AMD A10-5800K and A8-5600K APUs for Socket FM2

[cadaveca]

With an A6 3500 undervolted, paired with matx board, ssd and pico-psu, idle consumptions can go as low as 12.5w idle and 28-38W at 1080p movies.

Trinity chips may be do similar, with custom p-states. A6 5400 and A4 5300 may be interesting to htpc builders, and will be interesting to compare 2-3Core Lianos.

Yeah, if you don't need a lot of 3D power, just 2d and VGA playback, and combine with Windows8 and AMD RamDrive, SSD or mehcanical storage, and there's value there that potentially cannot be beat.


I am not aware of actual retail APU pricing yet though, wasn't out when this was written, and I haven't looked this mornin, but I think AMD might be willing to stay below what Intel offers, price-wise.

Intel offers more CPU performance, since they castrate or bin from IVB all the way down to the low-end...it's all IVB. All with the smae basic GPU core, so you're left with most users with i5 and i7 chips having iGPUs sitting unused.

AMD offers a customized solution. It'd be interesting to see how APUs transition to 22nm or whatever AMD ends up using for the next-gen.

 

[cdawall]

I am tempted to start looking into one of these for my HTPC...but I just purchased the intel bracketed swiftech

 

[Frick]

Now come on, who would shell more money for a HD6670 when an i3 Ivy + a HD7770 for the same money would be better than the crossfired APU. I think here lies the major problem for this chip. While undoubtedly the graphics is great it just isn't enough for a desktop part used for gaming. On a desktop you don't do "light" or even "lighter" gaming. You don't use 720p resolution. That's for laptops. As for a HTPC, maybe I'm wrong, I don't see an advantage for this chip compared with an i3 apart from needing much more power to achieve the tasks.

An i3 + 7770 is more than an A10 + 6670. And you can change resolutions on a desktop.

Are these for gamers? No, they are not. But for avarage joes with occasional gaming they are excellent.

 

[cadaveca]

I am tempted to start looking into one of these for my HTPC...but I just purchased the intel bracketed swiftech

PSH!


Just get one to put under a pot. You know you wanna.

 

[PopcornMachine]

So I guess it depends on what you want.

If a system without a discrete GPU is for you, then the APUs are good for your laptop in a desktop case.

If you want to additionally play games at decent resolutions and quality, then core I3s with a discrete GPU are most definaltely the way to go.

 

[cdawall]

PSH!


Just get one to put under a pot. You know you wanna.

I have it sitting in the closet just begging to be used.

 

[cadaveca]

So I guess it depends on what you want.

If a system without a discrete GPU is for you, then the APUs are good for your laptop in a desktop case.

If you want to additionally play games at decent resolutions and quality, then core I3s with a discrete GPU are most definaltely the way to go.

I could defend AMD here, but that's not my job.

I have it sitting in the closet just begging to be used.

I know you do. Heck, it's gonna be -30 outside soon, here, too. It's 42f here right now, and probably won't get warmer at all today.

 

[cdawall]

I know you do. Heck, it's gonna be -30 outside soon, here, too. It's 42f here right now, and probably won't get warmer at all today.

Thursday and Friday have a chance of snow I can't wait to at least get some cold water benching in.

 

[Casecutter]

I agree that if mild/entry gaming is the goal you don't go APU! The FX-4100 with 7770 is an excellent start. I don't see i3 as a value proposition, as a good mobo (Z77 ATX PCI-E w/two slot) that OC's hurts the pricing in many case; enough that someone could almost justify moving to the 7850 1Gb and then AMD system pulls away. But that not about APU’s... as what we’re dealing with here.

I just wanted these APU vying against the i3-3220 with HD 2500, and then say both GT 520 and a 6450, while lastly the i3-3225 with HD4000… those would present unequivocal weight. All this i7 3770K or a i5 3210 mobile and 7850m, aren't in the realm of what this competition is about. This wasn't a educational review, and it's like TPU has to scrap together odds and ends for a dog and pony show…

Honestly I expected more, and I’m not faulting cadaveca in any way! To me TPU should have stepped-up and purchase if need be the right stuff to provide pertinent results.

 

[parkerm35]

mITX

Am i the only one who can picture one of these in a tiny little ITX case running games and anything else you want to through at it. I'm talking about cases that are about as big as a Nettop, but with the ability to play games. I'm sure the A10-5700 will be perfect for something like that, or maybe desktop all in ones. The possibilities are endless. On a more serious note, these chips are more than powerful enough for the average joe, my wife who likes to surf the web, watch movies, do her spread sheets and play games (world of warcraft) :shadedshu, is there a CPU out there that is better suited to her? My son does his school work and plays flash games and a spot of mine craft, is there a better CPU out there, i don't think so, i really don't.

Just ordered two of these, and the more people who are anti AMD open their eyes and see what a great product it is (i'm talking about the people who will set out to spend more even know they don't need it, just so they don't have an AMD CPU) and buy it for what it was intended for, you never know, next time with all the extra $ for R+D, you might just get a pleasant surprise.

 

[mtcn77]

Gpu

I went ^^,
when - I presume - what I saw was "2x Gigabyte Radeon HD7950 OC" on the introduction page. Maybe it was a seraph, but it really had some oomph.
Thank you cadaveca (& Wizzard).

 

[cadaveca]

I went ^^,
when - I presume - what I saw was "2x Gigabyte Radeon HD7950 OC" on the introduction page. Maybe it was a seraph, but it really had some oomph.
Thank you Wizzard.

Your welcome.


And yes, I did test with dual 7950's. And no, the A10-5800K is not a great match, but yes, it is MORE than capable of making things work..albeit suboptimally. However, you will find specific numbers with that particular combination from me in the near future.

I left that in there on purpose.

You see, enabling of AMD Dual Graphics does affect CPU performance a little bit, as a bit more driver-level stuff must happen. With high-power VGAs, this becomes exacerbated by the alrge volume of inter-GPU communication, and extra PCIe-Memory traffic.

For a single 7950, an APU can lead to quite decent performance, for sure. I have to complete more testing too explore that exact configuration a bit more, but ultimately, an FX chip is always going ot be the better option, due to the inclusion of L3 cache.

 

[mtcn77]

Against FX4100

The performance seems ubiquitously close. I was hoping to find out if there have indeed been IPC & memory controller improvements compared to Bulldozer. This cpu definitely undercuts FX4100's discrete gpu gaming front.

 

[PopcornMachine]

And lets not forget this:

http://images.anandtech.com/graphs/graph6332/50112.png

And the cheapest i3 at Newegg is $119.99, which is damnable close to the $122 for the top A10. The A10 is slower in some aspects, quicker in others, on par on most and devestating in GPU performance. In the end it depends on your needs of course, but for a general purpose (with some gaming going on) chip it's great.

48 FPS at 1366x768, mainstream quality is important how on a desktop?

Not saying I'll forget it, just saying it isn't all that impressive.

 

[Rei86]

Just purchased a Prodigy off of newegg and a OCZ SSD for the living room. Was waiting forever for the new trinity and since its finally here I'm just waiting on a ITX mobo to go with it

 

[seronx]

It'd be interesting to see how APUs transition to 22nm or whatever AMD ends up using for the next-gen.

28-nm LPH from Samsung and GlobalFoundries.

http://www.globalfoundries.com/technology/28nm.aspx
http://www.samsung.com/global/business/semiconductor/foundry/process-technology/32-28nm

 

[Casecutter]

Here’s the thing so many of the reviews are using the Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) with Intel HD 4000 because of harmonious clock speeds, then again that’s a $329 part, and yes a A10-5800K can't match in CPU throughput that’s understandable.

However, HD 4000 can’t do anything close to what a $125 A10-5800K can provide in graphics. It’s all what you think your needing more, and how much that costs you. The problem is the real match is with the i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz with HD 4000 as $145 part.

That the straight-up challenge, and not any reviews I reading are doing that match-up here it is at Hexus.
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/cpu/46005-amd-a10-5800k-trinity-apu/

 

[cadaveca]

Here’s the thing so many of the reviews are using the Intel Core i7-3770K Ivy Bridge 3.5GHz (3.9GHz Turbo) with Intel HD 4000 because of harmonious clock speeds, then again that’s a $329 part, and yes a A10-5800K can't match in CPU throughput that’s understandable.

However, HD 4000 can’t do anything close to what a $125 A10-5800K can provide in graphics. It’s all what you think your needing more, and how much that costs you. The problem is the real match is with the i3-3225 Ivy Bridge 3.3GHz with HD 4000 as $145 part.

That the straight-up challenge, and not any reviews I reading are doing that match-up here it is at Hexus.
http://hexus.net/tech/reviews/cpu/46005-amd-a10-5800k-trinity-apu/

Actually, a fair compare would be the 2120 or 3220. I got as close as I could with the 3210m. but then, I could not enable the iGPU, so i had to use the built-in 7850m.


Unfortunately, since this is really just a hobby for me, I don't have a big budget or the contacts to be able to get what I need, when I need it. Most reviewers are stuck in the same boat, so we do what we can.


And...AMD says the same thing too, that that was their target, the 2120 and 3220. Dollar for dollar, if you want 3D perforamcne in that price range, than AMD has the better solution. Not everyone needs the 3D, but not everyone needs Intel's CPU grunt, either. At least now you have a choice.

 

[TRWOV]

Just purchased a Prodigy off of newegg and a OCZ SSD for the living room. Was waiting forever for the new trinity and since its finally here I'm just waiting on a ITX mobo to go with it

I think these desktop APUs would make more sense on slim ITX cases, like the CM Elite 100 or the Antec ISK. On a case that would take a full height graphics card I'd go Intel/discrete GPU.

Heck, I don't understand why are we getting full ATX FM2 boards. mATX, maybe, mini ITX, sure, but full ATX???

 

[Rei86]

Because I love how the Prodigy looks.

Replacing a very nice looking Silverstone GD05 which looks like a entertainment media piece with a Prodigy just because I think it looks good. Also getting a Prodigy just in case if I wanna do something wild in the future.

 

[jihadjoe]

I was looking at getting one of these to put in a slim itx type enclosure, but the TDP and more importantly measured power draw is too high. Its nuts that the 5600 draws more power under load than an i5 with a discrete card..

(I'm working with a 60W power budget).

 

[camoxiong]

which GPU with Hybrid Crossfire with this APU

 

[TRWOV]

6450, 6570 and 6670

 

[DannibusX]

Excellent review, Dave. These chips perform right where I suspected they would.

It's been a while since I bought an AMD chip, but I'm itching for an HTPC build with some gaming possibilities. Now all I do is await some MiniITX boards to compare.

Also, the price point makes this a no brainer for me.

 

[TheGuruStud]

We don't call it Cinebent for nothing, folks!

Where's some x264 encoding? Handbrake and the like is a joke.

Since we know what we're doing, undervolt it and the power sucking under load goes away (I said it before and I'll say it again, AMD can't/won't bin).
That would be nice to have in the review for people doing HTPC builds.

Also, intel pulls power from more than 12V. We still can't measure those damn things accurately for the cpu only (another 5-15 under load I'm guessing, but I don't know how the igpu affects this).