AMD Processor for Steam Machine

[Earache]

I've been specing out builds for a Steam Machine and I've noticed that quite a few from CES (and Valves beta) are using the AMD A6-6400k.

 

While researching I noticed that the AMD Athlon II x2 370k has a higher clock speed, no integrated graphics (why would you need them), and is at a cheaper price. Also, their both FM2 socket.

 

I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing. The Athlon sounds like the better processor for the job but it doesn't look like anybody is using it. Why not?

[Prokart2000]

it looks like the same cpu just with no igpu

[harrynowl]

What if they're gaming on integrated in extremely small form factors  in UK the 760K is like £5 more so the dual core makes no sense.

[Earache]

it looks like the same cpu just with no igpu

 

Fairly close, however the Athlon has a higher clock speed.

 

 

What if they're gaming on integrated in extremely small form factors   in UK the 760K is like £5 more so the dual core makes no sense.

 

I see what you're saying, but since this is for steam machine, it will have a dedicated gpu.

[ZetZet]

 

Fairly close, however the Athlon has a higher clock speed.

 

 

 

I see what you're saying, but since this is for steam machine, it will have a dedicated gpu.

 

760k has no igpu too it's just quad core and faster.

if you want a dual core get a pentium, let's be fair here intel makes better cpu's now.

[harrynowl]

I see what you're saying, but since this is for steam machine, it will have a dedicated gpu.

Well for you no, but other people might and that might be why they used them

 

I'd suggest the i3 as I assume your steam machine wants to be small and compact

[Earache]

760k has no igpu too it's just quad core and faster.

if you want a dual core get a pentium, let's be fair here intel makes better cpu's now.

 

Pentium processors have a low clock speed for this application. Mid range and high end Intel processors are also too expensive.

 

 

Well for you no, but other people might and that might be why they used them

 

The 4 or so that I saw specs for at CES were using the A6 with a dedicated GPU.

[harrynowl]

Pentium processors have a low clock speed for this application. Mid range and high end Intel processors are also too expensive.

 

 

 

The 4 or so that I saw specs for at CES were using the A6 with a dedicated GPU.

Pentium processors kick A6/Athlon ass in the IPC department though, you'd need to be approaching 5.5-6ghz to match a 3.2ghz intel on AMD.

 

And I didn't notice they had both. Maybe they just didn't think about the choice

[ltguy]

Its really quite simple... dont buy an APU, unless you're going to use the intregrated graphics.. otherwise its a terrible deal. Like if you buy an A10-7850k for $180 bucks and dont use the graphics you just threw away at least $60 bucks... you could buy an I5-4430 for the same money.

[Earache]

Pentium processors kick A6/Athlon ass in the IPC department though, you'd need to be approaching 5.5-6ghz to match a 3.2ghz intel on AMD.

 

And I didn't notice they had both. Maybe they just didn't think about the choice

 

Oh really? I would have figured there'd be a standard for something like IPC.

 

Why would you recommend a Pentium over a Core 2 Duo?

[Earache]

Its really quite simple... dont buy an APU, unless you're going to use the intregrated graphics.. otherwise its a terrible deal. Like if you buy an A10-7850k for $180 bucks and dont use the graphics you just threw away at least $60 bucks... you could buy an I5-4430 for the same money.

 

This thread isn't about Intel vs AMD.

 

It's about AMD vs. AMD..

[ltguy]

 

This thread isn't about Intel vs AMD.

 

It's about AMD vs. AMD..

AMD has abandoned you, let it go.

[Earache]

 

AMD has abandoned you, let it go.

 

Dude, I have a 4770k in my new build. You're missing the point of the thread. Read OP.

[harrynowl]

Oh really? I would have figured there'd be a standard for something like IPC.

 

Why would you recommend a Pentium over a Core 2 Duo?

There was... like 18 years ago.

 

Because the core 2 duo is ancient, the Pentium G3258 is a Haswell CPU.

[ltguy]

Bump

[Trik'Stari]

The point of the APU steam machine is that it offers a better graphics performance for size and cost than something else thanks to the new HSA stuff amd is doing.

 

Personally I am going to go intel, and yes I know this isnt about amd vs intel, just what I'm doing.

[Jumper118]

I've been specing out builds for a Steam Machine and I've noticed that quite a few from CES (and Valves beta) are using the AMD A6-6400k.

 

While researching I noticed that the AMD Athlon II x2 370k has a higher clock speed, no integrated graphics (why would you need them), and is at a cheaper price. Also, their both FM2 socket.

 

I'm wondering if there's something I'm missing. The Athlon sounds like the better processor for the job but it doesn't look like anybody is using it. Why not?

i have one and my a6 5400k is better when overclocked, it can hold faster ram and a higher overclock at a lower voltage, it also have a gpu so you dont need to buy one whereas you would need a gpu to go with the 370k

[Trik'Stari]

You don't need to buy one, but you still should eventually get a gpu to work with your APU, thats what the fm2+ socket set is set up for.

 

You can run the built in onboard graphics of the processor in a "crossfire" type of setup with something like an r270 board. Its probably not quite as good as true crossfire from what I've seen about it, but it is better than an equally priced setup with just a single graphics card.

 

I have an AMD a10 5700 fm2 processor in my pc, I'm using an evga gtx660 (because reasons) and am planning to switch to intel because I want nvidia shield. But I will say that the apu tech is reasonably impressive. this cheapo one I got was easily able to outstrip my old gt570 and i3 intel store bought rig on games like SWTOR. It ran on high graphics setting with swtor, semi ok on medium at bf4 and was not capable of running mass effect 3 at all (because of physX).

 

The issue with the apu is Vram dries up real quick. at least on my system. Overall I haven't been dissatisfied, but I personally want more. :\

 

(Edit: I would probably enjoying this pc alot more If I got a radeon graphics card that could run in dual graphics mode with my apu, but the only one I can find that I can still buy new is less powerful than my gtx660, the fm2 socket is outdated, if you go amd go fm2+ so you can use cards like the r270 and up instead of the old 4 digit cards)

[Earache]

I suppose I should have clarified this in the OP, but I'm looking to build a steam machine that will compete with the mid range offerings. This includes a solid mid-high end GPU.

 

I want to play my games on high-max settings. I won't be using the internal graphics of the APU.

 

P.S. I haven't built a computer with an AMD processor yet, but the consensus is steering me away from it. 

[dragoon20005]

I suppose I should have clarified this in the OP, but I'm looking to build a steam machine that will compete with the mid range offerings. This includes a solid mid-high end GPU.

 

I want to play my games on high-max settings. I won't be using the internal graphics of the APU.

 

P.S. I haven't built a computer with an AMD processor yet, but the consensus is steering me away from it. 

in that case a solid build will be a 760K pair with a R9 270

 

nvr go wrong and you can game at 1080P high