AMD relaunches $40 dual-core Athlon 3000G CPU with new packaging and cooler — Zen refuses to retire even in 2025

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It has become common practice for AMD and Intel to re-release processors from several generations-old architectures. Japanese news outlet Akiba reports that AMD has relaunched its entry-level dual-core Athlon 3000G with new packaging and a cooler, featuring part number YD3000C6FHSBX. The chip is on sale for ¥5,790, which translates to approximately $40.

The Athlon 3000G is one of the slowest CPUs you can install in an AM4 motherboard. The CPU was released in 2019 as AMD's entry-level processor, succeeding the Athlon 200GE series that preceded it. The chip has two unlocked Zen CPU cores, four threads, just 4MB of L3 cache, a 35W TDP, and a 3.5 GHz clock speed. For graphics, the 3000G comes with a Vega 3-based iGPU featuring three CUs, 192 cores, and a 1.1GHz clock speed.

AMD launched a second variant of the chip in 2023, featuring a beefier Wraith cooler, new packaging, and a newer die based on the Dali architecture. Dali was an offshoot of Raven Ridge that was cheaper to manufacture, but based on the same 14nm process. As a result, performance is identical between the original and refreshed versions. One interesting tidbit about the Dali die is that it only features two physical cores; by contrast, the original Raven Ridge version of the 3000G had a quad-core die with two disabled cores.

It may seem silly for AMD to release an entry-level CPU that is now six years old, running on an architecture introduced eight years ago. But AMD would not release a CPU like this unless it knew there was still a market for it. The Ryzen 5 5500X3D is an excellent example of this being an "all-new" Ryzen CPU based on the Zen 3 architecture, but it is region-locked to Latin America. The Ryzen 5 5600F and Ryzen 5 7400 are similar, both being locked to the Asian market.

The only caveat owners will need to be aware of is motherboard compatibility for the 3000G. The chip is so old that AMD's latest iteration of 500-series AM5 motherboards doesn't support it. Technically, these boards can help, but AMD has released so many AM4 CPUs over the past eight years that there likely isn't enough room in the firmware memory of 500-series motherboards to accommodate such old chips.

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Aaron Klotz is a contributing writer for Tom’s Hardware, covering news related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

27 Comments Comment from the forums

Amdlova

Another piece of junk :)
Reply
usertests

The chip is so old that AMD's latest iteration of 500-series AM5 motherboards doesn't support it. Technically, these boards can help, but AMD has released so many AM4 CPUs over the past eight years that there likely isn't enough room in the firmware memory of 500-series motherboards to accommodate such old chips.
I don't like that. Lose some eye candy or start adding 64 MiB ROM as default or whatever.
Reply
rluker5

Hopefully AMD releases another chip for AM4.
It would be a shame if support ended like this.
Dial core not compatible with newer AM4 boards.
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Alvar "Miles" Udell

I think the biggest market for something like this would be a home media server, but a dual core is of questionable power for those in 2025, especially when companies like Synology are using quad core Celerons in their entry level media server class systems like the DS225+.
Reply
usertests

rluker5 said:
Hopefully AMD releases another chip for AM4.
It would be a shame if support ended like this.
Dial core not compatible with newer AM4 boards.
The cheapest die AMD has used for AM5 so far is Phoenix2. The 8300G has 1+3 cores disabled from 2+4, and full 740M graphics (4 CUs).

I don't know if Mendocino can be used. It supports LPDDR5 but not DDR5 AFAIK.

The biggest cut we've seen is the Ryzen AI 5 330. That's Krackan Point with 4+4 cores and 8 CUs disabled down to 1+3 and 2 CUs, which is nuts. That could go on AM5 if AMD wants.

Just get a 5500 or something.
Reply
niqht1

Perhaps some use in a mini ITX arcade MAME cabinet? Been looking for something dirt ass cheap for a pedestal. My measure is running Blitz full speed...
Reply
fiyz

Alvar Miles Udell said:
I think the biggest market for something like this would be a home media server, but a dual core is of questionable power for those in 2025, especially when companies like Synology are using quad core Celerons in their entry level media server class systems like the DS225+.
Building a kid their first computer shouldn't be more than the most barebone and basic of systems. Me and my brother put peanut butter into our NES... I can only imagine what other ideas other kids might have. Sure, I would prefer buying used, but some people like the sense of comfort that comes with a warranty.
Reply
Scro_Bro

Amdlova said:
Another piece of junk :)
I would rather pay $99 for the Intel i3 14100. It has 4 performance cores, 8 threads and goes up to 4.7GHz. Then it supports DDR4 and DDR5 and it has an Intel UHD 730 iGPU. It is perfect for Plex and other server applications to use for a media server.
Reply
Devoteicon

Poor little things are gonna sit in storage forever and collect dust.
Reply
Amdlova

And its a nightmare to find a compatible board. Amd make a huge mess with the am4 processors... Remember the start of am4 has even pilledrivers cpu floating around.

And we will see it again with the am5 socket.
Your motherboard will be not compatible with with these old cpus...

I have a piledrive cpu here but cannot find any compatible motherboard. The last compatible boards are b350 and some old school a320
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