Report: AMD Prepares Athlon II X4 CPUs for Socket FM2

[gsacks]

Sounds like these are just CPUs manufactured with a bad GPU which had to be disabled. Might as well try to see them to people who were going to use a separate GPU card anyway. Might at well try.

 

[stant1rm]

These might do decent in a budget gaming build. If the piledriver architecture really proves to be much better then bulldozer, and all these are is lower binned chips without the IGP, then for $60-$70 plus a Cooler Master 212 these things could do very, very well.

4.2GHz+ overclocked quad cores for $60 sounds like a first time builders dream. There are a lot of ifs though.

 

[shloader]

[citation][nom]chaz_music[/nom]I believe that AMD should partner with IBM in the near future and use some of Big Blue's patents to fight against Intel. IBM is the main reason AMD exists anyway, so it would be fitting that they would partner. IBM has some great lithography and integrated circuit patents.[/citation]

+1. Would root for that pairing. I believe AMD has liscensed some IBM tech at various times in the past, but only to get over technical hurdles. When Thunderbird hit a wall @ 1.4GHZ they solicited some support from IBM to get them the bump they needed to role out the XP line up to 1.66GHZ (XP2000). I think IBM helped out a lot at that time with lithography methods. But a full on partnership? That would be great for the consumer and not completely unreasonable. Come to think I never hear about IBM or AMD taking to litigation against each other (not saying it doesn't happen). Isn't the current XBOX 360 CPU a pairing of IBM designed cores with a AMD GPU now on the same die? Say what you will about consoles, the GPU on the 360 is still a touch stronger than what we see out of Trinity APUs (but RAM bandwidth impacts that a lot). The only hurdle I can fathom is that AMD and IBM see each other as competitors in the server market. That counterpoint to that is IBM is seeing themselves more as a large IT support company. Hopefully they merge. Let AMD handle their processor production while IBM designs more databases for things like Golf Statistics .

 

[queenfan]

When are they going to make ARM chips?

 

[puddleglum]

[citation][nom]M1n3Kraft[/nom]I may be taking this a bit far but it would be cool if every AMD processor except for Opteron could fit FM2 or other FM sockets.[/citation]Why? The whole idea of the FM socket is that there is a GPU onboard. The motherboards are all built with that in mind. If you have to disable the GPU you might as well fit it in an AM3 socket.

 

[blazorthon]

wrong on all accounts.
FYI - you talk too much. :/

no wonder you get called out on threads a lot.
like that recon-uk thread...
calling 'blazorthon', remember that.

you talk above your own head a lot too.
give it a rest.

I'm not wrong. The one time that I screwed up there and was called out (many times? There was one time) I figured out where I went wrong and admitted that I was wrong. I then corrected the mistake and looked into where my sources went wrong.

 

[blazorthon]

Why? The whole idea of the FM socket is that there is a GPU onboard. The motherboards are all built with that in mind. If you have to disable the GPU you might as well fit it in an AM3 socket.

That would mean that the different platforms aren't so separated. If AMD wanted to, they could do something like that and it does make sense. Being able to go from an APU system and upgrade to a much faster CPU a few years later to be able to handle a much faster graphics card once the IGP and CF with the IGP is no longer enough would make for a better upgrade path.

 

[shafe88]

[citation][nom]gonzosquirrel[/nom]Doubtful that you would be able to re-enable the graphics core, but I agree with the thought that AMD is just trying to sponge up some funds from wherever they can. The Athlon II 750K shouldn't list any higher than about $80.00. Although it is in socket AM3, you can still buy a Phenom II 965 for $100.00 and it will be a better chip.[/citation]
Their probably not trying to sponge extra funds, their probably just trying to get rid of apu's with defected graphics cores.

 

[uglynerdman]

is this gonna be the start of the newest trend? Unlock graphics core blah blah motherboard extreme etc. i had a core unlocking msi board. which died one year days past warranty... msi be damned!

 

[elbert]

If you play games that only require high end graphics this makes perfect sense. If you have a video card from a system with a failed motherboard and cpu again this would make sense. This path tho will heavily depend on performance and price.

 

[sonofliberty08]

they have the same things on llano, so no surprise that they will have it for trinity too, the 3.2GHz 65W quad core are interesting chip, but they better set the price right to stay competitive..

 

[falchard]

The naming is a bit confusing. Athlon, and Athlon II are based on the same architecture. Doesn't really make sense that these Athlon II's are based on a seperate architecture and still called an Athlon II. Also Athlon's architecture is a bit dated so people who know what an Athlon is might be confused considering its 2 generations old for AMD.
I think the introduction of these chips for Socket FM2 is a good thing in increasing the sellability of the mobo. It allows more options of getting a cheap cpu without the graphics component and putting in a discrete graphics chip. Its not like games or movies are CPU bound, so having a cheap cpu, and cheap mobo with a moderate graphics card is a nice price segment around $500.

 

[gallidorn]

The only way these processors would be worth while, is if motherboard manufacturers include the option to unlock the integrated graphics through the bios. (similar to unlocking additional cores).

Otherwise... this is not a competitive product!

 

[blazorthon]

The only way these processors would be worth while, is if motherboard manufacturers include the option to unlock the integrated graphics through the bios. (similar to unlocking additional cores).

Otherwise... this is not a competitive product!

I have to disagree. If they are priced well, these can be very competitive products, especially considering that Intel has no modern low end quad core CPUs to compete with them and the i3s can't even beat an AM3 Athlon II x4 of the same frequency in highly threaded performance, let alone these FM2 Athlon IIs.

 

[photonboy]

Buying a CPU:

Assuming you even KNOW what you're looking for (most don't) I buy products with CPU's like this:

GAMING CPU - Intel hands down.

MOBILE CPU - I look at the COOLEST CPU/GPU (APU) that gets the job done at that price point.

So if I'm buying a complete product, like a laptop I don't necessarily care if the CPU portion had a GPU that is now disabled, I just compare about the total price of the product and the overall features of the total product.

And if I'm buying ONLY THE CPU, I'm not sure why I would even want an AMD CPU:
a) if I'm gaming then it's INTEL hands down
b) if I'm NOT gaming then wouldn't the best value be an APU?

*So long story short, it can't compete on the high-end and it can't compete on the low-end. Where DOES it compete?

 

[sonofliberty08]

*So long story short, it can't compete on the high-end and it can't compete on the low-end. Where DOES it compete?

the mid end...... pairing with the HD 7750 and boom...... u got a 65W quad core mid level gaming pc, the problem is how they going to set the price to compete with the dual core 4 thread i3...... is not a bad product, it only depends on its price.

 

[littleleo]

What are they thinking ant AMD? I guess they aren't thinking at all. So you entry level CPUs are FM1 and FM2 and they aren't compatible. The FM1 boards are around $20 more then where the AM2+ entry level boards used to be and not all of the FM1 CPUs have graphics, so your paying more and getting less what a good deal. So you can get a FM1 CPU and up grade it up to a FM1 CPU wow. Now you have a FM2 which is a little faster and only compatible with other FM2s what a great deal. The performance segment runs on the AM3+ socket and there is no way to upgrade to it. So to review with AMD you have 2 Entry level platforms that are mutually exclusive, and a performance platform that is also not compatible with either entry level platform. Would you buy one of those or a 1155 Sandy Bridge model that can run a Celeron to a Pentium to a i3, i5 all the way to an i7. So what entry level would you buy? One that is a dead-end or one you can upgrade all the way to a high performance gaming chip. AMD has become one of the dumbest brands on the market the CEO should be run out of town on a rail. All the top talent is jumping off them like rats off a sinking ship. Unless things change and fast give them 3 years and then goodnight now. All that may survive is the VGA group and only if they are spun off soon enough.

 

[JOSHSKORN]

AMD needs to come out with a FML series after what Intel has done with them recently.

 

[photonboy]

FYI, AMD has been voted as currently one of the worst companies to invest in.

I remember when an AMD CPU was the only logical choice and Intel CPU's were 3x as expensive.

They suffered financially when they bought ATI. They got bailed out. Then they stumbled massively with poor CPU designs.

I respect the company, but unless something changes drastically the future isn't looking too bright.

 

[the_brute]

[citation][nom]M1n3Kraft [/nom]I may be taking this a bit far but it would be cool if every AMD processor except for Opteron could fit FM2 or other FM sockets.[/citation]
That is why I bought them in the past. put 3 different generations on the same mobo.
*edit* sorry i am not with it to day took 2 attempts to get the right person quoted.

 

[the_brute]

[citation][nom]gallidorn[/nom]The only way these processors would be worth while, is if motherboard manufacturers include the option to unlock the integrated graphics through the bios. (similar to unlocking additional cores).Otherwise... this is not a competitive product![/citation]
GF is having major issues. There is a reason why products AMD released to them MONTHS ago are not sitting in stores right now. Im sure all of these will really have bad graphics.

AMD you spent the money on a possible seperation from GF now use it, leave them, they are killing you!

 

[blazorthon]

[citation][nom]the_brute[/nom]GF is having major issues. There is a reason why products AMD released to them MONTHS ago are not sitting in stores right now. Im sure all of these will really have bad graphics. AMD you spent the money on a possible seperation from GF now use it, leave them, they are killing you![/citation]

AMD does't have many options. TSMC is already loaded and might not even have the same process technology and node as AMD makes their CPUs on with GF. Those two are really the main choices for AMD.

 

[the_brute]

[citation][nom]blazorthon[/nom]AMD does't have many options. TSMC is already loaded and might not even have the same process technology and node as AMD makes their CPUs on with GF. Those two are really the main choices for AMD.[/citation]
I know, and that is why it sucks for them. I question TSMCs ability some times too. I seems to have an in-house fab works much better, if you can get enough business...

Is there any other large fab that could take produce for AMD? (on a competitve front same or close nm ability?) Besides Intel.

 

[Thunderfox]

Report: People who know anything about computers prepare not to buy them.

 

[blazorthon]

[citation][nom]the_brute[/nom]I know, and that is why it sucks for them. I question TSMCs ability some times too. I seems to have an in-house fab works much better, if you can get enough business... Is there any other large fab that could take produce for AMD? (on a competitve front same or close nm ability?) Besides Intel.[/citation]

Well, there are companies such as Samsung who have fabs... However, whether or not they have enough available and have fabs that are equipped for process technologies and nodes that AMD is using is a whole other story to look into. There are probably a few other companies with fabs that might matter for AMD, but it seems that fab-less semiconductor companies reign supreme in number over companies with fabs.