AMD’s next CPU features an internal GPU that outranks one of the world’s most popular graphics cards

Ryzen 5 8600G benchmarks show the processor beating the popular NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060.

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What you need to know

AMD will announce its new Ryzen 8000G processors at CES 2024 if leaks, reports, and rumors turn out to be accurate. CES starts next week on January 9, so we likely won’t have to wait that long to get official word from AMD about the chips, but that hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from churning out some juicy tidbits. According to benchmarks, we now have details about the Ryzen 5 8600G.

The Ryzen 5 8600G features integrated graphics, so it’s not supposed to compete with powerhouse GPUs. That being said, its benchmarks are respectable and defeat the still-popular NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. The Ryzen 5 8600G scored 30,770 on Geekbench 6.2.2’s Vulkan benchmark test and 24,842 on Geekbench’s OpenCL test.

Those scores place the Ryzen 5 8600G above the GTX 1060 on the Vulkan side of things but below the GTX 1060 in the OpenCL benchmark. In addition to showing how far integrated graphics have come, the scores also show how impressive discrete graphics cards can be. The GTX 1060 came out almost eight years ago.

Our colleagues atTom’s Hardwareput together the above chart to place the benchmarks of the Ryzen 5 8600G with Radeon 760M in context.

The Ryzen 5 8600G that was benchmarked had Radeon 760M integrated graphics with a clock speed of 2.8Ghz. The system also features two 16GB DDR5-6000 DIMMs.

Previousleaks by X users momomo_usstated that the Ryzen 5 8600G will cost between $236 and $281. That same leak included prices for the upcoming Ryzen 7 8700G ($338-$402) and Ryzen 5 8500G ($190-$219).

Why the strange comparison?

At first it may seem odd to compare AMD’s Ryzen 5 8600G to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060. In addition to the fact that I’m comparing a discrete GPU to integrated graphics, the GTX 1060 came out in 2016. So, why the comparison? Even in 2024, theRTX 1060 is the third-most used GPUby Steam gamers.

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The GTX 1060 held the top spot for ages. Despite coming out in the middle of last decade, it was the most used GPU among Steam gamers until December 2022. It has since dropped to third place, which is more than respectable for a graphics card pushing eight years old.

While the best graphics cards are much newer, they’re also much more expensive. Plus, PC gamers who built their own system with a GTX 1060 inside can just keep using that GPU and PC to enjoy their favorite games. Sure, anyone with an GTX 1060 will have to drop settings for most games to their lowest option, but that’s fine for some titles.

Since Ryzen 5 8600G has better benchmarks than the GTX 1060, that means PCs with the new processor inside can game, at least on paper. The benchmarks of AMD’s new CPU suggest that it can power systems that handle at least as many games as the third-most popular GPU among Steam users.

The new AMD chip didn’t just beat the GTX 1060, it did so while being more efficient. PCs with the new processor inside will also have other modern features, likeDDR5 memory.

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.