AMD A8-3850 Review: Llano Rocks Entry-Level Desktops
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Earlier this month we previewed AMD's Llano architecture in a notebook environment. Now we have the desktop version with a 100 W TDP. How much additional performance can the company procure with a loftier thermal ceiling and higher clocks?
AMD A8-3850 Review: Llano Rocks Entry-Level Desktops : Read more
AMD A8-3850 Review: Llano Rocks Entry-Level Desktops : Read more
More about : amd 3850 review llano rocks entry level desktops
whatisupthere
June 30, 2011 4:06:26 AM
Tamz_msc
June 30, 2011 4:21:26 AM
Related resources
- Using AMD APU A8-3850 Llano integrated GPU with dedicated GPU? - Forum
- Using AMD APU A8-3850 Llano integrated GPU with dedicated GPU? - Forum
- Building a slim amd a8-3850 desktop - Forum
SteelCity1981
June 30, 2011 4:24:23 AM
Known2Bone
June 30, 2011 4:35:57 AM
ivan_chess
June 30, 2011 4:41:10 AM
DjEaZy
June 30, 2011 4:52:27 AM
Mathos
June 30, 2011 5:00:07 AM
Stardude82
June 30, 2011 5:04:22 AM
This makes little sense. An Athlon II X3 445 ($75) and a HD 5570 ($60, on a good day you can get a 5670 for the same price) would provide better performance for the same price ($135) and not have to worry about the RAM you use.
So is AM3+ going to be retired in favor of FM1 in the near future? Why are there chipset at all? Why isn't everything SOC by now?
Otherwise this is a very good CPU. If AMD has used 1 MB level 2 caches in their quads when they came out with the Deneb Propus die, they would be much more competitive.
So is AM3+ going to be retired in favor of FM1 in the near future? Why are there chipset at all? Why isn't everything SOC by now?
Otherwise this is a very good CPU. If AMD has used 1 MB level 2 caches in their quads when they came out with the Deneb Propus die, they would be much more competitive.
Score
-2
crisan_tiberiu
June 30, 2011 5:37:38 AM
Stardude82
June 30, 2011 5:46:10 AM
Yuka
June 30, 2011 5:54:10 AM
jdwii
June 30, 2011 5:54:31 AM
fictionforthetame
June 30, 2011 6:11:09 AM
RazberyBandit
June 30, 2011 6:17:14 AM
In regards to dual graphics, the only game that it seemed to work on was WoW Cataclysm. What was the cause, drivers? CAPS?
And I think you guys may have gotten the min and avg FPS scores for the CoD:MW benchmark backwards... How can the min be higher than the average? Maybe you were actually comparing No AA to 4x AA or something, not min and avg FPS?
And I think you guys may have gotten the min and avg FPS scores for the CoD:MW benchmark backwards... How can the min be higher than the average? Maybe you were actually comparing No AA to 4x AA or something, not min and avg FPS?
Score
2
Nintendork
June 30, 2011 6:30:31 AM
frozenlead
June 30, 2011 6:34:38 AM
ChiefTexas_82
June 30, 2011 6:38:33 AM
ChromeTusk
June 30, 2011 6:45:04 AM
fstrthnu
June 30, 2011 7:08:47 AM
Definitely looks like a stopgap measure, a product with good execution but no market. Basically, the only people who will buy this are casual/lazy PC gamers - the serious guys would come to sites like this very one to find out that they can get way more for their money than buying Llano. Thing is, at this price point, most people don't even care about games. Like I said on a previous post, any serious, smart PC gamer will build their own or look higher in terms of pricing to get a genuinely strong system.
Score
-4
flong
June 30, 2011 7:17:26 AM
noob2222
June 30, 2011 7:45:06 AM
NotANerd
June 30, 2011 7:49:50 AM
Great write-up. Made my head swim and my heart sink (just a little). From what I've read both this and BD are stopgap products. The real stuff is Trinity and Komodo. I am looking forward to Trinity since that may be in my price range.
@flong, Someone would buy Llano if they didn't have the money for and /or didn't want to bother with discrete graphics cards. Average Joe. Exactly who it is aimed at. AMD hit their target.
@flong, Someone would buy Llano if they didn't have the money for and /or didn't want to bother with discrete graphics cards. Average Joe. Exactly who it is aimed at. AMD hit their target.
Score
6
RazberyBanditIn regards to dual graphics, the only game that it seemed to work on was WoW Cataclysm. What was the cause, drivers? CAPS?And I think you guys may have gotten the min and avg FPS scores for the CoD:MW benchmark backwards... How can the min be higher than the average? Maybe you were actually comparing No AA to 4x AA or something, not min and avg FPS?
Good call Raz--those were supposed to be NoAA/4xAA to match the graph headers--they're fixed now!
Score
0
Score
13
flong
June 30, 2011 8:15:20 AM
cangeliniBecause you'd also need a discrete graphics card for any sort of reasonable 3D performance. So, it's much more than $70.
Agreed, but still this CPU's performance is anemic. Couple the 2500K and a $75 - $100 discrete graphics card and you will be in a world of performance that this CPU could never even dream of.
So for an extra $150 - $200 you can actually play every game at very high settings (not the highest with a cheaper GPU). Nowadays, $150 - $200 is nothing when a GTX 580 is going for $530.
I understand that an uninformed person might choose this, but still it makes no sense to me. I can't imagine settling for this CPU/graphics card setup when for $150 more you actually have a real gaming computer that gives the $1000 I-7 990 a run for its money.
Score
-10
weatherdude
June 30, 2011 9:08:12 AM
Ahh, an interesting quality review. I was looking forward to how Llano would perform on the desktop. It's very pertinent information if I or my budget-constrained friends need a new PC.
One thing that caused major confusion for me was that in the Test Setup page it's written that AMD 890FX/SB850 is used on the Asus M4A89GTD Pro/USB3. It should be 890GX. I know the 890FX doesn't have integrated graphics so it took me awhile to realize what you were talking about when you were referring to the Radeon HD 4290.
One thing that caused major confusion for me was that in the Test Setup page it's written that AMD 890FX/SB850 is used on the Asus M4A89GTD Pro/USB3. It should be 890GX. I know the 890FX doesn't have integrated graphics so it took me awhile to realize what you were talking about when you were referring to the Radeon HD 4290.
Score
1
back_by_demand
June 30, 2011 9:13:05 AM
digiex
June 30, 2011 9:22:40 AM
nevertell
June 30, 2011 9:34:05 AM
digiex
June 30, 2011 9:34:56 AM
Olle P
June 30, 2011 9:37:12 AM
SteelCity1981 said:
So then what's the point of getting the Turbo Core versions when they are going to be Turbo Clocked slower then the none Turbo Clocked versions...I find the A8-3800 to be the most interesting CPU in the entire A-line.
Mathos said:
Actually if you want good DDR3 1600 with aggressive timings, the Ripjaws X series ... not all that expensive...I think the entire idea of using anything but "value" RAM (typically with CAS9) for this CPU seems futile, since it will eat up most of the price advantage.
Score
5
silverblue
June 30, 2011 9:47:02 AM
Anonymous
June 30, 2011 10:33:44 AM
flongAgreed, but still this CPU's performance is anemic. Couple the 2500K and a $75 - $100 discrete graphics card and you will be in a world of performance that this CPU could never even dream of. So for an extra $150 - $200 you can actually play every game at very high settings (not the highest with a cheaper GPU). Nowadays, $150 - $200 is nothing when a GTX 580 is going for $530. I understand that an uninformed person might choose this, but still it makes no sense to me. I can't imagine settling for this CPU/graphics card setup when for $150 more you actually have a real gaming computer that gives the $1000 I-7 990 a run for its money.
Oh no doubt. The CPU is far weaker than a Core i5. That's why I am saying that if you only have $135 to spend on a processor and graphics, Llano can't be beat. At any price point higher, you can easily do better with a better CPU and discrete graphics.
Score
14
weatherdudeAhh, an interesting quality review. I was looking forward to how Llano would perform on the desktop. It's very pertinent information if I or my budget-constrained friends need a new PC.One thing that caused major confusion for me was that in the Test Setup page it's written that AMD 890FX/SB850 is used on the Asus M4A89GTD Pro/USB3. It should be 890GX. I know the 890FX doesn't have integrated graphics so it took me awhile to realize what you were talking about when you were referring to the Radeon HD 4290.
Thanks Weather, you're right--fixed the typo!
Score
4
hmp_goose
June 30, 2011 11:20:13 AM
boiler1990
June 30, 2011 11:23:13 AM
boiler1990
June 30, 2011 11:26:01 AM
Score
2
N.Broekhuijsen
June 30, 2011 11:29:51 AM
theorland
June 30, 2011 11:39:28 AM
lradunovic77
June 30, 2011 12:44:17 PM
elbert
June 30, 2011 1:34:45 PM
I personally think the power draw figures are a huge win for AMD.
It has suffered for a long time as the hotter, more power-hungry processor of the two - and to a degree, it is still true in the Phenom II generation. But I was seriously impressed at the power consumption figures for both variants of Llano.
Of course it doesn't pull too many decisive victories, but for an APU full of tough compromises and a rather old architecture, it's brilliant.
It has suffered for a long time as the hotter, more power-hungry processor of the two - and to a degree, it is still true in the Phenom II generation. But I was seriously impressed at the power consumption figures for both variants of Llano.
Of course it doesn't pull too many decisive victories, but for an APU full of tough compromises and a rather old architecture, it's brilliant.
Score
4
cypeq
June 30, 2011 1:53:41 PM
grody
June 30, 2011 2:12:20 PM
A few thoughts:
I think the reason that memory makes such a big difference in a Llano build is because the integrated graphics steal from the RAM. Common integrated graphics behavior, but at least it's doing something meaningful with the theft.
Looks like AMD has been trying to capitalize on their acquisition of ATI with these new chips. A bit of a gamble, and I don't think it paid off. I'm much more impressed by the innovations they made - like the native usb3, support for six sataIII's, and software RAID - rather than the radical graphics architecture.
I really don't understand the theory here. Computers have been utilizing separate CPU and GPU chips for a decade now and it is obviously the most powerful way to go. This integrated graphics improvement is nice, but I don't think it was worth years of investment and loss of market share. Maybe they are going for the console market. I could see the appeal of using something like this in a new Xbox.
I think the reason that memory makes such a big difference in a Llano build is because the integrated graphics steal from the RAM. Common integrated graphics behavior, but at least it's doing something meaningful with the theft.
Looks like AMD has been trying to capitalize on their acquisition of ATI with these new chips. A bit of a gamble, and I don't think it paid off. I'm much more impressed by the innovations they made - like the native usb3, support for six sataIII's, and software RAID - rather than the radical graphics architecture.
I really don't understand the theory here. Computers have been utilizing separate CPU and GPU chips for a decade now and it is obviously the most powerful way to go. This integrated graphics improvement is nice, but I don't think it was worth years of investment and loss of market share. Maybe they are going for the console market. I could see the appeal of using something like this in a new Xbox.
Score
-10
srgess
June 30, 2011 2:33:44 PM
great article but why would i spend money into those computer ? Cpu power is bad graphic is not powerfull enough to play for good experience gaming. may want to continue play xbox or playstation... for 80$ more you have a 2400 cpu for cpu application wich beat down the 3850. only the mobile version is worth a buy for his many feature benefit against competition.
Score
-11
cknobman
June 30, 2011 2:37:02 PM
Good lord reading the comments some of you people are really dense. Do you not understand the target market for these and can take the review in context????? Not everything should be looked at as though you are a custom power cpu/game builder.
Great review Chris. For the target market AMD is doing a pretty good job here with an old CPU architecture and once they pair this with Bulldozer they should have a killer product.
Great review Chris. For the target market AMD is doing a pretty good job here with an old CPU architecture and once they pair this with Bulldozer they should have a killer product.
Score
16
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