AMD Trinity 17W's CPU and GPU performance tested (vs Ivy Bridge)

[Sweepr]

AMD Trinity A6-4455M @ 2.1GHz:

PCMark Vantage: 3,978
3DMark 06: 3,625

Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5-3317U @ 1.7GHz:

PCMark Vantage: 8,345
3DMark 06: 4,549

Despite its lower performance you can get an AMD powered HP Envy Sleekbook 6z for $50 less than the Lenovo U310 with Amazon's $100 gift card. ($600 vs $650)

You likely won't notice the delta between the APU's performance and higher-powered Ivy / Sandy Bridge chips until you start gaming. In World of Warcraft at native resolution, the laptop managed just 20 frames per second, which is basically unplayable. In Batman: Arkham Asylum, it notched a more respectable 45 frames per second, but you'll have to accept murky, pixelated visuals as a trade-off.

It's pretty clear that HP's new Sleekbook line is targeted toward those who fancy a responsive, high-performing thin-and-light but don't want to shell out a grand or more for an Ultrabook. We appreciate the company's effort to temper features with price, and while the 6z is capable enough to handle your everyday computing needs, the underpowered AMD APU isn't a great performer -- and you can do better without spending much more, as even the Envy Ultrabook 6t starts at just $800. For what it's worth, though, folks who do opt for the Intel-approved version will enjoy the same understated design and comfortable keyboard (and hopefully soon-to-be-refined touchpad), so it's definitely worth looking at HP's Envy line anyway if the performance of this particular unit is the main thing giving you pause.

http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/13/hp-envy-sleekbook-6z-review/

 

[pelov]

The one thing this review proves is that OEMs don't know to put dual channel RAM as a standard option in AMD APUs.

What's worse for AMD, though, is that soldering and one channel slots are becoming frequent in slim ultrabooks/ultrathins, meaning putting in dual channel is not only more expensive for the manufacturer but can also be impractical if it's meant to be very thin.

All sorts of fails here.

- Engadget uses 2 synthetic benchmarks and considers it a proper review of performance. They should stick to discussing how shiny the new Apple product is.

- AMD targeting ultrathins with an APU design that pretty much requires dual channel for decent performance

- HP for not including dual channel RAM as standard in AMD APUs.

 

[piesquared]

The problem is though, some poor unsuspecting consumers are going to actually believe it. Viral marketing and sponsored reviews doing there job.

 

[hans007]

yyeah not using dual channel, and limiting this to a narrow 17W envelope isn treally fair.

the a6-4455m is the only trinity right now with 17W, but i'm sure they will release other ones .
for example there is an a10-4655m which has 4 cores and 384 shaders,, but its 25 W instead of 17W.

if we do a 25W trinity comparison with dual channel ddr3, maybe the a10 4655m beats whatever intel has at 25W in some tests. the same hp sleekbook can have that cpu for $100 more and another 4GB dimm for what $20 online, would probably make this a totally different comparison

 

[pelov]

The problem is though, some poor unsuspecting consumers are going to actually believe it. Viral marketing and sponsored reviews doing there job.

They should believe it. That APU and that configuration sucks. The A10-4655m is 25W and is much better but, again, you need dual channel and that inflates the cost since it's an optional extra and HP charges up the wazoo for another stick of 2GB or 4GB.

 

[podspi]

- AMD targeting ultrathins with an APU design that pretty much requires dual channel for decent performance

This is a huge issue for AMD. They are targeting cheaper machines than Intel, yet the configuration required is (slightly) more expensive. I'd like to see how that APU does in dual-channel mode (and if it is upgradeable it won't be that expensive to do so), but in the end that doesn't matter much. Most consumers are going to buy a laptop and use it until it dies. Heck, most people I know throw laptops away when the HD dies, generally one of the easiest things to fix.


Hopefully the next-gen AMD APUs have a solution to the bandwidth problem.

 

[Olikan]

This is a huge issue for AMD. They are targeting cheaper machines than Intel, yet the configuration required is (slightly) more expensive. I'd like to see how that APU does in dual-channel mode (and if it is upgradeable it won't be that expensive to do so), but in the end that doesn't matter much. Most consumers are going to buy a laptop and use it until it dies. Heck, most people I know throw laptops away when the HD dies, generally one of the easiest things to fix.

you pay less for less performance... i don't see a problem

 

[sm625]

What we need is a reviewer with half a brain who will take actual power measurements at idle and under gaming loads. I suspect that the 17W intel part is actually using quite a bit more max power than the 17W AMD part. Previous reviews have shown that the 35W AMD power consumption was a great deal lower than the 45W intel. It was like 20W lower when it should have been 10. But I still dont have a direct apples to apples comparison. And these incompetent reviewers dont look like they are going to get this data any time soon.

 

[Hatisherrif]

lol adm sux0r

This is thread crapping. Please don't do that
-ViRGE

 

[sm625]

lol adm sux0r

Well, in order to make such an erudite statement, you have to first consider pricing. Try comparing this chip with brazos. And try comparing its price vs that of an atom or a mobile celeron ULV. That is where AMD should be marketing this.

 

[gramboh]

is 25W feasible in an ultrabook chasis? This Sleekbook isn't an UB anyway though, 4.75lbs and thicker, so why not use a 25W TDP APU, must be cost concerns I guess.

Good value at $600 I guess.

 

[pelov]

is 25W feasible in an ultrabook chasis? This Sleekbook isn't an UB anyway though, 4.75lbs and thicker, so why not use a 25W TDP APU, must be cost concerns I guess.

Good value at $600 I guess.

They have 25W A10's in the sleekbook chassis. It costs $100 more than the A6, though, and still comes with only a single stick of 4GB standard (not sure if it's soldered). 4.75lbs and a 1366x768p glossy crappy screen means for the same price you can get a 14" or 15" notebook that weighs less and has a better screen for the same amount of money.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Any PC with 4500 pts in 3dmark06 is going to struggle with the likes of Dota 2, L4D2, D3 etc at 768p. Add in the usual nasty laptop screen and you are in for a painful ride. Anybody who buys these for gaming are out of their sensibilities.

 

[SlowSpyder]

They have 25W A10's in the sleekbook chassis. It costs $100 more than the A6, though, and still comes with only a single stick of 4GB standard (not sure if it's soldered). 4.75lbs and a 1366x768p glossy crappy screen means for the same price you can get a 14" or 15" notebook that weighs less and has a better screen for the same amount of money.

It says 8GB, so it may be two 4GB sticks. It's still a middle of the road machine, but I bet you could do some light gaming on it. Once in a while I play some older games on my Llano, it does ok.

 

[Sweepr]

They have 25W A10's in the sleekbook chassis. It costs $100 more than the A6, though, and still comes with only a single stick of 4GB standard (not sure if it's soldered). 4.75lbs and a 1366x768p glossy crappy screen means for the same price you can get a 14" or 15" notebook that weighs less and has a better screen for the same amount of money.

They are asking $700 for the A10 version ($750 if you want dual-channel 6GB DDR3), but you can get a 4GB SO-DIM for $25, so let's say you end up with $725. Reasonable, but not very agressive pricing. Most people looking for ultrathin / light notebooks want 13.3" and 11.6" screen sizes, you can buy a thinner and lighter 13.3" ultrabook for <$700 (~$650 with discounts) right now. If gaming is your concern, there are reasonably priced SB-based i5 notebooks with discrete graphics for less than $700 too (example). AMD needs to talk to OEMs to bring overall prices down while mantaining high quality designs.

 

[superccs]

How are people gaming with 25W of hardware? Are these people coming from Gameboys and devices of that level?

The whole point of PC gaming is getting a mouse and keyboard, a fat sized screen and running around 400W worth of GPU and CPU to get visuals that are unavailable on any other device.

Gaming on these devices should be expected to be limited to whatever is available on Facebook or whatever Popcap games can put together. Trying to be something you aren't is just a path to unrealistic compromises...

500Gb harddrive? This thing should absolutely come with a lower end SSD, there is no reason to put a platter in there in 2012. Think all tablets these days... all come with smaller SSD or flash-based HDDs.

Since when has Dual Channel ram been an option, that's absurd.

I can see how they lit up the crappy touchpad, the last 2 HPs I used were crap in that dept.

 

[AtenRa]

They are asking $700 for the A10 version ($750 if you want dual-channel 6GB DDR3), but you can get a 4GB SO-DIM for $25, so let's say you end up with $725. Reasonable, but not very agressive pricing. Most people looking for ultrathin / light notebooks want 13.3" and 11.6" screen sizes, you can buy a thinner and lighter 13.3" ultrabook for <$700 (~$650 with discounts) right now. If gaming is your concern, there are reasonably priced SB-based i5 notebooks with discrete graphics for less than $700 too (example). AMD needs to talk to OEMs to bring overall prices down while mantaining high quality designs.

The Laptop you linked has the Core i5 2450M and HD7670M(480 SPs). You forgetting that Core i5 2450M is a 35W Mobile CPU, now add the wattage of the HD7670M (i will assume 25-35W) and you have 60 to 70W.

Assuming the AMD A10 Laptop has a dual memory DIMM installed, you will get almost the same performance in games with only 25W (GPU limited with those GPUs and iGPUs) . That means more battery life and lower heat in your lap.

That is what you paying to get the Trinity

 

[pelov]

The A10-4655m won't reach 7670m levels of performance. The A10-4600m is close to it but still a few percentage points behind. I think it's you who's assuming things ;P

As for the battery life, that depends on the task. At load during gaming, yea, you'll get better battery life, but under idle or regular use the power consumption should be roughly the same with Trinity maybe leading by a bit.

 

[Sweepr]

The Laptop you linked has the Core i5 2450M and HD7670M(480 SPs). You forgetting that Core i5 2450M is a 35W Mobile CPU, now add the wattage of the HD7670M (i will assume 25-35W) and you have 60 to 70W.

Assuming the AMD A10 Laptop has a dual memory DIMM installed, you will get almost the same performance in games with only 25W (GPU limited with those GPUs and iGPUs) . That means more battery life and lower heat in your lap.

That is what you paying to get the Trinity

No, you won't. The discrete GPU in this notebook (while still VLIW5) has 480 SPs @ 600MHz (20-25W). The A10 has 384 VLIW4 shaders, but clocked lower (360MHz w/ turbo up to 497MHz). There's also a Core i5 CPU thats 25% faster than the 35W A10-4600M according to Anandtech, which should fare a bit better against this lower-clocked A10. Not being an ultrathin design also allows for bigger batteries, reducing the effect of the higher power comsumption on battery life. I agree that an integrated solution is more interesting though (especially considering heat and weight), and I'd love to see something smaller than 14" with this APU inside.

 

[AtenRa]

Well, first of all the HP A10 is a Sleekbook, you pay more for that type of Laptops like UltraBooks.

Secondly, i said almost the same performance. I know that the discrete 7670M will be faster.

Dont try eat me alive, i was just trying to say that we cannot actually compare the two because they are in different categories.
From what i see, most of the OEMs are producing Sleekbooks and Ultrathin designs, it must be a new fashion or something. Most of Laptop buyers are going for looks first (slimmer design etc) and specs later.

 

[sm625]

Walmart just had a notebook on clearance for $600. It had an i5 with a 6490M gpu, which is about the same as the A10's gpu. Lots of other deals at 600. An A6 notebook should be $400 and no more.

 

[Abwx]

Walmart just had a notebook on clearance for $600. It had an i5 with a 6490M gpu, which is about the same as the A10's gpu. Lots of other deals at 600. An A6 notebook should be $400 and no more.

Not at all , the 6490M has only 120 SP , half the dual core llano
GPU wich has only 240 SPs or so....

To brand it comparable with a Trinity 384 SPs is just plain
cluelessness.....

 

[frozentundra123456]

Well, first of all the HP A10 is a Sleekbook, you pay more for that type of Laptops like UltraBooks.

Secondly, i said almost the same performance. I know that the discrete 7670M will be faster.

Dont try eat me alive, i was just trying to say that we cannot actually compare the two because they are in different categories.
From what i see, most of the OEMs are producing Sleekbooks and Ultrathin designs, it must be a new fashion or something. Most of Laptop buyers are going for looks first (slimmer design etc) and specs later.

Maybe the point he was trying to make was that the conventional form-factor is much more suited for gaming than the sleekbook or ultrabook. So in that respect I think it is valid to compare the two form-factors. The caveat would be that you would need to be plugged in for gaming on the higher wattage system, which I dont see as a big problem.

 

[happysmiles]

the Engadget review was just bad full stop.
should of went with the A10 and then done a proper review

 

[Blandge]

While I agree that Engadget's reviews are a joke, I don't know when everybody is so pissed off that they reviewed the A6. I was really interested in what Trinity's performance was at 17W. I think we'll have to wait on a better review from some other site however.