMD wraith stealth cooler in the box.
Performance
We should not expect a lot from a 99 dollars processor, but the level of performance and the value of price the Ryzen 3 1200G achieved, this processor should also do, that is why the expectations are higher, and the market too is unforgiving. The direct rival of the new Ryzen 3 APU is the 8th gen Intel Core i3-8350k processor, which is a little too expensive. In our performance tests mostly, the Core i3 did better than the Ryzen 3, but the latter was very close.
To test the multi-threaded performance, we ran 3D system particle movement stress test, Ryzen 3 2200G scored 642 which is less than what the Core i3’s 719, but it was better than most of the 7th gen CPUs from Intel that are still above $200 mark. Secondly, Agisoft Photoscan tests the multicore performance of the CPU, again the Ryzen 3 did a little worse than the Core i3 but the performance this time was a lot closer.
Coming to the integrated VEGA GPU performance, we can safely say that it is better than any integrated GPU solution from any other silicon manufacturer at this price range. You can play a triple-A title from 2014 such as Shadow of Mordor at 1080p ultra settings with an average framerate of 23 which is similar to what you would get from a dedicated GT 1030 Graphics card. While for GTA V, it is recommended to play at a slightly lower resolution like 900p with low graphics preset to get a playable experience.
Conclusion
To conclude, it can be said with authority that you cannot go wrong with a Ryzen 3 just like it was the last time. However, if you can spend the money that you saved from the processor on a dedicated mid-range graphics card like Radeon RX 580, then for around $400 you can make yourself a capable gaming PC.