AMD Ryzen 3 1300X Processor Review

Alright folks, this is going to be a fast one. Today, we are taking a look at AMD’s Ryzen 3 1300X CPU. A multi-threaded processor from the Ryzen family featuring 4-cores and 4-threads operating with a base clock of 3.5 GHz. 

If the Ryzen 5 1500X is a well-rounded CPU for mainstream applications, then the 1300X is the toned down version of that CPU. Think of it as the base 1500X with the same TDP and clock ratings but without the extra threads. AMD’s SMT is cool and all but for $40 less, the $129 1300X could be the budget performer that you are looking for.

AMD Ryzen Processors

On the performance side, the Zen microarchitecture represents a leap in core execution capability versus AMD’s previous desktop designs. Notably, the Zen architecture features a 1.75X larger instruction scheduler window and 1.5X greater issue width and resources; this change allows Zen to schedule and send more work into the execution units. Further, a new micro-op cache allows Zen to bypass L2 and L3 cache when utilizing frequently-accessed micro operations.

A high-performance engine requires fuel, and the Zen architecture’s throughput characteristics deliver in this regard. Chief amongst the changes are major revisions to cache hierarchy with dedicated 64KB L1 instruction and data caches, 512KB dedicated L2 cache per core, and 8MB of L3 cache shared across four cores.

Beyond adopting the more power efficient 14nm FinFET process, the Zen architecture specifically utilizes the density-optimized version of the Global Foundries 14nm FinFET process. This permits for smaller die sizes and lower operating voltages across the complete power/performance curve.

Scalability in the Zen architecture starts with the CPU Complex (CCX), a natively 4C8T module. Each CCX has 64K L1 I-cache, 64K L1 D-cache, 512KB dedicated L2 cache per core, and 8MB L3 cache shared across cores. Each core within the CCX may optionally feature SMT for additional multi-threaded capabilities. More than one CCX can be present in a Zen-based product.

AMD A320 Chipset

AMD’s AM4 Platform currently consists of 5 chipsets. That’s the X370, A/B350, A320, X300 and the A300 chipset in chronological order.

The A320 sits flush next to the B350, dubbed by AMD as an essential computing chipset. It supports memory overclocking, has plenty of IO options but doesn’t support multi-GPU technology.

Power

System power consumption is evaluated during idle and a 15-minute load via the AIDA64 System Stability Test. Power readings are recorded with a watt-meter.

Temperature

The AIDA64 System Stability Test is also used to evaluate the system thermals. Readings are taken with AIDA64 and is cross-referenced with HWiNFO.

Power figures are almost similar to the 1500X, while the temperature is far less at 54°C max.

Processor and Memory

Super PI is a single-threaded program that calculates pi to a specified number of digits after the decimal point. It is a widely used benchmark and stress test within the industry.

WPrime is a multi-threaded program that calculates a set number of square roots for estimating functions. It verifies the results by squaring them, then compares it with the original numbers.

The AIDA64 Memory Benchmark measure the data transfer bandwidth and latency of the system memory. On this benchmark, we are measuring the memory kit’s latency.

Our single threaded benchmark suggests that the Ryzen 3 1300X is comparable to the Ryzen 5 1500X’s performance. Multi-threaded though and without the extra SMT cores, the Ryzen 3 1300X showed that it is lagging behind. Memory latency performance is comparable to the rest of the Ryzen chips.

Productivity

GIMP or GNU Image Manipulation Program, is a free and open-source image editing tool. A 7 MB worth of images is be processed and converted to gauge the system performance.

HandBrake is a free video encoding tool that supports a wide variety of media codecs. A 150MB worth MP4 video is converted using the H.264 codec to gauge the system performance.

WinRAR is a file archive utility that can create, view and unpack numerous archive file formats. The software’s built in benchmark tool is utilized to gauge the system performance.

GIMP loves high frequency and chips with good memory latency. On this benchmark, the Ryzen 3 1300X is on par with even the Ryzen 5 1600X model. HandBrake is not its strong suite though, which means it just had a decent combination of thread count, cache performance and clock speeds. It is also the slowest at WinRAR.

Gaming

Battlefield 4 is Electronic Art’s popular First Person Shooter, running on the Frostbite 3 game engine developed by DICE. It utilizes the DirectX 11 and the Mantle API.

DIRT: Rally is CODEMASTER’s take on the rally racing game genre. It utilizes the EGO game engine with support for the DirectX 11 API.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is CDProjekt RED’s award-winning Action Adventure RPG. The Witcher 3 utilizes the REDengine 3 with DirectX 11 support.

Gaming performance wise, you’d be happy to find out that the Ryzen 3 1300X is pretty much neck to neck with the other Ryzen models. If your main purpose is gaming alone, then this is the CPU to get from the family.

Conclusion

The performance of the Ryzen 3 1300X is generally good on our benchmarks. It is not exceptional, falling within my expectations featuring the same single core capabilities of the Ryzen 5 1500X CPU.

While the higher end SMT enabled Ryzen CPUs are monstrous when it comes to multi-threaded apps, the Ryzen 3 1300X is not. Its main selling point is not the amount of cores but its capability to provide a gaming experience similar to other higher end Ryzen products.

That of course still depends on the future. Whether it could actually hold up with games made for CPUs with more than 4 cores. For now, the Ryzen 3 1300X is an excellent budget proposal for gaming especially when paired with a cheap A320 board.