AMD PRO A8-8650B vs AMD Ryzen 3 3200U Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear but nuanced picture. The AMD Ryzen 3 3200U wins four of the five head-to-head comparisons, with decisive victories in single-core workloads and Geekbench multicore tests. The AMD PRO A8-8650B’s sole win comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where its four physical cores overcome the Ryzen’s architectural advantages. For users prioritizing single-threaded responsiveness and modern efficiency, the Ryzen 3 3200U is the evident choice. The PRO A8-8650B retains relevance only for multi-threaded rendering tasks in legacy desktop systems, where its 2734 score in Cinebench R23 multicore stands 34.7% ahead of the Ryzen’s 1786. Both processors sit at the 24th percentile among all CPUs, indicating similar overall standing despite their divergent strengths. The average benchmark scores are nearly identical—893 for the Ryzen versus 887 for the PRO A8—yet the distribution of performance could not be more different.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent fundamentally different design eras. The Ryzen 3 3200U uses the Zen architecture on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, featuring a 210 mm² die with 4,940 million transistors. It is a mobile part built for AMD Socket FP5, with 2 cores and 4 threads, base clock of 2.60 GHz and boost clock of 3.50 GHz. Its cache hierarchy includes 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. Memory support is DDR4 with dual-channel bus and 38.4 GB/s bandwidth. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 3, and the part is marked as Active in production.

The PRO A8-8650B uses the older Steamroller architecture on a 28 nm process, also at GlobalFoundries, with a larger 245 mm² die but fewer transistors at 2,411 million. It is a desktop processor for AMD Socket FM2+, offering 4 cores and 4 threads with base clock of 3.20 GHz and boost clock of 3.90 GHz. Cache configuration is 256 KB L1 and 4 MB L2, with no L3 cache. Memory support is DDR3 with dual-channel bus and 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Integrated graphics are Radeon R7, and the part is End-of-life.

The architectural gap is substantial. Zen brings simultaneous multithreading, a modern memory controller, and significantly higher instructions per clock compared to Steamroller. The Ryzen’s 14 nm process allows a 15 W TDP, whereas the PRO A8 consumes 65 W. The transistor density difference is stark: the Ryzen packs over twice the transistors into a smaller die. PCIe support is Gen 3 for both, though the PRO A8 specifies 16 lanes CPU-only. Neither processor supports ECC memory, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has higher single-core performance?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U dominates in single-core tests. In Cinebench R23 single-core, it scores 765 versus 386 for the PRO A8-8650B, a 98.2% advantage. Geekbench single-core shows 817 versus 441, an 85.3% lead.

Q: Does the PRO A8-8650B win any benchmark?

A: Yes, the PRO A8-8650B wins Cinebench R23 multicore with 2734 points against 1786 for the Ryzen 3 3200U, a 34.7% margin. This is its only head-to-head victory out of five tests.

Q: How do their overall average scores compare?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U has an average benchmark score of 893, while the PRO A8-8650B scores 887. The difference is less than 1%, and both rank at the 24th percentile among all CPUs.

Q: Which processor is better for multi-threaded workloads?

A: It depends on the benchmark generation. The PRO A8-8650B wins Cinebench R23 multicore, but the Ryzen 3 3200U wins Geekbench multicore with 1527 versus 1060, a 44.1% lead. The Ryzen also wins Cinebench R15 multicore with 334 versus 275, a 21.5% margin.

Q: What are the memory specifications for each?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U supports DDR4 with 38.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the PRO A8-8650B supports DDR3 with 34.1 GB/s bandwidth. Both use dual-channel buses.

Q: Are these processors still in production?

A: The Ryzen 3 3200U is marked as Active in production, while the PRO A8-8650B is End-of-life. The Ryzen was released on 2019-01-05, and the PRO A8 on 2015-09-28.

Specification Differences

The two processors differ across nearly every major specification category. The Ryzen 3 3200U offers 2 cores and 4 threads, while the PRO A8-8650B provides 4 cores and 4 threads. Base clocks are 2.60 GHz versus 3.20 GHz, and boost clocks are 3.50 GHz versus 3.90 GHz, favoring the PRO A8. TDP is a dramatic difference: 15 W for the Ryzen versus 65 W for the PRO A8.

Socket compatibility diverges completely: the Ryzen uses AMD Socket FP5, while the PRO A8 uses AMD Socket FM2+. Architecture is Zen versus Steamroller, with codenames Raven Ridge and Godaveri respectively. Process nodes are 14 nm versus 28 nm, and die sizes are 210 mm² versus 245 mm². Transistor counts are 4,940 million versus 2,411 million.

Cache layouts differ fundamentally. The Ryzen has 96 KB L1 per core, 512 KB L2 per core, and 4 MB shared L3. The PRO A8 has 256 KB L1 total and 4 MB L2 total, with no L3 cache. Memory support is DDR4 versus DDR3, with bandwidth of 38.4 GB/s versus 34.1 GB/s. Integrated graphics are Radeon Vega 3 versus Radeon R7.

Market segments differ: the Ryzen is Mobile, the PRO A8 is Desktop. Production status is Active versus End-of-life. Release dates are 2019-01-05 versus 2015-09-28. Part numbers are YM3200C4T2OFG and AD865BYBI44JC respectively. Neither has a launch MSRP listed, and neither has an unlocked multiplier.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest margin in either direction is the Cinebench R23 single-core test, where the Ryzen 3 3200U scores 765 against 386 for the PRO A8-8650B, a 98.2% advantage. This nearly doubles the score, reflecting the massive generational leap in single-thread performance from Steamroller to Zen. Geekbench single-core shows a similar pattern: 817 versus 441, an 85.3% lead for the Ryzen.

In Geekbench multicore, the Ryzen wins 1527 to 1060, a 44.1% margin. This is notable because the PRO A8 has twice the physical cores. The Ryzen’s efficiency per core and simultaneous multithreading overcome the core count disadvantage. Cinebench R15 multicore also favors the Ryzen, 334 to 275, a 21.5% win.

The sole PRO A8 victory comes in Cinebench R23 multicore, where it scores 2734 against 1786, a 34.7% margin. This test appears to scale strongly with physical core count and raw clock speed, allowing the PRO A8’s 4 cores at 3.90 GHz boost to outperform the Ryzen’s 2 cores at 3.50 GHz boost. However, the Ryzen also lacks a Cinebench R20 result in the data, while the PRO A8 shows 1148 multicore and 162 single-core on that test.

The wins tally is 4-1 in favor of the Ryzen 3 3200U. The average benchmark scores are separated by only six points—893 versus 887—yet the distribution reveals opposite strengths. The Ryzen excels in single-core and modern multi-threaded tests, while the PRO A8 only outperforms in one rendering workload. For any mixed usage pattern, the Ryzen’s consistency across five of six individual test scores makes it the more balanced performer. The PRO A8’s higher clock speeds and extra cores do not translate into broad superiority, as the Zen architecture’s higher instructions per clock compensates effectively in most scenarios.