Don't Count AMD Out Just Yet (?)

[Seeker47]

http://promotions.newegg.com/AMD/11-1834/index.html?nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL070711&cm_mmc=EMC-...-MECH-_-APU-LO

(Or is this much ado about very little ?)

[aedipuss]

umm, hasn't intel been selling the i series for quite a while now?

[nic2k4]

The Intel I and these new AMD APUs aren't in the same league, the latter is aimed at the lower end market.

[jagabo]

zzz...
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-a8-3850-llano,2975.html
http://www.anandtech.com/show/4476/amd-a83850-review

[16mmJunkie]

AMD’s Fusion chips compete with Intelprocessors based on the “Sandy Bridge” architecture, which also integrates the graphics and CPU on the same die and also were first released at the CES 2011 show.
Initial reviews of AMD’s A8-3850 indicate that the chip performs basic computing functions well, if not great, but that it really shines in the graphics area. PC Magazine’s review said the AMD chip performed better than Intel’s higher-end Core i5-2500K. Hot Hardware said that Intel’s technology has it all over AMD’s in the area of computing, but that AMD’s focus on the graphics side of the equation gives the A8-3850 the edge over Intel in that area.

[jagabo]

AMD can no longer compete with Intel on the pure CPU front so they've bolted on a bigger GPU (where Intel is very weak). The result is a low to mid range gamer's APU.

[yoda313]

AMD can no longer compete with Intel on the pure CPU front so they've bolted on a bigger GPU (where Intel is very weak). The result is a low to mid range gamer's APU.

Does that eliminate the need for a graphics card? I mean short term until the next wave of bigger and better hits town?

Does that mean its boosting the graphics power totally? How is this different then onboard video? When they say "onboard video" that means integrated to the motherboard itself correct? Does this integration with the processor erase onboard video in that sense?

[usually_quiet]

An i5 system costs more than I want to spend, but would like my next PC tp be a quad core, so I'm following the reviews on the new AMD products.

According to what I have been reading, AMD's Fusion also appears to be a good prospect for HTPC use. http://www.anandtech.com/show/4479/amd-a83850-an-htpc-perspective

[deadrats]

Does that mean its boosting the graphics power totally? How is this different then onboard video? When they say "onboard video" that means integrated to the motherboard itself correct? Does this integration with the processor erase onboard video in that sense?

in the simplest terms, the "apu" is to cpu/onboard gpu what the fpu was to the cpu/co processor; in other words what has been done is move the gpu that used to reside on the motherboard so that it now not only resides on the cpu die but is actually integrated into the core logic.

in terms of performance, obviously a cpu with an integrated gpu will be faster than a cpu with the gpu integrated on the motherboard, if for no other reason than the fact that latency in communications and data transfers between cpu and gpu is greatly reduced. furthermore, the integrated gpu's are also faster designs than their onboard counterparts.

depending how well a game engine is coded, both intel's integrated gpu and amd's integrated gpu offer acceptable performance at gaming resolutions up to 720p and with a properly coded game you can probably up the resolution all the way 1280x960 or 1280x1024, sans AA, with probably one of the lower AF modes.

intel's sandy bridge class gpu's have really been geared more towards video than gaming and in more than 1 review a SB processor was able to decode 5 blu-ray compliant 1080p streams simultaneously with no frame dropping or stuttering; a high end nvidia based card was able to do 3.

ivy bridge will up the ante even more bringing DX11 compliance to the integrated gpu. more execution arrays and roughly 30% greater performance than the current HD3000 gpu. the 2012 iteration of bulldozer is rumored to be an "alu" design, meaning fully integrating bulldozer cores with amd's gpu's.

the reality is that if you have a high end monitor that supports high resolutions and are a dedicated gamer, then you'll want to get a discrete graphics solution.

some time ago i predicted that nvidia would be out of business within 18-24 months; i was forced to recant that prediction when intel announced a deal they were giving nvidia 1 billion dollars over the next 5 years. honestly, by the time that deal expires integrated graphics will probably be fast enough so that only the most poorly coded games will need a discrete gpu, but the writing is on the wall, just like the math co processor went the way of the dodo, so too is the discrete video card destined to go.

hell, i'm not even sure that desktop systems and x86 will be around 10 years from now, tablets are getting more and more powerful, i think it's ARM that has announced that they will have an 8 core processor by this time next year (may have been nvidia), microsoft has jumped on the ARM bandwagon and announced that win 8 will run on tablets that use ARM processors; i don't see the desktop as we know it being around for much longer and i'm not sure how i feel about it.

as a side note, speaking of win 8; microsoft has a winner on their hands; i tested that leaked version of win 8 and i have to tell you i think it's the best OS microsoft has ever made; it runs like stink on a monkey, everything seems more logically laid out, the leaked builds aren't yet stable enough for production use (certain apps make it black screen) but as soon as the public beta is out in september more than likely i'll switch and never look back; in fact, it's the first microsoft OS that i am actually looking forward to buying, assuming they don't F it up by the time it goes gold.

[yoda313]

in other words what has been done is move the gpu that used to reside on the motherboard so that it now not only resides on the cpu die but is actually integrated into the core logic.

Thanks that is what I was wondering.

but the writing is on the wall, just like the math co processor went the way of the dodo, so too is the discrete video card destined to go.

I do not know if that will be the case for the extreme hard core gamer. The ones that want to run the latest crysis type games at 1 million fps or whatever is "cutting edge".

I'm sure technically speaking you are correct. But one upmanship in graphics power will keep the video card for awhile longer yet.

Besides motherboard graphics haven't killed the video card yet either. Though for non gamers I"m sure its more than adequate.

[MJA]

I wonder if the Corsair Cooling Hydro Series fits on the new board/chip

BTW. off topic.whats up with this "Incoming Friend Requests" crap I keep getting from people I never seen on this forum before

[redwudz]

The 'Incoming Friend Requests' is part of vBulletin. You can ignore it if you want.

If the CPU cooler mount spacing is the same as earlier motherboards, the H50 (Or later models) should fit with no problems. But check with Corsair and the MB manufactures.

[RabidDog]

The new integrated GPU parts are gradually replacing the discrete video cards .. present ones eliminate the need for low end cards, (6450 etc) ,next years will be more powerful etc. Altho AMD does have a (gfx) card up their sleeve , as their GPU can be used in crossfire mode.
It will be quite a while before the performance of a dual 6990 is bested by integrated Gfx.
Its all/somewhat about power consumption, a separate gfx card is quite a big power hog especially in low power systems,
Also its an added cost/complexity.
Desktop will still be here in 10 years, in a mixed economy of Tablets, laptops + HyperPhones