New to AMD have a few questions...

BarneyIX · Nov 8, 2013

I'm new to the AMD arena and I'm confused by AMD's product line and future path. So I have a few questions AMD related.

1. What is the future path for CPU architecture for AMD sockets? FM or A3... I've read two different opinions on the subject.

2. The newer FM based CPU's seem to be poor performers even though I thought they were based on newer technology... I.E. Richland/Trinity vs FX

3. What is an APU... CPU and GPU I understand but I'm not familiar with APU. Does it have to do with integrated graphics on the CPU working with the GPU?

4. Why are A3/A3+ motherboards relatively low in features particularly for smaller forms such as uATX or miniATX? No PCI-E 3.0, didn't see any with integrated Wifi, etc..

5. Are mobo manufacturers shying away from AMD due to lack of demand? Newegg has 185 mobo's for 1150 and 206 for 1155 vs 57 for A3+ and 71 for FM2/FM2+ and FM2+ only

I can't tell if it's a Newegg issue or an AMD issue.

I apologize if I've violated any posting rules about questions already asked.

JOOK-D · Nov 8, 2013

1. Pretty impossible to speculate. I've heard that the new Kaveri APU's are coming out for FM2 or something but then they could be moving on. Steamroller which is most likely the desktop performance model may be AM3+ or a new one, who knows. You could read the steamroller thread stickied on the cpu's forum.

2. Newer technology doesn't necessarily mean better performance. It can mean a better manufacturing process, lower power consumption, less heat production etc.

3. An APU I believe is a CPU with an integrated GPU (like the intel HD integrated in some CPU's). However, you can then crossfire it with a GPU (certain series, I forget which) to get a boost in performance. So yes, you're correct.

4. Not too familiar with them. Are you looking at cheaper boards? I'm guessing the ones with more features with a small form factor will be more expensive since they'll be more expensive to manufacture. Also currently PCI-E 3.0 isn't that useful for the majority.

5. Not a clue. Demand may increase if AMD gains market share due to its part in the new consoles. Is 128 not enough choice?

Might be a newegg issue, I don't know. Also does intel have more desktop cpu's? It would account for the extra mobos.

Dragoic · Nov 8, 2013

1: AM3(+) are for dedicated performance CPU's with no Integrated GPU (FX/Phenom). FM are for the APU (ect A8-XXXX)

2: The FM APU are built for low-mid ranged gamers who do not wish/need a graphic card. So no. They are not build/cannot match Intel on the processing side. However, deliver a heavy punch to Intel when it comes to graphic. In addition, are they very low in price.

3: Accelerated Processing Units http://www.amd.com/us/products/technologies/apu/Pages/apu.aspx . More or less a CPU and GPU fused into one chip.

4: I'm quite sure someone else can answer that question better than me.

5: Sadly. Yes. I have been waiting ages for a new AMD mobo. But, it looks more or less like they will keep upgrading on old boards until AMD somehow turns the tides or make a new socket (AM4). But AMD have been very silent, when it comes to the CPU side. So I am still waiting on AMD to how a new CPU that will force intel to lower their prices on their CPU’s.

8350rocks · Nov 8, 2013

BarneyIX :

1. FM2+ is the new series of APUs coming soon, AM3+ is the current CPU socket, that may or may not be subject to change soon...though the platform is supported through 2015 per AMD.

2. They are designed for entry level systems...not for hardcore gamers. They have an integrated GPU on the die. That would be something for a guy looking for a $400 build to do some light gaming/browser based games.

3. APU = CPU + GPU on same die...no discrete GPU required.

4. That depends on the MB you're talking about... a $50-60 MB will be low on features, while a MB that's $100+ will be feature rich. For something that's a nice value, look at the M5A99X EVO R2.0 or M5A97 R2.0 boards from Asus. SFF motherboards have been an issue to get for AM3+ socket for some time, the vendors are not too keen on doing a lot of them for whatever reason. PCIe 3.0 is entirely unnecessary unless you intend to CF a pair of 290X GPUs or something. Otherwise PCIe 2.0 is fine, PCIe 3.0 is a gimmick essentially. As far as built in Wi-Fi or SATA3 ports or more lanes of bandwidth, you can find all those features on higher end 970 boards, or 990X/990FX boards as well.

5. AMD hasn't really released a new CPU line in a year, so most of the board makers have already completed their designs to this point. They are revising the current boards available regularly though, for example, the 2 boards I listed above are on their second revision (R2.0).

ish416 · Nov 8, 2013

1. Not sure. Depending on where you get your information from, they will use FM2+ or AM3+. AMD has said that their next socket will be a universal one for their CPUs. So maybe FM3 or AM4, nobody really knows.

2. The reason for them being slower is because the CPU part actually is. There are less cores/modules in the APU's than the FX CPUs.

3. APU is basically a hybrid CPU/GPU. It has both a CPU and a discrete level GPU on a single die.

4. PCIE 3.0 doesn't really add anything over 2.0 in the real world. So AMD did not waste resources with trying to come up with a new chipset when the current ones were fine. The AMD CPUs require a bit more power than the Intel CPU's which could be why they don't have anywhere near the amount of smaller form factor motherboards. More power = more heat, more heat in a small space is bad. Also, the AM socket CPUs do not have integrated graphics and would require a GPU. The FM socket (APU) already have integrated graphics, which is why they tend to be the smaller AMD motherboards.

5. They aren't really shying away from AMD, although it could appear that they are. The reasoning for the lack of boards is that the AM3(+) socket has been around for a quite a while, since 2009. AMD has basically stuck with the same socket for several generations. Since AM3 was introduced, Intel has had sockets 1366, 1156, 1155, 1150 and 2011 on the consumer level. Looking through that, Intel has only added a few features between all of those sockets. They are forcing platform upgrades when there is no reason for it. Whereas AMD has always been more open when it came to their platforms. Allowing a Phenom 2/Athlon 2 and FX bulldozer and piledriver to share the same socket/motherboards.

k1114 · Nov 8, 2013

1. No one knows, amd hasn't released any roadmaps for high end cpus. This is causing rumors to fly around.

2. They are actually the same piledriver architecture. Fm doesn't have l3 cache so you can imagine fx will typically win if they are clocked the same and have the same amount of cores. I don't say just apus because fm also covers athlon that don't have igpus.

3. Apu is just amd marketing doing their job. It just refers to cpus with igpu and is not different than what intel was already doing.

4. Amd officially does not have pcie 3.0 on their mobos. You will find aftermarket ones who added it, but it's not native. But I can find some with wifi, or any feature someone may need.

5. Intel puts 2 generations on the same socket but releases new chipsets. So it would be normal to see double the intel mobos on the same socket vs amd. Amd may add new cpus on the same socket but hasn't released a new chipset. You also have to remember, intel has a single socket that most people will get for low end cpus up to mainstream i7s. While amd splits low end fm and higher end am3+. There's also market share and profitability. Intel has 75% market share so mobo manufacturers need to set them selves apart by having more mobo options.

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New to AMD have a few questions...

BarneyIX

Honorable

k1114

JOOK-D

Dignified

Dragoic

Honorable

8350rocks

Distinguished

ish416

Honorable

k1114

Titan

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