The Ryzen 7 8700G is a Zen 4, Ryzen 7000-class processor that additionally features a Radeon 700M GPU on the identical chip. The built-in graphics portion is predicated on the RDNA 3 structure, utilizing as much as 12 compute items, AMD says these iGPUs shall be highly effective sufficient to play just about any PC sport at 1080p.
As of writing, that is essentially the most highly effective built-in graphics in a desktop CPU, however can this new APU take in your graphics card? We’ll determine that out on this assessment, however, most likely not…
AMD has introduced 4 chips within the Ryzen 8000G collection up to now. Whereas we’ll be wanting on the 8700G right now, we even have the Ryzen 5 8600G available, which we’ll assessment within the coming days.
The Ryzen 7 8700G packs 8 cores/16 threads and clocks as excessive as 5.1 GHz with a 65-watt TDP. It’s constructed utilizing a 4nm course of, and the cores are primarily based on the Zen 4 structure. Nonetheless, as a result of this can be a monolithic design that additionally consists of a pretty big GPU, some facets like cache capability have been decreased in comparison with the usual Ryzen 7000 collection. For example, the 8700G incorporates a 16 MB L3 cache and eight MB of L2 cache, whereas the Ryzen 7 7700 is supplied with a a lot bigger 32 MB L3 cache, however the L2 capability is similar 8 MB.
Ryzen 3 8300G | Ryzen 5 8500G | Ryzen 5 8600G | Ryzen 7 8700G | Ryzen 7 7700 | |
Value | (OEM) | $180 | $230 | $330 | |
Launch Date | January 2024 | January 31, 2024 | January 2023 | ||
Cores / Threads | 4/8 | 6/12 | 8/16 | ||
Base Clock | 3.2 GHz / 4.0 GHz | 3.2 GHz / 4.1 GHz | 4.3 GHz | 4.2 GHz | 3.8 GHz |
Enhance Clock | 4.9 GHz | 5.0 GHz | 5.1 GHz | 5.3 GHz | |
Core Config | 1+ 3 | 2 + 4 | 1 x 6 | 1 x 8 | 1 x 8 |
L3 Cache | 8 MB | 16 MB | 32 MB | ||
GPU Mannequin | 740M | 4 CUS | 760M 8 CUS | 780M 12 CUS | RDNA 2 CUS |
GPU Clock | 2.6 GHz | 2.8 GHz | 2.9 GHz | 2.2 GHz | |
NPU | n/a | Ryzen Al as much as 16 TOPS | n/a | ||
PCI Specific Lanes | 14 PCIe 4.0 lanes | 20 PCIe 4.0 lanes | 28 PCle 5.0 lanes | ||
TDP | 65 watt |
The Ryzen 7 7700 consists of an RDNA 2 GPU with simply 2 CUs and a lift clock of two.2 GHz, whereas the 8700G is armed with the Radeon 780M, a 12 CU RDNA 3 GPU that clocks as excessive as 2.9 GHz. Due to this fact, you may anticipate considerably extra from the 8700G’s built-in graphics.
Extra variations are seen on the PCIe bus: the Ryzen 7700 provides 28 lanes of PCIe 5.0, of which 4 are reserved for connecting the chipset. The 8700G packs simply 20 lanes in complete, they usually’re PCIe 4.0. This implies there are a most of eight PCIe 4.0 lanes for the first PCIe slot, whereas the 7700 has 16 PCIe 5.0 lanes.
The Ryzen 8700G consists of “Ryzen AI,” the primary devoted AI engine on a desktop processor. Utilizing AMD’s XDNA structure clocked at 1.6 GHz, that is separate to the CPU and GPU cores we have simply checked out, you may name it an NPU “Neural Processing Unit.”
How helpful you may discover this {hardware} AI implementation at this cut-off date is debatable, and since gaming is often our major focus, we cannot be delving into AI benchmarks simply but. Furthermore, anybody serious about AI on a desktop pc would seemingly buy a discrete GPU, as they’re much extra highly effective for AI workloads.
For testing, we have used the Asus ROG Strix B650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard with beta BIOS 2263. For reminiscence, we have opted for a 32 GB DDR5-6400 CL32 equipment of G.Talent’s Trident Z5 Neo reminiscence, and the FCLK has been manually set to 2400 MHz. This is because of a difficulty with the beta BIOS not setting this parameter appropriately mechanically, however this shall be mounted for the general public launch. Let’s go see what the 8700G can do…
Benchmarks
We’ll begin with some primary utility benchmarks, and first up is Cinebench and its single-core check. Right here, the 8700G scores 111 fps, making it 21% quicker than the 5700G and simply 5% slower than the 7700. Nonetheless, it was 15% slower than the 14700K.
Now, when measuring multi-core efficiency, we discover that the 8700G is similar to the 7700. This is sensible as they’re each 8-core/16-thread Zen 4 processors, and elements like cache capability and reminiscence efficiency solely play a really small function on this check. In comparison with the 5700G, that is a 37% improve and a large 144% improve over the Core i3-12100F, which can show to be a extra related comparability as we delve into the gaming benchmarks.
Subsequent, we have now the 7-Zip File Supervisor Compression check. Right here, the 8700G is 40% quicker than the 5700G and simply 13% slower than the Ryzen 7 7700.
Then, for decompression, it is simply 8% quicker than the 5700G and 12% slower than the 7700.
With regards to Photoshop efficiency, we’re a 34% enchancment over the 5700G, marking a big uplift. In the meantime, the 8700G was simply 6% slower than the 7700.
It is value noting that the 12100F does not have an iGPU, so for these utility benchmarks, it is paired with the Radeon RX 6600. Curiously, the Core i3 and Radeon GPU price barely lower than the 8700G.
This poses a difficulty for AMD’s new APU, as Premiere does make the most of GPU acceleration. In consequence, the extra reasonably priced Core i3 + RX 6600 mixture is 86% quicker on this check.
iGPU Gaming Benchmarks
Time to take a look at gaming efficiency, and we’re beginning with the built-in graphics as a result of that is what makes the 8700G particular. For all these benchmarks, we’re wanting testing at 1080p low-quality setting gaming as that is built-in graphics in spite of everything.
First up is Baldur’s Gate 3, the place the 8700G was good for 49 fps on common. That is spectacular in comparison with the likes of the 5700G and normal processors such because the Core i7-14700K and Ryzen 7 7700.
When in comparison with AMD’s earlier 8-core APU, the 8700G is 145% quicker, which isn’t only a important efficiency uplift but in addition the distinction between unplayable and playable.
Subsequent, we have now Counter-Strike 2, which is feasible to play utilizing an iGPU. The 5700G, for instance, is sweet for 61 fps on common, although the 1% lows aren’t nice. The 8700G, nonetheless, is 95% quicker when evaluating the typical body price, and with 119 fps on common, the sport may be very playable. It may not be appropriate for aggressive gaming, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly playable.
It is a related story with Fortnite. In comparison with the 5700G, the 8700G provides a 78% efficiency increase, averaging a formidable 132 fps. The sport ran surprisingly effectively. Once more, this is not ok for aggressive avid gamers, nevertheless it’s greater than ample for informal play.
As anticipated, extra demanding video games like Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty are a stretch, however with 41 fps on common and 1% lows of 30 fps, the sport is playable. That is considerably greater than what might be mentioned for the 5700G.
F1 2023 ran rather well with the 8700G, outputting 125 fps on common, which is a 123% uplift from the 5700G. It is also a world of distinction when in comparison with the 14700K and 7700.
In Spider-Man Remastered, the 8700G delivers a clean, playable expertise with 68 fps on common. This makes it greater than twice as quick because the 5700G, which managed simply 32 fps on common.
Like Cyberpunk 2077, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside is a bit a lot even for the 8700G, particularly for 60 fps gaming. Nonetheless, for these happy with 30 fps, it really works. That is greater than might be mentioned for the 5700G and something slower, which is mainly all the pieces else.
Lastly, we have now Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare III, the place the 8700G can output over 60 fps, averaging 74 fps. That is an unimaginable enchancment over the 5700G, tripling the body price, and extra importantly, permitting avid gamers to really play the sport utilizing an iGPU.
Reminiscence Scaling Efficiency
Earlier than we take a look at discrete GPU benchmarks, let’s check out reminiscence scaling efficiency. For testing, we used a DDR5-6400 reminiscence equipment at a 1:1 ratio with a 2400 MHz FCLK. This is not essentially the optimum configuration, although AMD claims all CPUs shall be able to reaching this specification.
AMD additionally notes that almost all CPUs will obtain DDR5-7200 utilizing a 1:2 ratio, which might be useful. That is necessary as a result of reminiscence bandwidth is essential for iGPU efficiency, so the priorities right here differ from these of a Ryzen 7000 collection processor, the place you’d sometimes prioritize latency.
Additionally, as a result of the 8000 collection APUs use a monolithic die, they may default to a better clocked FCLK. This variation is because of the absence of a GMI (World Reminiscence Interconnect) within the monolithic design, versus the chiplet method. Whereas Ryzen 7000 tries to default to 2000 MHz, the 8000 collection APUs purpose for 2400 MHz. With all of this in thoughts, we will run a number of completely different configurations, together with a 1:2 configuration utilizing DDR5-7200.
Beginning with Fortnite, we discover that utilizing 7200 reminiscence boosts efficiency by an extra 4%, which, whereas not groundbreaking, remains to be extra efficiency. It is also value noting that the official reminiscence spec for the 8700G is DDR5-5200, and utilizing 5200 spec reminiscence noticed efficiency decline by 15%.
Transferring on to F1 2023, we discover this title to be much less reminiscence delicate, solely gaining an extra 2% in efficiency utilizing DDR5-7200, or dropping 8% with DDR5-5200.
Spider-Man Remastered exhibits that DDR5-7200 is not all the time quicker, as on this instance, efficiency declined, dropping a body when in comparison with the 6400 configuration. We additionally noticed a big 22% discount in efficiency when utilizing the official 5200 reminiscence spec.
Built-in Graphics vs. Sluggish Discrete GPU
Thus far we have seen how the 8700G and its built-in graphics examine to different processors with iGPUs. However how does it stack up in opposition to a extremely unhealthy discrete graphics card, just like the Radeon 6500 XT? We’re about to seek out out.
Have in mind the 6500 XT prices $140 proper now.
The 8700G is similar to the 6500 XT utilizing PCIe 3.0 with a processor just like the 5700G in Baldur’s Gate 3. It is fairly astonishing simply how poorly the 6500 XT performs with the 5700G on this title, utilizing the low-quality preset at 1080p.
Nonetheless, for those who pair the 6500 XT with a PCIe 4.0 enabled configuration, it is round 45% quicker, as we noticed when pairing it with the 8700G. But, it is about 70% quicker when paired with the Ryzen 7 7700, which is lower than very best for the 8700G.
The Counter-Strike 2 outcomes are fairly placing. Right here, the 5700G armed with the 6500 XT is greater than twice as quick because the 8700G’s built-in GPU. That is regarding as a result of the mixed price of the 5700G and the 6500 XT is lower than the 8700G. We’ll focus on this additional quickly.
Testing in Fortnite exhibits the 6500 XT to be a minimum of 58% quicker than the 8700G, and as much as 74% quicker with processors just like the Ryzen 7 7700 or Core i7-14700K. Bear in mind, the 6500 XT is taken into account a lower-tier graphics card.
The Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty outcomes are fairly revealing, highlighting the 6500 XT’s limitations. Utilizing PCI Specific 3.0 with the 5700G, we’re 33 fps on common, making the discrete GPU slower than the iGPU of the 8700G. Then, with PCIe 4.0 enabled, the 6500 XT simply manages to edge out the 8700G’s iGPU, exhibiting weak efficiency total.
The same pattern is seen in F1 2023. The iGPU of the 8700G can outperform the 6500 XT when the Radeon GPU is restricted to PCIe 3.0 with a processor just like the 5700G. However when paired with the Core i3-12100F, it is solely 8% quicker, although we’re considerably CPU restricted right here because the Ryzen 7 7700 exhibits as much as a 34% improve.
The Spider-Man Remastered outcomes are intriguing. Once more, PCIe 3.0 severely limits the 6500 XT, lowering it to only 46 fps on common when paired with the 5700G. Curiously, the 8700G delivered related efficiency utilizing both its iGPU or the 6500 XT, in reality, efficiency was barely higher with the iGPU. It wasn’t till we paired the 6500 XT with high-end desktop CPUs that it might outperform the 8700G’s iGPU.
In Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside, the 6500 XT additionally struggled with PCIe 3.0, reaching solely 30 fps on common with the 5700G. Even with PCIe 4.0, it was solely barely quicker than the 8700G’s iGPU.
Lastly, for Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare III, the 8700G matched the 6500 XT when paired with most processors. The outcomes with the 14700K do not appear constant, because it should not be a lot quicker than the Ryzen 7 7700. We suspect this can be on account of a Resizable BAR concern, however that requires additional investigation. It is not essential for this content material, however it’s actually intriguing.
Why the Ryzen 8700G Would not Make Sense…
APU vs CPU + GPU
Sufficient messing round, now it is time to see what we will do with $330, the worth of the 8700G.
For instance, if we purchase the Core i3-12100F for $100 and pair it with a $200 Radeon RX 6600, are we getting a greater expertise? Let’s discover out…
For testing, we have included a number of GPU configurations, one among which options the 7900 XTX to see how briskly these CPUs actually are. As you may see, when maxed out, the 8700G is 17% quicker than the 12100F, or 35% quicker when evaluating 1% lows. Technically, it is the higher gaming CPU, however that is no shock because it prices thrice extra.
Nonetheless, the issue for the 8700G, and the rationale why it in the end makes little to no sense for gaming, is that this: the Core i3-12100F paired with the Radeon RX 6600, a combo that is 127% quicker in Baldur’s Gate 3. It is a best-case situation for the APU. If we have been to extend the standard settings, the RX 6600 would nonetheless render over 60 fps whereas the 8700G would battle considerably.
In Counter-Strike 2, utilizing the 7900 XTX, we see that the 8700G is 30% extra highly effective than the Core i3 on this title. Nonetheless, evaluating $300 combos, the Core i3-12100F/RX 6600 combo is 113% quicker, and quick sufficient for aggressive gameplay.
The scenario is comparable in Fortnite. Once more, the 8700G is 30% quicker than the Core i3 when paired with the 7900 XTX. Nonetheless, evaluating its iGPU efficiency to the RX 6600 combo, the Core i3 is an astonishing 182% quicker, rendering 372 fps in comparison with 132 fps.
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty, being extra GPU restricted, exhibits the 8700G as 19% quicker than the Core i3 when pairing each processors with the 7900 XTX.
However evaluating the $300 combos, the Core i3 with the RX 6600 provides 124% extra efficiency, rendering 92 fps in comparison with simply 41 fps.
The Core i3-12100F performs very effectively in F1 2023, permitting for 333 fps to be rendered when utilizing the 7900 XTX, making the 8700G simply 7% quicker. The Core i3 + RX 6600 combo considerably outperforms the 8700G and its iGPU, offering a 154% efficiency uplift.
With ray tracing disabled, Spider-Man Remastered is not a really CPU-demanding sport, and consequently, the Core i3-12100F matches the 8700G when paired with a high-end GPU just like the 7900 XTX.
Evaluating the Core i3 with the RX 6600, we discover it is 113% quicker than the 8700G and its iGPU, and the Core i3 combo truly prices rather less.
Ratchet & Clank: Rift Aside additionally is not very CPU-demanding, so the Core i3 matches the 8700G when geared up with a high-end GPU.
Once more, for these with round $300 to spend on a CPU and GPU combo, the 8700G does not make sense because the Core i3/RX 6600 combo is 141% quicker, providing a considerably extra satisfying gaming expertise with 94 fps on common.
Lastly, in Name of Obligation: Fashionable Warfare III, the 8700G is 56% quicker than the 12100F when paired with the 7900 XTX. Nonetheless, evaluating the $300 price range combos, the Core i3 nonetheless wins, delivering greater than twice the efficiency with 154 fps on common.
Backside line, for those who’re spending $330 on a CPU for gaming, the 8700G is just not a very good choice. The usual Ryzen 7700 was, on common, 26% quicker in our testing when utilizing the 7900 XTX. Admittedly, we’re utilizing low-quality settings for continuity throughout the vary of testing for this assessment, however even with extremely settings and options like ray tracing, the bigger L3 cache of the 7700 will yield higher efficiency.
Energy Consumption
Here is a fast take a look at energy consumption. At idle, the 8700G system consumed 41 watts. Then, with a single-core load, the overall system draw hit 79 watts, and for an all-core workload, it went as excessive as 131 watts.
As for gaming in Spider-Man, we noticed a complete load of 148 watts, so it is clear this can be a very low-powered combo.
What We Discovered
We have to confess, we’re nonetheless not fully positive who the 8700G is for. It might be carrying essentially the most highly effective built-in graphics in a desktop processor, however that does not imply it brings good worth for finish customers.
The Ryzen 7 8700G is just not precisely reasonably priced at $330, and at that worth, it is not the perfect worth mixture of CPU and GPU {hardware}. Positive, in a single package deal, what the 8700G delivers as an all-in-one answer is spectacular, however until you particularly require your desktop CPU and GPU built-in right into a single answer, it does not make sense.
For extremely mini-PCs, this processor can actually allow next-level efficiency, however past that area of interest use case, we do not see its attraction.
This actually is not a mainstream half, just because there are higher alternate options. Should you’re after sturdy CPU efficiency for gaming, the 7800X3D shall be a lot quicker for a small $70 premium, or as we noticed with the 7900 XTX, the Ryzen 7 7700 might be considerably quicker for a similar worth.
So, in what use case does the 8700G make sense?
If it is for basic computing, then the 8700G is overkill, and if it is for gaming, there are considerably higher {hardware} combos accessible for a similar worth, and even much less. For example, the Core i3-12100F and Radeon RX 6600 can ship over twice the gaming efficiency as proven in our benchmarks.
The Core i3-12100F combo can also be superior for video manufacturing work, given how closely GPU-accelerated these workloads are actually.
So, whereas the 8700G is technically spectacular, at $330 it is not going to attraction to the overwhelming majority of shoppers. Our focus is on gaming, and we will confidently say that the 8700G is just not a very good funding for gaming.
For these of you who need to leap on the AM5 platform, take into account getting a Ryzen 5 7600 for $230 and pairing it with a Radeon RX 6600 or higher. For a complete of $430, your expertise goes to be considerably higher. It is a 30% premium for ~150% higher efficiency.
The thought of a gaming APU for price range customers all the time sounds nice, however in observe, they’re simply by no means quick sufficient. Extra reasonably priced discrete combos all the time ship considerably higher efficiency, and we do not anticipate this to alter any time quickly.