Benchmark Results – CPU Tests
PCMark 10
PCMark 10 measures overall performance and user experience in a host of “real world” applications. Tests include launch time, and some tests benefit from GPU accelerated compute.
Interestingly, PCMark 10 showed noticeable gain from the GPU overclock. As far back as 2013 AMD were producing adverts touting the benefits of GPU compute, in their own way. PCMark includes some conventional GPU loads, but the Spreadsheets test also uses the GPU with OpenCL. This is an implementation of the HSA technology people were excited about back in the day.
PCMark 10 also shows relatively impressive improvements from pushing up memory performance. Nearly 5% is added to the CPU+GPU score when the memory on the Athlon 3000G is also overclocked.
Cinebench R20
Based on Maxon’s real-world rendering software, Cinema 4D, Cinebench R20 renders a static ray-traced scene on the CPU.
Cinebench is conventionally not memory sensitive, and R20 bears this out. Overclocking the core on the Athlon 3000G produced satisfying gains, the memory less so.
HWBOT x265 (1080p)
HWBOT x265 is a popular benchmark among extreme overclockers. It runs an HD video clip through the open source x265 encoder, and returns the average processing speed in FPS.
HWBOT x265 doesn’t seem all that memory dependent on the Athlon 3000G, but gains well from the CPU overclock.
7zip with Benchmate
7zip has a built-in benchmark that measures compression and decompression performance. Benchmate, which is mainly verification software for competitive overclocking, provides a convenient wrapper.
7zip benchmark is quite variable but shows a reasonable benefit from CPU overclocks. Memory OC isn’t as important but does show solid gains.
3DMark Fire Strike Physics
According to AMD, Fire Strike Physics represents CPU performance for gaming. Who are we to argue? What it does do is replicate some of the more processor-intensive moments. Fire Strike Physics tests soft-body simulations with the open-source Bullet physics library.
Gains from memory OC were minimal, but the CPU overclock scaled well.
<3
I’m amazed by the fact that you got to DDR4 3800 CAS 18 on this combination of RAM CPU and Motherboard. I wonder if even faster RAM (if even possible) would make it go further.
I’m interested in this chip not because I need a cheap PC, but cause I want a fun overclocking rig outside of my main PC.
Although it wouldn’t make much sense monetarily, I was thinking on paring it with a mid range board, mostly for the SOC VRMs which might not be as stable as a 2 phase and would probably get quickly overloaded with higher power targets, also cause I’d like to use it with a Zen 3 APU down the line.
I managed DDR4-4000 CL18 using an MSI B450I GAMING PLUS AC with Crucial Ballistix Sport rated for 3000 CL15 (Micron “E-die”). Normally older gen AMD CPUs top out around 3600 with good memory so I’d be (even more) surprised if it has more in it than that.
It’s a really fun CPU for overclocking and tweaking, but check compatibility carefully – sadly most X570 and B550 boards choose not to support the 3000G. This seems to be because it uses the older Zen 1 cores and is therefore classed as a “first generation” product – despite being numbered in the 3000 series!
Unfortunately this creates a bit of a quandary when it comes to the upgrade path. I’ve written a bit about the compatibility situation at https://play3r.net/news/articles/b450-zen-3-compatibility-amd-bow-to-community-pressure/ but generally, a B450/X470 board fully supporting the 3000G has a lot of caveats when it comes to future processors. Hopefully that doesn’t put you off though, because it really is a fun chip to play around with.
I’m forever grateful to this guide and review! You sir are an amazing tech guru for helping a novice like myself and I wish the best and the best for you.
Setup
ASUS B450M DRAGON 4400MHz(OC)
AMD Athlon 3000G
GSKILL 8GB 3000MHz CL16 DDR4 x2
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AMD Ryzen Master application is used
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CPU Clock Speed: 4.000 MHz
CPU Voltage: 1,3 Volt
APU GFX Clock Speed: 1.650 MHz
APU GFX Voltage: 1.3 Volt
CPU Max Temp: 62°C
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it works stably…
maybe an aio would help?