REVIEW: AMD Ryzen 5 3400G with 12nm Zen+ cores

AMD Ryzen 5 3400G is the new AMD APU that we present today in our analysis or review, a model that is an evolution of the previous Ryzen 5 2400G and that this case has new Zen+ 12nm CPU cores. These APUs have for their graphic section of the integrated Radeon Vega GPU that allows us to play at a good level many of the most popular titles. This new APU has a consumption of only 65W TPD that allows us to mount a desktop or HTPC PC with very interesting multimedia features for a really tight price. Let’s see what this new AMD APU offers us and how it comes into competition with the same Intel range.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Specifications

The main difference between this new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G with the previous model AMD Ryzen 5 2400G is the change of Zen cores to 14nm that become Zen+ made in 12nm FinFET, something that implies an improvement in efficiency and a small rise in the working speed In the graphic section we have the same Radeon Vega 11 GPU that also has an increase in speed although it is quite symbolic.

We also have internal improvements such as the new Precision boost 2 that refines the performance per core, the latencies in the L1 / L2 / L3 and DRAM cache are also improved, JEDEC DDR4-2933 memory support, IPC performance is also improved (Instructions per cycle) by 3%. The consumption is maintained with 45-65W cTPD but in this model we have Indium as a thermal material that improves the heat dissipation in the encapsulation, a Wraith Spire fan designed for processors with a maximum consumption of 95W TPD is included.

START UP

Testing hardware

We connect all the components of the test platform of the new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G without complications, as we have seen the Socket is still the AM4 but we must bear in mind that we must have an updated BIOS before installing the processor. The RAM if we are going to orientate ourselves to games has to be as fast as possible since the integrated Vega GPU will make use of it.

To assemble the set we have opted for the following elements:

System and user experience

We boot up the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G in our test hardware with the Windows 10 Home 64bit system, we do not have the slightest detection problem with the ASRock board that is already correctly updated at the BIOS level. The user environment moves very fast and we can run the applications without problems, apart from our amount of RAM, the processor is quick to see applications such as browsing the internet, playing any type of 1080p or 4K video and running applications from design to a certain point of complexity in the projects.

• OS Version installed: Windows 10 Home v1903 / Version 1809 minimum required.
• Tutorials: Control the mini PC with your Smartphone Android or iOS

Support and other operating systems

From the AMD website we can download the necessary drivers for the Radeon Vega chipset and GPU, this APU uses the normal drivers that AMD is updating, luckily, something that does not happen with the integrated solutions for laptops as we have seen in our review of a HP Envy x360 notebook with Ryzen 5 2500U.

• Other OS: LibreELEC for PC compatible / Ubuntu compatible

HARDWARE TEST

Storage, RAM and Ports

We perform speed tests on the new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G APU using a PNY XLR8 CS3030 NVMe M.2 500GB disk. As we see the results are correct and we obtain the maximum speed of the storage devices, we did not notice any loss of performance in this aspect.

• Input support: USB 3.1 Gen2 x4 / USB 3.1 Gen1 / USB 2.0 / PCIe Gen3 x8 / SATA x2
• Tutorials: Download, install or update Windows 10 from a USB drive / Migrate Windows from one disk to another

For the testing of this new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G APU we have 16 GB of GSkill Flare X DDR4 3200MHz memory configured in Dual Channel, the figures we have as we can see remain in correct values and equal to the higher Ryzen APU. The speed in Dual Channel as we see in the values are correct, a speed that is critical to get the maximum performance to the integrated Vega GPU, an important point since we can not overclock much the CPU.

Electric consumption, temperature and noise

We checked the consumption of the new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G, thanks to the new architecture at 12nm FinFET and the integrated specifications have an excellent consumption of only 65W TPD. As we can see with our test hardware with the whole set assembled and in stage of maximum performance we only reach 115W, during a gameplay for example the power consumption stays at 70/80W.

In our test we have tested with the default fan Wraith Spire it behaves correctly and in our tests it has always been silent unless we take it to the maximum, something very difficult. Undoubtedly a more than enough addition to this APU, in the Ryzen 3200G model we have a Wraith Stealth that also seems sufficient.

• Measuring temperature: 24ºC.
• External temperature: 43ºC maximum at the motherboard.
• Noise: Desktop 20db @ 1000 rpm / Gaming 29db @ 1900 rpm / Full 42db @ 3200 rpm

We perform several types of thermal tests to check the performance in each use scenario, with this data we can get an idea of the real global performance that the system will have during its useful life. The data as we can see are similar to those we had in the previous Ryzen 5 2400G model.

• Extreme performance: Temperature 82ºC Max. / CPU 4.02 GHz / Without thermal throttling.
• Performance in games: LOL 57ºC / CPU 4.02 GHz media.

PERFORMANCE TEST

Processor

The new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G APU with four Zen+ CPUs at 12nm and eight threads of execution up to 4.2GHz, has a Radeon Vega 11 GPU with a maximum speed of 1GHz, as we have seen in its very continuous specifications with respect to the previous AMD Ryzen 5 2400G. The overall performance is very good, we must bear in mind that we are before a processor with a consumption of only 65W TPD and that has a fairly powerful integrated GPU, a rival for the Intel mid-range models with a very weak integrated GPU.

• If you want to know some of the compared models you can read our detailed reviews in this link.

The Cinebench test reflects well the raw performance of this processor, as we see the CPU is at the level of its Intel rivals, surpassing even more powerful models in some factors, the differences with the Ryzen 5 2400G are few.

If we pass the Geekbench test we find figures very similar to the previous test which gives us a confirmation of those figures, we have similar results in CPU and good at GPU level.

With the 3DMark test we can see how this APU is unmarked from the Intel Integrated GPUs and it is in a good position with respect to similar APUs taking into account the limited consumption of this type of products.

At the level of general we use PCMark that gives us some values for the use of desktop where we see results combined between the use of the CPU and the GPU, the values reflect a pretty good performance and exceed the previous model.

Games

We passed our performance tests on games on the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G, the results are quite good and the Radeon Vega 11 GPU offers us good performance in many titles that are totally impossible to play in Intel processors with integrated HD Graphics GPU, even in demanding titles . As we can see in the results we can play in the most powerful AAA titles at correct fps if we stay in 1080/720p resolutions with low detail, in the most common titles we can use 1080p without problems, the emulators are also feasible but at most we stay in some titles of Wii

• Settings in Radeon Vega 11 GPU: Medium quality, without VSync, 1080p.
• Settings in Intel HD Graphics GPU: Low quality, without VSync, 720p.

With the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G we have performed a performance test with the game League of legends (LOL) which is quite lightweight and we can play at 122fps with 1080p resolution, DOTA 2 is more demanding and we normally have 10fps less. In much more demanding games like GTA V already need to lower some details to low levels but it is playable at 1080p, others like the last Tomb Raider is possible to play it at 720p.

We perform a special test with CS:GO and see that we stay at 85 fps playing at 1080p if we lower the textures to medium quality and disable some post-processor effects. A perfectly playable title at a good graphic level.

The popular Fortnite title we stay at 56 fps if we play at 1080p with medium settings, with low quality settings we stay at about 72 fps, if we download it at 720p resolution the fluidity is already total with medium / high settings.

Overclock

The new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G APU allows minimal overclock, we can use the AMD Ryzen Master app or another compatible one like that of our motherboard. The results are certainly not very noticeable, interestingly in the Ryzen 5 3400GE model of lower consumption that has not yet gone on sale and possibly remains in pre-assembled models.

VIDEO AND AUDIO TESTS

Playback test

At the level of video playback in the  new APU AMD Ryzen 5 3400G, it has an integrated Radeon Vega 11 GPU that has a VPU identical to the AMD Ryzen 5 2400G model. We have hardware support for the HVEC codec and for VP9, in this processor we have support for 10bit color video, we also have HDR compatibility although on our screen we had to try several settings until we reached the appropriate screen mode to activate this function in Windows.

• Ports: HDMI 2.0a, Freesync and DP 1.4 output support with 4K @ 60fps resolutions.
• Compatibility: HVEC with good performance / correct VP9 P2 format / HDR settings depend on each monitor / TV.
• Audio: The audio depends on the sound hardware of the chosen motherboard.
• Configuration tutorial: Playback 4K videos with HEVC and VP9 seamlessly on Android and Windows
• If we are interested we can use KODI with add-ons or we can test the LibreELEC operating system for PC

Video results

• The maximum bitrate depends on the port used to connect or the limitations of the SAMBA Networks.

Streaming services

We perform performance tests with the AMD Ryzen 5 3400G on the most popular streaming services such as YouTube, Netflix, HBO and Amazon Prime Video with their native apps or using the most compatible browser. We verify that the Netflix service can reach up to 4K , you have step by step guide to can playback this quality, read it.

• Performance: Has hardware acceleration for VP9 4K codec on Youtube.
• Tutorial: Add-on for Chrome to force h.264 if we have problems with VP9.

Requisites to playback Netflix 4K with Ryzen APUs

• Last driver version with DRM Playready 3.0
• Use EDGE browser or the Netflix native app
• Use a HDCP 2.2 TV o monitor
• Install the HVEC codec from the Microsoft Store
• Reboot

CONCLUSIONS

Score

Opinion

After analyzing the new APU AMD Ryzen 5 3400G we can say that we are facing a very continuist product with respect to the previous AMD Ryzen 5 2400G model. A processor that is still very attractive in order to mount a powerful mini PC without a dedicated GPU or an HTPC with gaming functions. This model allows us to play thanks to its GPU Radeon Vega 11 integrated to quite powerful games, even AAA titles adjusting us at the detail level, with 1080p resolution or occasionally 720p. A GPU that also allows us to playback 4K60fps video without problems in the most modern formats h.265 and VP9.

This new AMD Ryzen 5 3400G with a consumption of 65W TPD does not cause us any thermal problem with the default fan, a product that is included by default and that is luckily of quite good quality as well as silent. This APU has hard competition in price with dedicated CPU + GPU combos, but win easy agains with integrated GPU solutions where it only has desktop competition with Intel HD GPUs that are well below.

In general, as we see an excellent product for those looking for a solution with integrated GPU, we have in the same package a CPU that allows working at a good level and a GPU for decent gaming. In addition as HTPC allows us to play all kinds of content without problems in 4K HDR quality including Netflix, in short a very interesting product.

WHERE TO BUY

AMD Ryzen 5 3400G

0.00

8.6

Power

8.5/10

Thermals

9.0/10

GPU

8.5/10

VPU

8.5/10

Price

8.5/10

Pros

• High performance APU
• Excellent in video playback
• Powerful games up to 1080p
• Low thermals
• Price

Cons

• Small evolution from 2400G