It certainly is true that the Ryzen 5 3400G is not Zen 2 based. Instead, it is Zen+ based. While this is indeed an improvement over the Ryzen 5 2400G it does mean it is not a chiplet based ‘APU’. As such it does not, cannot, use the fantastically improved memory controller found in the new cIOD Zen 2 chiplet. Yes, this is a touch disappointing. AMD CPUs with integrated graphics are memory bottlenecked and while ‘off die’ DDR4 is always going to be slower than on-die GDDR5 or HBM memory the ability to turn the dial up to 3600 (or higher) would have improved the overall video card performance aspect of this new APU.
On the surface these seems like a deal-breaker… especially when it can also be accused of being nothing more than a factory overclocked Ryzen 5 2400G processor with a new paint job. Luckily, for AMD and their Ryzen 5 3400G, the reality is much, much more nuanced. This is not a processor that can be condensed down into a single sentence ‘sound bite’. Instead the best simple summary is that it simply will not be right for everyone. It will not be right for enthusiasts who had hoped to have seen a Zen 2 ‘APU’ that could kick major video game butt.
This is perfectly fine and acceptable. This CPU with iGPU processor is not meant to satisfy the needs of the PC Gaming enthusiast. Instead it is mean to satisfy the CPU and video needs of the average entry level / ‘budget’ buyer. A buyer who wants good (enough) 1080P resolution gaming performance with good (enough) CPU performance and wants both for as little money as possible. For this corner of the market, the corner it was designed for we might add, the Ryzen 5 3400G is a fan-frickin-tastic value.
By increasing the CPU and GPU processing core speeds to 100-300Mhz and 150Mz respectively, AMD has indeed breathed a lot of life into their aging Zen+ architecture. Thanks to a ‘factory overclock’ that is basically set to everything they have to offer, buyers do not need to mess around with overclocking. Instead this is a plug and play APU that offers everything it has on tap… first time, every time. This is the first factor which has to be taken into consideration before writing it off. The second is the asking price. AMD has indeed improved the overall performance of their Zen+ APUs but they also have improved the asking price. With an MSRP of $149 the Ryzen 5 3400G is actually $20 less than what the Ryzen 5 2400G’s price tag was when it was released. Even now it is only ten dollars more than what the EOL’ed Ryzen 5 2400G is going for. That is a veritable no-brainer with zero good reasons to opt for the older APU.
As the cherry on top the Ryzen 3400G does not need an expensive motherboard. In fact, it cannot take advantage of a lot of what the 500-series AMD motherboards have to offer. So, if you have a 400-series or even 300-series motherboard and want a nice little upgrade from your existing APU… the Ryzen 5 3400G will do precisely that with very little hassle beyond a possible BIOS update.
When taken as whole, the Ryzen 5 3400G may not be perfectly suited for everyone, but it is pretty darn close to being the perfect system upgrade for the budget conscience and / or value hunter. It really does offer a lot of bang for very little buck. As such we strongly recommend not writing it off simply because it is not Zen 2 based.
The Review
Ryzen 5 3400G
It may not be Zen 2 based, but the Zen+ based Ryzen 5 3400G is still a rather good value. Its combination of motherboard support with low, low asking price makes it tailor made for those wanting to upgrade without breaking the bank. In return for little money, it will offer decent 1080P gaming performance, and enough CPU horsepower to more than satisfy the entry level consumer.
