AMD Ryzen R3 1200 & 1300x Released and Threadripper Prices Revealed

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Written by: Ciaran

So yesterday was the release of the less anticipated Ryzen R3 line of processors, but just because they don't have a huge amount of cores or cost hundreds of euros to buy doesn't mean they should be simply dismissed as "just another processor". No, these these are a solid choice for entry level gaming builds or workstations and home/office PCs, but perhaps more importantly they are a window into the wonderful world of Ryzen.

Unlike Intel's entry level processors the "Pentium" range or the i3 range (bar i3 7350K), AMD's R3 come fully unlocked and ready to be overclocked, going hand in hand with other components which allows such a thing to happen; a motherboard with the B350 or B370 chipset, high speed RAM, adequate cooling and suitable power supply. What this means is that if you choose to go down this route and get those components, not only can you get a lot more performance out of your R3 1200/1300x, but at anytime you can also swap them out and upgrade to a higher end processor. You're already on the same platform that is required for the medium/high end range R5 and R7. One could argue that you could do the same thing with intel by sticking a Pentium or i3 into a Z270 motherboard with high speed RAM, but then you're then playing a big premium on top end parts to make no use out of them because you "might" upgrade. 

"AMD is hitting hard with Ryzen 3. The quad-core models aren't as aggressively segmented as Intel's Core i3 family, so you get unlocked ratio multipliers, a competent Wraith Spire cooler, and a lower cost to entry. And it isn’t like overclocking Ryzen 3 1300X requires much effort; we used a B350-based motherboard and the stock thermal solution for a quick and easy jump to 3.9 GHz.

In comparison, Intel's only overclockable Core i3 is pricey on its own, and that's before you factor in an expensive Z270-based motherboard or third-party heatsink/fan."

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the R3 range is that it actually made Intel lower their prices; I have seen the overclockable i3 7350K down to just under £100 which in itself is a bargain considering the much poorer performer i3 7100 is now more expensive than it. Do note though, that you also need to get an expensive Z270-based motherboard or third-party heatsink/fan. Talking about stock settings, the 1200 looks less attractive than the 1300x: it is only a small boost of performance on the pentiums and still a sizeable bit more expensive than a G4560, but it is vital to note stock & availability; the G4560 is meant to retail about €70/£60 but it is continually selling out, so retailers are taging on price increases here and there and it's next to impossible to find it in stock for MRRP. As for performance, there is no major worries or surprises when running both the 1200 & 1300x, it places them firmly where you would expect, competing directly with the i3 range from intel, but the R3's trump card is in the unlocked overclocking. Across multiple reviews I have seen both the 1200 & 1300x get to 3.9GHz, with a few reviewers pushing to 4GHz+. Realistically with stock cooling and not needing to tweak BIOS settings too much , it looks like 3.7GHz for the 1200 and a rather impressive 3.9GHz for the 1300x, with some reviewers hitting that on the stock voltage settings. I priced up a build based on the R3 1300x and it's looking very attractive indeed. If you had told me this time last year that you would be able to get a PC with a quad core CPU@4GHz, 8GB of 3000MHz+ RAM, a 550w hybrid modular PSU and a 4GB 1900MHz+ GPU built for under €750* I would probably ask what were you smoking!

This build has plenty of upgrade room too: two spare RAM slots means you can simply add in more when you feel you need it. You can replace the Ryzen R3 with any of the AM4 socket chips, even up the the massive 8 core R7 range. With the 550w hybrid modular PSU there is plenty of power to add in extras, hard drives, AIO Liquid coolers, case fans and other add in cards, as well as being high enough to support the very top end GPU, if you choose to replace the 1050ti included in the build. If you are interested in this build or any Ryzen build please get in touch via our Contact Us Page, our Facebook page.

"AMD’s Ryzen 3 1300X sets a new benchmark for the budget market with four physical cores, unlocked multipliers, and excellent bundled coolers. All of this comes at a lower price point than Intel’s competing models. Support for overclocking on inexpensive Socket AM4 motherboards with the B350 chipset just adds to the value."

 

 

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Threadripper Pricing:

 

Not only was yesterday the release of Ryzen 3 for AMD it also marked the day preorders started for Threadripper systems. Curious, I went digging and was pleasantly surprised that some sites have the individual component prices up when you try to configure your system, meaning we now have a damn good idea what the retail cost should be. With the 1920x coming in at £799 and the 1950X at £999. I talked to a representative who told me they can't confirm that these will be the final retail prices, but would be surprised if they changed much. Considering an Intel Core i7 6950X (10c20t) is still going for £1500+ these Theadrippers don't look half bad value.

 

*The clock speeds listed are due to overclocking and although we have researched and know these speeds are possible we cannot guarantee individual components will reach them.