Processors
GROUP TEST
Otherwise it has all the other key features that make
the Ryzen line so tempting. It’s unlocked for easy
overclocking, it auto-overclocks from a base clock
speed of 3.5GHz to 3.7GHz, and it’s very cheap.
Intel does have a similarly priced quad-core chip
but it’s multiplier-locked and lacks turbo boost, so
its clock speed is stuck at 3.6GHz. Not that the
1300X is all that great for overclocking, but like most
Ryzens, it can be pushed to around 3.9GHz-4GHz.
What’s more, the relatively modest core/thread
count of this chip doesn’t hold it back, with it holding
its own in all of our game tests other than the
fiendish Ashes of the Singularity. Here, it’s the only
AMD chip to not deliver around 65fps at 1080p.
It’s worth noting that the performance deficit of
the AMD processors in Ashes of the Singularity is
an anomaly. We’ve still included it, as an indicator
that there are games simply better optimised for
Intel’s Core architecture.
That aside, the 1300X is a great
starting point for a budget gaming PC.12
AMD RYZEN 3 1300X
http://www.amd.com £105
All the usual caveats apply in regards to its relatively
modest clock speed compared to its Intel rivals, but
Intel can’t offer anything with this multithread
performance for the same price.
Plus, we see that the 1500X comes out on top of
all the AMD chips for several tests, hinting that its
core count allows AMD’s automatic overclocking to
squeeze out that last little bit of speed.
Incidentally, the reason we’ve chosen the X
variants for the AMD chips is that clock speed is the
biggest thing AMD’s chips struggle with. So even
though all Ryzens are overclockable, results aren’t
guaranteed. Opting for the X variants gives you the
best chance of getting the fastest clock speed.
In contrast, we’ve gone for the K variants of the
Intel chips because they’re easy to overclock, and
though they don’t need the extra speed, they’re so
easy to boost that you might as well.
Intel doesn’t have a direct equivalent
to the 1500X now and, as such, it
stands out as an ideal option for £155.AMD RYZEN 5 1500X
http://www.amd.com £155
90 % 85 %
132The cheapest of the AMD CPUs in this test, the Ryzen
3 1300X offers four cores but, unlike the Ryzen 5
processors, it doesn’t include SMT. As such, it can only
handle four threads at once.The Ryzen 5 1500X is another great value chip. With
four cores and SMT, it can handle up to eight threads at a
time, plus it’s multiplier-unlocked and runs at a decent
clock speed. For £155, that’s seriously good.