AMD Ryzen 5 3400G review: A perfect place to start in PC gaming

AMD'due south processor lineup can be a niggling confusing if you're a newcomer to the space. Where Intel puts integrated graphics on all of its mainstream processors, AMD has ii different products, i with graphics and one without.

The Ryzen 5 3400G is one of the former, information technology's i of AMD's APUs (Accelerated Processing Unit) which includes both Ryzen CPU cores and Vega GPU cores. The result is a quad-core processor with the best integrated graphics on a desktop chip right at present. And it only costs $150.

But why would anyone want i of these? After all, if y'all're building a gaming PC, even a budget 1, surely you desire one of the best graphics cards, correct? Wrong. If you're looking for your entry into the PC gaming infinite at the super-upkeep level, you found it right hither.

Budget beast

AMD Ryzen 5 3400G

Bottom line: A brilliant scrap to put within any upkeep gaming PC.

Pros

• Quad-cadre with hyperthreading
• Astonishing integrated graphics performance
• Unlocked CPU and GPU cores
• Efficient and absurd-running
• Stock cooler is terrific

Cons

• Not based on Zen 2 or Navi
• Previous gen 2400G pricing more attractive
• Stock settings push button voltage pretty high

AMD Ryzen 5 3400G tech specs

• CPU Cores/Threads: 4/eight
• GPU Cores: 11
• Base Clock: 3.7GHz
• Max Boost Clock: 4.2GHz
• Full L1 Cache: 384KB
• Total L2 Cache: 2MB
• Total L3 Cache: 4MB
• PCI Express Version: PCIe 3.0 x8
• Default TDP / TDP: 65W
• Max Temps: 95°C

What y'all get with the Ryzen v 3400G

It's unfortunate that AMD's naming convention for its APUs somewhat clashes with that of the Ryzen CPUs on which they're based. Despite being a 3000 series APU, this is not based on AMD's Zen two 7nm compages found in the Ryzen 3000 CPU lineup. At $150 information technology's perhaps not a massive disappointment, just it'due south worth noting considering I can unsuspecting customers being defenseless out.

The 3400G is instead based on the previous generation Zen+ 12nm architecture, found on the likes of the Ryzen 5 2600. The integrated GPU hasn't been updated either, but that'southward not necessarily a trouble, since you still get the same 11 Vega GPU cores and performance similar you wouldn't imagine an iGPU could deliver.

Delivering GPU performance similar you wouldn't imagine

And even though this is a upkeep chip, both the CPU and GPU cores are unlocked, allowing for a fiddling tinkering to squeeze some extra functioning from the 3400G. And it's definitely something you should do (more on that beneath.)

So, the hardware is pretty impressive if not entirely surprising. The 65W TDP may feel a little high considering the Ryzen 7 3700X has exactly the same stat, but that's to be expected from the older architecture. In practice, the 3400G runs cool and quiet, and on my examination bench throughout the class of this review it would idle anywhere between 30-35 C and nether maximum load never exceeded 75C. Just if you're OK with spending a few minutes tinkering you tin can bring that downwardly quite a scrap, and tinkering is something you should definitely do.

Unlocking costless performance

For the purposes of this review the Ryzen 5 3400G was in an AORUS X470 Ultra Gaming motherboard paired with 16GB of Corsair Vengeance DDR4 RAM overclocked to 2933 MHz. AMD's tech specs claim that 2933 MHz is the maximum supported speed, so this is where I left it. As with the regular Ryzen processors, the 3400G thrives on faster memory, and but increasing the clock speed of the RAM from the 2666 MHz it'south rated at yielded positive results.

Information technology'south also of added importance with an APU like this because it uses 2GB of the organisation retentiveness as VRAM for the integrated Vega GPU. Every bit such, you're probably best building a organisation with at to the lowest degree 16GB of RAM if you lot're going to make apply of its graphics horsepower because that 2GB is siloed from what Windows 10 can use.

An unlocked CPU and GPU means you're free to tinker. And yous should.

Since the CPU and GPU cores are unlocked you lot tin can play around with both, and usually overclocking in the BIOS is the best way to get. Unfortunately, the motherboard in question isn't specially useful in this area, but it'south presented a good chance to meet what you can reach with the latest version of the AMD Ryzen Master software.

And the respond is a fair fleck. This review sample handled an overclock of 4.05 GHz on the CPU cores on the stock Wraith Spire air cooler, which resulted in an impressive 1980 score in Cinebench R20, around half the score of my ain Ryzen 7 2700X with twice the cadre count. This clock speed was as well stable at i.3V, which helped reduce the maximum temperature to 66C, a 9C drib over the stock settings. Leaving information technology to its own devices the CPU voltage would spike under load to over 1.4V, which is unnecessary.

The four cores and eight threads on the 3400G are very stiff, and while there'due south not a massive leap forward from concluding yr'southward 2400G, functioning increases are still increases.

You can also get a pretty solid uptick in performance from those eleven Vega GPU cores. At stock, they're clocked at 1400 MHz, but using Ryzen Main y'all tin increase this manually, as well as rest the voltage. Our review unit performed quite nicely overclocked to 1600 MHz at 1.1V on the GPU cores. Information technology's possible to squeeze a little more, just farther gains are minimal.

A combination of the increased RAM clock speed and the overclock on the GPU was enough for a 10 FPS gain in some games. That'due south a hefty piece of extra performance for free.

Gaming functioning is staggering

That the CPU half of the Ryzen 5 3400G is impressive comes equally no surprise at all. Zen+ is well known past now for its multi-core functioning in detail. Not merely does that brand information technology a useful middle for a abode function PC or even a media system, it's got plenty to offer for gaming too. Don't believe you need six or eight cores to game, four cores with eight threads is nevertheless plenty.

It'due south the integrated GPU that really adds the wow factor. I've been impressed past AMD'south Vega iGPUs on both the Athlon 200GE and the Ryzen five 2500U for laptops, but the 3400G is something else.

Here's how it performs in a mixture of games. All tests were run with the GPU cores overclocked to 1600 MHz at a mixture of resolutions and detail settings.

• F1 2022 - 1080p, medium settings - 62 FPS average
• Ascension of the Tomb Raider (DX12) - 720p, medium settings (no shadows) - 58 FPS average
• Deus Ex Mankind Divided - 720p, low settings - 51 FPS average
• Forza Horizon 4 - 1080p, low settings - 53 FPS average
• Wolfenstein two - 720p, low settings - 60FPS lock
• Dirt Rally - 1080p, high settings - 59.viii FPS average

In addition, you can certainly play the popular boxing royale titles of the present day, albeit you'll accept to brand sacrifices. PUBG at 1080p with a 75% return scale on low graphics settings yields FPS between 40-sixty depending on the map and the situation. Fortnite and Apex Legends, too, are perfectly playable. Additionally, a score of 3,682 was generated in 3DMark Burn down Strike, with a graphics score of 4,142. Not also shabby at all.

It'south easy to plough your olfactory organ up at the sound of low settings or 720p resolution, but allow's non lose sight of what nosotros're dealing with here. The 3400G is a $150 APU and it'southward delivering 60 FPS or very shut to sixty FPS experiences in a number of games that you would normally await to need a dedicated GPU for. In the case of titles like F1 2022 and to some extent Forza Horizon 4, you're getting Xbox 1-esque levels of performance.

There's nothing to turn your olfactory organ up at here, the performance is ridiculous

It isn't all sunshine and rainbows, though. On 1 mitt, if yous play effectually with the in-game settings enough you'll find your own personal sweet spot of operation and graphical fidelity, but there are some issues you simply can't avoid.

In some titles, specifically here Forza Horizon four and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, frequent stuttering affects the feel to the betoken you may find it unplayable. Dropping resolution and graphics settings didn't make it go abroad, so despite the 3400G being capable of delivering good average frame rates, in some titles the frame times aren't very good and you lot'll become stutters.

That'south not really AMD'due south fault though. I've been pushing this thing pretty hard and almost without exception it has diddled me abroad with its functioning and value.

The bottom line

And then, the verdict. For the sort of person who might want to buy i of these, information technology'south absolutely worth the investment. Y'all could spend all day trying to understand minute details about information technology, but the truth is very uncomplicated. Information technology's an incredible value product with stunning performance, in detail from its integrated GPU.

A smart option to make for budget gamers.

If y'all spend $150 on a regular Ryzen chip or anything from Intel, you lot will need a graphics carte if you desire to accept whatever form of acceptable gaming feel. Even if you lot don't programme on gaming much, it'south nevertheless a great buy, and since it's on the AM4 platform y'all have a wide upgrade path.

It would have been nice to see an APU based on Zen two and Navi, but presumably, we'll have to await at to the lowest degree twelvemonth for those. The timing of the 3400G coming to market is probably the biggest thing against information technology. The GPU cores while impressive, aren't a massive step up over last year'southward 2400G, neither are the CPU cores. If you can get the 2400G cheap, which if you lot shop around you probably can, information technology's arguably the smarter choice.

Just ignoring outside factors and treating the 3400G for what it is, information technology's truly a fantastic thing, and one of my favorite PC products this year. It proves without question you can game on a super-tight budget and have a good time. And if you salvage upwards for a graphics card, you've still got a strong CPU to add it to down the road. But whether you want a budget gaming rig, a pocket-size-form factor PC or basically anything in betwixt, the 3400G is a smart selection to make.

Budget beast

AMD Ryzen five 3400G

Awesome operation, affordable price

The combination of the Zen+ CPU and Vega GPU makes the Ryzen 5 3400G a brilliant purchase for entry-level gaming builds, no graphics carte du jour required and you'll still take a skillful time.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/amd-ryzen-5-3400g-review

Posted by: harrispresucest.blogspot.com

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