AMD Keep Selling Zen 14nm Processors In 2023

The Athlon 3000G, a processor from AMD’s Zen era, continues to be a part of the market, even as the company has progressed to its Zen 4 architecture. This four-year-old chip, known for its affordability and entry-level performance, has recently been spotted in new packaging, indicating AMD’s ongoing commitment to this model.

Originally built on a 14nm process node, the Athlon 3000G is a 35W processor featuring a dual-core, quad-thread design and operates at a static 3.5 GHz base clock. Despite being a lower-tier chip, it has maintained a presence in the market, available in two different variants with distinct orderable product numbers (OPNs). The YD3000C6FHBOX version, listed on AMD’s website, uses the Dali die, a more cost-effective variant of the Raven Ridge die. The other version, YD3000C6FBBOX, is based on the original Raven Ridge.

Both variants of the Athlon 3000G share the same specifications, ensuring consistent performance across the two. However, a notable difference lies in their compatibility with Windows 11; only the Dali version (YD3000C6FHBOX) supports the latest operating system from Microsoft. This has led to some confusion among users during the upgrade process.

The new packaging for the Athlon 3000G, as discovered by user Hoang Anh Phu, features a fresh design and a new OPN, YD3000C6FHSBX. While AMD’s website still lists the previous OPN, many international retailers have begun showcasing the processor in its new packaging. The updated design adopts a minimalist approach, with a large AMD logo replacing the previous Athlon and Zen logos. The Athlon branding is subtly positioned at the bottom of the package, and the Radeon Vega graphics branding is no longer featured.

The packaging’s black-and-white theme is accented with a touch of orange, and a cutout offers a glimpse of the Athlon 3000G processor. Notably, the new version seems to include an upgraded stock cooler, the Wraith Stealth, a step up from the basic cooler provided with the earlier version of the Athlon 3000G.

This move by AMD to refresh the packaging of an older chip is unusual, especially considering the company’s current focus on the more advanced Zen 4 architecture. However, the Athlon 3000G, manufactured on the older 14nm process, remains a cost-effective option for AMD. It also continues to serve the entry-level market segment, which has seen limited new offerings from AMD. The Athlon 3000G’s enduring presence is further highlighted by its stable pricing; it was launched at $49 four years ago and still retails around the same price, although third-party sellers may vary the price.

The Athlon 3000G’s relevance in the current market underscores AMD’s strategy to cater to a broad range of consumers, including those in the entry-level segment, by offering a balance of affordability and performance.

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