Ryzen 3 3200G or Ryzen 5 3400G - need help making a decision

Chris Green

Chris Green

Chris Green

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18 Feb 2020
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Location
Ruislip, Middlesex
Hi all

Returning to this forum after a very long absence (so long that my original account has been nuked). I need some advice please on which of the two processors in the title to purchase (explanation for the indecision below)

I'm currently building a new Mini-ITX rig. As has always been my preference, I'm going AMD rather than Intel.

Spec so far (all items already purchased):
  • Thermaltake Core V1 Mini ITX Cube case
  • Aorus B450 I Pro Wifi Mini-ITX Motherboard
  • 32GB Crucial Ballistix Sport LT 3200 MHz, DDR4, CL16, Red
  • 3TB Storage (2x 1TB Seagate Barracuda 3.5inch SATA, 2x 480GB no-name brand 2.5inch SATA SSD)

My intention had been to buy a Ryzen 5 3400G CPU. However, most retailers are suddenly out of stock and showing 1-2 month lead times, and the few that have stock have jacked up their prices. I begrudge paying over the odds for it.

The alternative is the Ryzen 3 3200G. Obviously it is a lesser spec chip, but I'm struggling to get my head around how much of a compromise it would be compared to the Ryzen 5 3400G.

So, my question is - how much of a real-world performance difference is there between the two and is it really worth parking my build until I can get the Ryzen 5 3400G, or should I just buy the Ryzen 3 3200G now and get on with it.

Cheers
Chris
 
Hi @tamzzy
It's an all-rounder machine.
Will be doing everything from email and extensive web browsing to full HD video streaming, some gaming (I don't envisage this being a hardcore gaming rig, but I would like to be able to play the most popular current games at a playable quality and pace), desktop publishing, downloading etc.
Cheers
Chris
 
Chris Green said:
some gaming (I don't envisage this being a hardcore gaming rig, but I would like to be able to play the most popular current games at a playable quality and pace),
Click to expand...

Ryzen 3600 + GTX 1650 Super. The 3200G and 3400G will leave you disappointed with gaming performance. And you don't need 32 GB RAM; 16 GB will be fine.
 
Hi @Quartz
Ryzen 3600 + GTX 1650 Super will run me about £300 (about twice my available budget). So as much as I would like to go that way, can't afford it at this stage. One for the future for sure. For now, my budget is in the £120-140 range, which is the cost of a 3400G at OCUK and most other reputable outlets (if any of them actually had it in stock).

As I mentioned in my original post, the 32GB RAM has already been bought. I got a good Amazon daily deal on it (and was bought on the basis of RAM being a shared resource between system and video). I pretty much got it for the price of 16GB, so not worth sending it back and downgrading.

It really needs to be a choice between the two processors I stated (or any other Ryzen with integrated graphics within the stated budget).
Thanks
Chris
 
With 3200 memory the 3400G is surprising capable in games. I think I’d lean towards 3400G and overclock it to extract some extra value. More graphics power the ability to run and 8 threads over 4.
 
Personally I would go with something like the 1600AF and a rx550. It works out roughly the same price for more performance.
 
Kurgen said:
^^ this, £160 notes for a Ryzen 1600AF and XFX RX 550.. no brainer to me
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If you shop around you can pick up an rx550 for £35, I sold one of my single slot xfx cards for £35 last week. Something like that alongside a new 1600AF I recon you could get within the £150 budget. Also if you do that you can just upgrade the gpu when you need more performance and have a bit of cash to spare.

There are warranty repaired saphire pulse cards on the bay for £40 delivered right now that look to be the baffin based cards so you can unlock 20% more shaders on them and turn them into an rx560 performance card :) If you know what you are looking for there are some potentially good cards at the low end that will server you well for £40.
 
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