AMD Ryzen 5 8600G review: “The best value 4K processor out there”

GamesRadar+ VerdictI’ve always argued that the majority of gamers don’t actually need 7 or 9-level desktop processors, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has taken that argument to a whole new level. For what can now be found under $200, it’s an excellent CPU that’s capable of great things even at the highest resolutions, even in the most demanding games. I’m not sure I’d choose it over Intel’s equivalent due to its lesser specs, but it’s closer to our top spot than I thought it’d be.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$169.72at Amazon$169.72at Walmart$189at antonlinePros+Excellent performance for the money+Efficient, and runs cooler than the competition+NPU for those who want it+Extremely viable for smaller form factor buildsCons-Fewer cores and threads than Intel’s equivalents-Not as much headroom for content creators GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict I’ve always argued that the majority of gamers don’t actually need 7 or 9-level desktop processors, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has taken that argument to a whole new level. For what can now be found under $200, it’s an excellent CPU that’s capable of great things even at the highest resolutions, even in the most demanding games. I’m not sure I’d choose it over Intel’s equivalent due to its lesser specs, but it’s closer to our top spot than I thought it’d be.TODAY’S BEST DEALS$169.72at Amazon$169.72at Walmart$189at antonline I’ve always argued that the majority of gamers don’t actually need 7 or 9-level desktop processors, and the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G has taken that argument to a whole new level. For what can now be found under $200, it’s an excellent CPU that’s capable of great things even at the highest resolutions, even in the most demanding games. I’m not sure I’d choose it over Intel’s equivalent due to its lesser specs, but it’s closer to our top spot than I thought it’d be. TODAY’S BEST DEALS$169.72at Amazon$169.72at Walmart$189at antonline TODAY’S BEST DEALS$169.72at Amazon$169.72at Walmart$189at antonline TODAY’S BEST DEALS$169.72at Amazon$169.72at Walmart$189at antonline TODAY’S BEST DEALS $169.72at Amazon$169.72at Walmart$189at antonline $169.72at Amazon $169.72at Amazon $169.72at Walmart $169.72at Walmart $189at antonline $189at antonline Pros+Excellent performance for the money+Efficient, and runs cooler than the competition+NPU for those who want it+Extremely viable for smaller form factor builds Excellent performance for the money Efficient, and runs cooler than the competition NPU for those who want it Extremely viable for smaller form factor builds Cons-Fewer cores and threads than Intel’s equivalents-Not as much headroom for content creators Fewer cores and threads than Intel’s equivalents Not as much headroom for content creators Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. It’s August of 2024 and after months of hunting down the parts for GamesRadar+’s new AMD testing PC, I finally sit down to review the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G. Admittedly, it’s not a great time to be a modern gaming CPU. The headlines in the last four weeks have been bleak; Intel’s 13th and 14th Generation chips have been so suddenly volatile that they’ve cast the brand in an embarrassing light, and AMD’s Ryzen 9000 series has seen delays and some awkward-looking leaks, so as I begin my benchmarking, I’m a little scared to look at the screen. Thebest CPUs for gamingare a pretty demanding upgrade at the moment because, for anyone who hasn’t made the jump to a DDR5-compatible system, it can mean a whole new motherboard and memory too. For that reason, you want peace of mind that whichever one you commit to will be worth the money and will be able to harness the power of other new-gen components. Like I’ll argue in a lot of my CPU coverage, a lot of people might be surprised to learn that the latest generations of processors from Intel and AMD are so powerful that a flagship or even a Ryzen 7/i7 really isn’t necessary for the majority of us. I’ve known that for a while, and yet AMD’s Ryzen 5, which released at the start of 2024, still managed to surprise me. At launch, it had an MSRP of $229 / £218, but it’s easily found for $180 / £180 at the time of writing. For that reason, it may actually be the best value 4K processor out there. Specs and Features (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) If you compareAMD’s latest CPUs with the raw specs of Intel’s equivalents, you might be a bit puzzled at how the two compete. On paper, Intel gives people way more horsepower to gallop with. TheIntel Core i5-13600K, which currently holds our top spot on the desktop CPU ladder, has a surprising 14 cores and 20 threads compared to the respective 6 and 12 offered up here. AMD Ryzen 5 8600G key specsLaunch date:January 2024Core count:6Threads:12L3 Cache:16MBBase Clock:4.3GHzBoost Clock:Up to 5GHzMax Recommended RAM speed: 5,200MHz (I tested up to 6,000MHz)Integrated graphics: Yes, AMD Radeon 760MMotherboard socket:AM4Launch price:$229 / £218GR+’s recommended GPU pairing:For 4K: RTX 4070 / 4070 Super / AMD Radeon RX 7800X AMD Ryzen 5 8600G key specs Launch date:January 2024Core count:6Threads:12L3 Cache:16MBBase Clock:4.3GHzBoost Clock:Up to 5GHzMax Recommended RAM speed: 5,200MHz (I tested up to 6,000MHz)Integrated graphics: Yes, AMD Radeon 760MMotherboard socket:AM4Launch price:$229 / £218GR+’s recommended GPU pairing:For 4K: RTX 4070 / 4070 Super / AMD Radeon RX 7800X Launch date:January 2024Core count:6Threads:12L3 Cache:16MBBase Clock:4.3GHzBoost Clock:Up to 5GHzMax Recommended RAM speed: 5,200MHz (I tested up to 6,000MHz)Integrated graphics: Yes, AMD Radeon 760MMotherboard socket:AM4Launch price:$229 / £218GR+’s recommended GPU pairing:For 4K: RTX 4070 / 4070 Super / AMD Radeon RX 7800X In truth, that made me skeptical about how this processor would keep up with demands inside one of thebest gaming PCs, but it shouldn’t have. The truth is, as impressive as Intel’s copious amounts of cores and threads are, you very rarely put them all to use. I struggle to give that processor demanding tasks that utilize more than 20% of its capabilities, and that’s while streaming, gaming in 4K, having other apps open, and generally trying my best to push it off balance. AMD’s 16MB L3 cache is admittedly smaller than Intel’s 24MB alternative, but Team Red’s version of this quick-access library never seemed to let me down when gaming, and I have to admit that surprised me. I think the most notable difference in real terms when it comes to these architectural schools of thought is that AMD’s chip as a whole runs so much cooler, and more efficiently than Intel’s. Modern Intel chips are known to run hot, even if our13th Gen Intel Core i9 reviewfound that a strong enough AIO cooler can keep anything cool. For this review, I was testing with a solid AIO fromAsus, but I was still astounded at how calm the processor stayed under pressure. If I can manage to keep a 13th Gen i5 cooled with just air inside my small form factor PC, this thing would be such a viable option for that sort of build. (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) Like Intel’s XMP technology, this processor comes armed with AMD EXPO, which allows your system to fully make the most of thebest RAM for gaming. Not only that, but EXPO feels particularly beefy - offering what seems like a more advanced suite of finetuning and overclocking options for your CPU as well as your memory. Personally, I have very little interest in AI-enhanced PC parts, but this is one of the first desktop processors on the shelves with an integrated NPU inside it. In theory, this is supposed to speed up AI and machine learning applications, allowing your CPU and GPU to carry on concentrating on other demanding tasks. This is great, but I don’t tend to use a lot of these applications and am broadly wary of giant corporations making AI their biggest priority all at once. It feels like an unregulated, yet extremely fast-growing technology, and we’re still trying to play catchup with how that equation worked out on social media platforms. My hesitancy aside, I doubt an NPU is something an everyday gamer will benefit from, but at least AMD has a slightly cheaper option of this processor without the NPU for those like me, who have no real interest. Performance (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) When I first started testing this chip, I intended to test it at 1080p, since that’s how I benchmarked the 13600K. The two processors are more or less direct competitors, after all, and even if I do use my 13600K for 4K gaming, the majority of people probably don’t expect that of the 8600G. Regardless, I decided to push the envelope out a little more. What if an under-$200 desktop processor could be the 4K performer that no one expected? Of course, this meant running it through our usual tests, albeit at the highest resolution with maxed-out settings. Before I got stuck into gaming, I hit up Cinebench and Blender, my two favorite industry-standard hamster wheels for CPUs. The results were as I expected. Because of the fewer cores and threads, and the lack of performance cores on the most recent Intel processors, benchmarking scores weren’t quite as solid as the 13600K. Cinebench’s multicore score came in at a high of 14,037pts, which isn’t exactly competitive with the 13600K’s mean score of 20,850 across three tests. The single core performance was a more entertaining contest though, with Intel’s i5 achieving 1930pts, and the 8600G scoring 1792pts. Swipe to scroll horizontallyAMD Ryzen 5 8600G Benchmarking TestsCinebench Multicore:13832pts | 78°CCinebench Single Core:1792pts | 45°CBlender Monster:85.000463spm | 70°CBlender Junkshop:63.876657spm | 71°CBlender Classroom:43.075214spm | 72°C Swipe to scroll horizontally AMD Ryzen 5 8600G Benchmarking TestsCinebench Multicore:13832pts | 78°CCinebench Single Core:1792pts | 45°CBlender Monster:85.000463spm | 70°CBlender Junkshop:63.876657spm | 71°CBlender Classroom:43.075214spm | 72°C Swipe to scroll horizontallyTotal War Warhammer 3 Benchmarks (4K)Row 0 - Cell 0Campaign BenchmarkBattle BenchmarkMirrors of Madness BenchmarkPeak Temp36°C40°C46°CCore Voltage1.27V1.28V1.29VPeak percentage used15%10%19%FPS45fps53fps42fps Swipe to scroll horizontally Total War Warhammer 3 Benchmarks (4K)Row 0 - Cell 0Campaign BenchmarkBattle BenchmarkMirrors of Madness BenchmarkPeak Temp36°C40°C46°CCore Voltage1.27V1.28V1.29VPeak percentage used15%10%19%FPS45fps53fps42fps As you can see, temperatures and voltages were extremely manageable, which says a lot about the efficiency of AMD’s Zen 4 architecture, but also the cooling prowess of Asus’s ROG Strix LC III 360 ARGB cooler. Frame rates, even with a hefty 16GB GPU, did come in under the coveted 60fps most gamers will be looking for. In fairness, these are tests done to simulate harder workloads, and I had the settings cranked up to full. I have no doubt that 4K60 gameplay would be more than possible with the right settings configured - even if you were using a slightly less powerful graphics card. Peak percentage numbers are notably higher across the board in these results than Intel’s option. That said, the Core voltages here are almost equal. I didn’t formally note down the wattages for each test in this review, but whenever I checked them, AMD’s were lower. Next up were the tests in Cities: Skylines, one of the most popular city-builders out there. While there’s no dedicated benchmarking tool in this game, I like to load up three highly demanding fan-made scenarios and play around while jotting down some stats. The following was what I found from the 8600G: Swipe to scroll horizontallyCities: Skylines 4K BenchmarksRow 0 - Cell 0Belmont City Transport ScenarioParadise Coast Traffic ScenarioPresidente Los SantosPeak Temp37°C35°C40°CPeak percentage used6%4%9%Average FPS71fps69fps39fps Swipe to scroll horizontally Cities: Skylines 4K BenchmarksRow 0 - Cell 0Belmont City Transport ScenarioParadise Coast Traffic ScenarioPresidente Los SantosPeak Temp37°C35°C40°CPeak percentage used6%4%9%Average FPS71fps69fps39fps These results were a lot more playable, even with settings dialed all the way up. Especially impressive here was the peak percentage of use, since these numbers were more or less on par with the 13600K. The last tests were Homeworld 3 and Planet Zoo. When I first launched the Homeworld benchmark, there were some obvious stutters - these quickly subsided though, and while 8% of the CPU was utilized, I did get a score of 45fps. This wasn’t enough for me though, so I played around with some settings, tried a few more times, and I was able to get that coveted 4K60 frame rate I was wanting. Planet Zoo was even more of a feather in this processor’s cap. As I zoomed over the skies of my first park, I saw that an encouraging peak percentage of 4% was on screen - but the average frame rate was just shy of the mark at 59fps with maxed settings. Again, not a total disaster, since dialing even one setting down would get it over the “playable” line. Should you buy the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G? (Image credit: Future / Duncan Robertson) Finally, I can’t ignore that price, nor AMD’s long-term commitment to its CPU architecture. Its 2016 motherboard socket is still being supported with new releases, so if you do choose to join Team Red, you’ve potentially got years of upgrading left before getting a new motherboard. Plus, if you’re like me and have no interest in that AI-tilted NPU, you can get the 8500G for even cheaper. Today’s best AMD Ryzen 5 8600G deals$169.72View$229$169.72View$189ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best AMD Ryzen 5 8600G deals$169.72View$229$169.72View$189ViewShow More DealsWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices Today’s best AMD Ryzen 5 8600G deals $169.72View$229$169.72View$189View $169.72View $169.72View $169.72View $169.72 $169.72 $229$169.72View $229$169.72View $229$169.72View $229$169.72 $169.72 $189View $189View $189View $189 $189 Show More Deals Show More Deals We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices How I tested the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G I put the AMD Ryzen 5 8600G inside GamesRadar+’s latest testing PC to examine how it performed. I ran it through our usual ringer of tests and benchmarks, using HWiNFO to monitor its temperatures, voltages, percentages, and more. The rest of the rig we tested alongside this processor was made up of the following components: For more onhow we test gaming PCsand their components, check out theGamesRadar+ Hardware Policy. You might want to check out our thoughts on thebest graphics cards, thebest PC cases, and thebest SSDs for gaming. AMD Ryzen 5 8600G: Price Comparison $169.72View$229$169.72View$189View$224.99View$412.11$293.48View $169.72View $169.72View $169.72View $169.72 $169.72 $229$169.72View $229$169.72View $229$169.72View $229$169.72 $169.72 $189View $189View $189View $189 $189 $224.99View $224.99View $224.99View $224.99 $224.99 $412.11$293.48View $412.11$293.48View $412.11$293.48View $412.11$293.48 $293.48 We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices TOPICSAMDIntel TOPICS CATEGORIESPC GamingPlatforms CATEGORIES LatestLeague of Legends co-creator responds to report that Arcane was a “financial miss,” says “people think we make things like Arcane to sell skins, when in reality we sell skins to make things like Arcane"After hours of number-crunching, one Marvel Rivals player has laid out the true meta – and Iron Fist’s ranking feels alarmingJames Gunn says his DC shows will likely stick to the “one episode a week” schedule moving forward: “It affords a quality show an opportunity to be 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tension"2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package"3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure"4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years"5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths"1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show"2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie"3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action"4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien"5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite"1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses"3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist"4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands"5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 1 Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 2 Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 3 Path of Exile 2 review: “A stellar start to a thrilling and brutal dark adventure” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 4 Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review: “The best adventure Indy has embarked on in over 30 years” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 5 Marvel Rivals review: “So preoccupied with trying to be like Overwatch that it forgets to play to its own strengths” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 1 Sonic the Hedgehog 3 review: “Keanu Reeves as Shadow is wasted whilst Jim Carrey steals the show” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 2 Mufasa: The Lion King review – “It’s no Hakuna Matata but this Disney origin story is a class above the 2019 movie” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 3 Kraven the Hunter review: “The insistence on an R-rating helps save this, with a decent helping of bloodthirsty action” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 4 The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review – “An uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 5 Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 1 Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: “Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 2 Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 3 Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 4 Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place” 5 Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”