APU? Integrated Graphics in Processor?

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Hexa Fox

Hexa Fox

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Hey guys I was wondering if someone could help me out. I know similar stuff has been asked here but I am having some trouble understanding.

I am seeing these processors with integrated graphics. Is it that simple? Do I need to find a special Motherboard beyond making certain it is compatible with the CPU? I have been looking at the AMD based ones.

So basically if I am building a computer and would like to save a little money and do not need a high end graphics card can I just buy one of these CPU's with integrated graphics and be done with that?

Also any other input? For example, should I invest in extra memory or since the CPU serves as two major components should I get an aftermarket cooler?
 
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madmatt30
With the amd apu's the gpu is integrated into the chip.
Any fm2/fm2+ board is fine - just buy depending on your budget & what ports etc you're after in particular.
An aftermarket cooler is not required if you can put up with the noise from the amd stock coolers under heavy load (I personally use an aftermarket cooler with ANY amd build)

Regarding ram 2x4gb most definitely ,1600mhz cas 9 absolute minimum.
For any kind of gaming faster ram directly affects 3d graphics performance so if this is important you would be advised to look at 1866 cas 9/10 or even 2133mhz if in budget.
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madmatt30

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With the amd apu's the gpu is integrated into the chip.
Any fm2/fm2+ board is fine - just buy depending on your budget & what ports etc you're after in particular.
An aftermarket cooler is not required if you can put up with the noise from the amd stock coolers under heavy load (I personally use an aftermarket cooler with ANY amd build)

Regarding ram 2x4gb most definitely ,1600mhz cas 9 absolute minimum.
For any kind of gaming faster ram directly affects 3d graphics performance so if this is important you would be advised to look at 1866 cas 9/10 or even 2133mhz if in budget.
 
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de5_Roy

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before we get to your questions, do you need an apu (i.e. integrated graphics)? what will be the main purpose of your new pc e.g. gaming, office use, htpc etc.?


the chipmakers made it that simple. they designed a processor that hosts cpu cores and a gpu on the same silicon die thanks to advancements in design and fabrication tech.

if you're looking for amd's apus, amd currently sells kaveri apus for desktop pcs starting from model number a10 7850K, 7700K, 7650K and so on. these apus fit on socket FM2+ motherboards with A88x, A78x chipsets.

you also need to know that am3+ socket cpus (amd FX series desktop processors) do not have integrated gpu on die, those cpus usually require discreet gfx card. but some of the mobo vendors sell motherboards with am3+ socket and integrated gpu on the motherboard (as opposed to on the processor die as in apus).

may be, may be not. it depends on your needs. if you don't play pc games or play casually, amd's apus will serve very well. if you need higher end gfx card, you can add one down the line.

amd's igpus are sensitive to faster ram, so investing a little extra on faster kits like ddr3 2133 will be better. as for capacity, 4GB is now minimum, 8GB is recommended.
after market cooler is also a good idea, stock coolers are usually noisy.
 
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Hexa Fox

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Yeah I recently built a computer for myself and noticed that the AMD heat sink fan sounds like it is really getting a workout lol.

Honestly... this is a build that I will be building for a couple customers, therefore I will probably get two of them. They will use the machine for just about everything you can think of besides watching movies and gaming. These are more of basic business use computers. So they do need to have good graphics even though I have gone a little overboard.

For the memory I have selected two modules at 8 GB each totaling 16 GB of DDR3 1600. I can probably get just about the same thing with the 1866 speed instead for just a small increase in price.

I choose this as the processor. Probably a little overkill but a good price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113360

 
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madmatt30

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THE 7700 is a good chip mate,I woudl recommend using 2x4gb sticks in each build for dual channel though - it will perform on par with a single stick of 1866 in that configuration.
theres a combo offer bottom left on that newegg page

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.2244266

thats a good buy with good ram
 
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madmatt30

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its much the same a- kaveri is a little improved but graphics performance will always rely on system ram speeds - it really doesnt matter in any scenario other than gaming imo,business users tend to rely on intel hd graphics as a rule & the amd chips absolutely slaughter them in this respect with anything even slightly demanding graphically.

My only reservation with the kaveri's is bios compatibility - there are so so many fm2+ boards around with old bios revisions that will not run these chips out of the box.
 
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Hexa Fox

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Exactly. Anyway this is the memory I have chosen. Feel free to disagree.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233399

I am pretty certain these people are just going to be looking for hardcore Microsoft Word lol. They are the types of guys you see that have about twenty web pages open and frustrated because their crappy $200.00 computer from Wal*Mart keeps crashing. I am definitely going to make certain as if they are going to be playing Far Cry 4 anytime soon I will get a dedicated GPU and CPU to meet those needs.

I have never... been a big fan of integrated stuff, but I guess that is where technology is moving toward. Hell two decades ago all a Motherboard was is a board that housed a CPU and expansion slots. So whatever I guess I need to move with technology unless I want to be left behind.

So you are saying worst case scenario I will need to flash/update the BIOS?
 
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madmatt30

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The ram is fine - I was under the impression you were going to split the pack & put a stick in each??
Assuming now youre putting 16gb in each system?There is better stuff available though,this corsair is cheaper & has far tighter timings than the one youve selected

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233536&cm_re=ddr3_1866-_-20-233-536-_-Product

regrding bios compatibility ,yes a bios flash 'may' be required - the problem is on 99.9% of boards you need a compatible richland or trinity chip to do this

I woudl honestly consider the 6600k - you will have no such compatibility problems with an fm2+ baord as its compatibly on the first bios revision on the majority of them

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113333

it performs on a par with the 7700k but is ever so slightly less efficient power wise
 
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Hexa Fox

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I know exactly what a Richland and Trinity Chip is. Just to refresh me could you, uh you know explain exactly what that is??
 
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madmatt30

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trinity was the first fm2 revision cpu
richland was the newer version of the same fm2 socket & had a slightly revised graphics engine,performance was very very similar.
Both these chipsets are fully compatible on fm2 & fm2+ boards.
Kaveri was released on the fm2+ chipset,It is more efficient than both the previous revisions power wise so the 7700k you listed with a stock speed of 3.4ghz performs much the same as the older richland 6600k I listed at 3.9ghz
All fm2+ boards are backwards compatible with the older richland/trinity fm2 chips much as am3+ is with older am3/am2 chips.
99.99% of fm2+ boards will run any richland or trinity chip on the lowest bios revison available so a chip like the 6600k is a safe bet as far as out of the box compatibility

performance is so similar as to make it a non entity & it is $30 cheaper

 
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Hexa Fox

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Thanks I just found the Richland substitute. So far do you think that these builds will be powerful enough to take on just about anything other than high performance gaming and the like?
 
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madmatt30

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Easily mate - fast chip,good integrated graphics.
Most of the fm2+ boards $60 upwards have very good specs ,decent sata controllers ,USB 3 etc.
The Richland chip is the better buy for $99 IMO.
Drop a semi decent aftermarket cooler on em though ,the amd cooler is a bag o sh1te ;)
 
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Hexa Fox

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I already picked one of your answers as the Best Answer. I just wanted to say thanks, I really appreciate your help.

Not sure if you know anything about this sort of thing or even want to spare more time, but what do you think I should charge for a custom computer with these specifications? Do you think I should say double whatever I spend on the build and charge that? For example, if it costs me $1000 charge around $2,000 or something similar? Obviously a lot of people are going to think it is outrageous but I am offering a full one year warranty on it.

So in the event that hardware fails in the system I will have to go and retrieve the computer and personally fix it and not make a penny if it happens within the first year. Any advice?
 
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madmatt30

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its pretty much an ethical question mate,when I was building pretty regularly I pretty much did a set rate depending on the cost of the entire build
bargain basement build as $80quid + delivery costs
$500-$600 - $100+ delivery costs
& kept upping the rate dependant on component prices/build difficulty
The problem for me (in the UK) is that competition is so rife,I had to dump ebay as a sales place as it was impossible to compete,people when looking at prebuilds dont consider that you're using higher class components than builds that are $100 or so less - all they look at is the bedazzling '8 core fx/8gb ram/huge 2tb hard drive headline' rather than the actual components.
when youre using good quality ram /boards/psu's & these sellers are using old revision cpu's/outdated baord chipsets & $10 psu's you cant match the prices.

the problem comes in when you have to think about part warranties/support - If your offering personal 12 month support you have to cover your ass for it to make it worthwhile. My business proviso was as above,included receipts for all components with the build & passed over the warranty details & if anything failed under warranty it was down to the customer.

The best way to do it imo (& the way I endep up doing things) is to ask the customer to set their own price for a fully working out of the box setup & then price your components accordingly to allow for your profit margin.
Its far more sensible & gives you the option of choosing components more carefully & sensibly,If they honestly only need 8gb ram ,then only spend on 8gb not 16 - they wont notice a difference & thats extra profit to you.
Buy quality components & there will be a lot less chance of failure in that first 12 months.

Hope some help mate,cant really offer anything more - Im Uk & the market here differs vastly from the US market ,The british as a rule are criminally tight when it comes to spending on electronics compared to you fellas over the water;)

 
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