The Ryzen 5 8600G is a solid budget APU that combines the CPU and GPU to deliver decent gaming and professional results. The main driving factor for this APU was its 2-in-1 functionality and low price, but with AMD officially revealing the Ryzen 9000 series processors, it isn’t surprising that this chip suffered from a price drop.
However, this is great news; if you were looking to get your hands on this processor for your build, now is the time to do it. We wouldn’t be surprised if more 8000 and even 7000 series CPUs see a price drop, but only time will tell if that’ll happen.
AMD Ryzen 5 8600G
How much does the Ryzen 5 8600G cost now?
This processor was launched in Q1 of 2024 at an MSRP of $299, which is affordable compared to the heavy hitters like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D, which we’ve reviewed. So, with AMD all geared up for the next batch of Zen 5 processors, this APU is now going for $199, a whole $100 cheaper, according to camelcamelcamel.
However, the question arises: Should you get this processor just because it’s cheap? That said, we’ll quickly dive into its specifications and see what you can expect from it so you can make an informed decision.
Is getting the Ryzen 5 8600G worth it?
The answer to this question varies from scenario to scenario. For example, if you want to shift to the AM5 platform but don’t want to overspend on a CPU right now and upgrade later, this CPU should prove to be a good starting point.
It has six cores, 12 threads, a low TDP of 65W, a boost clock of 5 GHz, a base clock of 4.3 GHz, and a configurable TDP, meaning you can further lower its TDP to 45W but at the cost of slower clock speeds.
Other than that, it’s compatible with DRR5 RAM, which you’ll have to purchase if you’re moving from the LGA1700 or AM4 socket, but its next-gen performance should be worth the investment. On top of that, it comes with AMD Radeon 760M integrated graphics, which don’t have groundbreaking performance but should come in handy if your GPU stops working or you’re hunting down a faulty component as need to remove the GPU as it’ll allow the system to boot even without the GPU.
On the other hand, if you want extreme professional and in-game performance, its six cores might be lacking, and you’d be better off with a 7000 series “X” or “X3D” CPU.
