Upgrading to Ryzen 4 000 Series APUs: A Performance Boost in the Asrock Desk Mini A300

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Overview of the Asrock Desk Mini
3. Upgrading to Ryzen 4 000 Series APUs
4. Performance Boost with Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G
5. CPU Benchmark Results
6. Gaming Performance Comparison
7. Graphics Enhancements in the 4000 Series APUs
8. Ideal Use Cases for Ryzen 4 000 Series APU
9. Is the Upgrade Worth It for Existing Owners?
10. Conclusion

Introduction

In this article, we will take a closer look at the Asrock Desk Mini, a compact AMD-based system. Specifically, we will explore the performance difference between the Ryzen 5 3400G and the newer Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G, which belongs to the 4000 series APUs. Additionally, we will discuss the enhanced CPU and graphics capabilities of the 4000 series APUs and evaluate whether the upgrade is worth it for existing owners. So, let's dive in and see what this new generation has to offer!

Overview of the Asrock Desk Mini

The Asrock Desk Mini is a remarkable AMD-based system that houses the Ryzen 5 3400G APU, featuring four cores, eight Threads, and integrated Vega graphics. It's a compact and efficient Package that has been impressively powerful for playing old PS2 games and revisiting older titles, such as the Batman Arkham series. However, this system has recently undergone an upgrade to support the newer Ryzen 4 000 series APUs. With beta BIOS 3.60N, we can now use the Zen 2 based Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G APU, providing a significant performance boost.

Upgrading to Ryzen 4 000 Series APUs

The Ryzen 4 000 series APUs offer substantial improvements over their predecessors. With the top skew featuring eight cores and 16 threads, these APUs no longer limit us to only four cores and eight threads. The Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G, which we will focus on in this article, boasts six Zen 2 cores and 12 threads. In addition to the increased core and thread count, the 4000 series APUs benefit from the more potent Zen 2 architecture, higher clocks, and improved IPC (Instructions Per Clock).

Performance Boost with Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G

When it comes to real-world performance, the Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G outshines the Ryzen 5 3400G in various benchmarks. In the CPU-Z benchmark, which serves as a stress test, the overall score of the 4650G is 69% higher than that of the 3400G. The single-thread score also sees a notable increase of approximately 16%. With more cores and faster clock speeds, the 4650G provides a significantly enhanced CPU-based experience and improved performance overall.

CPU Benchmark Results

Cinebench R20, a widely recognized benchmark for measuring CPU performance, reveals even better gains with the Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G. Compared to the 3400G, the 4650G returns a score that is nearly 80% higher. This increase in performance is not surprising, as the render completes quicker and the boost clocks remain consistently higher, resulting in more efficient processing. The 4650G reaches clock speeds of just over 4.1 GHz, while the 3400G sits at under 3.8 GHz towards the end of the render.

Gaming Performance Comparison

While the CPU performance of the Ryzen 4 000 series APUs has seen a significant generational leap, the same cannot be said for gaming performance, especially when comparing the Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G with the Ryzen 5 3400G. In the previous generation, the 3400G featured Vega 11 graphics with 11 Vega compute units and 704 shader units. However, the 4000 series APUs have undergone changes in the graphics department.

Graphics Enhancements in the 4000 Series APUs

Unlike its predecessor, the Ryzen 5 4650G only features seven compute units, resulting in 440 shader units. While it may seem like a reduction in graphical capabilities, these refined Vega cores are optimized for higher clock speeds and deliver better overall performance. Although there is an increase in clock speeds and enhanced vega architecture, the 4650G's gaming performance is only marginally better than the 3400G, with an average frame rate increase of less than 5% in most scenarios.

Ideal Use Cases for Ryzen 4 000 Series APU

The Ryzen 4 000 series APUs excel primarily in CPU-based tasks. Therefore, if your workload is primarily focused on CPU-intensive applications such as video editing, rendering, or multitasking, the upgrade to the 4000 series APUs makes a significant difference. The enhanced CPU performance, additional cores, and higher clock speeds provide a substantial generational leap and ensure a smoother computing experience.

Is the Upgrade Worth It for Existing Owners?

Existing owners of the Ryzen 5 3400G who are considering upgrading to the 4000 series APUs may need to evaluate the worthiness of the upgrade. While the CPU performance improvement is undeniable, the gaming performance gain is minimal. Unless gaming is the primary focus, sticking with the 3400G may still be a viable option. Moreover, users looking to buy a new system should consider the 3400G if their requirements revolve around gaming. It provides excellent performance at a lower price point, making it a compelling choice.

Conclusion

The Ryzen 4 000 series APUs, particularly the Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G, offer a substantial upgrade in terms of CPU performance and efficiency. With more cores, higher clock speeds, and improved architecture, these APUs deliver a remarkable computing experience. However, the graphics enhancement is not as significant, with only marginal improvements compared to the previous generation. Ultimately, the decision to upgrade depends on the specific needs and priorities of the user.

Highlights

• The Ryzen 4 000 series APUs provide a significant increase in CPU performance and efficiency.
• The Ryzen 5 Pro 4650G offers a notable boost in multi-threaded tasks and improved single-threaded performance.
• Graphics performance in the 4000 series APUs shows only marginal improvements compared to the 3400G.
• The Ryzen 5 3400G remains a viable option for gaming, offering excellent performance at a lower price point.
• Existing owners should consider the upgrade carefully, weighing the CPU improvements against the minimal gains in gaming performance.

FAQ

Q: Is the upgrade to the Ryzen 4 000 series APUs worth it for gaming? A: The upgrade may not be worth it solely for gaming, as the performance gains are minimal compared to the Ryzen 5 3400G. However, if CPU performance is a priority, the 4000 series APUs offer significant improvements.

Q: Which tasks benefit the most from the Ryzen 4 000 series APUs? A: CPU-intensive tasks such as video editing, rendering, and multitasking benefit greatly from the enhanced CPU performance, additional cores, and increased clock speeds of the 4000 series APUs.

Q: Are there any notable drawbacks to the Ryzen 4 000 series APUs? A: While the CPU performance has seen a substantial improvement, the graphics performance in the 4000 series APUs is not as significant. Gamers may experience only marginal gains compared to the 3400G.

Q: Should I upgrade to the Ryzen 4 000 series APUs if I currently own a Ryzen 5 3400G? A: It depends on your specific needs and priorities. If you require better CPU performance and multitasking capabilities, the upgrade is worth considering. However, if gaming is the primary focus, the gains may not be significant enough to warrant the upgrade.

Q: Can the Asrock Desk Mini handle the Ryzen 4 000 series APUs? A: Yes, with the appropriate BIOS update, the Asrock Desk Mini supports the Ryzen 4 000 series APUs. However, caution should be exercised when updating the BIOS, as it carries potential risks.

Resources:

• Asrock Desk Mini
• AMD Ryzen