AMD A8-3850 Fusion GPU Performance Analysis

[newtekie1]

So why spend time doing this review?

Well, I for one think it is good to know that the IGP that everyone seems to think is super powerful is really unable to play any real modern DX11 game. That alone is worth doing the review for.

 

[Jonap_1st]

But again that whole hypostasis of buying an APU platform to add a 6670 is just stupid. Sure it’s a feature, but right today it's not the premise most intelligent folks intend to build around. (AMD marketing has some blame on that)

put a lot of expectation on A3850 to playing decent games with decent framerates is also stupid as it sound. that's why if you want to play it, you still need discreted gpu to add more horsepower.

you see on wizzard review.. and everybody here already knew that playing anything with framerate below 30fps is equivalent to annoying. still you can get decent framerate but you have to set it to low resolution or disable some option, which is can sacrifice your enjoy on viewing beautifull looking games. put in on question : why do you had 19" monitors when you can only play game with 1024x768 res?

Today you're buying into an APU as you don't intend to use a discrete card. While the choices are; 880G with Phenom II X4 840 3.2GHz (very cost effective ~$180), or Intel GMA on a 1155 H61 (yea they're are cheap boards, but exceptionally dated IMO). However if you pick an "as good quality equivalent manufacture" with some features to the FM1 mobo you're looking at minimum $70. While today a more evenhanded preference would be the Z68 if you're buying/building an i3 today. I find that CPU is $125, while mobo’s start at $100). Not working with the Z68 is like saying there’s still 760G motherboards... for contrast.

So, you have $195 for the i3/H61 with "on chip" GMA (adequate) graphics, while the APU/mobo (class leading graphic functions) for from what you show $210. Use the latest Z68 mobo and you're at $225.

actually it's funny to see you suggest me to compare "only" CPU-onboard gpu with changing NB from 1155 to Z68 to get the same feature like FM1 does, while its clear that Z68 had none onboard video configuration..

 

[devguy]

Well, I for one think it is good to know that the IGP that everyone seems to think is super powerful is really unable to play any real modern DX11 game. That alone is worth doing the review for.

While there's nothing incorrect with what you said, bear in mind that DX9 console ports outnumber PC DX11 games at least 10:1, and even the modern DX11 games have some fallback to DX9. With at least DDR3-1600, the AMD A8-350 usually can achieve at least 30fps at 1680x1050 or below with no AA and low-mid quality for most DX9 games. That in MY opinion, is quite impressive for an IGP.

Several older games it can rock 1080p without breaking a sweat!

 

[W1zzard]

That in MY opinion, is quite impressive for an IGP.

it certainly is, but it doesnt change that you can build a faster and cheaper system if you are not concerned with small form factor, possibly even older technology

 

[Jonap_1st]

While there's nothing incorrect with what you said, bear in mind that DX9 console ports outnumber PC DX11 games at least 10:1, and even the modern DX11 games have some fallback to DX9. With at least DDR3-1600, the AMD A8-350 usually can achieve at least 30fps at 1680x1050 or below with no AA and low-mid quality for most DX9 games. That in MY opinion, is quite impressive for an IGP.

Several older games it can rock 1080p without breaking a sweat!

yes, its quite impressive. i admit that when lookin someone playing crysis 2 with APU on youtube.

but still, price means everything..

 

[devguy]

it certainly is, but it doesnt change that you can build a faster and cheaper system if you are not concerned with small form factor, possibly even older technology

Agreed. However, the technology is quite new, and I forsee a price drop before too long. New stuff is always priced more expensive than the old stuff, even without a difference in performance (thinking of HD 6770 vs HD 5770).

 

[Tatty_Two]

Madseven, learn to use either the multiquote or edit buttons please, no need for triple posts, I like to keep me drawers tidy!

 

[Casecutter]

Well, I for one think it is good to know that the IGP that everyone seems to think is super powerful is really unable to play any real modern DX11 game. That alone is worth doing the review for.

Ah, who here thought that... or figured AMD would out their 100+ graphic card market with a APU and while doing it more power efficiently.

put a lot of expectation on A3850 to playing decent games with decent framerates is also stupid as it sound. that's why if you want to play it, you still need discreted gpu to add more horsepower.

you see on wizzard review.. and everybody here already knew that playing anything with framerate below 30fps is equivalent to annoying. still you can get decent framerate but you have to set it to low resolution or disable some option, which is can sacrifice your enjoy on viewing beautifull looking games. put in on question : why do you had 19" monitors when you can only play game with 1024x768 res?

So why spend time doing this review?

actually it's funny to see you suggest me to compare "only" CPU-onboard gpu with changing NB from 1155 to Z68 to get the same feature like FM1 does, while its clear that Z68 had none onboard video configuration..

I'm not talking graphics, more 6x SATA 6Gb/s, Raid 0/1/10/JBOD, 2-PCI- E connectors (x16/x4), Memory Support/Max, 2x USB 3.0, fan headers... For $95 a ASUS F1A75-M LE FM1 is much more feature rich than say the ASUS P8H61-M LGA 1155/H61 at $85.

 

[Jonap_1st]

Ah, who here thought that... or figured AMD would out their 100+ graphic card market with a APU and while doing it more power efficiently.

I'm not talking graphics, more 6x SATA 6Gb/s, Raid 0/1/10/JBOD, 2-PCI- E connectors (x16/x4), Memory Support/Max, 2x USB 3.0, fan headers... For $95 a ASUS F1A75-M LE FM1 is much more feature rich than say the ASUS P8H61-M LGA 1155/H61 at $85.

if you, me, and the other were not talking about graphic here, then what this thread is all about?

APU or 2100K setup are targeted for user who have limited budget and looking for cheap setup, so it's waste if you have a rich features motherboard but don't have any money to buy more hardware and put them all to together to make it look like super computer.

$70 H61 with 2 x USB 3.0 and 2 x SATA 6Gbps is enough for most of basic user..

 

[Casecutter]

yes, its quite impressive. i admit that when lookin someone playing crysis 2 with APU on youtube.

but still, price means everything..

Amen...
Look back like 4 years ago, a hot P4 and 8800GS was considered a decent gaming machine… this one chip bests' that and on substantially less power, that’s progress!

And back in the day 8800GS commanded like $150 and went to it knees on Crysis

 

[Casecutter]

if you, me, and the other were not talking about graphic here, then what this thread is all about?

It is about APU/IGP preformance, and always the most new feature for your money and upgrades down the road.

APU or 2100K setup are targeted for user who have limited budget and looking for cheap setup, so it's waste if you have a rich features motherboard but don't have any money to buy more hardware and put them all to together to make it look like super computer..

Why I said testing the 6670 should not part of the hypostasis being suggested.

$70 H61 with 2 x USB 3.0 and 2 x SATA 6Gbps is enough for most of basic user..

What manufacture offers that?

 

[Jonap_1st]

What manufacture offer that?

i dont want this thread to be out of topic. so please discuss only about the gpu, not mobo.

if you want some reference for hardware price include the full specs, try find some well-known online shopping. w1zz had mentioned the site on his analysis, which i got it from there..

 

[TheLaughingMan]

While it is true new stuff is more expensive, the numbers show it is the motherboard mainly causing the different is system price, not the CPU/GPU combo. Excluding using another IGP with significantly lower numbers and keeping it in the realm of similar performance (i.e. 6450 minimum) is a good place for the APU to shine. Its that $35 different in mobo price that is killing it and that will only last for a short while. Soon we should get boards with the A55 (no USB3 and no FIS based switching) to close that gap.

 

[Casecutter]

i dont want this thread to be out of topic. so please discuss only about the gpu, not mobo.

if you want some reference for hardware price include the full specs, try find some well-known online shopping. w1zz had mentioned the site on his analysis, which i got it from there..

As thought the H61 is past its prime, not a competitive in price or features.
And I don't find where the W1zzard mentions the site he pulled such figures did I mis-it?
I noticed he used a $130 1155/H67; not that it significantly changes graphics performance it's just that's way North of $60! The Intel system CPU/Board combo used works out to $265 and 6670 on that! Finally I just noticed W1z never ran the Intel system with the 6670 so we can't compare anything performance on that!
ASUS P8H67-M EVO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI...
It’s about the "total package" while I provided P/N’s and use Egg on pricing. You can Check!

 

[TheoneandonlyMrK]

y HD5770, not HD6670?

because their the same exact thing

good review what you on about he tested and got the results himself

even, learn to use either the multiquote or edit buttons please

to be fair the multiquote seems quite fineky ive not sussed it yet either

 

[_JP_]

I'm curious...

...where did you get that conclusion from?

 

[Casecutter]

...where did you get that conclusion from?

Who?

 

[Jonap_1st]

As thought the H61 is past its prime, not a competitive in price or features.
And I don't find where the W1zzard mentions the site he pulled such figures did I mis-it?
I noticed he used a $130 1155/H67; not that it significantly changes graphics performance it's just that's way North of $60! The Intel system CPU/Board combo used works out to $265 and 6670 on that! Finally I just noticed W1z never ran the Intel system with the 6670 so we can't compare anything performance on that!
ASUS P8H67-M EVO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H67 HDMI...
It’s about the "total package" while I provided P/N’s and use Egg on pricing. You can Check!

you already knew that site
but ASUS price is always higher, same like Gigabyte and MSI because they were premium products. try looking for some other option like Biostar and Asrock, both are still worth considering..

talking about comparing, seing a review it's better for not just from one place, there's a site that have made a comparison between A3850 and 2100K graphic performance when being combined with discreted gpu. eventhough they used geforce card instead radeon, it clearly shows that A3850 setups couldn't given any much improvement over 2100K setups. to make it even worse, on a few games A3850 got slower framerates.

 

[Tatty_Two]

to be fair the multiquote seems quite fineky ive not sussed it yet either

It's simple, there are a couple of ways you can do it, the way I do it is to click on the multiquote button against all the posts you want to quote, the multiquote buttons will become highlighted, then click the quote button on the most recently posted of the ones you have multiquoted and you get your quote posting box with all the quotes in there, you can then reply between each quote in response..... hope that makes sense.

 

[W1zzard]

And I don't find where the W1zzard mentions the site he pulled such figures did I mis-it?

looks like you missed it indeed.

 

[_JP_]

Who?

This:

why HD5770, not HD6670?

because their the same exact thing

FYI, HD 5770 != HD6670.

 

[Casecutter]

looks like you missed it indeed.

Ah, found it... I would've thought it be a hotlink and getting click rich!

So you use a $130 1155/H67 for testing, but the lowest priced 1155 of $55 to make a cost comparision.

FYI, HD 5770 != HD6670.

5770 ≠ 6670 (yea I believe we were to ignore that rat)
(Tip: Type 2260, then hold ALT, then "x" once, release ALT and you'll get ≠ within Word or rich text format... not here had to cut/paste)

While I don't believe Llano provides for C-F "Hybrid" (or whatever this is called) with a card higher than a 6670.

Here's a question: will the board power down the discrete card and use only the APU when 3d load is not stringent?

 

[W1zzard]

So you use a $130 1155/H67 for testing, but the lowest priced 1155 of $55 to make a cost comparision.

i was too cheap to buy a new motherboard just for testing. since there will be no performance difference between the motherboards, there was no reason to, anyway

While I don't believe Llano provides for C-F "Hybrid" (or whatever this is called) with a card higher than a 6670.

it does not, and hd 5770 is 50% faster than hd 6670

 

[Casecutter]

there's a site that have made a comparison between A3850 and 2100K graphic performance when being combined with discreted gpu. eventhough they used geforce card instead radeon, it clearly shows that A3850 setups couldn't given any much improvement over 2100K setups

Ah, Ok I could believe that... As that would kill the graphics of the APU (no C-F Hybrid enabled) and run the Geforce only, so that's even more stupid.
So the Intel took it sure, but what's its efficiency?

 

[Casecutter]

it does not, and hd 5770 is 50% faster than hd 6670

Exactly, and you'd need 6-pin power, so at that point it loses any real merit in a low power design of the whole APU concept.