Thursday, May 28th 2015

AMD Announces New A-Series Desktop APUs

AMD today introduced the latest addition to its line of desktop A-Series processors, the A10-7870K APU, a refresh to the existing line of processors codenamed "Kaveri". The A10-7870K delivers a best-in-class experience for eSports and online gaming with superior performance, best-in-class efficiency in DirectX 12, and unique features. The new processor also delivers exceptional performance in modern workloads and is designed for the future with Microsoft Windows 10.

The latest iteration of the popular and powerful AMD A-Series APU family provides premium performance and multitasking powered by up to 12 compute cores (4 CPU + 8 GPU). The responsiveness and processing power of the A10-7870K APU enables an immersive user experience on Windows 10 PCs while offering an easy path for PC builders looking to upgrade to discrete-level graphics and faster processing at an afforadable price. The A10-7870K APU is available at e-tail now at a suggested price (SEP) of US $137, and through participating system builders.
"AMD takes a major step forward today by unveiling the world's most advanced eSports and online gaming processor technology in the A10-7870K APU, giving players the ability to game like a pro without spending like one," said Matt Skynner, corporate VP and general manager, Computing and Graphics Business Unit at AMD. "eSports is one of the fastest-growing pastimes in the world with hundreds of millions of gamers worldwide playing games like StarCraft II, League of Legends, DOTA 2 and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. With the new A10-7870K APU, gamers can play the most popular online and eSports games right out of the box with features to make that experience even better."

"AMD continues to blaze the trail at the forefront of PC technology," said Ahmed Aziz, CEO and founder of CybertronPC. "With the new AMD A10-7870K processors in a custom gaming CybertronPC, our customers will experience unbelievable gaming performance and the leading edge gaming features of AMD FreeSync and Virtual Screen Resolution -- a marked improvement over existing desktop PC capabilities, and unique to AMD."

Best eSports and Online Gaming Experience
  • The AMD A10-7870K represents the best single-processor solution for online and eSports gaming, delivering best-in-class gaming performance -- up to 48 percent higher frame rates in the most popular online games vs. higher priced solutions made up of a CPU and GPU1 -- and more than 3x greater efficiency in DirectX 12 than competing solutions.2
  • Gamers can enjoy 1080p gaming on some of the world's most popular games with the settings cranked up, and benefit from unique features only available on AMD A-Series processors to improve the gaming experience. Unique features include Virtual Screen Resolution (VSR) for improved image quality when gaming at lower resolutions, and AMD FreeSync for effortlessly smooth gameplay on FreeSync-compatible displays, bringing the high-end gaming PC experience to the mainstream PC.3
  • Be ready for the future with support for multi-threaded APIs including DirectX 12, Vulkan and Mantle that enable advanced gaming technologies to improve performance and visual fidelity, including asymmetric rendering pairing with an AMD Radeon R7 or R9 GPU to support DirectX 12 multi-adapter and multi-engine features.
  • AMD Radeon Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture is designed to push the boundaries of gaming, providing eSports gamers with higher resolutions and outstanding image quality for an improved visual experience.
  • Experience-enhancing features such as AMD Quick Stream and AMD Eyefinity4 combine to deliver more realism and greater fields of view in supported games.
Revolutionary Architecture for Today's Modern Workloads
  • The AMD A10-7870K APU features 12 compute cores (4 CPU + 8 GPU)*, up to 4.1 GHz CPU clock and 95W TDP for exceptional performance on today's modern workloads, and up to 5 percent faster system performance versus a competitive processor.5
  • Enjoy a premium Windows 10 experience with the AMD A10-7870K APU. The new processor is designed to deliver a phenomenal Windows 10 experience enabling the latest Windows 10 features.
  • Designed to push not only the boundaries of DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 gaming, the Graphics Core Next (GCN) Architecture is also specifically engineered for general computing and GPU-aware programming languages like C++ AMP and OpenCL 2.0.
  • The A10-7870K supports Heterogeneous System Architecture (HSA) features hUMA and hQ which allow the CPU and GPU to work together in supported applications by quickly dividing and directing the right tasks toward the appropriate cores for new levels of performance and efficiency in consumer and commercial PCs.
Easy Upgrades
  • The AMD A10-7870K APU is supported by the existing AMD socket FM2+ motherboard ecosystem making it simple to upgrade to the new processor.
  • Supports latest PCI Express 3.0 Graphics Cards to enable performance gaming at Ultra HD resolutions.
1. Testing by AMD Performance Labs using: AMD A10-7870K with AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, 2x4GB DDR3-2400, 256 SSD, Windows 8.1 64 bit, Driver 14.502. Core i3 4360 with Nvidia GT 740 Graphics 1GB DDR3, 2x4GB DDR3-1600, 256 SSD, Windows 8.1 64 bit, Driver 4156. Games tested: CounterStrike:GO @ 1080P Max settings (AMD platform scored 62fps vs 46fps), DOTA2 @ 1080P Max settings (AMD platform scored 49fps vs 37fps), League of Legends @1080p Max settings (AMD platform scored 89fps vs 60fps), StarCraft II run at max settings at 1080p (AMD platform scored 35fps vs 28fps). GV-8
2. Tested in AMD internal labs using AMD A10-7870K Radeon R7, with AMD Radeon R7 Graphics, 2x4096 MBytes of DDR3-1866 RAM, Microsoft Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview,15.200.0.0 and Intel Core i5-4570R CPU @ 2.70GHz with Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 graphics, 2x4096 MBytes of DDR3-1600 RAM, 10.18.15.4204. A10-7870K performed 5,167,514 draw calls in DirectX 12 while the Core i5 performed 1,610,377 draw calls in DirectX12.
3. FreeSync is an AMD technology designed to eliminate stuttering and/or tearing in games and videos by locking a display's refresh rate to the framerate of the graphics card. Requires Monitor, AMD Radeon graphics and/or AMD A-Series APU compliant with DisplayPort Adaptive-Sync 1.2 (or newer). AMD Catalyst driver 15.2 Beta (or newer) required. Adaptive refresh rates vary by display; check with your monitor manufacturer for specific capabilities. Only select AMD Radeon GPUs and A-Series APUs supported; see www.amd.com/freesync for full details.
4. AMD Eyefinity technology supports up to four DisplayPort monitors with select AMD A-Series APUs. Supported display quantity, type and resolution vary by APU model and system design; confirm specifications with the system manufacturer before purchase. To enable more than two displays, or multiple displays from a single output, additional hardware such as DisplayPort-ready monitors or DisplayPort 1.2 MST-enabled hubs may be required. A maximum of two active adapters is recommended. See www.amd.com/eyefinityfaq for full details.
5. Based on PCMark Home testing using an AMD A10-7870K with 2x8 GB DDR3-2400, 256GB SSD, Windows 8.1, beta 15.10 drivers which scored 3457 in PCMark 8 Home v2. Intel i3 4370 with 2x8 DDR3-2133, 256GB SSD, Windows 8.1 Driver 4156 which scored 3304 in PCMark 8 Home v2. Core i3 4370 pricing of $151US as of May 7, 2015 at pricewatch.com vs $130US for A10-7870K estimated e-tail pricing as of May 28, 2015. GV-1
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28 Comments on AMD Announces New A-Series Desktop APUs

#1
john_
I don't think these two should be called Godavari. If we see an 8000 series, OK, but these two are 7000 series, so they are Kaveris.
Posted on Reply
#2
_larry
SIGN ME UP. I'm totally getting this for my work rig. This A6-5400K is dragging me down.
Posted on Reply
#3
TheGuruStud
john_I don't think these two should be called Godavari. If we see an 8000 series, OK, but these two are 7000 series, so they are Kaveris.
Excavator cores
Posted on Reply
#4
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
Third slide shows that you'll be able to multi-GPU a GTX 980 Ti and a Fiji-XT (a DX12 feature).
Posted on Reply
#5
ZoneDymo
these graphs are getting even worse.... the last one does not even show the other setup's framerate now...just some vague bar...
Posted on Reply
#6
hojnikb
C'mon amd, you can do better than simple clock bumps.
Posted on Reply
#7
xorbe
They have 7000s with excavator, and 8000s with steamroller. Why ...
Posted on Reply
#8
john_
TheGuruStudExcavator cores
???? I really didn't get your point here.
Posted on Reply
#9
PLAfiller
Marketing slogans rarely hit me, but this line: "beats i3+ GT740" totally got me, since I was planning something like this for my portable rig. Now I am disturbed...
Posted on Reply
#10
ensabrenoir
lZKoceMarketing slogans rarely hit me, but this line: "beats i3+ GT740" totally got me, since I was planning something like this for my portable rig. Now I am disturbed...
....wonder which i3 they used....
Posted on Reply
#12
NC37
ensabrenoir....wonder which i3 they used....
i3 4360...read the fine print on the post.
Posted on Reply
#13
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
lZKoceMarketing slogans rarely hit me, but this line: "beats i3+ GT740" totally got me, since I was planning something like this for my portable rig. Now I am disturbed...
Yeah, but they picked the GT740 on purpose because it offers horrible price to performance. The GTX750Ti is only about $40 more and double the performance.
Posted on Reply
#14
Unregistered
I think most people don't understand exactly how capable these APU's are...
With a proper setup these things are fantastic for what they are and what they cost...

My 7850k running @4.2ghz cpu, 950mhz gpu and memory @2400mhz does play most games at medium settings @1680x1050 quite well....and any casual game at 1080p without issue....
Can't beat it's performance at it's price.

Can't wait to try it on Windows 10.
Posted on Edit | Reply
#15
john_
newtekie1Yeah, but they picked the GT740 on purpose because it offers horrible price to performance. The GTX750Ti is only about $40 more and double the performance.
Only? 750Ti costs about as much as the APU here, probably also where you live.
Posted on Reply
#16
Bobster
They are really $$value CPU's but AMD has pitched them to the right audience tho.

I can't wait until AMD gets the die shrink on these, hopefully we see twice the gpu's on there and some HBM memory
Posted on Reply
#17
Unregistered
BobsterThey are really $$value CPU's but AMD has pitched them to the right audience tho.

I can't wait until AMD gets the die shrink on these, hopefully we see twice the gpu's on there and some HBM memory
Any improvement in memory will make these things exponentially better...whether it be DDR4 or HBM....though HBM HELL YEAH!!!

My system is the same as the test system except I have a 7850k....
I've tried this with memory speeds @ 1333mhz and it was alright...then 1600mhz which was dramatic...then 1866mhz again dramatic...2000, 2133 and yes 2400mhz was still a dramatic increase over 2133mhz...
It's very easy to see that these are severely limited by memory speeds....HBM and DX12 and Yeah I could see 1080p at 60fps...
#18
john_
Only Carrizo will get the color compression that will help. Unfortunately I wouldn't expect anything on FM2+. FM2+ is in the same situation AM3+ was in 2014. No real new models. Just the same old models with the some old cpu and gpu architecture and a couple of changes in the frequencies.
Posted on Reply
#20
john_
LTUGamerThat is funny. AMD APU at 1500 USD build:roll:

This 5h1t APU is pointless because build costs same as pentium cpu + GTX 750 + Cheap RAM
Try putting that 750 in a tiny case.
Posted on Reply
#22
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
LTUGamerThis 5h1t APU is pointless because build costs same as pentium cpu + GTX 750 + Cheap RAM
Here the 7850k is about €10 more than the cheapest 750ti. If you're not into overclocking the A8 7600 (which has the same GPU as 7700k and isn't a whole lot slower than the 7850k) is about €70, the 7700k can usually be had for around €110, so I generally don't consider the 7850k to be worth it.

You'd have to buy used stuff if you want to beat it if you're after a very cheap slightly gaming capable machine.
Posted on Reply
#23
john_
lZKoceKFA2 / MSI / Gigabyte/ Colorful , you were saying :)
I was saying TINY.You where reading? I don't think so. Try feating that 750 in this one



You may NOT use a hammer while trying.
Posted on Reply
#24
john_
FrickHere the 7850k is about €10 more than the cheapest 750ti. If you're not into overclocking the A8 7600 (which has the same GPU as 7700k and isn't a whole lot slower than the 7850k) is about €70, the 7700k can usually be had for around €110, so I generally don't consider the 7850k to be worth it.

You'd have to buy used stuff if you want to beat it if you're after a very cheap slightly gaming capable machine.
7650K is the best VFM APU someone can use. Probably that's why AMD postpone the availability of 7600 for 6 months. They knew it was going to kill sales of pricier APUs.
Posted on Reply
#25
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
john_I was saying TINY.You where reading? I don't think so. Try feating that 750 in this one



You may NOT use a hammer while trying.
Would you get adequate cooling in something that size?
Posted on Reply
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