AMD A4-5300B
AMD A4-5300B: Budget Processor for Office and Multimedia in 2025
Updated: April 2025
Key Specifications: What's Inside the A4-5300B
The AMD A4-5300B processor, released in 2012, belongs to the budget APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) lineup on the Trinity architecture. Despite its age, it is still available for sale as refurbished or new stock, especially in developing markets.
Manufacturing Process and Cores:
- 32 nm technology (outdated by 2025 standards, where 5–7 nm dominates).
- 2 cores, 2 threads — basic multitasking, but without support for Hyper-Threading or SMT.
- Base frequency: 3.4 GHz, Turbo Core: 3.6 GHz — suitable for light tasks.
Integrated Graphics:
- Radeon HD 7480D with 128 cores and a frequency of 723 MHz.
- Support for DirectX 11, but lacking compatibility with Vulkan and DirectX 12 Ultimate.
Performance:
- Geekbench 6: Single-Core — 428, Multi-Core — 587.
For comparison: the modern budget Intel N100 (2023) scores around ~800/1800 points.
Key Features:
- Integrated GPU, eliminating the need to purchase a discrete graphics card.
- Low power consumption (TDP 65 W).
Compatible Motherboards
Socket: FM2 (not to be confused with FM2+, which supports newer APUs).
Chipsets:
- A55, A75, A85X — all outdated but compatible with the A4-5300B.
- Model examples:
- ASUS A55BM-E (price: $45–$60 for new stock).
- Gigabyte GA-F2A75M-D3H (less frequently found, $50–$70).
Selection Features:
1. Check the BIOS version — some motherboards may require an update.
2. Ports: PCIe 2.0 x16, SATA III (6 Gbps) — sufficient for SSDs and HDDs.
3. USB 3.0: available only on A75 and A85X chipsets.
Supported Memory
- Type: DDR3 (not DDR4 or DDR5!).
- Maximum frequency: 1866 MHz (in dual-channel mode).
- Recommendations:
- Minimum of 8 GB (2x4 GB) for Windows 10/11.
- 16 GB (2x8 GB) — for working with browsers, office applications, and light video editing.
Important: DDR3 is significantly slower than DDR4/DDR5, which limits performance in gaming and heavy tasks.
Power Supply: How Many Watts are Needed?
- CPU TDP: 65 W.
- Recommended PSU: 400–450 W (with a margin for future upgrades).
- Examples:
- EVGA 450 BR (80+ Bronze, $55).
- Corsair CV450 (80+ Bronze, $60).
Tips:
- If using only integrated graphics, a 300 W supply is enough.
- A power supply of 450 W is required for a discrete graphics card like the GTX 1650.
Pros and Cons of AMD A4-5300B
Pros:
- Price: $25–$35 for a new processor (in 2025).
- Energy efficiency: suitable for compact PCs and HTPCs.
- Graphics: Radeon HD 7480D handles HD video and older games (e.g., CS:GO on low settings — 30–40 FPS).
Cons:
- 2012 architecture: lagging in IPC (performance per clock) compared to modern CPUs.
- No support for NVMe, USB 3.1, HDMI 2.0 — limitations for modern peripherals.
Use Cases
1. Office Tasks: document work, browsing (up to 10 tabs), Zoom conferences.
2. Multimedia: watching 1080p videos (4K not supported), streaming via YouTube.
3. Retro Gaming: games up to 2015 (Skyrim, GTA IV on low settings).
Real-life Example:
A user from Brazil built a PC on the A4-5300B for $150 (motherboard, 8 GB DDR3, 240 GB SSD) for studying and Netflix.
Comparison with Competitors
1. Intel Celeron G5905 (2020):
- 2 cores, 2 threads, UHD Graphics 610.
- Geekbench 6: ~600/1100.
- Price: $50. Conclusion: better performance, but more expensive.
2. AMD Athlon 3000G (2019):
- 2 cores, 4 threads, Vega 3 GPU.
- Geekbench 6: ~750/1400.
- Price: $60. Conclusion: wins in every aspect but price.
Practical Tips for Building
1. Choosing RAM: DDR3-1866 in dual-channel is essential to unleash the potential of the iGPU.
2. Cooling: the stock cooler is sufficient, but replacing it with a DeepCool Gammaxx 400 ($20) will reduce noise.
3. Storage: SATA III SSD (e.g., Kingston A400 480 GB, $35) will speed up system boot times.
4. Case: Mini-ITX (Cooler Master Elite 110) for an HTPC or office PC.
Final Verdict: Who is the A4-5300B Suitable For?
This processor should only be considered in extreme cases:
- Budget under $100: building for basic tasks.
- Temporary solution: until funds for a modern CPU are available.
- Energy-efficient projects: home server or media center.
Alternative: If the budget allows $100–$150, opting for the Ryzen 3 3200G or Intel N100 is better — they offer 2–3 times higher performance and support for modern technologies.
Conclusion
The AMD A4-5300B in 2025 is a relic, but it can still serve in very limited scenarios. Its main advantage is price, but that comes at the expense of outdated architecture and minimal performance.