For those who always maximize their PC budget by only purchasing and utilizing what they need, the new AMD Ryzen 7 8700F and Ryzen 5 8400F CPUs are ideal choices, because if you have a discreet GPU, there’s no way you’re using the iGPU anyway.
These processors are the most affordable in the Ryzen 8000 series and are nearly identical to the “iGPU-included” 8700G and 8500G models, with only minor clock speed differences. The 8700F features a base/boost frequency of 4.1GHz/5.0GHz, while the 8400F runs at 4.2GHz/4.7GHz. Both maintain the same core and thread counts at 8C/16T and 6C/12T, respectively.
In terms of cache, the Ryzen 7 has 24MB and the Ryzen 5 has 22MB. Both CPUs have a 65W TDP and include the Wraith Stealth cooler.
Interestingly, the Ryzen 7 8700F retains the Ryzen AI NPU for AI inferencing and Gen-AI applications, which might seem unnecessary if you’re using a dedicated GPU, especially a Radeon 7000 series card in a full Team Red setup.
AMD enthusiasts will likely appreciate the performance in gaming and productivity applications, though results can vary based on other factors.
Price and Availability
AMD is shipping the new Ryzen 7 8700F and Ryzen 5 8400F worldwide at an SRP of US$269 and US$169 which is kind of fitting and worthy for a decently competent sub-600 rig.
