AMD Readies Two Unlocked A-Series APUs

[btarunr]

In the fourth quarter of 2011, AMD will unveil new A-Series APUs in the socket FM1 package, these include not one (as reported back in July), but two models that come with unlocked base clock multipliers. Unlocked multipliers made overclocking significantly easier. While AMD won't use the "Black Edition" moniker, it will use the "K" extension. Incidentally, "K" stands for "black" in the CMYK colour model.

AMD's unlocked APUs include the A8-3870K and the A6-3670K, which are 100 MHz faster than the A8-3850 and A6-3650, respectively. With its four x86-64 cores clocked at 3.00 GHz, the A8-3870K features 400 stream processors running at 600 MHz on its Radeon GPU component, while the A6-3670K CPU cores are clocked at 2.70 GHz, and the chip has 320 stream processors running at 444 MHz. The two chips, however, will not feature TurboCore technology for the CPU cores.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[caleb]

What a coincidence that Intel also uses K for unlocked CPU's

 

[naoan]

A truly honest question : What's the point of this?

I doubt people which this APU marketed for are interested or in need of doing overclocking.

 

[rpsgc]

What a coincidence that Intel also uses K for unlocked CPU's

Incidentally, "K" stands for "black" in the CMYK colour model.

Not really.

 

[DrunkenMafia]

A truly honest question : What's the point of this?

I doubt people which this APU marketed for are interested or in need of doing overclocking.

Maybe they can do 170000mhz without a core voltage increase

And yeah, intel uses the K for its unlocked processors... AMD should get their own branding.. What was wrong with black edition anyways?

 

[NdMk2o1o]

Maybe they can do 170000mhz without a core voltage increase

And yeah, intel uses the K for its unlocked processors... AMD should get their own branding.. What was wrong with black edition anyways?

Black edition was introduced with the Phenom series CPU's and is generally associated with the highest performance parts, APU's are not. That's what I would have thought anyway.

 

[jpierce55]

Black edition was introduced with the Phenom series CPU's and is generally associated with the highest performance parts, APU's are not. That's what I would have thought anyway.

Actually black series were around in the AMD 64 x2 days. There was a 5000+black edition.

 

[Mindweaver]

It's good marketing for AMD. Whenever the son of a mother or father or tech friend tells the person, "Make sure it has the "K" on the end!". It's a very good chance that the best priced one with the "K" will be an AMD version. So, the unknowing picks up the AMD APU.. Is it deceptive? Yes, but will they ever know the difference just web browsing the internet facebooking, and keeping up with there pictures? No..

 

[Nesters]

I've seen gaming benchmarks where these A series APUs clocked lower(>0.5ghz) outperform Athlons (both with discrete gpu).

 

[TheLaughingMan]

I've seen gaming benchmarks where these A series APUs clocked lower(>0.5ghz) outperform Athlons (both with discrete gpu).

The improved memory controller is a monster for the APUs. And I honestly think they will hit 4.0 GHz fairly easy.

 

[NdMk2o1o]

Actually black series were around in the AMD 64 x2 days. There was a 5000+black edition.

So there was but you get my point...

 

[JrRacinFan]

The improved memory controller is a monster for the APUs. And I honestly think they will hit 4.0 GHz fairly easy.

I can back him on this from some of the early reviews. They handle gaming multi-gpu configurations VERY well.

 

[Thefumigator]

I can back him on this from some of the early reviews. They handle gaming multi-gpu configurations VERY well.

but low performance on multigpu is just a driver issue, I'm right?

 

[JrRacinFan]

but low performance on multigpu is just a driver issue, I'm right?

Not always. Many variables can come into play but i am speaking mainly from an IMC point of view.

 

[jpierce55]

So there was but you get my point...

Yes, I do. I also agree they should have used something that does not sound like Intels name scheme. I am sure we will see some kind of lawsuit.

 

[JrRacinFan]

I am sure we will see some kind of lawsuit.

That's funny, I didn't know Intel had a patent/copyright claim on the letter "K"

 

[Thefumigator]

Actually black series were around in the AMD 64 x2 days. There was a 5000+black edition.

Actually those BE X2 were among the highest performance parts, at the time.
Then there was a Phenom Athlon X2 7750 BE, the one that didn't overclock too well but was great as an affordable dual core with 2MB of L3

 

[JrRacinFan]

Then there was a Phenom Athlon X2 7750 BE, the one that didn't overclock too well but was great as an affordable dual core with 2MB of L3

Just adding to your post; some of them did a full unlock to quad.

 

[Thefumigator]

Just adding to your post; some of them did a full unlock to quad.

Are you sure? I thought that unlocking was for the Phenom II based X2 and Athlon II, not those cpus based on Phenom I

 

[johnnyfiive]

No one cares about these stupid A series processors. WTF is bulldozer AMD!

 

[devguy]

Are you sure? I thought that unlocking was for the Phenom II based X2 and Athlon II, not those cpus based on Phenom I

5 second google search pointing back to our own forums.

No one cares about these stupid A series processors. WTF is bulldozer AMD!

Really?! No one??!

 

[JrRacinFan]

Are you sure? I thought that unlocking was for the Phenom II based X2 and Athlon II, not those cpus based on Phenom I

http://www.techpowerup.com/92330/Athlon-X2-7750-BE-Unlocked-to-Quad-Core.html


@J5

I care! I'm looking at replacing an HTPC.

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

I thought APU's performance scales really badly when overclocked, so wouldn't these be pointless.

 

[JrRacinFan]

I thought APU's performance scales really badly when overclocked, so wouldn't these be pointless.

The problem with Llano, you have to raise bclk to get it to overclock, which from what I've read can cause issues (on this particular platform). This eliminates that factor. If the overclock does help, will need to see that first hand with a review once they hit shelves.

 

[MikeMurphy]

I just bought an a8-3850 as no black edition was available. Amd just lost out on a $25 upsell for the same silicon.

I bought it for good integrated mainstream graphics. I'm very impressed with it so far!