AMD has expanded its 3000 Series Ryzen CPU lineup with the announcement of two new budget CPUs. It has introduced the Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X processors based on the Zen 2 architecture. Additionally, the company also announced June 16, 2020, as the launch date for its long-overdue B550 motherboards.
AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X CPU Specifications
AMD Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X CPU are budget 4-core CPUs based on the Zen 2 architecture. Both of them have SMT enabled and eight threads each. The Ryzen 3 3300X has a base clock of 3.8GHz and a boost clock of 4.3 GHz. Ryzen 3 3100 has a slightly lower base clock of 3.6GHz and a boost clock of 3.9 GHz. Both CPUs are rated for 65W TDP.
| MODEL | CORES/ THREADS | TDP (Watts) | BASE FREQ (GHz) | BOOST FREQ (GHz) | TOTAL CACHE (MB) | PRICE (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 3 3100 | 4C/8T | 65W | 3.6 | 3.9 | 18 MB | 99 |
| AMD Ryzen 3 3300X | 4C/8T | 65W | 3.8 | 4.3 | 18 MB | 120 |
In comparison, the Ryzen 3 3400G APU that comes with RX Vega 11 Graphics costs $149. It has a base frequency of 3.7GHz and a boost frequency of 4.2 GHz. AMD also sells the 4-core Ryzen 3 3200G APU for $99, but it lacks SMT. However, Ryzen 3 3200G and 3400G feature Zen+ architecture. Zen 2 provides several enhancements over the Zen + architecture. Therefore, the Ryzen 3300X should be ahead of the Ryzen 3400G in CPU performance.
Another lucrative offering from AMD is the Ryzen 1600AF, which is a 12nm 2nd Gen Ryzen part and performs almost at par with the Ryzen 2600. It is available for as low as $85 and has six cores with twelve threads. These CPUs will be ideal for customers who want a low-cost CPU without integrated graphics. Budget buyers can choose from a handful of lucrative offerings.
Ryzen 3100 and 3300X: A Pre-emptive strike on 10th Gen Intel Core i3 CPUs?
AMD’s new Ryzen 3100 and 3300X launch can also be attributed to Intel’s soon-to-release 10th Gen CPUs. The rumor mill is abuzz with the information that Intel is planning to make hyperthreading a standard feature across most, if not all, of its processors, including i3 and i5 10th Gen processors. Intel’s 9th gen Core i3 parts included the 9100F and 9300F costing $122 and $143, respectively, but they had hyperthreading disabled. If Intel launches 10th gen Core i3 parts at the same price as its 9th Gen parts, then the latest AMD Ryzen 3 offerings will prove to be a lucrative option for buyers. One thing to note is that Intel’s CPUs will come with IGU, while the Ryzen 3 3100 and 3300X do not.
AMD B550 Launch Date
AMD also announced a launch date for its B550 motherboard lineup. They will be available for purchase starting June 16, 2020. The company has stated that there are over 60 motherboard designs in development for B550 motherboards. Buyers on a budget have been waiting for these motherboards since the launch of Ryzen 3000 lineup. Quite a few of them have opted for B450 motherboards. The chipset is expected to make PCIe 4.0 mainstream. It seems people will be able to get their hands on these boards finally.
