ITT: We discuss future pricing and availability for AM3+ processors and mobos

[cbn]

Based on the discussion that occurred and is still occurring in the "Your choices for best gamer CPUs in the $75, $100 and $125 categories" thread, I think it is pretty safe to say the FX-6300 and FX-8300 CPUs are still overpriced in the gamer CPU category (especially when the motherboard cost with comparable features is also factored in)

While the FX-6300 and FX-83xx post good showings in Battlefield 4 Multiplayer and Crysis 3 (Welcome to the Jungle level), they lose most of the time to the Haswell Core i3 in the other titles.

With that mentioned, I would hope AMD's yields on 32nm are mature enough now that they could begin to lower pricing and enhance availability of the octocore SKUs. I think if those processors had a lower price point it could enhance the chances of game programmers developing a coding system that is more parallel in nature like the BF 4 MP results shown below from the beta:

 

[cbn]

Then as AM3+ performance to price ratio increases, I would like to see the Kaveri APU SKUs having less disabled iGPU and cpu cores.

For example, instead of having both a Athlon x 4 860K and A6-7400K SKU, there would be one combined SKU as discussed in this thread.

So as AM3+ performance value increases, so does FM2+ at the same time.

 

[ShintaiDK]

You link the old beta for BF4.

Also the FX9xxx is overclocked, not stock.

And value doesnt increase, it decreases.

 

[cbn]

And value doesnt increase, it decreases.

If AMD drops the price, then value does increase.

So with that mentioned, what do folks think the new prices (and changes) should be and at what intervals.

Personally, I would like to see FX-6300 drop to $79.99 (or less) and FX-8300 (with cooler) drop to $99.99 (or less) ASAP, with further aggressive price cuts throughout the AM3+ line-up in 2015.

Then ideally we would see the retailers take these prices even lower via the creation of CPU/motherboard value bundles.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Price only drops because its beyond its value.

 

[cbn]

How about mid 2015 prices?

Does $59.99 for FX-6300 and $79.99 for FX-8300 (with cooler) sound reasonable? (with the other AM3+ processors having proportionally around the same price cuts). Or should prices be even lower?

I figure at this time, AM3+ will probably be up against Intel LGA 1150 on 14nm (Broadwell), but with the ATX ecosystem being so robust in terms of cooling (for enclosures) and power supply even at the value level I don't see 32nm as that big of a negative. This especially for a dedicated desktop machine typically only on a few hours a day for enthusiast workloads.

 

[ShintaiDK]

There is only Broadwell-K for LGA1150. Its Skylake and LGA1151.

If its 60$ for a FX6300 and 80$ for an FX83xx. Then i think AMD would rather discontinue them. Its whooping 315mm2 chips and they are not cheap to make. The only reason to make them would be due to the WSA as a filler contra the penalty payments.

 

[frozentundra123456]

The thing is, a mid/high level gaming system costs in the neighborhood of 1000.00. If building such a system, to me saving an additional 50 or even a hundred dollars off the cpu is a minimal benefit, especially when the system should last several years, and the cheaper cpu uses more power as well. I mean, there just comes a point where you want balanced performance, and are willing to pay for it.

 

[cbn]

The thing is, a mid/high level gaming system costs in the neighborhood of 1000.00. If building such a system, to me saving an additional 50 or even a hundred dollars off the cpu is a minimal benefit, especially when the system should last several years, and the cheaper cpu uses more power as well. I mean, there just comes a point where you want balanced performance, and are willing to pay for it.

Would you put a Core i3 in a $1000 system?

Remember we are talking a value processor that will likely be priced below a Core i3.

 

[ShintaiDK]

Remember we are talking a value processor that will likely be priced below a Core i3.

Remember price and performance goes hand in hand. AMD is not going to give you cheaper CPUs if they can charge more.

 

[cbn]

Remember price and performance goes hand in hand. AMD is not going to give you cheaper CPUs if they can charge more.

FX-8300 with a thermaltake cpu cooler everyday price is $124.99 at Tiger Direct.

So an eight core AMD is already at Core i3 prices.

With that mentioned, I would never put a FX-8300 in a $1000 system.

Maybe, just maybe I would put FX-8300 in a $500 system, but not $1000. That is my point.

Unfortunately in the thread I linked in the OP, a Haswell Core i3 beats a FX-8300 (overclocked to FX-8350 levels) in almost every game. In fact, it really seems that AMD octocore really only have the advantage in a handful of games (the main one being BF 4 Multiplayer).

By lowering prices though, I think AMD has a chance to change that as it will make the octocore more ubiquitous for PC.

 

[cbn]

If its 60$ for a FX6300 and 80$ for an FX83xx. Then i think AMD would rather discontinue them. Its whooping 315mm2 chips and they are not cheap to make. The only reason to make them would be due to the WSA as a filler contra the penalty payments.

It might be that AMD has to discontinue the FX-6300 then.

With a mature 32nm node, I'd hope FX-8300 at $79.99 is feasible. (Currently AMD sells the $58 Kaveri A6-7400K which , although harvested, is based on 245mm2 28nm die. So low prices for relatively large chips is something they appear to do already. )

 

[ShintaiDK]

It might be that AMD has to discontinue the FX-6300 then.

With a mature 32nm node, I'd hope FX-8300 at $79.99 is feasible. (Currently AMD sells the $58 Kaveri A6-7400K which , although harvested, is based on 245mm2 28nm die. So low prices for relatively large chips is something they appear to do already. )

You forget AMD also sells the 245mm2 at 160$ in the shape of 7850K.

 

[cbn]

Y
Be careful to use limited deals as a price indication. Because its not reflecting the price for the 99% segment. Just remember the Microcenter deals for example.

FX-8300 at $124.99 with Thermaltake cooler is the everyday mail order price at TD.

It is not a in-store only deal like Micro Center.

 

[ShintaiDK]

FX-8300 at $124.99 with Thermaltake cooler is the everyday mail order price at TD.

It is not a in-store only deal like Micro Center.

Sorry I was thinking on the FX8350.

The FX8300 is limited to OEM tho. It may more be an inventory dump than anything normal. AMD is moving away from the AM3+ socket in favour of FMx.

And remember neither AMD or Intel gives you any warranty on OEM CPUs.
http://support.amd.com/en-us/warranty/oem

 

[cbn]

You forget AMD also sells the 245mm2 at 160$ in the shape of 7850K.

That is right and there are also more expensive AM3+ chips as well.

$58 is just being used to illustrate what AMD charges at the low end. Not the Average selling price of chips in the FM2+ product line-up.

Likewise, $79.99 could be the lowest price AMD has for future AM3+ octocores with other AM3+ SKUs costing more money.

 

[ShintaiDK]

That is right and there are also more expensive AM3+ chips as well.

$58 is just being used to illustrate what AMD charges at the low end. Not the Average selling price of chips in the FM2+ product line-up.

Likewise, $79.99 could be the lowest price AMD has for future AM3+ octocores with other AM3+ SKUs costing more money.

The cheapest boxed AMD octocore targetted at endusers today is sold at 150$.

 

[cbn]

The cheapest boxed AMD octocore targetted at endusers today is sold at 150$.

I am counting on those dropping in price too.

 

[ShintaiDK]

I am counting on those dropping in price too.

The FX8300 isnt even sold on geishalz or newegg.

And a price drop may be discontinued instead. There is a reason why there is no future CPUs for the AM3+ platform.

The 2 chip chipset for AM3+ that they have to sell for the same or less than the FMx FCH isnt good either on the bottom line.

The only thing a price drop would do is to make AMDs CPU division lose money even faster. And thats not in the interest of AMD.

 

[cbn]

The FX8300 isnt even sold on geishalz or newegg.

And a price drop may be discontinued instead. There is a reason why there is no future CPUs for the AM3+ platform.

The 2 chip chipset for AM3+ that they have to sell for the same or less than the FMx FCH isnt good either on the bottom line.

The only thing a price drop would do is to make AMDs CPU division lose money even faster. And thats not in the interest of AMD.

I'm not sure AM3+ is the reason AMD is losing money.

Kaveri is quite large on die size (for 28nm), yet is crippled in performance by lack of bandwidth. I can't imagine it being a great seller on desktop and I'm not sure how well it is doing on mobile either.

Same with AMD's Jaguar. The fact socket AM1 exists leads me to believe that one didn't quite pan out as expected for mobile.

Then there is the Wafer agreement, I know it cost them money in the past. Projects like ARM can't be cheap either.

If anything, It seems like AM3+ is AMD's best product at the moment along with their discrete GPUs.

 

[Abwx]

Unfortunately in the thread I linked in the OP, a Haswell Core i3 beats a FX-8300 (overclocked to FX-8350 levels) in almost every game. In fact, it really seems that AMD octocore really only have the advantage in a handful of games (the main one being BF 4 Multiplayer).

By lowering prices though, I think AMD has a chance to change that as it will make the octocore more ubiquitous for PC.

Games are one application, should prices be decided in function of a single usage.?.

There are far more usages where the FX8 is better, in this respect pricing is already quite low, prices slightly increased recently here , in France, for the FX8 and FX6.

 

[jpiniero]

Discontinuing FX doesn't make sense since they don't really have anything to replace it with but at the same time they aren't going to be selling that many, esp with basically no OEM deals. Cutting prices, etc, on it doesn't really make sense since that won't change things - cutting supply so they don't end up with a lot of inventory is probably a better approach.

The APUs are all AMD has at this point, esp with the Cats being obliterated by Bay Trail's price cuts.

 

[cbn]

Cutting prices, etc, on it doesn't really make sense since that won't change things - cutting supply so they don't end up with a lot of inventory is probably a better approach.

Why do you think cutting prices on AM3+ won't change things?

The APUs are all AMD has at this point, esp with the Cats being obliterated by Bay Trail's price cuts.

For traditional desktop, do we really want APUs? If anything I would rather see AMD cut supply there instead of AM3+.

Maybe mobile and to a lesser extent very small form factor/low power desktop is a better place for the big core AMD APUs.

 

[Ramses]

Is there a particular ratio for board/cpu/ram/case/psu/gpu cost on a "$1000 system" or such?

 

[escrow4]

If you have $500 buy a console. $500 in a gaming PC is $400 once you inevitably put Windows in the equation. And an 8350 isn't an octa core. Its 8 modules, more like a quad. Same the 6300 is a tri-core. When Broadwell is out and then Skylake there is less and less reason to buy FX for a gaming box. Give it away for free and even then Intel's performance in the majority is still better.