AMD Athlon PRO 300GE

AMD Athlon PRO 300GE: A Budget Processor for Office and Multimedia in 2025

April 2025

Key Features: Zen Architecture and Energy Efficiency

The AMD Athlon PRO 300GE processor, released in 2019, remains a popular choice for budget PCs. Its key features include:

- Zen Architecture (1st generation) optimized for GlobalFoundries' 12nm process technology.

- 2 cores and 4 threads thanks to SMT (Simultaneous Multithreading) technology.

- Integrated Radeon Vega 3 graphics with 3 compute units (192 stream processors) and clock speeds up to 1100 MHz.

- TDP of 35W: ideal for compact systems and mini-PCs.

- Cache memory: 4 MB L3, sufficient for basic tasks.

Performance

According to Geekbench 6 (2025):

- Single-Core: 904 points — comparable to Intel Pentium Gold G7400 (920 points).

- Multi-Core: 1766 points — weaker than 4-core Ryzen 3, but better than 2-core Celerons.

Key Features

- Support for AMD-V virtualization.

- Cool’n’Quiet energy-saving technologies.

- AMD GuardMI memory protection.

Compatible Motherboards: AM4 Socket and Chipset Options

The Athlon PRO 300GE uses the AM4 socket, ensuring compatibility with motherboards featuring:

- A320: budget option (from $50), but no overclocking support.

- B450/B550: support for PCIe 4.0 and USB 3.2 (from $70).

- X470/X570: for advanced builds (from $120).

Selection Tips

- BIOS Update: A BIOS update may be required for motherboards from 2020–2022.

- Model Examples:

- ASUS Prime A320M-K ($55): basic motherboard for office tasks.

- Gigabyte B450M DS3H V2 ($80): optimal choice for upgrades.

Supported Memory: DDR4 and Dual-Channel Mode

The processor works with DDR4 (DDR5 is not supported):

- Maximum frequency: 2933 MHz (officially).

- Modes: dual-channel for improved performance.

Recommendations

- Minimum of 8 GB (2×4 GB) for Windows 11 and multitasking.

- Optimal: 16 GB (2×8 GB) DDR4-2666 ($40–$60 for the kit).

Power Supplies: Energy Savings

With a TDP of 35W, the Athlon PRO 300GE does not require a powerful power supply:

- Minimum: 250–300 W (for systems without a discrete graphics card).

- With a margin: 400–450 W (if planning to install a GPU like the GTX 1650).

Power Supply Examples:

- Be Quiet! System Power 10 450W ($55): quiet and reliable.

- EVGA 500 BR ($45): budget option.

Pros and Cons: Who Is It Relevant For in 2025?

Pros:

- Low power consumption.

- Integrated graphics for office tasks and HD video.

- Price: $60–$70 (new, 2025 model).

Cons:

- 2 cores limit multitasking capabilities.

- Vega 3 is weak for modern gaming.

Use Cases: Office, Streaming, Retro Gaming

- Office tasks: Word, Excel, browser with 10+ tabs.

- Multimedia: Streaming 1080p video, video calls.

- Games:

- CS:GO on low settings (45–60 FPS).

- Minecraft (50–70 FPS).

- PS2/GameCube emulators (via PCSX2/Dolphin).

Comparison with Competitors: Intel vs AMD

- Intel Celeron G6900 ($55):

- Pros: higher single-core performance (950 points).

- Cons: no Hyper-Threading, weaker graphics (UHD 710).

- AMD Ryzen 3 3200G ($90):

- Pros: 4 cores, Vega 8.

- Cons: more expensive, TDP of 65W.

Conclusion: The Athlon PRO 300GE wins in price and energy efficiency but loses in multi-threading capability.

Build Tips: Minimum Costs

1. Case: Mini-ITX (Cooler Master Elite 110, $50).

2. Storage: 500 GB NVMe SSD (Crucial P3, $35).

3. Cooling: Stock cooler is sufficient.

4. Networking: Wi-Fi 6 adapter (if the motherboard lacks one).

Example Build:

- Processor: $70.

- Motherboard: $60.

- Memory: $45.

- SSD: $35.

- PSU: $45.

- Case: $50.

Total: ~$305.

Conclusion: Who Is the Athlon PRO 300GE Suitable For?

This processor is ideal for:

- Office PCs: working with documents and video conferencing.

- Home media centers: watching movies and web browsing.

- Budget educational systems: for students and pupils.

Do not choose it if you need:

- Modern gaming or 4K video editing.

- Parallel work in resource-intensive applications (Photoshop + browser + streaming).

In 2025, the Athlon PRO 300GE remains a valuable option for those who appreciate the balance of price and basic performance.