APU: Creating new excitement in the PC industry

[Eeqmcsq]

Another thought about APUs, I like the concept of moving certain calculations over to the GPU, and I would LOVE to learn how to write code to take advantage of the GPU. I have a feeling that some of the math code I've written would calculate faster on the GPU.

Although I haven't checked lately, the last time I checked, there haven't been many articles on getting started with OpenCL, both in terms of theory (what kinds of problems can/cannot take advantage of the GPU), and in simple "Hello World" sample code. Also, there haven't been many OpenCL articles for Linux, either.

I'd like to see more development support for OpenCL, especially on Linux.

 

[ClockHound]

FTFY sorry I dont think you understand what removing means.

if anything adding a 6570 class gpu[a8-10] to the cpu only adds value. Also to top it off you can still add in a dgpu.

I do understand - removing CPU capabilities to fill the die space with an entry-level GPU isn't a value add for me. If I wanted to to purchase a system with the capabilities of a 5 year old rig, then the APU is a great choice. However, my expectations for a new build require something more current.

Maybe I'm asking too much, but isn't this is an enthusiast's forum? Used to be. While the APU is great for a 'beginners' computer, it's not something veteran enthusiasts can get very enthused about. In the 2nd decade of the 21st century with Moore's Law about to be overturned by the court of economics, we need more than a 'revolution' in 'good enough' marketing.

 

[monstercameron]

I do understand - removing CPU capabilities to fill the die space with an entry-level GPU isn't a value add for me. If I wanted to to purchase a system with the capabilities of a 5 year old rig, then the APU is a great choice. However, my expectations for a new build require something more current.

Maybe I'm asking too much, but isn't this is an enthusiast's forum? Used to be. While the APU is great for a 'beginners' computer, it's not something veteran enthusiasts can get very enthused about. In the 2nd decade of the 21st century with Moore's Law about to be overturned by the court of economics, we need more than a 'revolution' in 'good enough' marketing.

enthusiast dont care about ocing? the 6800k hit 8Gz+ remember that...I dont think you get to decide what is enthusiast class. Isn't opencl enthusiast class software, isnt memory overclocking enthusiast level[like 2133, 2400 or higher]. I thought enthusiast care about squeezing every ounce of performance out of there machine rather than getting it for free with $1000 parts?

besides you are basically arguing that this line of product isn't right for you and I agree :biggrin:

 

[boxleitnerb]

My opinion on

APUs:
Great if HSA eventually takes off. I would be looking forward to GPU-based physics or similar things running on the iGPU.

Dual-Graphics:
Hate it! Terrible idea. While I've been using MGPU myself for about 3 years, I think it's absolutely wrong to even consider this option for the lowend segment. The MGPU hassle (profile dependency, microstuttering) outweighs the benefits. Only when there is no faster solution should MGPU be an option. This may change once a replacement for AFR is found, but we're not there yet by a longshot.

 

[MisterMac]

It's very simple Warsam.


Right now they're absolutely bloody useless to all of us, every single one of us in the forum.

The question is - does AMD think by eventual software advantages of ondie features from bus, to coding tech, to gpu, etc - that it can offer enough performance comparing to a PCIe 200w dedicated chip?

If not - it's a massive failure for 99% of us here.

Just like it is on Iris Pro - or any other Intel Sandy++ CPU.



We want performance - and neither you nor intel are delivering it.
Right now the extra 100s of Watt(s) a dedicated option costs is WORTH it.

Either make it worth it - or sod off posting this on a geeky enthusiast forum.



That said - short of PCIe\Bus technology becoming such a bottleneck for dedicated options...... i don't see how you can ever do better with an APU.

If there's enough and fast bandwidth to an external option - it's sheer powerbudget will win - always.

Atleast in my mind.

 

[monstercameron]

It's very simple Warsaw.


Right now they're absolutely bloody useless to all of us, every single one of us in the forum.

The question is - does AMD think by eventual software advantages of ondie features from bus, to coding tech, to gpu, etc - that it can offer enough performance comparing to a PCIe 200w dedicated chip?

If not - it's a massive failure for 99% of us here.

Just like it is on Iris Pro - or any other Intel Sandy++ CPU.



We want performance - and neither you nor intel are delivering it.
Right now the extra 100s of Watt(s) a dedicated option costs is WORTH it.

Either make it worth it - or sod off posting this on a geeky enthusiast forum.



That said - short of PCIe\Bus technology becoming such a bottleneck for dedicated options...... i don't see how you can ever do better with an APU.

If there's enough and fast bandwidth to an external option - it's sheer powerbudget will win - always.

Atleast in my mind.

pretty broad statement there, you may want to speak for yourself.

 

[seitur]

APUs / iGPUs won't really take off until there is one memory type for both CPU and GPU and there is no DDR / GDDR division anymore.

Hey all,
I’m just curious, what are your thoughts on the subject?

Good for extremly small for factors like mobile or ultra-small HTPC or office builds, but for performance computing / anything else it's useless. Slower memory will always hamper it and pairing it with discrete graphics for Crossfire will produce microstutter and performance problems in some software - which also render it useless for me.

 

[AtenRa]

People dont get it yet, the iGPU was not integrated in to the CPU for gaming only. The main design goal of the APUs is to off load the CPU when heavy FP code is being executed. The iGPU is a co-processor to the CPU, in the near future the APUs will work like a unified design, the CPU and iGPU will be fused together in to a single entity, much like todays CPU core is (Integer + FP). Gaming on the APU is an added bonus, not its main goal.
Every single Mobile chip today is an APU, both from AMD and Intel as well ARM based designs. It takes time for the software to catch up, but eventually it will be here.

 

[jvroig]

Last month Sam came to us (the mods) asking our permission to formally represent AMD on our forums. As per our standing policies we allowed it, on the condition that like all of our approved reps he limit his interactions to supporting users and answering their questions, and not acting as an advertiser or PR mouthpiece for his company, and letting us vet any threads he plans to create first before actually creating them. Sam has failed to follow these rules, so this thread is closed.

In behalf of the AT Mod crew,
Moderator jvroig