Are there any good comparative write ups of AMD's A series APUs?

[Bateluer]

Specifically, a good one that compares the A8s, A6s, and A4s, including the A6/triple core variants?

My Google-fu is coming up with only decent A8-3850 reviews.

Looking for something that compares the APUs on the chart.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4742/amds-first-dualcore-llano-apus-a43400-a43300-launched

 

[mosox]

Yep. Everybody is all over the Intel CPUs but completely ignore the AMD ones. The new Intel Pentium CPUs had a review right away, no such thing for many AMD.

Take a look at Anand's CPU page: Ivy Bridge this, Ivy Bridge that, I guess there's no time to actually review some CPUs that are already being sold.

Here's a graphics performance comparison between the A6-3650 and the A8-3850, featured in an....Intel review.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4524/...-review-pentium-g850-g840-g620-g620t-tested/4

 

[trollolo]

wait for the trinity APU's, if you buy now you're doing it wrong

 

[Bateluer]

wait for the trinity APU's, if you buy now you're doing it wrong

I'm just curious, not looking to buy now.

 

[podspi]

wait for the trinity APU's, if you buy now you're doing it wrong

Honestly, I don't think a current A6 or A8 would make a bad budget gaming laptop. Good battery life, awesome video acceleration, and decentish gaming (at your crappy laptop res). Although, I can't wait for the upscale "netbook/ultraportables/ultrabook/etc" with QC Bobcat. Right now I'm using an old Atom based N270 [On Win7 Home Premium] for my casual couch browsing. Will be quite an upgrade...

 

[cebalrai]

Honestly, I don't think a current A6 or A8 would make a bad budget gaming laptop. Good battery life, awesome video acceleration, and decentish gaming (at your crappy laptop res). Although, I can't wait for the upscale "netbook/ultraportables/ultrabook/etc" with QC Bobcat. Right now I'm using an old Atom based N270 [On Win7 Home Premium] for my casual couch browsing. Will be quite an upgrade...

I got one of these to play older games and less-intensive modern ones:

http://us.gateway.com/gw/en/US/content/model/LX.WXW02.001

Except for the fact that I upgraded its cruddy 5400 rpm HDD to a Seagate Momentus XT Hybrid HDD, I couldn't be happier with it. I can actually game with it on battery power for a while. It plays every single game I've tried on it silky smooth at 1680x1050 res, though I haven't tried any FPS shooters or Civ V yet.

It never gets hot. It's also very quiet while gaming. No GPU fan = quiet computer.

One thing though, for whatever reason AMD isn't making their own mobile Llano drivers so I have to wait for Gateway to publish updates. I REALLY hope this changes.

 

[Bateluer]

http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/26/leaked-amd-roadmap-reveals-q1-2012-launch-for-trinity-apu/

Pretty sure it'll be a socket change.

Still would like to see a good comparative review of the current APU chips though.

 

[trollolo]

looks like those trinity APU's could finally make gaming laptops practical

 

[cebalrai]

Specifically, a good one that compares the A8s, A6s, and A4s, including the A6/triple core variants?

My Google-fu is coming up with only decent A8-3850 reviews.

Looking for something that compares the APUs on the chart.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/4742/amds-first-dualcore-llano-apus-a43400-a43300-launched

I just ordered an A4-3400 APU off Newegg. Only $69.99. :thumbsup:

With these things out and the price of FM1 boards dropping (ordered one for $58), I'm not sure what a Zacate-based desktop system has to offer other than lower power.

I'll let you know how the system pans out.

 

[Bateluer]

looks like those trinity APU's could finally make gaming laptops practical

Meh, gaming laptops have been practical, through pricey, and common for years now.

I just ordered an A4-3400 APU off Newegg. Only $69.99. :thumbsup:

With these things out and the price of FM1 boards dropping (ordered one for $58), I'm not sure what a Zacate-based desktop system has to offer other than lower power.

I'll let you know how the system pans out.

Please do, I'd love to see a gamut of benchmarks on it.

 

[trollolo]

Meh, gaming laptops have been practical, through pricey, and common for years now

and the price drop after trinity will make them worthwhile, before this it was either integrated or shoddy dedicated with crippled battery life and temps

 

[dma0991]

Why wait for Trinity when we don't even know how Piledriver will perform compared to the current generation Llano Stars cores? We don't even have any numbers to even show how well BD will perform so how do we know how well Piledriver will perform?

 

[Bateluer]

and the price drop after trinity will make them worthwhile, before this it was either integrated or shoddy dedicated with crippled battery life and temps

Most gaming laptops are going to be plugged into AC power 99% of the time, battery life is a minimal issue. Desktop replacement laptops, same thing.

 

[podspi]

I just ordered an A4-3400 APU off Newegg. Only $69.99. :thumbsup:

With these things out and the price of FM1 boards dropping (ordered one for $58), I'm not sure what a Zacate-based desktop system has to offer other than lower power.

I'll let you know how the system pans out.

Probably just the lower power/quieter system. I'd still go with the A4 for an HTPC though. I don't think current Bobcat CPUs have enough muscle for video-tasks that aren't accelerated (for whatever reason).

 

[Ventanni]

I just bought my Asus Core i7 w/ Geforce 540m laptop a few months ago. The performance is great, and the battery life is plenty acceptable, but I think if I could go back, I'd have saved myself a few hundred bucks and gotten an A8 laptop instead. For 99% of the things I do, having a Core i7 is completely overkill. I realize now what my laptop needs are: Great monitor, good battery life, and acceptable performance. I use my laptop for surfing the web and watching Netflix while I cook more than anything. Sure, it's really nice to have the Core i7 handy for when I play WoW or SC2, but an A8 would suffice as doing that too.

Too bad the Trinity cores weren't out when I was laptop shopping.

 

[dma0991]

I just bought my Asus Core i7 w/ Geforce 540m laptop a few months ago. The performance is great, and the battery life is plenty acceptable, but I think if I could go back, I'd have saved myself a few hundred bucks and gotten an A8 laptop instead. For 99% of the things I do, having a Core i7 is completely overkill. I realize now what my laptop needs are: Great monitor, good battery life, and acceptable performance. I use my laptop for surfing the web and watching Netflix while I cook more than anything. Sure, it's really nice to have the Core i7 handy for when I play WoW or SC2, but an A8 would suffice as doing that too.

Too bad the Trinity cores weren't out when I was laptop shopping.

An A8 with a 120GB SSD might have been a better choice. :biggrin:

 

[Blitzvogel]

Best Buy has been carrying a 14" G4 series HP laptop with an A4 for $400. Been considering it for purchase, though I don't really need it lol.

 

[cebalrai]

Best Buy has been carrying a 14" G4 series HP laptop with an A4 for $400. Been considering it for purchase, though I don't really need it lol.

That's a sweet deal for $400.

Incidentally Newegg has been sold of of A8-3850s for about five days and Tiger Direct was sold out for a day or two as well. Looks like these things are selling really well. And/or GloFo hasn't been able to make enough.