APUs......wat

[phait103]

I was wondering exactly how APUs worked.
I know they are a CPU and GPU built into one little doohickey.
But how do you know if they are compatible with your motherboard?
Can you mix any given apu with any given gpu and expect good results?

What motherboard and APU would I want for my setup?
I expect to be able to play lots and lots of demanding games on three monitor eyefinity..

other specs:
430 watt corsair builder series psu
radeon hd 6850 2gb
1tb caviar sata hdd
windows 7 ult x64

budget: $250 for cpu and mobo

is this possible?

 

[jaguarskx]

"APU" is a term AMD coined for their Llano processors. These are the only processors that use socket FM1. Therefore, there are no compatibility issues at all.

You can use any video card with an APU. However, if you install anything more powerful than a Radeon HD 6670, then you cannot take advantage of Hybrid Crossfire with the integrated graphics core. Therefore, if you are going to install a more powerful graphics card, then it basically defeats the purpose of buying a Llano APU.

The Intel Sandy Bridge Core i3 series is probably the best budget CPU to buy since it can compete very well against more expensive AMD CPUs when it comes to gaming performance.

 

[Anonymous_26]

I was wondering exactly how APUs worked.
I know they are a CPU and GPU built into one little doohickey.
But how do you know if they are compatible with your motherboard?
Can you mix any given apu with any given gpu and expect good results?

What motherboard and APU would I want for my setup?
I expect to be able to play lots and lots of demanding games on three monitor eyefinity..

other specs:
430 watt corsair builder series psu
radeon hd 6850 2gb
1tb caviar sata hdd
windows 7 ult x64

budget: $250 for cpu and mobo

is this possible?

An APU pretty much works just like Intels integrated graphics but AMD's
integrated graphics is better than Intels integrated graphics. Also you can mix AMD's integrated graphics with a discrete video card for s sort of hybrid Crossfire, thats something you can't do with Intel.
No you cannot mix any motherboard with AMD's APU. It has to be socket FM1.
No you will not be able to play demanding games with just the integrated graphics of the APU, not on high resolution or high settings. While the APU integrated graphics is better than Intel it's still integrated graphics and it's not
goimg to perform like a high-end discreet video card like a 7970 or GTX680.

 

[jimmysmitty]

An APU pretty much works just like Intels integrated graphics but AMD's integrated graphics is better than Intels integrated graphics. Also you can mix AMD's integrated graphics with a discrete video card for s sort of hybrid Crossfire, thatssomething you can't do with Intel.
No you cannot mix any motherboard with AMD's APU. It has to be socket FM1.
No you will not be able to play demanding games with just the integrated graphics of the APU, not on high resolution or high settings. While the APU integrated graphics is better than Intel it's still integrated graphics and it's not goimg to perform like a high-end discreet video card like a 7970 or GTX680.

Problem is he is using a HD6850, can't be HCFXed with the APUs IGP.

He is better off getting a Z68 mobo and a i3/i5 for better performance with the HD6850.

 

[Anonymous_26]

Yea I forgot to mention that when I was talking about hybrid Crossfire. No he won't and if you're not going to make use of the integrated graphics with hybrid Crossfire in a gaming situation it's kind of pointless buying a Llano CPU.
With all that I agree he would be better off going with an I3 and cheap Z68 board from Asrock.

 

[phait103]

Would I be better off keeping my current motherboard (gigabyte ga-ma785gm-us2h) and getting a 3.6ghz Phenom II X4, or spending a good amount of money for an i3 and z68?
if the i3 is better, well, where do i start 0.0

edit: also i hope to crossfire my 6850 some day so any mobo is going to need two pci-e x16 slots

edit2: if i get a newer motherboard it will more than likely be DDR3 memory compatible and all I have is 8gb DDR2... so there's more money on ram

 

[amuffin]

Suggestions:
i3-2100 or 2120
asrock z68 extreme 3 gen 3

 

[Anonymous_26]

Would I be better off keeping my current motherboard (gigabyte ga-ma785gm-us2h) and getting a 3.6ghz Phenom II X4, or spending a good amount of money for an i3 and z68?
if the i3 is better, well, where do i start 0.0

edit: also i hope to crossfire my 6850 some day so any mobo is going to need two pci-e x16 slots

edit2: if i get a newer motherboard it will more than likely be DDR3 memory compatible and all I have is 8gb DDR2... so there's more money on ram

I would still go with the I3. While it's not the greatest of the Sandy Bridges processors you said you were on a budget and it fits that role. The plus is that with the Z68 board it will be backwards compatible with Ivy Bridges so you can get a budget CPU now and save up some money then get Ivy Bridges if you want.

 

[whatsthatnoise]

If you do not yet have the money for an intel system, wait until you can get one.

Like amuffin said, i3 2120 and a ASrock z68 Extreme3 Gen3 are a great way to start. The motherboard is IvyBridge ready, including PCI 3.0. Which means it's future proof when you want to upgrade that i3, later.

 

[phait103]

Thanks for all the info. I'll probably end up getting everything one piece at a time.
Out ^.^