AMD Athlon PRO 300U
AMD Athlon PRO 300U: A Budget Processor for Basic Tasks in 2025
Overview of Capabilities, Performance, and Use Cases
Architecture and Manufacturing Process: What Does Raven Ridge 2 Hide?
The AMD Athlon PRO 300U is a mobile processor built on the first-generation Zen microarchitecture (2017), but adapted to meet modern demands. Despite the market being flooded with 5–7 nm chips in 2025, the 14-nanometer manufacturing process of Raven Ridge 2 remains relevant for budget laptops.
Key Specifications:
- Cores and Threads: 2 cores, 4 threads thanks to SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading).
- Clock Frequencies: Base clock – 2.4 GHz, maximum turbo frequency – 3.3 GHz.
- Cache: 4 MB L3, which accelerates the processing of frequently used data.
- Integrated Graphics: Radeon Vega 3 with 3 compute units and frequency up to 1000 MHz.
Architecture Features:
- Zen 1: An outdated but optimized architecture. Supports basic instructions but lacks innovations like AVX-512.
- iGPU Vega 3: Suitable for video decoding (H.265, VP9) and basic graphics, but not for modern gaming.
Power Consumption and TDP: A Balance Between Power and Battery Life
With a TDP of 15 W, this processor is ideal for thin laptops and ultrabooks. Unlike chips with a TDP of 25–45 W, it doesn’t require complex cooling systems — a passive heatsink or compact fan is sufficient.
Power-Saving Technologies:
- Precision Boost: Automatically increases frequency under load, but due to limited TDP, the boost does not exceed 0.9 GHz.
- Cool’n’Quiet: Reduces power consumption during idle, which is critical for battery life.
Performance: What Can the Athlon PRO 300U Do in 2025?
Geekbench 6 results (751 Single-Core, 1521 Multi-Core) place it on par with the Intel Core i3-10110U (10th generation) or Snapdragon 7c Gen 3.
Real-World Tasks:
- Office Work: Handles Word, Excel, and a browser (10–15 tabs) without issues. Freezes may occur only when simultaneously running Zoom and heavy web applications.
- Multimedia: Smooth playback of 4K video (thanks to hardware decoding), but editing in DaVinci Resolve or Photoshop will be slow.
- Gaming: Only older games at low settings: CS:GO — 30–40 FPS (720p), Dota 2 — 25–30 FPS (720p).
Turbo Mode: Under brief load (e.g., opening a heavy PDF), the frequency rises to 3.3 GHz, but during prolonged use (video rendering), it drops to 2.6–2.8 GHz due to overheating.
Use Cases: Who Is This Processor Suitable For?
- Students: For note-taking, online courses, Zoom conferences.
- Office Workers: Document management, email, CRM systems.
- Casual Users: Social networks, YouTube streaming, online shopping.
- Travelers: Compact laptops with long battery life (8–10 hours).
Not Suitable For: Gamers, video editors, engineers working in AutoCAD.
Battery Life: How Long Will the Laptop Last?
With a battery capacity of 40–50 Wh (typical for budget models), the operating time reaches 8–10 hours while web surfing.
Factors for Power Savings:
- Hardware Video Decoding: Offloads the CPU when watching videos.
- Low Power Consumption Mode: Windows 11/12 automatically limits background processes.
Comparison with Competitors: What to Choose Instead of Athlon PRO 300U?
1. AMD Ryzen 3 7320U (Zen 2, 6 nm): 4 cores/8 threads, Radeon 610M. Laptop prices from $450.
2. Intel Core i3-1215U (10 nm): 2 cores/4 threads, Iris Xe Graphics. Device prices from $500.
3. Apple M1 (5 nm): 8 cores, 18-hour battery life. Laptops from $800 (used from $500).
Conclusion: The Athlon PRO 300U falls behind in performance but wins on price (laptops from $300).
Pros and Cons: Is It Worth Buying?
Pros:
- Low device prices.
- Sufficient performance for basic tasks.
- Good battery life.
Cons:
- Only 2 cores — multitasking is limited.
- Weak graphics.
- Outdated 14nm manufacturing process.
Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop
1. Type of Device: Ultrabooks (Acer Swift 1, Lenovo IdeaPad 3) or 2-in-1 hybrids.
2. Minimum Requirements:
- 8 GB RAM (for Windows 11).
- 256 GB SSD (not HDD!).
- Screen with a resolution of 1920×1080.
3. Additional Options:
- Support for Wi-Fi 6.
- USB-C with Power Delivery.
Final Conclusion
The AMD Athlon PRO 300U is a processor for those looking for the cheapest laptop for everyday tasks. Its key advantages are low price ($300–$400 per device), energy efficiency, and adequate performance for document processing and web browsing. However, by 2025, it appears outdated compared to the 6nm Ryzen 3 or Apple M1. If the budget allows for an additional $100–$150, it’s better to choose more modern models. But for basic needs, the Athlon PRO 300U remains a workhorse.