Poor APU Performance (A10-6800k)

[DromeCut]

I recently built a budget sort of htpc and I'm not quite getting the performance that is to be expected from the processor (amd apu a10-6800k).

I'm getting less than 30 fps in steam's big picture mode at 1080p and even lower frames in less-demanding games like Super Meat Boy.

I've listed the build's specs below and I'm wondering what could be limiting my performance. I've tried faster ram (2x 4gb DDR3 1600) but got the same results. Could it be an issue with the chipset or the OS (win8 vs win7)?

Specs:
Processor - AMD APU A10-6800k
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113331

Motherboard - MSI FM2-A55M-E33
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130661

RAM - Team Elite 2x 2GB DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820313072

PSU - XION slim case w/ 300w PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208056

Win 8.1 64bit

Thanks for any knowledge you guys can provide.

 

[ingtar33]

nope.

Your basic issue is the igpu on the APU. While it is the best igpu you can get on a desktop machine, it's really not able to game well in 1080p unless you push some seriously fast ram into it (much faster then 1600), and overclock the hell out of it (which you won't be able to do on a a55 chipset motherboard).

slow ram + poor motherboard + 1080p monitor = poor gaming experience.

The quickest way to fix your problem would be to get yourself a gtx 560ti gpu for about $80 on ebay. That will give you playable framerates at 1080p and you won't have to buy a boatload of computer parts to replace what you have.

if you don't want to get a gpu, then the only thing i can tell you is to play at 720p resolution, or replace your motherboard with an a85x or a88x chipset motherboard, get ddr3 2133 ram and a cpu cooler and learn how to overclock

 

[DromeCut]

nope.

Your basic issue is the igpu on the APU. While it is the best igpu you can get on a desktop machine, it's really not able to game well in 1080p unless you push some seriously fast ram into it (much faster then 1600), and overclock the hell out of it (which you won't be able to do on a a55 chipset motherboard).

slow ram + poor motherboard + 1080p monitor = poor gaming experience.

The quickest way to fix your problem would be to get yourself a gtx 560ti gpu for about $80 on ebay. That will give you playable framerates at 1080p and you won't have to buy a boatload of computer parts to replace what you have.

if you don't want to get a gpu, then the only thing i can tell you is to play at 720p resolution, or replace your motherboard with an a85x or a88x chipset motherboard, get ddr3 2133 ram and a cpu cooler and learn how to overclock

So really the main issue is slow ram + wrong chipset = poor igpu performance.

I guess I'm just surprised because, though I wasn't expecting anything fantastic out of this build, I feel like even a low end build could turn frames in something like Super Meat Boy at 1080p.

So this thing is capable of performing well, but APU's are really dependent on fast RAM, the right chipset, and an overclock in order for decent igpu performance?

 

[ingtar33]

So this thing is capable of performing well, but APU's are really dependent on fast RAM, the right chipset, and an overclock in order for decent igpu performance?

at 1080p... yes.

remember we're talking about igpus here. Generally they've sucked for about as long as they've existed. the a10 sports a really strong igpu... best in class really... and at 720p it will game pretty much anything at 60fps... so it IS a gaming capable igpu. the problem is 1080p is about 3 time the pixels 720p is... with fast ram and a good overclock (the chipset doesn't actually matter.. the problem is there is no a55 motherboard built to support serious overclocking... that chipset is a "budget" chipset, and as a result while there is nothing in the chipset to stop you, no manufacturer makes those boards able to support any serious overclocking efforts) an a10-6800k will be able to scrape up playable FPS on medium or low settings at 1080p.

 

[DromeCut]

with fast ram and a good overclock (the chipset doesn't actually matter.. the problem is there is no a55 motherboard built to support serious overclocking... that chipset is a "budget" chipset, and as a result while there is nothing in the chipset to stop you, no manufacturer makes those boards able to support any serious overclocking efforts) an a10-6800k will be able to scrape up playable FPS on medium or low settings at 1080p.

Ok, that makes sense.
In that case then, wouldn't ddr3 2133 ram on the a55 motherboard still show a performance increase? And would it show the same results as ddr3 2133 ram on an a85x motherboard at stock clocks?

 

[ingtar33]

Ok, that makes sense.
In that case then, wouldn't ddr3 2133 ram on the a55 motherboard still show a performance increase? And would it show the same results as ddr3 2133 ram on an a85x motherboard at stock clocks?

yes. ddr3 2133 will show that type of result. however you'll likely pay $80 or more for it... which is why i offered the suggestion of getting a video card~

 

[jaguarskx]

Using DDR3-2133 RAM will probably give you a around a 16% - 20% performance increase over using DDR3-1333 RAM. However, the Radeon HD 8650D is still rather weak compared to a discrete (dedicated) graphics card. It would be equal to a desktop Radeon HD 6670 DDR3 graphics card when you use DDR3-2133 RAM. It's performance is halfway between the Radeon HD 5570 and Radeon HD 5670.

I can't say I am familiar with Super Meat Boy, but if it is a Flashed based game, then generally speaking the DDR3-2133 RAM should provide enough of a performance boost for you to tell the difference.

 

[DromeCut]

Alright, cool.
I've never really messed with a system that doesn't have a graphics card, so i'm just trying to wrap my head around what makes these apu's work.
I think I'm starting to get it figured out. Thanks for the help, guys.

 

[CTurbo]

I have an A10-6800k + fm2+ A88XM motherboard with 2x4GB 1866mhz RAM
I can overclock the RAM to 2133mhz pretty easily and the igpu from 844mhz to over 1000mhz

This setup averages around 40fps on medium @ 1080p. This is the absolute best case scenario. The APUs are not really meant to game at 1080p. They are budget gaming solutions aimed at 720p which it does very well. 55-60fps with this setup for most games.


So yes. 1333mhz RAM and an A55 chipset is NOT the way to go.

 

[DromeCut]

So I decided to compare my system to my roommate's laptop and i still think there might be an issue other than the ram speed.

The laptop has an a8-4500m + 2x 4gb 1600 ram, and it's outperforming my a10-6800k + 2x 4gb 1600 ram.
The laptop is getting higher frames and running smoothly in dota 2 at 1080p on medium settings and is running Super Meat Boy at 1080p with no problems at all.
It just seems odd that a WORSE processor with THE SAME ram would be performing better.

I guess i should also say that the laptop is performing pretty closely to what i expected out of this build. Do i really need faster ram to match a system with lower specs?