Summary
AMD’s APU offerings are back in focus now that it has launched four distinct APUs on the 31st of January 2024, including the Ryzen 5 8600G. All of these are manufactured on the newer 4nm TSMC FinFet process versus the 5nm process that the Zen 4-based Ryzen 7000 series desktop-class CPUs currently use.
These utilize the limited on-die space to squeeze in both a powerful mobile GPU and the Pheonix Zen 4 cores (albeit with smaller L3 caches), which deliver excellent power efficiency and target both AMD’s last-gen 5000G and older 3000G APU users. This is great news for users looking to implement a budget-centric upgrade to their entry-level or mid-range gaming PCs, given the core focus on being able to get a decent frame rate in esports titles as well as newer AAA games in 2024.
AMD’s Ryzen 5 8600G vs. the Ryzen 7 8700G
Unlike the octa-core Ryzen 7 8700G, which is the flagship of the AMD Ryzen 8000 ‘G’ series APUs, the Ryzen 5 8600G comes in a 6-core, 12-thread configuration as it cuts down on its iGPU from the 12 CU Radeon 780M to a smaller 8 CU Radeon 760M iGPU. It also offers slightly reduced clock speeds versus the Ryzen 7 8700G, clocking in at 5 GHz vs 5.1 GHz on its CPU cores, and 2.8 GHz vs 2.9 GHz on the integrated graphics end. It does, however, come with the same TDP as well as the same amount of L3 cache on offer.
The Ryzen 5 8500G commands an MSRP of $229, $100 lower than the Ryzen 7 8700G’s $329 price point, making it a potentially viable option for users looking to build a gaming PC under $500 with a few compromises in play. This makes it an interesting proposition as a competitive alternative to pricier CPU options bundled with discrete GPUs, even as it handles modern MOBAs at a reasonable frame rate.
Contents Of The Package
Unlike the larger package that contains the AMD Ryzen 7 8700G and houses its Wraith Spire Cooler, the Ryzen 5 8600G goes for a box that is about half the size. It includes the entry-level AMD Wraith Stealth CPU cooler instead. The Wraith Stealth can handle a TDP of 65W, which is exactly what the Ryzen 5 8600G is rated at.
Pictured: The retail box of the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G APU
The contents of the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G’s retail package
Why Does The Bundled Wraith Stealth Cooler Matter?
While the AMD Wraith Stealth is an entry-level cooler, it can handle the thermal needs of the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G fairly well in most situations, including gaming at 1080P with ease. Gettinga better CPU cooler is always an option. Still, given the Ryzen 5 8600G position as one of the best price-to-performance options on the market, users should consider using the stock cooler that comes with it for their gaming needs.
The AMD Wraith Spire (Left) next to the Wraith Stealth (Right) that comes with the Ryzen 5 8500G
This means users end up saving anywhere between $20 to $100 as a result, even as AMD’s relatively low-profile offering makes it an easy fit for most small form factor (SFF) builds as well as HTPCs. It can get relatively noisy when under load though, thanks to the 8600G being a demanding customer in most workloads that engage both the CPU and the GPU.
What Does The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G Bring To The Table?
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G comes with 6 Zen 4 cores that can handle 12 threads along with an integrated Radeon 760M iGPU in tow, in addition to being one of the first AMD desktop-class CPUs to offer a dedicated NPU that works as a complement to its existing AI-ready graphics processor and CPU cores. Clocking in at just $229, versus the higher-end Ryzen 7 8700G’s $329, the Ryzen 5 8600G finds itself at an arguably better position than the latter, especially for gamers on a budget where the $100 price difference is sure to be noticed.
The pricing is of even more interest when considering that many users felt that the last generation Ryzen 5 5600G offers significantly better value than its higher-end Ryzen 7 5700G sibling. On paper, the Ryzen 7 8700G seems to be significantly more powerful, offering a 50% gain in CUs over its lower-end sibling, a slightly higher clock speed, and 33% more cores.
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G 6-Core, 12-Thread CPU
A Well-Balanced, Well-Priced Option
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G 6-Core, 12-Thread CPU is a powerful entry-level gaming APU that combines AMD’s efficient and performant mobile Zen 4 cores with a capable iGPU in the shape of the AMD Radeon 760M.It packs in acceptable gaming performance at a price point that decimates most of its comparable discrete GPU and CPU combinations even as it is one of the first CPUs or APUs that pack AMD’s Ryzen AI tech to support on-chip AI acceleration.
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is a powerful contender that cements AMD’s APU ambitions by leveraging its newer Pheonix architecture’s Zen 4 cores. It also offers a decent mid-range mobile GPU in the shape of the Radeon 760M and the ability to push beyond its stated performance tier thanks to it being unlocked out of the box with the help of AMD’s Precision Boost Overdrive (PBO) or manual overclocking.
With Zen 4’s higher IPC counts and better clocks in tow versus its predecessors, in addition to a much better RDNA 3-based iGPU in play, the Ryzen 5 8600G is a well-rounded upgrade and a successor to the well-received Ryzen 5 5600G that continues to command a sub-$150 price tag at multiple retailers for users looking for a more budget-centric option on socket AM4.
This, combined with TSMC’s newer 4nm FinFet process and AMD’s software push for better performance through its HYPR-RX optimizations that build around FSR support, do allow for most gamers to easily break into playable frame rates at FHD resolutions with ease.
Some of the titles with tweaked settings that are currently in play as part of AMD’s HYPR-RX offerings
Gaming Performance: How Does The Ryzen 5 8600G Fare?
Testing the Ryzen 5 8600G involved using it with its stock cooler, along with an MSI B650 Plus Gaming Wi-Fi motherboard and low latency 6400 MHz DDR5 G.Skill NEO RAM modules (running at 6000 MHz due to stability issues encountered at 6400 MHz) in dual channel configuration. The rule of thumb was to ensure no performance bottlenecks where possible, while keeping things as close to stock as necessary. To this end, a fast PCI-E 4.0 SSD (the Samsung 980 Pro) and an above-spec PSU (Antec HCG 1000W) were used along with an ethernet connection when testing online play in titles such asDotA 2, CS: GO 2andPalworld.
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G uses the same AM5 socket as the Ryzen 7000 series CPUs, allowing it to run on existing AMD’s current-generation motherboards without a hitch.
Note:Testing was done on the latest version of Windows 11 using AMD’s Adrenalin 24.1.1 drivers and retail post-release AMD chipset drivers and an up-to-date BIOS on the B650 Plus Gaming (with AGESA ComboPI 1.1.0.2b microcode) with retesting used to check the 8600G with AMD’s STAPM fixes in tow. AMD provided a review unit of the Ryzen 5 8600G but had no input during Game Rant’s processor testing.
Average FPS (Ryzen 5 8600G)
Average FPS (Ryzen 7 8700G)
CyberPunk 2077
41 FPS
49 FPS
DotA 2
159 FPS
164 FPS
44 FPS
54 FPS
Low w/High Textures (Defaults to medium on most options at low preset)
98 FPS
106 FPS
High Textures, Default Preset
It is important to note thatAMD’s FSR preset and dynamic resolution scaling or AI sharpening were disabled where available in the titles above, but they do deliver a nice boost where available.Palworlddoes not have FSR support and is also an early-access survival title, making it a somewhat debatable choice to benchmark, especially considering performance is sure to dip as one gets more Pals and structures in play compared to the more early-game scenarios it was tested against. The idea was to see whether the Ryzen 5 8600G offers a passable frame rate on the title, which it does, but at a considerably lower number than the higher-end Ryzen 7 8700G.
We see similar performance from the 8600G inCyberPunk 2077which is, even at its low preset, a significantly demanding title when it comes to the iGPU and, much likePalworld, the 8 CUs on the Radeon 760M do keep up for the most part. However, a sub 20% performance gap is on display versus the faster 12 CU-touting Radeon 780M that the Ryzen 7 8700G offers currently.
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G’s Screengrabs from CPU-Z and GPU-Z respectively. The memory it was tested with was run at a lower clock than indicated on the GPU-Z screengrab due to stability issues at 6400 MHz
Interestingly, the 100 MHz CPU boost clock gains on the Ryzen 7 8700G and the two extra cores do not seem to give it much of a performance gain in DotA 2, a title that is notoriously easier on the GPU compared to the CPU at lower presets. Meanwhile, the hexacore CPU keeps things considerably close to AMD’s octa-core APU offering. GTA V does offer a more balanced take on what the 8600G is capable of relative to the 8700G, testing both the CPU and iGPU more equally than some of the other games benchmarked above.
It is important to note that the GPU does clock downwards (to a sub-1900 MHz clock), possibly to keep the power draw in check when all 6 cores of the CPU are engaged 100%, meaning that fiddling with the 8600G’s power limit should help matters.
Getting more out of the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G APU
Users might benefit from using AMD’s PBO offering, preferably with abeefier cooler than the stock unit,if they plan to overclock the CPU (and the GPU) which comes unlocked out of the box. The iGPU also scales considerably well with higher memory clocks compared to other discrete options even at higher latency thresholds, making it worth considering making the jump to 7200 MHz or even higher-clocked RAM, preferably with an EXPO profile to match.
Note:While the 8600G proved to be a trickier customer than the 8700G in our testing, not all user experiences will be similar. Investing in better, higher-clocked RAM should yield better results, especially for more GPU-intensive workloads with the latency concerns stated above being secondary.
One would want to adjust the power limits on the 8600G and make sure they are on the latest BIOS update possible (to avoid throttling in-game due to STAPM issues), while also usinghigher clocked, and preferably low latency RAM modulesto eke out more from the 8600G than it already delivers at stock settings. At the same time, using AMD’s newer HYPR-RX presets does deliver higher frame rates by making it a one-click-optimized solution for gamers not willing to go over every game setting on a case-by-case basis.
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G Verdict: An APU For Everyone
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is the APU that many users have their eye on in 2024. It offers a blend of price-to-performance that builds on what made the 5600G such a potent performer for users looking to get a cost-effective AM5-based solution in 2024. At the same time, while it can game at a relatively respectable framerate at low presets with an FHD target resolution, the cut-down iGPU versus the Ryzen 7 8700G does show its limitations in titles that are more demanding, even at lower graphics presets.
The primary reason one would recommend the Ryzen 5 8600G over the faster Ryzen 7 8700G would be its price tag. At $329, the Ryzen 7 8700G does have to contend with alternatives that often bundle a faster, discrete GPU with a slower, locked CPU in the same price range. The Ryzen 5 8600G changes this significantly by offering a $100 price difference in tow, making it much harder to find a feasible current-gen CPU and GPU combination that holds its own against the value for money it offers within a sub $200 price range.
AMD’s FSR 3 push is expected to keep things competent in the near future for the 8600G,alongside the AMD Fluid Motion Frames (which is currently integrated into its Hyper-RX offerings and can not be turned off separately). This allows users going for the Ryzen 5 8600G to benefit from both the newer AM5 socket and the DDR5 support, as well as future CPU and APU releases that AMD implies will be on the same socket along with continued software support for most games, unlike legacy discrete GPUs that users might turn to when trying to get a workable gaming alternative in 2024.
The Ryzen 5 8600G is a great option for gamers on a stricter budget than its higher-end sibling can cater to, despite offering a more balanced option (that is still overpowered for the specified use case) to HTPC builders (as well as most SFF builds) who would otherwise skip a discrete GPU altogether. At $229, it is an excellent upgrade for users coming from a cheaper 5000 ‘G’ series APU or even new system builders looking for a better value offering than what modern CPUs and discrete GPUs currently offer, with upgradability being a key focus.
The complete AMD Ryzen 8000G CPU lineup can be found in the table below:
AMD Ryzen 7 8700G
$329
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G
$229
AMD Ryzen 5 8500G
$179
AMD Ryzen 3 8300G
TBD
The AMD Ryzen 5 8600G is a hexacore APU that packs in a powerful Radeon 760M iGPU on-die to deliver viable gaming performance at FHD resolutions even as it offers significantly better value for money than its higher-end sibling.
