AMD Launches Its ‘Fastest Ever’ Ryzen 3 Desktop Processors
Today, AMD announced the introduction of two new Ryzen 3 processors in the form of the 3300X and the 3100, as well as new B550 Socket AM4 chipset complete with support for PCIe 4.0.
AMD’s new processors are “the fastest ever AMD Ryzen 3 desktop processors” according to the company, and meant to compete with the 9th-generation Intel Core i3. They also offer a clear performance bump over the Ryzen 3 2300X, which was introduced back in mid-2018. Both new chips are 7nm and use the Zen 2 architecture, as well as providing access to Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) technology for increased performance and efficiency.
The 3100 and 3300X both offer four cores and eight threads, with 18MB total cache, have a 65W TDP, and require an AM4-compatible motherboard. Where they differ is in the base and boost clock frequencies, with the 3100 running at 3.6GHz boosting to 3.9GHz, while the faster 3300X runs at 3.8GHz boosting to 4.3GHz. The speed difference is reflected in the pricing, with the 3100 expected to cost $99, while the 3300X is $120. Both chips should be available in May.
Saeid Moshkelani, senior vice president and general manager, client business unit at AMD, explained, “Games and applications are becoming more and more demanding, and with this, users are demanding more from their PCs … AMD is committed to providing solutions that meet and exceed those demands for all levels of computing. With the addition of these new Ryzen 3 desktop processors we are continuing this commitment with our mainstream gaming customers. We’ve taken performance up a level, doubling the processing threads of our Ryzen 3 processors to propel gaming and multitasking experiences to new heights.”
In terms of performance, AMD claims there’s a 20 percent boost in 1080p gaming performance when the 3100 is compared to the Core i3-9100 and Ryzen 2 2300X. For creators, the performance boost increases to 75 percent when compared to the same processors. Expect those gains to be even higher for the 3300X, which AMD hasn’t provided comparisons for.
Alongside the new processors, AMD introduced the B550 chipset for socket AM4. As well as supporting the latest Ryzen 3000 desktop processors, it includes compatibility for PCIe 4.0, allowing B550 motherboard owners to take full advantage of the new PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSDs, which can achieve read speeds of up to 5,000MB/s.
