Report: AMD Ryzen 3 2300X Will Stop Being OEM-Only Next Month

By Zhiye Liu
published

Anyone will reportedly be able to pick up an AMD Ryzen 3 2300X starting March 3.

AMD Ryzen 3 2300X

AMD Ryzen 3-series CPU (Image credit: AMD)

It looks like the time has come for AMD to offload its excess of Ryzen 3 2300X (opens in new tab) CPU stock. According to a report from Malaysian publication Lowyat (opens in new tab), AMD will start selling the Ryzen 3 2300X, which has only been available to OEM companies, to the general public starting on March 3.

The Ryzen 3 2300X (codename Pinnacle Ridge) is an interesting little processor. It dates back to AMD's Zen+ days and features four cores (opens in new tab)without simultaneous multithreading (opens in new tab) (SMT), meaning there are also four threads (opens in new tab). The processor, which comes out of GlobalFoundries 12nm furnace, has a 3.5 GHz base clock (opens in new tab) and 4 GHz boost clock.

The quad-core chip's other attributes include 8MB of L3 cache, 65W TDP (thermal design power), 16 PCIe 3.0 (opens in new tab) lanes and a dual-channel memory controller with native support for DDR4-2933 RAM (opens in new tab)modules. The Ryzen 3 2300X also comes AMD's Wraith Stealth CPU cooler (opens in new tab). The processor has an unlocked multiplier for overclocking as well.

Price Comparison

Swipe to scroll horizontally
ModelPrice Per CoreCurrent Pricing (Dollars)Cores / ThreadsBase / Boost Clock (GHz)L3 Cache (MB)PCIe 3.0 lanesMemory SupportTDP (W)
AMD Ryzen 5 1600 AF$14.17$856 / 123.2 / 3.61616Dual DDR4-266765
Intel Core i3-9100F$20.50$824 / 43.6 / 4.2616Dual DDR4-240065
AMD Ryzen 3 2300X$17.50$704 / 43.5 / 4.0816Dual DDR4-293365

The Ryzen 3 2300X is already available for purchase on eCommerce platform Lazada (opens in new tab), where its selling for 298 Malaysian Ringgits, which coverts to approximately $70. However, AMD has the same Ryzen 3 2300X listed on Amazon (opens in new tab) for $183.71, but we suspect that'll come down, especially considering the more recent hexa-core Ryzen 5 3600 (opens in new tab) is selling for as low as $174.99 (opens in new tab).

At $70, the Ryzen 3 2300X's closest competitor is the Intel Core i3-9100F. The rivaling chip also has a four-core, four-thread configuration and it starts at $82 (opens in new tab). However, the i3-9100F comes with slightly higher base and boost clock speeds.

The biggest problem that Ryzen 3 2300X would face in the PC builders (opens in new tab) market isn't from Intel, but rather a chip from the same camp. The Ryzen 5 1600 "AF" version (opens in new tab) only costs $15 more (opens in new tab), and you get two more cores, SMT capability and more L3 cache. From a price-to-performance perspective, the Ryzen 5 1600 AF would be significantly cheaper per core. However, the Ryzen 3 2300X could appeal to CPU buyers who don't need six cores and want to save money.

Zhiye Liu
Zhiye Liu
RAM Reviewer and News Editor

Zhiye Liu is a Freelance News Writer at Tom’s Hardware US. Although he loves everything that’s hardware, he has a soft spot for CPUs, GPUs, and RAM.

10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Olle P
    I'd say the main competition is the Ryzen 3 3200G. Integrated graphics will save a considerable amount of money.
    Reply
  • King_V
    Maybe, though the 2200g is a little more expensive than the 1600AF.

    That said, I guess if that ~$70 price is accurate, it's a weird tradeoff, $20 more to lose a little bit of boost speed, but get integrated Vega 8 graphics.

    Seems like the 2300X finds itself in a weird position to try to slot itself into. But then if it goes lower still, it intrudes on Athlon 200/220/240/3000GE territory. Though, of course, the Athlons have Vega 3 graphics, vs requiring an add-in video card.
    Reply
  • InvalidError
    AMD's low-end is getting exceedingly crowded, can't imagine the 2300X having much of a market next to the slightly more expensive yet vastly superior 1600AF. Hard to imagine anyone with any degree of tech-savviness (somewhat of a prerequisite when buying CPUs at retail instead of as part of an OEM pre-built) spending $200+ on a new PC skipping a $15 upgrade that would roughly double available performance.
    Reply
  • logainofhades
    The 2300x needs to be no more than $50 to make any kind of sense.
    Reply
  • King_V
    logainofhades said:
    The 2300x needs to be no more than $50 to make any kind of sense.
    Maybe $60... Once it gets to $50, then it's equal to the Athlon 3000G (though, available price seems to be $55 now, a little higher than its $50 release price).

    As it is, the previous Athlons (200/220/240) are, insanely enough, all showing availability at HIGHER prices than the 3000G.

    Assuming the 2x0GE are still available, they all have to drop in price somewhat, to maybe make room for the 3000G at $45 or so, and the 2300X at $60, if I were to guess.

    A crowded environment at the low end, any which way you slice it.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    King_V said:
    Maybe, though the 2200g is a little more expensive than the 1600AF.

    That said, I guess if that ~$70 price is accurate, it's a weird tradeoff, $20 more to lose a little bit of boost speed, but get integrated Vega 8 graphics.

    Seems like the 2300X finds itself in a weird position to try to slot itself into. But then if it goes lower still, it intrudes on Athlon 200/220/240/3000GE territory. Though, of course, the Athlons have Vega 3 graphics, vs requiring an add-in video card.
    It makes sense for a budget gaming-centric build, and that's about it. I mean it's still a quad core Zen+ with a decent clock... it would drive an entry level 1650 or RX 570 nearly as well as a $150 chip. So if you're on a real budget, you could do worse for $70. Saves you some cash to put towards that dGPU, which is where you're going to see the most difference anyway.

    Don't get me wrong I wouldn't personally want one, but I also wouldn't be surprised to see one of these show up in a $500 budget gaming build competition entry.
    Reply
  • NightHawkRMX
    Well, the Ryzen 3 1200 really already intrudes onto 3000g pricing, both being around $50 maybe plus change.

    Really the 2300x doesn't make sense to exist.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    NightHawkRMX said:
    Well, the Ryzen 3 1200 really already intrudes onto 3000g pricing, both being around $50 maybe plus change.

    Really the 2300x doesn't make sense to exist.
    Where do you see 1200's for $50? They're getting rare. That aside, the 2300X offers: Better clocks (both stock and when overclocking), better RAM support, and Zen+.
    Reply
  • NightHawkRMX
    https://www.outletpc.com/iq1302-amd-ryzen-3-1200-4core-31-ghz-34-ghz-turbo-socket.html?utm_source=iq1302-amd-ryzen-3-1200-4core-31-ghz-34-ghz-turbo-socket&utm_medium=shopping%2Bengine&utm_campaign=googleproducts&cmp_id=297087484&adg_id=22119300484&kwd=&device=m&gclid=Cj0KCQiAkePyBRCEARIsAMy5Sct0bb6r77iMb6v_dZJNDVzYkIOrh09aE7mnTuI5a8UD2dptrcWxfHQaAjszEALw_wcB
    $59 new


    I sold mine for $45 used
    Reply
  • a06220
    Well, Ryzen 1600AF is not available in Malaysia. Even online market like Shopee or Lazada sell Ryzen 1st gen at high price and low avaibility, so the 2300X is pretty much the sweetspot for these budget gamer builds.

    Paired with a used GPU like R7 260x at $20 is a no-brainer for me.
    Reply