AMD 3015e vs AMD Ryzen 5 2500U vs AMD 3020e

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

3015e is based on 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

The AMD processor directly competes with Intel's N-class Celeron and Pentium processors (such as the N4500), making it an undeniably low-end option suitable for basic tasks 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 PL1) of 6 W, making it one of the better options for companies planning on creating a passively cooled laptop, tablet, mini-PC.

The 14 nm process AMD 3015e is manufactured on is really old, as of early 2023, leading to subpar energy efficiency.

AMD Ryzen 5 2500U

The AMD Ryzen 5 2500U is a mobile APU for thin and light laptops that was announced in October 2017. It includes four Zen cores clocked at 2 to 3.6 GHz and offers 4 MB L3-Cache. The integrated graphics card is called Radeon RX Vega 8 and offers 8 CUs (512 Shaders) clocked at up to 1100 MHz. 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 3020e

The AMD 3020e (Codename Dali) is a mobile APU that integrates two Zen cores (without SMT, therefore 2 threads) clocked at 1.2 to 2.6 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 1,000 MHz (Radeon RX Vega 3). The dual channel memory controller supports DDR4-2400.

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

Performance

The average 3020e in our database sits close to Intel Celeron N4100 and Intel Core m3-8100Y as far as multi-thread performance is concerned. Both the Celeron and the Core m3 are a couple of years old and are not exactly performance monsters, low power consumption being their main advantage. Much like those two, AMD's 3020e will let you binge-watch Netflix and type e-mails but anything tougher than that will bring the APU to its limits quickly.

Power consumption

This little AMD processor has a default TDP (also known as the long-term power limit) of 6 W. Which is low and thus good enough for tablets, laptops and mini-PCs with no active cooling solution inside.

AMD 3020e is built with an old, as of late 2022, 14 nm process which leads to subpar energy efficiency.