AMD - Piledriver chitchat

[DanceswithUnix]

Using Anandtech bench to compare FX-4 and trinity A10...

So, the L3 cache only seems to help in games?

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/675?vs=700#

[Terbinator]

I can't believe the 4MB of cache makes such a difference in games.

[Biscuit]

Using Anandtech bench to compare FX-4 and trinity A10...

So, the L3 cache only seems to help in games?

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/675?vs=700#

That's very interesting. I'm quite surprised Anand didn't notice this in their review.

[scaryjim]

more to the point, I can't believe the A10 ekes out minor wins in so many of those benchmarks! Looks like Trinity gets to spend more time at higher turbo states than the FX, which presumably makes up for the lack of cache - except in games? I know games were always anecdotally partial to large CPU caches, but that seems to confirm it beyond doubt! Wonder why...?

[DanceswithUnix]

more to the point, I can't believe the A10 ekes out minor wins in so many of those benchmarks! Looks like Trinity gets to spend more time at higher turbo states than the FX, which presumably makes up for the lack of cache - except in games? I know games were always anecdotally partial to large CPU caches, but that seems to confirm it beyond doubt! Wonder why...?

The A10 wins seem to be pretty much down in the noise so wouldn't hold much to them. If the kernel of the code fits in L2 cache, then L3 can at best be transparent and may get in the way.

I suspect that games developers tune the code until it fits in cache because at that point it goes fast enough and they stop developing. OFC if they tune to fit in the cache of a high end Intel CPU with a huge L3, then AMD may lose.

[DanceswithUnix]

That's very interesting. I'm quite surprised Anand didn't notice this in their review.

TBH I think they are losing their edge

[scaryjim]

Was looking forward to techreport's review, and it hasn't disappointed. Based on long-frame latency, the 8350 is the *best* processor tested for BF3

Multithreaded games, you have found a new friend

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I have listed around 30 reviews in this thread to make it easier for people:

http://forums.hexus.net/pc-hardware/...ew-thread.html

Was looking forward to techreport's review, and it hasn't disappointed. Based on long-frame latency, the 8350 is the *best* processor tested for BF3

Multithreaded games, you have found a new friend

It looks a good value CPU for games based on newer engines. However,most UK retailers are price gouging again.

Aria seems to have decent pricing though:

http://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Compo...er+FX+-+AM3%2B

[Terbinator]

The 8350 is too expensive at £150.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The 8350 is too expensive at £150.

The Core i7 3770K is just too expensive for the level of performance it offers now. The FX8350 is not that far behind the Core i7 3770K in multi-threaded applications. At least the platform the Core i7 3820 is on,offers six core CPUs. If you want lightly threaded and gaming performance,the Core i5 is there and the Core i7 is not enough of an improvement to justify the massive increase in price over either a Core i5 or FX8300 series CPU.

[watercooled]

@Terbinator: What makes you say that? Aside from lightly threaded benchmarks, it's ahead of the i5, albeit with higher power consumption. It's even ahead of the i7 in heavily threaded apps, like transcoding.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I really don't think the AM3+ platform is doing them any favours in terms of power consumption. However, if they do away with AM3+, I wonder if we'll still get 4 module plus L3 cache versions on FM2 or its successor? That's a heck of a lot of transistors if they have to include the IGP. Or maybe they're relying more on GPU compute by that point?

[Terbinator]

The Core i7 3770K is just too expensive for the level of performance it offers now. The FX8350 is not that far behind the Core i7 3770K in multi-threaded applications. At least the platform the Core i7 3820 is on,offers six core CPUs. If you want lightly threaded and gaming performance,the Core i5 is there and the Core i7 is not enough of an improvement to justify the massive increase in price over either a Core i5 or FX8300 series CPU.

It might be, but that isn't an issue for either AMD or Intel. But at the minute the £20 difference between the i5 3570 and the FX-8350 is doing AMD zero favours.

[Terbinator]

@Terbinator: What makes you say that? Aside from lightly threaded benchmarks, it's ahead of the i5, albeit with higher power consumption. It's even ahead of the i7 in heavily threaded apps, like transcoding.

In terms of grabbing new users who want the best of everything, you "may as well" go with the Intel chip for £20 extra.

For me personally (it's over 60FPs - it doesn't matter its 20+FPS behind the i5), if i was asked to build something then i think i would almost certainly go the FX/AM3+ route. If you haven't seen my other post, going for the 8320 get save you £50 over the i5 for a start - which could be ploughed into a better GPU and so on to give immediate gains over an Intel build

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The FX6300 actually looks better than I expected:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/699?vs=677

http://www.techspot.com/review/586-amd-fx-8350-fx-6300/

Under Windows 8 the FX6300 beats the Core i3 3220 in both Skyrim and Diablo3!

Considering it has a lower 95W TDP and it should be easier to overclock using a cheaper motherboard and cooler,it does look good value.

[Terbinator]

The FX6300 actually looks better than I expected:

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/699?vs=677

http://www.techspot.com/review/586-amd-fx-8350-fx-6300/

Under Windows 8 the FX6300 beats the Core i3 3220 in both Skyrim and Diablo3!

Considering it has a lower 95W TDP and it should be easier to overclock using a cheaper motherboard and cooler,it does look good value.

Wow, i hadn't really looked at the 6300's results. nice win in Skyrim, but still falls flat in Dawn of War?

Edit: Is there even a point buying anything Intel from the i3 downwards now?

[scaryjim]

Yeah, I noticed Scan seemed to have relatively high prices (and no stock).

Power draw is still an issue, as is single threaded performance. Looks like not many people are getting past ~ 4.5/4.6GHz either - don't know if that's a first batch issue and later samples will OC better, but that's not going to please the enthusiasts much.