We tested the Ryzen 3 2200G CPU, which has four cores, four threads and 3.7 GHz maximum clock, bringing an integrated Vega 8 GPU, that is part of the most recent graphics chips family from AMD. Is it a good choice for a low-cost gaming PC? Check it out!
The Ryzen 3 2200G, along with the Ryzen 5 2400G, is the first Ryzen CPU with Vega integrated GPU (iGPU.) The main differences between these two models are the presence of the SMT technology on the Ryzen 5, which makes it offer eight threads, and the model of the iGPU, since the Ryzen 3 2200G brings Vega 8 (eight compute units) and the Ryzen 5 2400G has the Vega 11 (11 compute units) GPU. Both the CPUs use 14 nm manufacturing process, have a TDP of 65 W, and are unlocked for overclocking.
These CPUs are compatible with the AM4 motherboards launched last year, with the first Ryzen processors. However, you may have to update the motherboard BIOS in order to achieve compatibility.
While the Ryzen 3 2200G is similar to the Ryzen 3 1200 (both of them have four cores and four threads,) they have different structures. Ryzen CPUs are based on CCX (core complex) modules, and each CCX has four processing cores, 512 kiB of L2 cache for each core, and 8 MiB of shared L3 cache. On the Ryzen 3 1200, there are two CCX, each one with two disabled cores and half the L3 cache, so this CPU has a “2+2” structure. On the Ryzen 3 2200G, there is only one CCX, with the four cores enabled and only 4 MiB of L3 cache, so it has a “4+0” structure.
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The Vega 8 integrated GPU present on the Ryzen 3 2200G has 512 cores and clock rate up to 1,100 MHz.
The CCX, the iGPU and other components (memory controlled, I/O unit) are connected inside the CPU using the AMD Infinity Fabric bus. The CPU has eight PCI Express 3.0 lanes for a dedicated graphics card, plus eight lanes for general use slots (used mostly for PCI Express SSDs,) two SATA-600 ports, four USB 3.1 gen 2 ports, one USB 3.0 gen 1 port, and one USB 2.0 port. Obviously, the platform offers more ports, controlled by the chipset.
Figure 1 shows the package of the Ryzen 3 2200G.
Figure 1: package
In Figure 2 we have the package contents: a manual, two case stickers, the CPU itself, and the Wraith Stealth cooler.
Figure 2: package contents
Figure 3 unveils the Ryzen 3 2200G processor.
Figure 3: the Ryzen 3 2200G CPU
In terms of price, the Ryzen 3 2200G lies between the Pentium G4600 and the Core i3-8100. In our roundup, we compared it to these two models, also including the Ryzen 3 1200, which is similar to the tested CPU, but has no integrated video.
As one of the highlights of the Ryzen 3 2200G is its integrated video, we ran the games with two configurations: first, with the integrated video, and then we disabled it and installed an entry video card, the GeForce GT 1030. The Ryzen 3 1200 was, of course, tested only with the independent video card.
We decided to do this way, so we can compare both iGPU and CPU power. Besides that, we could compare the performance of the integrated Vega 8 to a “real” low-cost video card’s.
Let’s compare the main specs of the reviewed CPUs on the next page.
In the tables below, we compare the main features of the CPUs included in our review.
| CPU | Cores | HT/SMT | IGP | Internal Clock | Turbo Clock | Core | Tech. | TDP | Socket | Price |
| Ryzen 3 2200G | 4 | No | Yes | 3.5 GHz | 3.7 GHz | Raven Ridge | 14 nm | 65 W | AM4 | USD 100 |
| Pentium G4600 | 2 | Yes | Yes | 3.6 GHz | – | Kaby Lake | 14 nm | 51 W | LGA1151 | USD 85 |
| Core i3-8100 | 4 | No | Yes | 3.6 GHz | – | Coffee Lake | 14 nm | 65 W | LGA1151 | USD 130 |
| Ryzen 3 1200 | 4 | No | No | 3.1 GHz | 3.4 GHz | Summit Ridge | 14 nm | 65 W | AM4 | USD 110 |
Below you can see the memory configuration for each CPU.
| CPU | L2 Cache | L3 Cache | Memory Support | Memory Channels |
| Ryzen 3 2200G | 4 x 512 kiB | 4 MiB | Up to DDR4-2933 | 2 |
| Pentium G4600 | 2 x 256 kiB | 3 MiB | Up to DDR4-2400 | 2 |
| Core i3-8100 | 4 x 256 KiB | 6 MiB | Up to DDR4-2400 | 2 |
| Ryzen 3 1200 | 4 x 512 KiB | 2 x 4 MiB | Up to DDR4-2666 | 2 |
[nextpage title=”How We Tested”]During our benchmarking sessions, we used the configuration listed below. The only variable was the CPU being tested, besides the motherboard, which had to be replaced to match the different CPUs.
Hardware Configuration
- Motherboard (Coffee Lake): Gigabyte Z370 AORUS Ultra Gaming
- Motherboard (Kaby Lake): Gigabyte AORUS Z270X-Gaming 7
- Motherboard (AM4): Gigabyte AB350M-Gaming 3
- Memory: 16 GiB, two DDR4-3200 8 GiB Geil modules configured at 2666 MHz
- Boot drive: Samsung 960 EVO 500 GiB SSD
- Video Card: GeForce GTX 1080
- Video Monitor: Philips 236VL
- Power Supply: Corsair CX600
Operating System Configuration
- Windows 10 Home 64-bit
- NTFS
- Video resolution: 1920 x 1080 60 Hz
Driver Versions
- NVIDIA video driver version: 388.13
- AMD video driver version: 17.40.3701
- Intel video driver version: 15.65
Software Used
- 3DMark
- Blender
- Cinebench R15
- CPU-Z 1.81
- Handbrake
- PCMark 10
- WinRAR 5.5
- CS:GO
- Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
- Dirt Ra
lly - GTA V
- Hitman
- Mad Max
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Error Margin
We adopted a 4% error margin. Thus, differences below 4% cannot be considered relevant. In other words, products with a performance difference below 4% should be considered as having similar performance.
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 is benchmarking software that uses real-world applications to measure computer performance. We ran the standard test, which included opening applications, web browsing, writing, photo editing, video chat, video conversion, and rendering. Let’s see the results.
On the 3DMark 10 benchmark, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 17% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 7% slower than the Core i3-8100.
3DMark
3DMark is a program with a set of several 3D benchmarks. Time Spy runs a Direct X12 simulation; Fire Strike runs a “heavy” DirectX 11 simulation, and Sky Diver also measures DirectX 11 performance but is aimed at average computers.
On Time Spy, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 128% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 116% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 22% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
On the Fire Strike benchmark, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 130% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 122% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 25% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
On the Sky Diver benchmark, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 108% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 90% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 18% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
On the Cloud Gate benchmark, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 62% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 37% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 12% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
[nextpage title=”Performance in programs”]
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 is based on the Cinema 4D software. It’s useful to measure the performance gain obtained by the presence of several processing cores while rendering heavy 3D images. Rendering is an area where a bigger number of cores helps a lot because usually, this kind of software recognizes several processors (Cinebench R15, for example, can use up to 256 processing cores).
We ran the CPU benchmark, which renders a complex image using all the processing cores (real and virtual) to speed up the process. The result is given as a score.
On Cinebench R15 CPU benchmark, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 42% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 5% slower than the Core i3-8100.
Blender
Blender is an image and movie rendering software that uses all the threads of the CPU. We used the program to render a heavy image of a project named Gooseberry Benchmark. The graph below shows the time the CPU used to finish the image, so the less, the better.
On Blender, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 24% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 12% slower than the Core i3-8100.
CPU-Z
On its current version, the well-known hardware identification software CPU-Z comes with a benchmarking tool, which measures CPU performance for one core and for all available cores.
On the single thread benchmark, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 20% faster than the Pentium G4600 and performed similarly to the Core i3-8100.
On the multiple thread benchmark, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 54% faster than the Pentium G4600 and, again, similar to the Core i3-8100.
Handbrake
Media Espresso is a video conversion program that uses the graphics processing unit of the video engine to speed up the conversion process. We converted a 1 GiB, 1920x1080i, 23,738 kbps, .mov video file to a smaller 320×200, H.264, .MP4 file for viewing on a smartphone. The results below are given in seconds, so the lower the better.
Here the Ryzen 3 2200G was 44% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 14% slower than the Core i3-8100.
WinRAR
Another task where the CPU is very demanded is on file compacting. We ran a test compacting a folder with 8 GiB on 6.813 files to a file, using WinRAR 4.2. The graph below shows the time taken for each test.
In WinRAR, the Ryzen 3 2200G was on a technical tie to the Pentium G4600 and was 17% slower than the Core i3-8100.
[nextpage title=”Gaming Performance”]
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (or simply CS:GO) is a very popular FPS, launched in august 2012, that uses the Source engine, which is DirectX 9. We benchmarked it playing the “Inferno” map against bots, in Full HD and graphic settings as “medium”, measuring the framerate with FRAPS.
The results below are expressed in frames per second.
On CS:GO, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 100% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 84% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 21% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is an action RPG with FPS elements, launched in August 2016, that uses the Dawn engine, being compatible with DirectX 12. We tested it using the benchmark included in the game, with DirectX 12 enabled, Full HD, and graphics options as “medium”.
The results below are expressed in frames per second.
On this game, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 129% faster than the Pentium G4600 and the Core i3-8100, but it was 27% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
Dirt Rally
Dirt Rally is an off-road racing game released in April 2015, using Ego engine. To measure performance using this game, we ran the performance test included in the game, in 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) resolution and image quality configured as “medium” and MSAA off.
The results below are expres
sed in frames per second (fps).
In this game, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 162% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 139% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 32% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V, or simply GTA V, is an open-world action game released for PCs in April of 2015, using the RAGE engine. In order to measure the performance on this game, we ran the performance test of the game, measuring the framerate with FRAPS. We ran GTA V at Full HD, with all image quality set as “normal” and MSAA off.
The results below are expressed in frames per second.
In GTA V, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 96% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 83% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 39% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
Hitman
Hitman is an action/stealth game, launched in March 2016, that uses a DirectX 12 compatible version of the Glacier 2 engine. To measure performance in this game, we ran the benchmark in it, measuring the framerate with FRAPS. We ran this game in Full HD, with DirectX 12 enabled, with image quality set as “medium”.
The results below are expressed in frames per second.
On Hitman, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 142% faster than the Pentium G4600 and the Core i3-8100, but it was 7% faster than with the GeForce GT 1030.
Mad Max
Mad Max is an open-world action game launched in September of 2015, using the Avalanche engine. In order to measure the performance using this game, we ran its intro, measuring the framerate with FRAPS three times. We ran the game with image quality set as “normal”.
The results below are expressed in fps and they are the mean between the three collected results.
On Mad Max, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 155% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 133% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 26% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
Rise of the Tomb Raider
Rise of the Tomb Raider is an adventure/action game launched in January of 2016, based on Foundation engine. In order to measure the performance using this game, we ran the benchmark included on it, using Full HD resolution and graphics quality set to “medium”.
The results below are expressed in frames per second.
Also on Rise of the Tomb Raider, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 175% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 144% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 31% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an open-world RPG, released in May of 2015 and based on the REDengine 3 engine. In order to measure the performance in this game, we walk around at the first scene of the game, measuring the framerate with FRAPS three times. We ran the game at Full HD (1920 x 1080), with image quality set to “medium”.
The results below are expressed in frames per second and represent the arithmetical mean of the three collected results.
In this game, with integrated video, the Ryzen 3 2200G was 186% faster than the Pentium G4600 and 150% faster than the Core i3-8100, but it was 23% slower than with the GeForce GT 1030.
[nextpage title=”Overclocking”]
As we mentioned on the first page of this article, the Ryzen 3 2200G CPU has unlocked clock multiplier, which means you can overclocking it just by changing its multiplier, as long as the motherboard has this feature.
We were able to configure the CPU to run stable at 3.8 GHz (100 MHz reference clock and x38 multiplier), with the original voltages. It may be possible to reach higher frequencies if you “play” with the available adjusts.
It is clear that this CPU has a good overclocking potential. But keep in mind that the overclock capability depends on pure luck, since two CPUs of same model can reach different maximum clocks.
[nextpage title=”Conclusions”]
Our tests shown interesting conclusions. First, comparing the Ryzen 3 2200G and the Ryzen 3 1200, we noticed a performance gain on most tests. Obviously, it is due to the higher clock rate, but also to the different architecture with only one CCX, rather than two CCX with half the cores disabled each.
Comparing to the Intel CPUs, it is surprising to see the Ryzen 3 2200G on a technical tie to the Core i3-8100, which is a most expensive CPU, on most tests. However, keep in mind that, on games, there was a bottleneck caused by the GPU, so we cannot say how would they behave with a high-end video card.
It is clear that the Vega 8 iGPU is way more powerful than the (U)HD630 present on Intel CPUs. On the other side, the Vega 8 is consistently slower than the GeForce GT 1030 video card, which is a low-cost card, being not even aimed on gaming.
Which means the Ryzen 3 2200G is a great CPU when you use an independent video card, but is a little disappointing when you buy it thinking it will be faster than an entry-level video card.
So, answering if the Ryzen 3 2200G is a good choice for a low-cost gaming computer, it is, partially. The CPU can run well on games that do not demand high graphics performance, like CS:GO, but if you try to run more demanding games, you will have to used low resolutions (HD) and image quality on the minimum, since the Vega 8 is not powerful enough to run recent games on Full HD resolution.
However, the fact it is faster than the Ryzen 3 1200 and as fast as the Core i3-8100 makes it a good choice to be used with an independent video card. So, it can be a good choice if you have a limited budget and want to use the iGPU while you wait to buy a real video card.
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