Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 Desktop Review
Ryzen or Core? Which one do you prefer? Technically, I am a bit leaned towards Ryzen and that’s why I bring you the all-new Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 Desktop. First of all, this CPU is specifically made for “not-so-heavy” personal and business needs. Nevertheless, the IdeaCentre 3 desktop also supports gaming unless when it comes to heavy graphics rendering. Moreover, it is an ideal desktop responsible for the smooth running of a variety of software and applications with its competitive SSHD.
Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 Desktop- Specifications
| Model Year | 2021 |
| Dimensions | 10 x 29 x 27 cm; 3.55 Kg |
| RAM size | 8 GB |
| Flash memory size | 256 |
| RAM memory size | 8 GB |
| Maximum memory extension | 16 GB |
| RAM technology | DDR4 |
| Hard drive size | 1 TB |
| Hard disk rotational speed | 7200 rpm |
| Hard disk description | SSHD |
| Compatible operating system | Windows 10 Home |
| Processor speed | 2.6 GHz |
| Processor type | AMD Ryzen 3 |
| Hardware interface | Ethernet, HDMI, 3.5mm Audio |
| Graphics RAM type | Shared |
| Mounting hardware | Keyboard, Power cable, Desktop, User manual |
| Included software | Windows 10 Home 64, English |
IdeaCentre 3 Desktop- Pros and Cons
Pros
✅ Budget-fit price
✅ Sleek and compact design
✅ Free from bloatware
✅ Compatible with Wi-Fi, Optical drive, and Bluetooth
Cons
❌ No USB-C port
❌ Receding 90-W external power supply
Model Variation
The Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 Desktop is loaded with an Athlon Silver 3050U processor. However, there is another variation of the model incorporating AMD Ryzen 3 3250U which also supports multithreading. The first model has 4 GB RAM, while the other one features 8 GB RAM with only extra 10 bucks. That’s why the choice is quite is obvious here.
Testing
It is an entry-level CPU that performs light basic tasks easily (MS Office). However, it struggles with multitasking and intense graphics operations, which is totally explainable due to its 2.3GHz Athlon Silver Mobile CPU. Moreover, I experienced lag while multitasking around some lightweight applications. Besides, I also had to wait for the tab to open when a dozen of tabs was already at work. Expectedly, the PC was unable to surpass the benchmark to run the Photoshop and graphics test. Comparatively, the Azulle Access4, a Window’s mini-PC is head-on with the IdeaCentre 3 in price as well as specs.
Limitations
Besides the cons we have discussed earlier, there are some limitations of IdeaCentre 3. The Ryzen 3 model offers only up to 1 TB and a 7,200 rpm hard drive. That is one-fourth capacity of what it can feature on the same model. Based on our testing, we found that the Lenovo IdeaCentre 3 Desktop is significantly slower than the 256 GB SSHD.
What Customers Have to Say?
Perhaps, it is a feasible investment for most of the customers. Nevertheless, it is serving the purpose with great ease at such a low price (one of the lowest prices at this time). However, almost everyone has found it worthwhile for home, school, and small businesses as far as it works seamlessly.