Not everyone can afford a discrete graphics card for their new PC. This is because some people are on a very tight budget and buying even an entry level graphics card can be tough. But some of these users are very fond of gaming and they want to have some fun on their PC by playing some of the less demanding games or some older games.
For them, it is not the end of the world because there are some budget powerful CPUs from AMD having very good integrated graphics onboard, and they can easily run games like Counter-Strike, Far cry, COD, GTA 3, GTA 4, etc. on low-medium graphics settings at 720p, 900p or even at 1080p resolution. These AMD CPUs with good Integrated Graphics or GPU and are known as APU or Accelerated Processing Unit.
APU = CPU + GPU, So APU is a processor that consists of both CPU and Integrated GPU
Here in this post, I am going to list down the best AMD APUs for all budgets for building a budget gaming PC without the need for a discrete graphics card.
Must Read: Build Cheap Gaming PC under 200 Dollars using AMD APU
Important Note: To get the best performance of these integrated GPUs in these APUs, you should use a fast RAM in dual channel mode and allocate more memory to the iGPU or Onboard / Integrated Graphics in the BIOS settings. This will get you better frame rates in games and overall better graphics performance.
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Budget CPU / APU with Best Integrated Graphics
Here are the best AMD APU processors that come with good integrated GPUs for casual gaming. I am listing the APUs for both AM4 and FM2+ Sockets that are at around 50 dollars.
Socket AM4 [Raven Ridge]
AMD Athlon 200GE
[Low Power Consumption, Vega 3 Graphics, Value for Money]
AMD Athlon 200GE is a new budget APU from AMD that is built on the Zen architecture. It is a Raven Ridge APU that is manufactured in a 14nm manufacturing process. It is a dual-core processor that supports four threads and comes with 5 MB of total cache. The processor operates at a base frequency of 3.2 GHz and there is no Turbo Boost support. The GPU used in this APU is Radeon Vega 3 which comes with three graphics cores and 192 Stream Processors. The GPU operates at a frequency of 1GHz and supports DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 2.2, and Vulkan 1.1 APIs. The TDP of this APU is only 35W, which means it consumes far less power than other APUs.
This is by no means a processor for gaming or productivity. However, it is a great processor for normal office work, internet browsing, watching movies and for setting up a media center PC / HTPC or a Home PC for Kids. Due to its reasonably powerful graphics, it can easily run older games with playable frame rates and that too on decent graphics quality. Some of the games that can be played comfortably on this APU with integrated graphics include Civilization VI, Warhammer 40000: Dawn of War III, CS:Go, DOTA 2, World of Warcraft, Dirt, Assassins Creed, Rocket League, etc.
AMD Athlon 200GE, because of its lower power consumption and heat generation, is a perfect candidate for use in mini-ITX cases and slim small form factor cases. It supports Socket AM4 and is a locked processor, which means you cannot overclock it for higher gains. The processor supports DDR4 memory up to 2667MHz and you can pair this APU with an inexpensive A320 motherboard to set up a budget PC for the office or home. A CPU Cooler comes bundled with this APU which is enough to keep it cool. So, if you are looking for the latest budget APU with lower power consumption and reasonably powerful integrated graphics then look no further. Highly Recommended by me.
| AMD Athlon 200GE Specifications | |
| CPU Cores | 2, Dual Core (4 Threads) |
| Clock Speed | 3.2 GHz (Base) |
| Cache | 5 MB (L2+L3) |
| GPU | Radeon Vega 3 |
| GPU Cores | 3 |
| Socket | AM4 |
| TDP | 35W |
Socket AM4 APU [Bristol Ridge]
These are 7th Generation APUs from AMD and require Socket AM4 motherboard for their working. They are made on a 28nm manufacturing process and codenamed as Bristol Ridge. Also, all of them support the latest PCI Express 3.0 bus, DDR4 RAM (up to 2400 MHz), AMD FreeSync technology, and latest graphics APIs that include DirectX 12 and Vulkan.
AMD A6-9500 APU
This is an entry APU from AMD based on the latest AM4 Socket. This budget APU consists of dual-core CPU and a six core Radeon R5 GPU. It has got clock speed of 3.5 GHz / 3.8 GHz and cache of 1MB. This APU is only for users who are on a really tight budget but require something powerful enough to play some of the older games at low/medium settings. This is also a great processor for building a budget media PC or an HTPC because of its relatively good graphics capabilities.
| AMD A6-9500 APU Specifications | |
| CPU Cores | 2, Dual Core |
| Clock Speed | 3.5 GHz (Base) / 3.8 GHz (Turbo) |
| Cache | 1 MB |
| GPU | Radeon R5 |
| GPU Cores | 6 |
| GPU Clock | 1.029 GHz |
| Socket | AM4 |
| TDP | 65W |
AMD A8-9600 APU
This is a quad-core CPU that comes with a more powerful Radeon R7 GPU. This APU processor packs a decent amount of power and it has got clock speed of 3.1 GHz / 3.4 GHz (turbo speed) and comes with 2MB cache. The Radeon R7 GPU in this APU is quite powerful and you can enjoy games like WOW, CS: GO, Far cry, Elder Scrolls Online, Starcraft 2, Diablo 2, Crysis 3, Warframe, and GTA 5 at low/medium settings at 720p / 1080p resolution with playable frame rates (30 FPS to 60 FPS). Also, this is a great APU for eSports gaming and for building a budget HTPC. This APU is also quite cheap and offers the best value for your hard-earned money. Highly Recommended by me.
| AMD A8-9600 APUSpecifications | |
| CPU Cores | 4, Quad Core |
| Clock Speed | 3.1 GHz (Base) / 3.4 GHz (Turbo) |
| Cache | 2 MB |
| GPU | Radeon R7 |
| GPU Cores | 6 |
| GPU Clock | 900 MHz |
| Socket | AM4 |
| TDP | 65W |
AMD A10-9700 APU
Just like AMD A8-9600, this is another quad-core processor equipped with Radeon R7 GPU. The major difference is that it comes with higher clock speeds for both the CPU and the GPU. The CPU comes with 2MB cache and base/boost clock speed of 3.5 GHz / 3.8 GHz. The GPU clock is 100 MHz higher than the above-mentioned A8-9600 APU and it stands at 1.029 GHz. It can run every game that AMD A8-9600 can but better, which means you will get slightly higher frame rates in the games. This AMD APU does cost a bit more than the AMD A8-9600 but it is still a great value for money product.
| AMD A10-9700 APU Specifications | |
| CPU Cores | 4, Quad Core |
| Clock Speed | 3.5 GHz (Base) / 3.8 GHz (Turbo) |
| Cache | 2 MB |
| GPU | Radeon R7 |
| GPU Cores | 6 |
| GPU Clock | 1.029 GHz |
| Socket | AM4 |
| TDP | 65W |
AMD A12-9800 APU
This is the best APU you can get for building a budget gaming PC without using any discrete GPU or graphics card. AMD A12-9800 APU comes with a quad-core CPU and comes with Radeon R7 GPU. This APU comes with much higher clock speeds and more GPU cores compared to the above-mentioned A8 and A10 APUs.
This high-end APU comes with base/turbo clock speed of 3.8 GHz / 4.2 GHz. The GPU has got 8 Cores and runs at a core clock speed of 1.108 GHz. This APU can run all the older generation and most of the newer generation games at 720p / 1080p at playable frame rates. Also, the APU is not that expensive considering the fact that you will get the power of both things i.e. CPU and Graphics Card in one package or at a single price. Recommended by me.
| AMD A12-9800 APU Specifications | |
| CPU Cores | 4, Quad Core |
| Clock Speed | 3.8 GHz (Base) / 4.2 GHz (Boost) |
| Cache | 2 MB |
| GPU | Radeon R7 |
| GPU Cores | 8 |
| GPU Clock | 1.108 GHz |
| Socket | AM4 |
| TDP | 65W |
Note: All 7th Generation A-Series Processors have Multiplier Unlocked which means you can overclock them to higher frequencies for getting the most performance out of them. I advise you to use a good aftermarket CPU cooler if you plan on overclocking them.
Socket FM2+ APU [Kaveri]
These are the older generation APUs (codenamed Kaveri) based on the FM2+ Socket. They are built using the 28nm fabrication process, and support DDR3 RAM (dual channel) and PCIe 3.0 interface. Also, these APUs include support for DirectX 12, Vulkan, and AMD FreeSync.
AMD A6-7400K APU
This is an entry-level budget AMD APU having FM2+ Socket. It is a dual-core CPU that comes with 1MB cache and Base / Turbo clock speed of 3.5 GHz / 3.9 GHz. This APU comes with Radeon R5 Graphics Processor or GPU and supports DDR3 RAM up to 1866 MHz. This APU is only good for older games that are less graphics demanding. Also, you can build a pretty cost-effective and decent HTPC using this APU using a cheap Socket FM2+ motherboard.
| AMD A6-7400K APU Specifications | |
| CPU Cores | 2, Dual Core |
| Clock Speed | 3.5 GHz (Base) / 3.9 GHz (Turbo) |
| Cache | 1 MB |
| GPU | Radeon R5 |
| GPU Cores | 4 |
| GPU Clock | 758 MHz |
| Socket | FM2+ |
| TDP | 65W |
AMD A8-7600 APU
A powerful mid-range APU from AMD that comes with a Quad-core CPU having 4MB cache. The GPU paired with this CPU is Radeon R7. The CPU has got base/turbo clock speed of 3.1 / 3.8 GHz and supports up to 2133 MHz DDR3 memory. The GPU has got six cores and is pretty powerful to run games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Far Cry 2, COD, GTA 4, etc. at decent graphics settings with comfortable or playable frame rates. This APU is also very affordable and offers the best value for your money. Highly Recommended by me.
| AMD A8-7600 APU Specifications | |
| CPU Cores | 4, Quad-core |
| Clock Speed | 3.1 GHz (Base) / 3.8 GHz (Turbo) |
| Cache | 4 MB |
| GPU | Radeon R7 |
| GPU Cores | 6 |
| GPU Clock | 720 MHz |
| Socket | FM2+ |
| TDP | 65W |
AMD A10-7860K Black Edition APU
AMD A10-7860K is a powerful processor that comes with a quad-core CPU with Radeon R7 GPU having 8 cores. The CPU has got base/turbo clock speed of 3.6 / 4 GHz and comes with 4 MB cache. It supports DDR3 memory up to 2133 MHz. This APU comes bundled with a 95W cooler which offers a decent amount of cooling performance. You may use a good budget aftermarket CPU Cooler for better cooling performance or if you plan to overclock it. On this processor, you can play almost all the older games and some latest games on decent graphics settings with comfortable frame rates. This is also a great budget choice CPU/GPU for eSports gaming. This APU is very much affordable and you can get it for under 100 dollars.
| AMD A10-7860K APU Specifications | |
| CPU Cores | 4,Quad Core |
| Clock Speed | 3.6 GHz (Base) / 4 GHz (Turbo) |
| Cache | 4 MB |
| GPU | Radeon R7 |
| GPU Cores | 8 |
| GPU Clock | 757 MHz |
| Socket | FM2+ |
| TDP | 65W |
Final Words
In the end, I would only like to say that if you are building a low-end gaming PC or a decent HTPC then the above-mentioned AMD Processors or APUs will not disappoint you and will deliver great graphics performance for the price. If you have any queries about them, then feel free to ask me by leaving a comment below.
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