AMD Readies A8-3870 APU with Unlocked BClk Multiplier

[btarunr]

After a modest launch of two Fusion A8 series desktop accelerated processing units (APUs) with A6-3650 and A8-3850, AMD is planning to launch a new APU that's better equipped for overclocking. The new A8-3870 APU will feature an unlocked base clock (BClk) multiplier that makes overclocking easier. Currently, a BIOS bug that is spread across motherboard manufacturers, lets users "set" a higher multiplier value for A8-3850 than it's advertised or capable of responding to, resulting in a false illusionary overclock that doesn't yield any performance improvements over the default 29x multiplier value. More on that here.

The A8-3870 APU, however, will have a genuinely unlocked multiplier, increasing the multiplier value will genuinely increase clock speeds and performance. The A8-3870 is expected to have a default clock speed of 3.10 GHz, four x86-64 cores, the GPU component with 600 MHz core clock, 400 stream processor, DirectX 11 compliant Radeon HD 6550D graphics, and dual-channel DDR3-1866 MHz integrated memory controller. Leaked product cycle slides indicate that AMD will release the A8-3870 Unlocked APU in Q4 2011.



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[NC37]

Makes me wonder now about the use of the 3870 name. That GPU series bought ATI time to get the 4 series out and catch up with NV. Wonder if that is implied for these APUs.

Review was what I thought it would be. GPU performance to blow Intel IGP out of the water, but not totally mature yet. I'm interested to see the 2nd gen APUs when AMD launches those. It is a shame AMD went with higher pricing. You'd think they'd be really trying to get the APU out there. I can just see that as hindering the adoption of APUs into the market.

 

[damric]

This is interesting now. Needs product review.

 

[tonyd223]

this needs to be a cut down 8 core chip which can be unlockable to become interesting... and it should be sub £100

 

[reverze]

been waiting for this, was afraid of the overclock capabilities of the first versions.

 

[faramir]

this needs to be a cut down 8 core chip which can be unlockable to become interesting... and it should be sub £100

And it must be capable of washing the dishes, making me a pizza and fetching me a beer while singing Johnny Cash's greatest hits !

Seriously, you can only expect so much at certain TDP level. I'd much rather see better graphics (higher operating frequency, possibly with at least 80 more SPs) than faster CPU. A8-3850 is fast enough to throw data around in games, it's the graphics portion that isn't able to keep up with it. 30+ FPS minimum is a must if APu is to be considered low end gaming worthy.

 

[bondhahnmrt85]

Unlocked BClk multiplier? Not CPU multiplier??

 

[swaaye]

Makes me wonder now about the use of the 3870 name. That GPU series bought ATI time to get the 4 series out and catch up with NV. Wonder if that is implied for these APUs.

How did you feel when ATI used the 5000 series of numbers, which I thought was reminiscent of the horrible GeForce FX series? And GeForce 9800 reminded me of Radeon 9800, etc.

I wouldn't be surprised if the marketing guys have so much turnover that the same people aren't involved with each line of cards.

 

[Pestilence]

We want BD.. Not an unlocked Athlon III

 

[DarkOCean]

They should've released apus with unlocked multiplier in the first place, the whole apu image would've been better.

 

[Zubasa]

Unlocked BClk multiplier? Not CPU multiplier??

What multi do you think overclocks the CPU cores?
You guessed it, its the BClk multi

 

[wolf]

this wont do anything at all for the GPU clock, I am wondering when/if afterburner will be able to take controll of the GPU's clock speed...

 

[Pestilence]

I'd really love to see what a 4Ghz Llano can do

 

[jpierce55]

this wont do anything at all for the GPU clock, I am wondering when/if afterburner will be able to take controll of the GPU's clock speed...

I am betting you will get little oc on the gpu. Regardless, I think these processors will have their place in the world.

 

[Nihilus]

Been waiting for this!

Wanted to use something like this chip, an ITX board and Windows 8 (rumored to play Xbox 360 games) to make an XBOX-360/pc. Could be a cheap and exciting computer if it plays XBOX games!

 

[Jstn7477]

Forget having more SPs in the GPU. What it really needs first is a dedicated GDDR5 Sideport buffer, or another one or two DDR3 channels tacked on. The APUs seem to be rather bandwidth starved, even with 1.86GHz DDR3.

 

[BazookaJoe]

APU = Audio/Acoustic Processing Unit

And it has been that way for more than 15 years .. officially , and registered.

Perhaps "XPU" would be a nice new one to use? Ya'kno, because it also SOUNDS cool with them youths and their edgy edges?

 

[MikeX]

APU = Audio/Acoustic Processing Unit

And it has been that way for more than 15 years .. officially , and registered.

Perhaps "XPU" would be a nice new one to use? Ya'kno, because it also SOUNDS cool with them youths and their edgy edges?

UPU = Universal Processing Unit/Ultimate Processing Unit !

 

[devguy]

CPU = Combined Processing Unit!

Wait, CPU might already stand for something else...

 

[Xaser04]

I'd really love to see what a 4Ghz Llano can do

Exactly what a Athlon II x4 clocked at 4GHz would do....

Whilst I can see the point of the Llano APU I am struggling to see the point of a multiplier unlocked version when the Phenom II x4 955BE exists.

Surely if you need the extra CPU grunt then the cheaper (in the UK) Phenom 955BE, cheaper 870/970 MB and discrete HD6670/5670 GPU would be a much better option than an unlocked APU?

 

[finfin_nemo]

is this new amd apu has integrated gpu on die? like the intel i-series? hmmm...

 

[damric]

Exactly what a Athlon II x4 clocked at 4GHz would do....

Well, not really. We're talking a reworked Athlon II @ 32nm.

I always wondered what a 32nm AM3 chip would be like, and I'd like to see how far this thing will go.