AMD may be gearing up to release its latest additions to its AM5 desktop processors, the Ryzen 5 8600G, with updated RDNA 3 graphics technology. These processors will be based on the Hawk Point mobile silicon, which can contain up to 12 RDNA 3 Compute Units.
Despite the nomenclature, the Ryzen 8000G series is not a direct successor to the 7000 series. Instead, it is designed to cater to a specific market segment that prioritizes integrated GPU performance over CPU capabilities.
Recent tests spotted by VideoCardz has provided insight into one of the upcoming 8000G SKUs, the Ryzen 5 8600G APU. The testing took place on an MSI
According to Geekbench 6 benchmark computer reports (found here And here), the Ryzen 5 8600G will have 6 cores and 12 threads, which sets it apart from its predecessor, the Ryzen 5 8500G. Six Zen 4 cores are expected to be used, a notable upgrade from the hybrid configuration of two Zen 4 and four Zen 4c cores in the 8500G.
The benchmark results also reveal a base clock of 4.35 GHz and a boost clock of 5.0 GHz, a significant improvement over the Zen 3+ architecture-based Ryzen 5 5600G. As for the GPU specifications, the APU will feature a Radeon 760M integrated graphics card, consisting of 8 computing units clocked at 2.8 GHz.
The Ryzen 8000G series is expected to launch within the next few months, although AMD has not announced any specific launch events. But with CES 2024 just around the corner, there's a chance we'll get more details sooner rather than later.
Who needs an AMD APU right now?
With the success of the AMD Ryzen 7000 Series processors, which feature integrated RDNA 2 graphics, some may wonder if new AMD Ryzen 8000G Series chips are really necessary.
In previous generations, like the Ryzen 5000 series, there were no integrated graphics in the main Ryzen releases like the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D, so it made sense to have a chip like the Ryzen 5 5600G, which had RDNA GPU cores integrated.
At this point, however, even the upgrade to RDNA 3 cores doesn't make much sense, as these cores, while more powerful, aren't going to be that much more powerful on their own to replace one of the best graphics cards in the world. your PC for gaming purposes, and having a regular Ryzen 7000 chip in your mini PC will be more than sufficient for non-gaming purposes.
But for budget builders looking to make their little cousins a Fortnite rig on the cheap, these chips could be just what they're looking for, with even the best cheap graphics card still costing a few hundred dollars.