Mid-range Ryzen CPU + Low-end GPU or new Ryzen APU?

[A.Baird3]

I'm not up on specs currently (haven't been for a long time), but I'm considering a new build in the near future, I've been waiting for the new Ryzen apu's to come out to compare prices. It will be a budget+ build but I still want a decent system. I'm not a gamer so I don't need powerful graphics and already have a GeForce GT 1030 which is good enough. I also have 16GB of DDR 4 ram sitting around. Options below:

AMD Ryzen APU 8600G - £220 / AMD Ryzen APU 8700G - £310

or

AMD Ryzen 7 7700 - £315
with
GeForce GT 1030

Would the graphics card be a bottle-neck if I put it with the Ryzen 7 7700. How do both the 8600G and 8700G compare in performance to the 7700 when graphics is taken out of the equation? If the 8700G is similar specs then it would negate the need for the low-end graphics card and come in at the same price.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

 

[Tetras]

Would the graphics card be a bottle-neck if I put it with the Ryzen 7 7700.

For gaming: obviously. But, what exactly do you do with your PC? Hard to answer without knowing that.

If the 8700G is similar specs then it would negate the need for the low-end graphics card and come in at the same price.

The 7700 has a low-end integrated graphics already, are you aware of that?

How do both the 8600G and 8700G compare in performance to the 7700 when graphics is taken out of the equation?

A lot of the early reviews were hit by the skin temperature bug so this might not be right, but from what I can see: (outside of gaming) the 8600G is more like a 7500F and the 8700G not that far behind the 7700.

 

[mickyflinn]

If your wanting to reuse your gt1030 and 16gb ddr4 your going to have to go Am4 or intel.

 

[srekal34]

What do you use your PC for? Ryzen 7700x has integrated grsphics so you dont need to use 1030 anyway.

 

[Quartz]

You might find an Intel solution much cheaper. An Intel 12100 or 13100 plus a GTX 1650 or Arc A580 should produce a far better gaming experience. I would not game on a GTX 1030.

How many cores do you need? What is your non-gaming use of the PC?

How do both the 8600G and 8700G compare in performance to the 7700 when graphics is taken out of the equation?

They have less cache.

You will find this video worth watching:

 

[A.Baird3]

Thanks for the replies so far. To elaborate on a few questions.

Main use is general day-to-day stuff, but I often do a bit of file compression/decomression. Also a bit of video encoding, usually Handbrake. Video recording with OBS Studio. VS Code from time to time.

With the DDR4 ram I have considered stepping down to an AM4 board, but RAM isn't hugely expensive so an AM5 board provides a future upgrade path.

I've looked at Intel, but I've think it's widely the view that there's more bang-for-buck with AMD, I believe this is still the general concensus.

From what's been said I'm gathering it might be best to go with the 7700 and my low-end graphics card. However I didn't know the 7700X had a graphics component. However the former is lower power at 65W so is easier to cool with the stock cooler. Not to mention electricity bills.

 

[Tetras]

Also a bit of video encoding, usually Handbrake. Video recording with OBS Studio. VS Code from time to time.

Intel's integrated graphics can actually be quite powerful for this kind of stuff, due to the hardware acceleration, you can get an idea in these videos:

Why creators NEED an iGPU alongside their dGPU - Intel QuickSync

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I don't know what kind of acceleration the AMD AM5 CPUs or APUs have and it is practically impossible to find detailed benchmarks on the IGPs for productivity.

This review shows the 14600K performing pretty well though, usually not far behind the 7900 non-X:

AMD Ryzen 7 8700G and Ryzen 5 8600G Review: Zen 4 APUs with RDNA3 Graphics

www.anandtech.com

I didn't know the 7700X had a graphics component

Not just the 7700X, they all have it. The only AM5 CPU that doesn't is the 7500F.

easier to cool with the stock cooler

That wouldn't be hard for the 7700X, since it doesn't have a stock cooler

I've looked at Intel, but I've think it's widely the view that there's more bang-for-buck with AMD, I believe this is still the general consensus.

For gaming, they're often a better buy, but for productivity (or mixed usage) Intel tends to have the advantage, though the 7900 non-X still performs quite well in performance and power efficiency (review here).

 

[A.Baird3]

@Tetras Appreciate the links, I'll check out those tomorrow. I had kind of discounted Intel, but it will be interesting to look again. Considering my use is productivuty, not gaming.

 

[srekal34]

@Tetras Appreciate the links, I'll check out those tomorrow. I had kind of discounted Intel, but it will be interesting to look again. Considering my use is productivuty, not gaming.

Then Intel is a no brainer. 14600k stumps 7600x in productivity. AMD is great for gaming(although mainly x3d parts) but in lower tiers Intel is very competitive. Moreover, 13400 is generally less power hungry than 7600x for example.

 

[A.Baird3]

Great information. My eyes are on Intel now.