Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: January 2012 (Archive)

[littleleo]

Actually, if you read the Wikipedia article, they weren't the first to coin the term:

An accelerated processing unit (APU, also Advanced Processing Unit) is a computer's main processing unit that includes additional processing capability designed to accelerate one or more types of computations outside of a central processing unit (CPU). This may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) used for general-purpose computing (GPGPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or similar specialized processing system. Variations on the usage of this term include a variation in which the APU is described as a processing device which integrates a CPU and an OpenCL compatible GPU on the same die, thus improving data transfer rates between these components while reducing power consumption by upwards of 50% with current technology over traditional architecture.[1] APUs can also include video processing and other application-specific accelerators. Examples include AMD Accelerated Processing Unit, Cell, Intel HD Graphics, and NVIDIA's Project Denver.

The term accelerated processing unit was first used in a public context with respect to accelerated computing in 2006,[2] and prior to that in various presentations and business plans written by Joe Landman[3] of Scalable Informatics.[4] Other uses include Xilinx using the term for an auxiliary processor unit.

It says that an APU is any chip with may different components.

It's not a vendor-specific term, like Blumotion; it's a vendor-agnostic term, like car.

APU is a term coined by AMD to describe their CPU + GPU chip no one else uses that term to describe their CPUs just AMD. I've been to numerous AMD and Intel seminars and APU is a term so far inclusive to only AMD. I don't see Intel adopting it any time soon since it isn't seen by most as a high performing line by gamers. VIA and CYRIX have virtually disappeared was there some other CPU manufacturer that uses the term APU you know of?

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Read the Wikipedia article. And source two.

 

[littleleo]

Actually, if you read the Wikipedia article, they weren't the first to coin the term:

An accelerated processing unit (APU, also Advanced Processing Unit) is a computer's main processing unit that includes additional processing capability designed to accelerate one or more types of computations outside of a central processing unit (CPU). This may include a graphics processing unit (GPU) used for general-purpose computing (GPGPU), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or similar specialized processing system. Variations on the usage of this term include a variation in which the APU is described as a processing device which integrates a CPU and an OpenCL compatible GPU on the same die, thus improving data transfer rates between these components while reducing power consumption by upwards of 50% with current technology over traditional architecture.[1] APUs can also include video processing and other application-specific accelerators. Examples include AMD Accelerated Processing Unit, Cell, Intel HD Graphics, and NVIDIA's Project Denver.

The term accelerated processing unit was first used in a public context with respect to accelerated computing in 2006,[2] and prior to that in various presentations and business plans written by Joe Landman[3] of Scalable Informatics.[4] Other uses include Xilinx using the term for an auxiliary processor unit.

It says that an APU is any chip with may different components.

It's not a vendor-specific term, like Blumotion; it's a vendor-agnostic term, like car.

The Accelerated Processing Unit, formerly known as Fusion, is a marketing name for a type of microprocessor from AMD designed to act as a CPU and graphics accelerator (GPU) solution on a single chip. Its heterogeneous system architecture has been designed to make it easier to write, optimize, and load balance software, while providing higher performance and lower power consumption.[citation needed]



"AMD has been developing the Accelerated Processing Unit since 2006. The current design is the product of a merger between AMD and ATI. It combines general processor execution, 3D geometry processing, and other modern GPU functions (like GPGPU computation) into a single die.

AMD announced the first generation APUs, Llano for high-performance and Brazos for low-power devices in January 2011. The second-generation Trinity for high-performance and Brazos-2 for low-power devices were announced in June 2012. The third-generation Kaveri for high performance devices is expected in early 2014, while Kabini and Temash for low-power devices were announced in summer 2013. Semi-custom APUs based on the technology in the third-generation low-power APUs can be found in the Sony PlayStation 4 and the Microsoft Xbox One eighth generation video game consoles."

Clearly AMD is using it as a vendor-specific term, whether they should or should is up for debate. The Term they way the using it in their marketing is for a hybrid chip with a CPU and GPU put together. Intel doesn't use this term for market their CPUs. So in a nutshell AMD is using APU as a marketing name for a specific line of chips. Which they have been designing since 2006.

 

[InvalidError]

So in a nutshell AMD is using APU as a marketing name for a specific line of chips. Which they have been designing since 2006.

What AMD uses the term for has absolutely no bearing over the general definition of what an APU is and the general definition covers just about every SoC and mainstream Intel CPU.

That AMD chooses to actively market their CPUs as APUs does not make Intel's chips any less of an APU themselves as far as the proper technical definition is concerned.

The only difference between AMD APUs and Intel APUs is that AMD puts a stronger emphasis on the GPU or GPU-CPU balance while Intel puts a stronger emphasis on the CPU with the GPU just being something that is 'there' if needed.

 

[Someone Somewhere]

So in a nutshell AMD is using APU as a marketing name for a specific line of chips. Which they have been designing since 2006.

What AMD uses the term for has absolutely no bearing over the general definition of what an APU is and the general definition covers just about every SoC and mainstream Intel CPU.

That AMD chooses to actively market their CPUs as APUs does not make Intel's chips any less of an APU themselves as far as the proper technical definition is concerned.

The only difference between AMD APUs and Intel APUs is that AMD puts a stronger emphasis on the GPU or GPU-CPU balance while Intel puts a stronger emphasis on the CPU with the GPU just being something that is 'there' if needed.

^This.

If AMD chooses not to call their APUs "CPU"s, does that make them any less CPUs?

 

[markiz]

Every time I check, 3350P is actually 180. I think that disqualifies it.

 

[littleleo]

So in a nutshell AMD is using APU as a marketing name for a specific line of chips. Which they have been designing since 2006.

What AMD uses the term for has absolutely no bearing over the general definition of what an APU is and the general definition covers just about every SoC and mainstream Intel CPU.

That AMD chooses to actively market their CPUs as APUs does not make Intel's chips any less of an APU themselves as far as the proper technical definition is concerned.

The only difference between AMD APUs and Intel APUs is that AMD puts a stronger emphasis on the GPU or GPU-CPU balance while Intel puts a stronger emphasis on the CPU with the GPU just being something that is 'there' if needed.

Sorry I don't agree AMD has defined and marketed APUs as a specific product and Intel iCores do not match the definition set by AMD. Because of AMD's marketing and press releases when people hear the term APU they have an expectation of a certain product. Right or wrong this is the reality of the situation.

You can argue all you want that because it has graphics in the chip it's a APU however that is not the same thing that AMD is saying. It doesn't match what their marketing campaign is saying, and it doesn't match what public perception of what a APU is.

The Intel iCore chip are very superior to anything CPUs AMD has produced they couldn't compete so they decided to take GPUs and put them together with their CPUs to create a new segment where they don't have to compete with Intel head to head. That is what the APUs are, I'm not a big fan of them I find their performance on the computing side underwhelming.

The Intel iCore graphics while very improved are not to the level of a discrete VGA card as the graphics in the AMD APUs are.

AMD has craved out this niche and so far Intel is content to let them have it. In the future that may change and Intel may go after that segment and you will see them use the term APU too. However for now only AMD is using the term APU for their specific models.

 

[littleleo]

Every time I check, 3350P is actually 180. I think that disqualifies it.

Micro Center is selling the i5-3570k for $149.99 right now if you have one near you that would be a great deal.

http://www.microcenter.com/product/388577/Core_i5_3570K_34GHz_Socket_LGA_1155_Boxed_Processor?rf=Search+Results+Top+%3E+Feature+2+%3E+Processors+Intel%2fAMD+-+Top+2

 

[InvalidError]

You can argue all you want that because it has graphics in the chip it's a APU however that is not the same thing that AMD is saying. It doesn't match what their marketing campaign is saying, and it doesn't match what public perception of what a APU is.

I do not care what AMD's "definition" is saying.
I do not care what Intel's marketing is saying.
I do not care what the "general public" is perceiving.

The general and technically correct definition APU says that an APU is a CPU with extra processing resources tacked on.

It does not matter how powerful it is or what it is marketed for/as.

 

[logainofhades]

I picked up an FX 8320 from Microcenter for $100 last week to upgrade my old Phenom II system that will replace my i5 750 system when it is gone. Haven't had the time to do anything with it other than put it together though. 🙁 System consists of:
FX 8320
Older Zalaman cooler (should be a bit better than the stock one)
750gb samsung
4gb gskill ddr3 (for now)
Diablotek case
OCZ mod extreme 500w
HD 5850
Gigabyte GA-78LMT-USB3

For a third string gaming rig for mostly just WoW, this will be sufficient. I needed something cheap but better than what I had. Case, CPU, Motherboard, some more thermal compound, and a USB bluetooth adapter for just under $200. 😀 Everything else is from my PhII rig with exception of the GPU. It was pulled from my main rig when I replaced my CF 5850's with an HD 7970.

 

[daswilhelm]

You can argue all you want that because it has graphics in the chip it's a APU however that is not the same thing that AMD is saying. It doesn't match what their marketing campaign is saying, and it doesn't match what public perception of what a APU is.

I do not care what AMD's "definition" is saying.
I do not care what Intel's marketing is saying.
I do not care what the "general public" is perceiving.

The general and technically correct definition APU says that an APU is a CPU with extra processing resources tacked on.

It does not matter how powerful it is or what it is marketed for/as.

don't pay attention to him, he's arguing himself in circles. makes no sense what he's blabbering about.

 

[Onus]

Logain, that's pretty much what I did. I visited the Ancestral Cave in the Peoples Republic of Maryland for Thanksgiving, and they're near a Microcenter, so I got that FX-8320 to replace my 970BE in Omega. I flashed my Sabertooth to 1604 and installed it, but haven't had time for any meaningful testing yet. I encountered some glitches that, along with recent unexplained system crashes, have me thinking its Seasonic PSU (bought 2nd-hand) may be ill. Assuming my new PSU arrives this week, I'm going to start abusing it this weekend and see if it feels any different from my i5.

 

[littleleo]

You can argue all you want that because it has graphics in the chip it's a APU however that is not the same thing that AMD is saying. It doesn't match what their marketing campaign is saying, and it doesn't match what public perception of what a APU is.

I do not care what AMD's "definition" is saying.
I do not care what Intel's marketing is saying.
I do not care what the "general public" is perceiving.

The general and technically correct definition APU says that an APU is a CPU with extra processing resources tacked on.

It does not matter how powerful it is or what it is marketed for/as.

I tell you what walk into any computer store and ask for an Intel APU, good luck, lol. Google APU and see how many Intel models come up you may not care but it's the reality right now.

 

[littleleo]

Logain, that's pretty much what I did. I visited the Ancestral Cave in the Peoples Republic of Maryland for Thanksgiving, and they're near a Microcenter, so I got that FX-8320 to replace my 970BE in Omega. I flashed my Sabertooth to 1604 and installed it, but haven't had time for any meaningful testing yet. I encountered some glitches that, along with recent unexplained system crashes, have me thinking its Seasonic PSU (bought 2nd-hand) may be ill. Assuming my new PSU arrives this week, I'm going to start abusing it this weekend and see if it feels any different from my i5.

For WOW it don't think you'll see a big difference. Bummer about the system crashes my youngest had that problem and it was the power supply.

 

[logainofhades]

Well FX 8320 and an HD 5850 will be far faster than my PhII 560 and HD 3870. :lol:

 

[InvalidError]

I tell you what walk into any computer store and ask for an Intel APU, good luck, lol.

This is actually a nice trick question to tell sales drones apart from clerks who might actually have a clue since clerks who do have a clue would know APU simply means a CPU with IGP.

Just because AMD adopted APU as a marketing name (which they cannot trademark because it was already generic before AMD started using it) does not invalidate its generic definition.

 

[daswilhelm]

I tell you what walk into any computer store and ask for an Intel APU, good luck, lol.

This is actually a nice trick question to tell sales drones apart from clerks who might actually have a clue since clerks who do have a clue would know APU simply means a CPU with IGP.

Just because AMD adopted APU as a marketing name (which they cannot trademark because it was already generic before AMD started using it) does not invalidate its generic definition.

ummmm, i did not say that ^

 

[InvalidError]

ummmm, i did not say that ^

Sometimes quoting in forums does weird things.

Probably accidentally quoted two messages and deleted the wrong quote opener... easy to scramble with quote tags that use just a bunch of numerals instead of forum names.

 

[littleleo]

ummmm, i did not say that ^

Sometimes quoting in forums does weird things.

Probably accidentally quoted two messages and deleted the wrong quote opener... easy to scramble with quote tags that use just a bunch of numerals instead of forum names.

It happens, I was posting on one threat and I hit "answer" it put my answer and me on another.

 

[littleleo]

I tell you what walk into any computer store and ask for an Intel APU, good luck, lol.

This is actually a nice trick question to tell sales drones apart from clerks who might actually have a clue since clerks who do have a clue would know APU simply means a CPU with IGP.

Just because AMD adopted APU as a marketing name (which they cannot trademark because it was already generic before AMD started using it) does not invalidate its generic definition.

ummmm, i did not say that ^

Que the twilight Zone music, lol

 

[littleleo]

I tell you what walk into any computer store and ask for an Intel APU, good luck, lol.

This is actually a nice trick question to tell sales drones apart from clerks who might actually have a clue since clerks who do have a clue would know APU simply means a CPU with IGP.

Just because AMD adopted APU as a marketing name (which they cannot trademark because it was already generic before AMD started using it) does not invalidate its generic definition.

Ha Ha, good luck with that. I walked in to the computer dept at Frys one time and asked for Cat5e cable and I was told they didn't carry pet supplies. It took going thru 3 sales people before one knew what Cat5e cable was.

 

[masmotors]

Well FX 8320 and an HD 5850 will be far faster than my PhII 560 and HD 3870. :lol:

yes very fast 8320 and any gpu you pick will be better good upgrade

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Intel iCores do not match the definition set by AMD

The only part they don't match is the bit where they say 'made by AMD'.

It's not even AMD's definition to set, because it's not their term.

 

[airborn824]

Now i know i love AMD but i can be sure that all teh researchi have done has rated teh 8320 and 8350 higher that a lot of i5 and i7s so why is the chart so bias to Intel? teh price to performance is really bad with intel

 

[Someone Somewhere]

Now i know i love AMD but i can be sure that all teh researchi have done has rated teh 8320 and 8350 higher that a lot of i5 and i7s so why is the chart so bias to Intel? teh price to performance is really bad with intel

Firstly, this is a gaming chart. Not general purpose, but gaming. Many games are still quite poorly threaded, so single thread performance has a large impact.

Secondly, did you look up actual benchmarks or just specs? IPC makes a big difference.

And thirdly, confirmation bias is a wonderful thing. Judging by your sig, I'd imagine that's what's happening here.