AMD Ryzen 7 5825C
AMD Ryzen 7 5825C: A Processor for Those Who Want It All Right Now
March 2025
1. Architecture and Manufacturing Process: Zen 3 in a Compact Form Factor
The AMD Ryzen 7 5825C belongs to the line of mobile APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) processors based on the Zen 3 architecture (codename — Cezanne-U). This is a “stripped-down” version of the classic Cezanne processors, adapted for ultrabooks and thin laptops with a TDP of 15 W.
Manufacturing Process and Cores:
- TSMC 7 nm FinFET: provides high energy efficiency and transistor density.
- 8 cores / 16 threads: the maximum configuration for AMD mobile APUs.
- Base frequency: 1.8 GHz, maximum turbo mode - up to 4.5 GHz.
- Cache: 16 MB L3 (shared across all cores), improving data access speed in multi-threaded tasks.
Integrated Graphics (iGPU):
- AMD Radeon Graphics with 8 compute units (512 streams) and frequencies up to 2.0 GHz.
- Support for DirectX 12, Vulkan, hardware video decoding of 4K/60 FPS (H.265, VP9).
Architecture Features:
- Smart Shift and Precision Boost 2: automatic power distribution between CPU and GPU.
- PCIe 3.0: 16 lanes for connecting SSDs and peripherals (relevant for budget laptops).
2. Power Consumption and TDP: 15 W — A Balance Between Power and Autonomy
The Ryzen 7 5825C is designed for devices where mobility is essential. A TDP of 15 W allows it to be installed in ultrabooks without active cooling or with compact coolers.
How It Works:
- In idle mode, the frequency reduces to 1.2 GHz, and voltage drops to 0.9 V.
- Under load (e.g., video rendering), the processor briefly “boosts” to 4.5 GHz, but not longer than 28 seconds (limitation due to TDP).
- Energy-saving technologies AMD PowerNow! and Core Parking (disabling unused cores) are employed.
Thermal Management:
Even under full load, temperatures rarely exceed 75°C (in laptops with a good cooling system). However, in compact designs (e.g., devices thinner than 15 mm), throttling may occur — frequency reduction due to overheating.
3. Performance: From Office Work to Light Gaming
Office Tasks
- Microsoft Office, browsers: 20+ tabs in Chrome, working with Excel spreadsheets with 100,000 rows — the processor handles it without delays.
- Video conferencing: simultaneous operation of Zoom (1080p) + Slack + Telegram — CPU load does not exceed 30%.
Multimedia
- Premiere Pro: rendering a 10-minute video in 1080p — ~12 minutes (for comparison: Intel Core i7-1260P — ~14 minutes).
- HandBrake: converting video from 4K to 1080p — 25% faster than Ryzen 7 5800U.
Gaming
- CS2: 720p / low settings — 60-70 FPS.
- Genshin Impact: 720p / medium settings — 40-45 FPS (but frame drops may occur during fights).
- Indie games (Hollow Knight, Stardew Valley): stable 60 FPS at 1080p.
Turbo Mode:
During short bursts of load (e.g., opening a heavy application), the processor can "boost" to 4.5 GHz, but due to TDP limitations, it cannot maintain this frequency for long. For example, in Cinebench R23:
- First run: 5449 points (multi-threading).
- Third run: 4980 points (overheating and throttling).
4. Usage Scenarios: Who is the Ryzen 7 5825C Suitable For?
- Students and office workers: multitasking, document work, and light video editing.
- Digital nomads: autonomy of up to 10 hours (at screen brightness of 150 nits).
- Casual gamers: games like Dota 2 or World of Tanks.
Who It May Not Be Suitable For:
- Professional video editors (better to choose the H-series with 45 W TDP).
- Streamers (too few threads for simultaneous gaming and video encoding).
5. Battery Life: Up to 10 Hours Without a Wall Socket
In laptops with a 60 Wh battery (e.g., Lenovo Yoga Slim 7), the processor provides:
- 8-10 hours of web surfing.
- 6-7 hours of Netflix viewing.
- 4-5 hours of Photoshop work.
Energy-Saving Technologies:
- Adaptive Power Management: dynamic voltage management.
- Display Refresh Rate Control: automatic reduction of screen refresh rate to 60 Hz.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Ryzen 7 5800U (Zen 2, 2021):
- The Ryzen 7 5825C is 18% faster in multi-threaded tasks.
- Radeon graphics are 25% more powerful.
Intel Core i7-1360P (Raptor Lake, 2023):
- Intel excels in single-threaded tasks (Geekbench 6 Single Core: 1620 vs 1489).
- AMD is better in multi-threading (+12%) and battery life (+2-3 hours).
Apple M2 (2022):
- M2 surpasses in energy efficiency (up to 15 hours of operation) and SSD speed.
- However, the Ryzen 7 5825C wins in compatibility with Windows programs and pricing: laptops with M2 start at $1300, while those with AMD start at $700.
7. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- The best choice for budget ultrabooks (device prices starting from $700).
- Powerful graphics for an integrated solution.
- Support for USB4 and Wi-Fi 6.
Cons:
- PCIe 3.0 instead of PCIe 4.0 (affects SSD speed).
- No support for DDR5 (only LPDDR4X-4266 MHz).
8. Recommendations for Choosing a Laptop
- Type of Device: ultrabook (Acer Swift 3, HP Envy x360) or business laptop (Lenovo ThinkPad T14).
- What to Look For:
- Screen: at least 300 nits, IPS matrix.
- Cooling: 2 fans or copper heat pipes.
- Ports: 2x USB-C, HDMI 2.0.
Examples of Models for 2025:
- Asus ZenBook 14 UM3402 ($750): 14" 2.8K OLED, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD.
- Dell Inspiron 15 5535 ($800): 15.6" 120 Hz, HDD slot.
9. Final Verdict
The AMD Ryzen 7 5825C is the ideal processor for those seeking a versatile laptop at a reasonable price. It’s suitable for:
- Users tired of waiting for Photoshop or browser loading times.
- Those who value battery life without wanting to pay for Apple.
- Gamers ready to play at low settings.
Key Benefits:
- Performance on par with desktop PCs from 2020-2022.
- Ability to work all day without a wall socket.
- Affordable device prices (starting from $700).
If you don’t need a laptop for 8K rendering or streaming, the Ryzen 7 5825C will be a reliable companion for the next 3-4 years.