At long last, AMD updates its desktop APU range with the new Ryzen 8000G series: Zen 4, RDNA 3, all in one neat package

pcgamer.com:

It's been nearly three years since AMD launched its last desktop APU series, but now the all-in-one CPU+budget GPU chips are back with a bang in the form of the 8000G series. The new range covers four models, all of them using the Zen 4 CPU and RDNA 3 GPU architectures. The best GPU is unfortunately only in the most expensive one, but for many gamers looking to build a compact PC this year, it may well be the perfect APU.

The line-up starts with the four-core, eight-thread Ryzen 3 8300G, with a 4.9GHz boost clock, 12MB of L2 and L3 cache, and a Radeon 740M GPU. That has a paltry 256 shaders so don't expect much in the way of gaming chops. To put it into perspective, that's half the number of shaders that are in the Steam Deck's GPU.

There are two Ryzen 5 models: the 8500G and 8600G. Both have six cores and 12 threads, 22MB cache, 5.0GHz CPUs but they differ in terms of GPU. The former has the same Radeon 740M as the 8300G but the 8600G runs with the Radeon 760M. That has 512 shaders so it should be on par with the Steam Deck. It also boasts a Ryzen AI chip, a dedicated processor for handling machine learning calculations.

Topping the range is the Ryzen 7 8700G: eight cores, 16 threads, 24MB of cache, and a 5.1GHz boost clock. Handling graphics duties is a Radeon 780M, with 768 shaders. This is the same GPU that powers handheld PCs such as the OneXPlayer OneXFly and Ayaneo Air 1S. Like the 8600G, there's a Ryzen AI chip for… well… AI stuff.

Interestingly, all four 8000G models have the same 65W TDP (thermal design power) limit. That figure makes sense for the 8700G but you'd be forgiven for thinking the 8300G and 8500G could get away with having lower values. Especially when you take into account that these two chips are