AMD 3015e vs AMD Ryzen Embedded R1505G vs AMD Athlon Silver 3050e

AMD 3015e

The AMD 3015e is a dual-core, quad-thread processor (APU) of the Pollock product family. Its cores run at 1.2 GHz to 2.3 GHz and it has a low 6 W TDP, making it a good option for use in passively cooled laptops and ultra-small mini-PCs of the more affordable flavour. The processor first saw the light of day in 2020; it has a built-in Vega 3 graphics adapter running at up to 600 MHz.

Architecture & Features

This chip makes use of the rather dated Zen architecture for comparatively poor performance-per-MHz values. It has 4 MB of L3 cache and several PCI-Express 3.0 lanes for connecting NVMe SSDs, discrete graphics cards and other devices; its RAM controller functions in single-channel mode and supports DDR4-1600 memory or slower. AMD 3015e is compatible with Windows 10, Windows 11, and many Linux distros as well. Please note this is not a user-replaceable CPU. It gets soldered permanently to the motherboard (FT5 socket interface).

Performance

While we have not tested a single system built around the 3015e as of August 2023, we have some performance data for the 3050e, a chip that is just slightly superior. Based on that, the 3015e is a low-end option competing with the likes of the Intel N4500 and the Intel 4415U that is good for the most basic tasks and applications only.

Graphics

The Vega 3 runs at an unusually low clock rate of 600 MHz, or less. It will let you connect several monitors in resolutions as high as UHD 2160p, and it will happily decode AVC, HEVC and VP9-encoded videos, too. The latest AV1 video codec is not supported; such a video will have to be software-decoded, with the limited CPU horsepower putting a hard limit on video resolution that can be played back without stuttering. Expect to see a lot of dropped frames when watching a 1080p30 video.

Gaming is possible to a very limited extent with this iGPU. Even if it's CS:GO or a similarly old game that you want to play, be prepared to set the settings to Low.

Power consumption

This little AMD processor has a low default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 6 W, making it one of the better options for use in a passively cooled laptop, tablet, mini-PC.

The AMD 3015e is manufactured on a 14 nm process leading to poor, as of mid 2023, energy efficiency.

AMD Ryzen Embedded R1505G

The AMD Ryzen Embedded R1505G is a mobile APU for thin and light embedded systems that was announced in early 2019. It includes four Zen cores clocked at 2.4 to 3.4 GHz and offers no SMT (four threads) and 4 MB L3-Cache. The integrated graphics card is called Radeon RX Vega 3 and offers 3 CUs (192 Shaders). The TDP is configurable between 12 and 25 Watt (15 Watt nominal).

More information on Raven Ridge can be found in our launch article.

AMD Athlon Silver 3050e

The AMD Athlon Silver 3050e (Codename Dali) is a mobile APU that integrates two Zen cores (with SMT, therefore 4 threads) clocked at 1.4 to 2.8 GHz. The TDP is specified at 6 Watt and therefore the chip can be passively cooled. The integrated Radeon graphics card offers 3 CUs at up to 1000 MHz (Radeon RX Vega 3). The dual channel memory controller supports only DDR4-2400. The chip is manufactured on a 14 nm node and officially counted to the 3000 series of mobile processors.

The AMD Athlon Silver 3050e is the fastest 6W CPU of the Dali SoCs. The slower AMD 3015e and 3020e range below and are compared to the Celeron N4120. Therefore, the Athlon 3050e should reach a level of a Pentium N5000 and therefore still positioned in the entry level of CPUs in 2020. It is best suited for light tasks.

More information on Raven Ridge can be found in our launch article.

Power consumption

Much like Intel's N-class Celeron and Pentium processors, the AMD 3050e has a 6 W TDP (also known as the long-term power limit). This is not much at all and thus good enough for passively cooled tablets, laptops, mini-PCs.

This APU is built with a 14 nm process making for poor, as of early 2023, energy efficiency.