AMD processors have been and remain relevant among buyers focused on saving the budget and getting maximum performance for little money. The constant competition with Intel has formed a number of features of the product line of this company, which we immediately want to talk about in our rating of the best AMD processors in 2021, namely:
| AMD processor specifications | |
| Advantages: | Cracking: |
| Availability of motherboards; | Complex and complex overclocking (up to Ryzen 2xxx series); |
| Integrated graphics for productivity (if available); | performance per core. |
| Better results in multi-threaded activities; | |
| Overclocking potential; | |
| The cost is related to Intel. |
Budget and office processors
Simple processors for ultra-budget gaming builds and regular office computers.
AMD FX6300
If you don’t know which budget processor from AMD to choose, we recommend that you pay attention to the specified model. Despite the outdated manufacturing process and a lot of “ills”, the FX series is still afloat and is represented mainly by mid-range models. Thus, the model of the FX 6300 series opens our top ten AMD processors, which will be a good investment due to the cost, which is half that of the representatives of socket AM4. 6 cores with 6 threads running at a base frequency of 3.5 GHz with overclocking to 4.1 GHz using a 32nm process technology. A large 105W thermal package and a limited maximum operating temperature of 70 degrees will require at least a two-pipe air-cooling system. As for games, you can forget about them. Overclocking is necessary for a more or less comfortable game, but there are practically no motherboards with the best chipsets for these tasks. The maximum supported RAM frequency of 1866 MHz makes it impossible for a comfortable gaming experience in a modern design.
Advantages:
- low price;
- good operating frequencies;
- cheap motherboards.
Flaws:
- outdated technical processes and sockets;
- no multithreading;
- overclocking difficulty.
Athlon 3150G
The Athlon 3150G processor surpasses the 200GE included in the price in many ways, which makes it not the most popular among state employees. The processor offers 4 full cores with 4 threads on Zen+ architecture, an unlocked multiplier from 3.5 to 3.9 GHz with a TDP of 65W. It also has the best supported RAM frequency – 2966 MHz. These characteristics are achieved thanks to the most selected conductors used in the construction. It has integrated Vega 3 graphics. Thanks to this, it feels great in office work. For games like Dota 2, Warface, World Of Tanks, you will need to get a GT 1030 level graphics card. Otherwise it is a great high performance processor for that era.
Advantages:
- high frequency;
- rAM supports 2966 MHz;
- low heat pack.
Flaws:
Athlon 200GE
In our opinion, we are talking about the best AMD Athlon chip. Many still perceive the 200GE line as the ideal product for an office computer. A modern chipset, low price and the presence of integrated Vega 3 graphics allow you to assemble a computer without a separate video card. However, older games can only be played with integrated graphics. The processor performance is enough for office tasks, working with documents and watching videos in low quality. It has 2 cores, 4 threads and a multiplier locked at around 3.2GHz. The advantage of the processor over its competitors is support for RAM up to 2666 MHz, 4 MB of L3 cache, and a maximum operating temperature of up to 95 degrees. In addition, there is wide compatibility with motherboards up to the B450 chipset.
Advantages:
- 2 cores with 4 threads;
- support for a wide range of motherboards;
- integrated Vega 3 graphics.
Flaws:
Ryzen 3200G
A great option for temporary replacement of high-end processors when moving to socket AM4. Compared to its predecessor, the AMD 2200G processor features a 12nm Zen+ architecture (with less heat dissipation) and higher frequencies from 3.6 to 4GHz. There is solder under the cover, which, along with good cooling, makes some overclocking possible. Integrated Radeon Vega 8 graphics are overclocked for smooth movie playback and light gaming. Their processor will run at medium and high settings. The complete Wraith Stealth cooling system is of a decent standard and does its job perfectly, which allows you to save on the purchase of a tower cooler. The processor will fit perfectly into any budget and office computer.
Advantages:
- excellent value for money,
- powerful graphics core
- relatively cold, the standard cooler is enough for work.
Flaws:
Ryzen 4300GE
The best AMD Raisen processor in 2021 to work with, in our opinion, is the 4300GE series model. The most powerful chip available to the average consumer for complex office tasks has 4 cores with 8 threads. The cores can operate at frequencies up to 4 GHz. Support for up to 64GB of 3200MHz RAM is available. Thanks to the 7 nm architecture, the manufacturer was able to reduce the heat dissipation to 35 W by equipping the Radeon Vega 6 3 GPU. The tri-level cache was reduced to 8 MB to reduce the cost of the product. If you have a motherboard with a good power supply, some overclocking is possible. Considering the prices and the shortage of graphics cards, this AMD Ryzen 3 Renoir 4350G PRO processor is ideal for creating a good multimedia center. Due to the low cache in multi-threaded operations, it lags behind the Ryzen 3100 and 3300X, but outperforms them in other activities.
Advantages:
- overclocking potential;
- low heat dissipation;
- Radeon Vega 6 integrated graphics.
Flaws:
- reduced cache level 3.
Best AMD Ryzen Gaming Processors
Here are the mid to high end segments for gaming. Models are distinguished by the presence of 6-8 cores, a wide dynamic range of overclocking and an affordable price.
Ryzen 2600X
The 2600X series replenishes the rating of AMD Ryzen processors. This is the smallest chip that many experts recommend for gaming. The X prefix means that the processor is already overclocked from the factory and does not require any action. 6 cores, 12 threads and an excellent 4.2 GHz ceiling make it a great processor for most modern games. For quick access to data already in use, it is assisted by a 16 MB L3 cache. This model still retains a partial dependence on the frequency of the RAM, so it supports bands up to 2933 MHz. The ideal graphics card for this model would be RTX 2060/3060, GTX 1660 Ti and the like. In this way, you will be able to ensure a smooth gaming experience with a good picture in Full HD resolution. We recommend not using the included fan and buying something more powerful due to the 95W TDP.
Advantages:
- factory overclock;
- availability of motherboards;
- large three-level cache.
Flaws:
- limiting the frequency of the OP to 2933 MHz;
- large heat pack.
Ryzen 3600
The 3rd generation Ryzen processors are better than the previous two with improved power efficiency (7nm process), performance per clock, memory controller improvements and general optimizations. Thus, AMD Ryzen 3600 has become the best processor in the middle price category in terms of price and quality. The frequencies remained the same: “out of the box” 3.6 GHz, overclocked to 4.2. The frequencies of the supported RAM have increased (now it is 3200 MHz), as well as its volume (up to 128 GB). As a result, we managed to return to thermal glass with a power of 65 W, which made it possible to use a boxed cooler without overclocking. A big plus was the increase in L3 cache up to 32 MB. Thanks to the support of the PCI-E version 4.0 controller, the number of interface lines has increased to 24.
Advantages:
- improved process technology.
- large 3-level cache;
- PCI-E 4.0 support.
Flaws:
Ryzen 4650G
The only representative of the 4000 series in our top. This powerful AMD processor will suit those who do not have enough budget for a new video card and want to sit down on the built-in one. With Simultaneous Multi-Threading Technology (SMT), each of the 6 physical cores of the Ryzen 5 Renoir processor runs in two threads, delivering excellent performance in single-threaded and multi-threaded workloads. The processor can be used to power powerful entry-level multi-purpose workstations, all-in-one home and gaming PCs. Another advantage of the processor is better information protection for business operations. The integrated Radeon Vega 7 graphics core with 448 stream processors delivers core 3D performance and accelerates video decoding on par with GT 710/730 graphics cards.
Advantages:
- good integrated graphics;
- data protection for office activities;
- frequency up to 4.2 GHz.
Flaws:
- 8 MB level 3 cache.
Ryzen 5950X
Another premium gaming processor from AMD, not available to everyone due to the high price. This is due to the presence of 16 cores and 32 threads, an increased L2 cache to 8 MB and an increase in operating frequencies to 4.9 GHz. This allows the 5950X to be used not only in games, but also in professional editing or complex calculations. In turn, this led to an increase in the thermal package to 105 W and the need to purchase enhanced cooling systems. Some users claim that under heavy load, the CPU tries to overclock 2 cores at 4.9GHz, fails and reboots. In this case, it is recommended to artificially limit its power to 4.8 GHz in order to ensure stable operation of your computer at maximum frequencies.
Advantages:
- multicore and multithreading;
- 2-level improved cache memory;
- excellent performance in any task.
Flaws:
- possible problems at the highest frequencies.
Ryzen 5600X
The best AMD processor of 2021 among the company’s current innovations. It has high operating frequencies from 3.7 to 4.6 GHz and a large 32 MB of Level 3 cache. These figures are achieved through factory overclocking. In terms of performance, it is very similar to the Ryzen 3600, but has a number of differences. In particular, thanks to the new Zen 3 architecture, performance per clock has increased by 19%. In addition, the CCX modules consist of eight cores and 32 MB of L3 cache and have become available for all cores of the chiplet. So the L3 cache has improved and the latency has been reduced. This can be seen in games and editing. In the first case, the processor provides a smoother video sequence in games, in the second – less time for video processing. 5600X is supported by 500 series motherboards. B450X470 are supported depending on firmware.
Advantages:
- high operating frequencies;
- a large selection of 500 series motherboards;
- improved performance compared to the 3000 and 4000 series.
Flaws:
- may not be supported by B450 X470 cards.
How to choose a good AMD processor?
If you don’t know how to choose an AMD processor, here are some universal tips from our editorial team:
- For an office computer and a budget, you can go with the Athlon series and its dual and quad-core models. They have the lowest cost and are undemanding to cooling.
- The Ryzen line, starting with models with the designation x600 (where x is the generation number), is suitable for games with comfortable settings with performance headroom. Junior models are designed for undemanding games and media centers.
- Don’t forget models without factory overclocking. For example, Ryzen 2600, 3600, etc. Buying overclocked models at the factory, you pay extra for something that you can do yourself.
- Also, you can save money by choosing the OEM version over the BOX version. In the latter case, you will overpay for a regular cooler with an aluminum base and low heat dissipation.
- Be careful when choosing a motherboard and RAM. The power circuits must be able to withstand the voltage when the processor is draining and overclocking (if applicable), and the RAM frequencies must be within the frequency range supported by the processor. In this case, these components will not limit each other.
What is interesting in the Ryzen lineup? It is interesting for its energy efficiency compared to the FX series, thanks to the improvement of the Zen process technology and the elimination of the dependence between the memory bus and the processors themselves. Why are there few models in the ranking? Due to the high demand for these processors, buyers are quickly buying up all the models, so we talked about the most affordable ones. Is the FX series up to date? Six and eight-core models of this series are on sale. We do not recommend them for gaming due to the outdated platform and the lack of the possibility of further updates. But they can be used as an office or media center. Why are there no Threadripper models? The Threadripper series is bought by professionals working in the field of computing, digital archiving or video editing. According to their characteristics, “Threadrippers” are well-tailored for these tasks, but for games they are redundant and their price hits the wallet hard. Should I pay attention to the Ryzen 1000 and 2000 series? It’s worth it. Despite the abundance of shortcomings, this series compares favorably with the 3000 series and above with a more affordable price and an abundance of supported motherboards.
What is the best AMD processor to buy in 2021?
So if you don’t know which processor to buy from AMD, you should pay due attention to trends and take into account that there aren’t many products on sale today. Regarding our opinion:
- A good processor for an inexpensive computer is the Athlon 200GE;
- The minimum required for modern PCs is Ryzen 3600X;
- A good AMD processor for gaming is the 2600X;
- Premium AMD chip – 5600X.
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