A new mid-range CPU was released alongside the bigger, more powerful Ryzen 7 8700G, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G, and I’m surprised by how much I liked it. This CPU is a trimmed-down offering that, while delivering most of the same major features, comes in at a much lower price point. Priced at $229, it looks to deliver exceptional performance and value for budget-focused gamers and creators.
I was unsure what to expect when I got my hands on the Ryzen 5 8600G for testing. While the early numbers looked impressive in the press decks and review guides, it is hard to imagine a sub $300 offering really standing its own as a solid CPU while also delivering playable 1080P gaming. But after testing it, I have to admit this unassuming little processor packs quite the punch thanks to major IPC and efficiency improvements with the shift to the cutting-edge 4nm manufacturing process.
| Cores/Threads | Frequency | Cache | Architecture | PCIe | DRAM | TDP | Graphics | Ryzen AI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 7 8700G | 8/16 | 5.1/4.2GHz | 24MB | Zen 4 | GEN 4 | DDR5 | 65W | RADEON 780M GRAPHICS | Yes |
| Ryzen 5 8600G | 6/12 | 5.0/4.3GHz | 22MB | Zen 4 | GEN 4 | DDR5 | 65W | RADEON 760M GRAPHICS | Yes |
| Ryzen 5 8500G | 6/12 | 5.0/3.5GHz | 22MB | 2x “Zen 4” + 4x “Zen4c” | GEN 4 | DDR5 | 65W | RADEON 740M GRAPHICS | No |
| Ryzen 3 8300G | 4/8 | 4.9/3.4GHz | 12MB | 1x “Zen 4” + 3x “Zen4c” | GEN 4 | DDR5 | 65W | RADEON 740M GRAPHICS | No |
When you break things down, the Ryzen 5 8600G is nearly identical to its bigger sibling that I also reviewed, the flagship 8700G. Both feature the latest Zen 4 CPU architecture, which brings over 15% IPC gains over the prior generation. They also have RDNA3 integrated graphics with upgraded compute units and higher clock speeds.
Where they differ is the Ryzen 5 8600G CPU makes some modest trims to appeal as a more affordable $229 offering. You get 6 cores and 12 threads rather than the 8700G’s 8 cores and 16 threads. It also has slightly lower base and boost clocks at 4.3GHz and 5.0GHz, respectively. And with a 22MB cache versus 32MB, there are some tradeoffs. Still, on paper, the Ryzen 5 8600G seems extremely capable, especially considering its 65W TDP. It also features the Ryzen AI like the 8700G, making it a great option if you want the features without the more costly price of entry.
“While understandably slower than the 8700G in multi-threaded workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G CPU holds its own and even exceeds expectations in other areas.”
As we did with the 8700G, we wanted to keep the testing environment as consistent as possible, so we slotted the CPU in our newest test bench, purpose-built for the task. Our system includes an ASUS ROG Strix b8650-A Gaming WiFi motherboard and 32 GB DDR5-6400 EXPO memory supplied by AMD, a Lexar PCI-E Gen4 2TB m.2 SSD, with a 1000Watt Gigabyte PSU, in an NZXT H5 Flow case, paired with an AMD Radeon 7900 XTX GPU. To ensure optimal performance, the test system runs the latest Windows 11 update with up-to-date drivers and software from AMD. This representative high-end configuration will allow us to thoroughly assess the new CPU’s capabilities under real-world conditions.
I put the 8600G through its paces on both synthetic benchmarks and real-world use cases. And I have to say, given its price point, this chip delivers truly exceptional performance. While understandably slower than the 8700G in multi-threaded workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G CPU holds its own and even exceeds expectations in other areas.
In single-core tests like Cinebench R23, the 8600G is only around 5% behind the 8700G, hitting 1425 points. It also exceeds the prior generation Ryzen 5600X by nearly 20%, showing the IPC and clock speed bumps add up. Encoding 4K video in Handbrake saw similarly impressive gains over Zen 3 chips. In CPU-Z, the Ryzen 5 8600G delivered a solid performance, lagging behind the 8700G, but close enough it is still in the same league as the bigger, more expensive chip.
Gaming is where the Ryzen 5 8600G really shines, thanks to its integrated RDNA3 graphics with 8 compute units. In 3DMark Time Spy, it scored over 5100 points, 30% faster than the Vega-based graphics in the 5700G. This allows playable frame rates in AAA titles at 1080p medium settings, with no discrete GPU required.
Even with the slightly less powerful specs, the Ryzen 5 8600G delivered very playable results, all without the need for a dedicated GPU. As we saw with the 8700G, Dota 2 and League of Legends both saw major improvements over the latest Intel Core i9 14900K and only lagged behind the 8700G but a few frames, a level that most people would barely notice the difference.
Even more demanding titles such as Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Hitman 3 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 1080P all kept close to what the 8700G delivered. Even with its less powerful offering, the AMD Ryzen 7 8600G CPU managed to deliver experiences well above 30 fps in all titles, with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla managing to hit 57FPS, Cyberpunk 2077 only 8 FPS slower than the 8700G at 57 FPS, and Hitman 3 showing the biggest difference with it only delivering 72 FPS compared to the 86 seen on the 8700G.
While neither chip is going to blow a dedicated GPU out of the water, these are fantastic results, considering I didn’t have to turn on the dedicated GPU at all during the tests. Combine that with the fact that this CPU is less expensive than even a mid-range GPU, and the performance you get is pretty fantastic. I am also impressed with how powerful the 8600G is compared to the 8700G, especially when you consider that it is only $229, making it a fantastic proposition for someone who just wants to jump in and play a few games from time to time.
“…the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G CPU continues AMD’s track record of delivering exceptional performance and value.”
Beyond raw performance, AMD has done an excellent job at improving efficiency with these new Ryzen processors. At stock settings, the 65W Ryzen 5 8600G only pulled about 95W at full load. Enabling Eco-Mode dropped that down to 75W with only a minimal performance hit. So you don’t need a beastly cooler to run this CPU. This means that while you get some major performance with this little chip, it won’t hurt your electric bill, especially when compared to the more powerful CPUs like the flagship Ryzen 9 7950X or the Intel Core i9 14900K.
That all being said, much like with the Ryzen 7 8700G, I have some issues with the Ryzen 5 8600G that should be pointed out before making any sort of purchasing decision. First and potentially most notable, the 8600G needs to rely on the system memory for the GPU. While the 760M manages some impressive numbers, especially for the price point, it does not have any dedicated RAM it can call on and needs to use what your system has to offer. Also, unlike the Ryzen 7000 series CPUs, the 8000G series is limited to PCIe Gen 4, so you won’t be able to take advantage of the new Gen 5 SSDs that are slowly coming out should you opt for this or any of the 8000G CPUs.
With that in mind, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G CPU continues AMD’s track record of delivering exceptional performance and value. It brings meaningful IPC and efficiency gains that allow it to outmuscle older processors—all while staying very competitively priced at just $229.
Sure, you can get more raw multi-core throughput by stepping up to something like the 8-core Ryzen 7 7700X, but you would need to add in a discrete GPU to actually use the PC to its fullest, raising costs significantly. For budget-focused DIY system builders or those wanting a single chip for moderate gaming and creator workloads, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G CPU checks all the boxes.
Between the cutting-edge Zen 4 cores and upgraded RDNA3 graphics, the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G sets a new high bar for integrated graphics performance from AMD. It pushes the limits of what is possible from a 65W processor while still hitting that magic $229 price point. The Ryzen 5 8600G just might have taken top place as my new go-to chip. AMD kicks off 2024 with an exceptional processor that offers great future-proofing at an affordable price.
