As GPU Prices Soar, AMD Launches Impressive New Integrated Graphics Chip
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Integrated graphics processors (IGPs) have never really been suited for PC gaming; instead, IGPs offer a convenient way for computers to do video output without stuffing a discrete GPU into a system. However, AMD has flipped the script with the release of the Ryzen 5 2400G and Ryzen 3 2200G, which are variants on the previously released Ryzen CPUs but with its Vega graphics technology packed inside. The result is an all-in-one chip (an APU) that is now the most powerful integrated graphics solution thus far.
Both Ryzen APUs launched this week, and in the midst of the price inflation and scarcity of graphics cards due to cryptocurrency mining. The 2400G and 2200G might be a viable solution for those looking to build a new Ryzen-based system but can’t snag a decently priced video card just yet. It’s an option if you want to hold off until prices return to normal (whenever that may be) and still need a working system. Benchmarks across the internet have shown both chips to perform competently at 1080p in some of the less graphically demanding PC games.
The Ryzen 5 2400G is a four-core, eight-thread CPU with a base clock of 3.6GHz and boost clock of 3.9GHz; as far as processing power goes, the 2400G closely aligns itself with the Ryzen 5 1500X. On the graphics side, it features the Radeon Vega 11 graphics processor (with 11 compute units) clocked at 1250MHz. What this translates to is decent performance in games like Civilization VI and Rocket League. According to Anandtech, 2400G was able to average 32.66 FPS and 99th percentile-low (to eliminate anomalous frame dips) of 22.15 FPS in Civ VI at 1080p and Ultra settings. As for Rocket League, the chip maintained an average of 51.84 FPS at 1080p and Ultra settings.
The 2400G tends to struggles in more demanding games, however. Based on the numbers from ExtremeTech, the chip produced a 49 FPS average and 18 FPS minimum at 1080p and Low settings in Hitman. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided asks a lot from PCs, and the 2400G was able to muster a 51 FPS average and 37 FPS minimum using 720p resolution and Low settings. It’s somewhat playable, but less than ideal. One surprise came from PC Gamer‘s benchmarks in which Grand Theft Auto V ran a 60.5 FPS average and 47.6 FPS minimum (97th percentile) at 1080p with Medium settings.
When you look at the history of integrated graphics performance, it’s easy to come away impressed by AMD’s new APUs. The Ryzen 5 2400G carries an MSRP of $170 USD, which is comparable to the Ryzen 5 1500X–except you essentially get a free GPU, though. In many benchmarks, these chips outperform the IGPs on Intel’s 7th-gen and 8th-gen CPUs by wide margins. However, Ryzen APUs are a ways off from displacing low-end discrete desktop GPUs; you’ll see the RX 560 and GTX 1050 video cards ahead in all tests. But when you factor peformance-per-dollar and the fact that it’s all in one processing unit, these chips aren’t a bad choice as we wait for GPU prices to settle down.
We’re going to be putting our own Ryzen 5 2400G APU to the test to see how far we can push it and which kinds of games and settings it can run. In the meantime, catch up on how AMD and Intel are partnering to bring about new graphics solutions for laptops. For more on how AMD’s processors perform, check out our review of the Ryzen 5 1600X and 1500X CPUs.
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February 13, 2018 at 03:07PM