AMD CPU's - why?

[Mindstab Thrull]

So I'm *not* going to get into the "Intel is better, get an Intel!" debate - you'd be preaching to the converted. What I *am* looking for is reasons specifically buy an AMD CPU.

 

First of all, the AM1 setup is good for if you want a low-powered system for cheap. You can start getting into an AM1 setup for under $75 between mobo and CPU pretty easily, and it's an APU which certainly helps there. So if you're just looking for a cheap, easy build, all you need then is case, PSU, and hard drive of some type and you're done.

 

But where I start getting stuck is the other AMD chips. The FM2/2+ and AM3/3+ division confuses me - it seems that the AM3 chips are better but the FM2 boards natively support better features? I dunno, I'm pretty confused here. Can someone help me wrap my brain around which one to use for what?

 

The only thing I've figured out is if you want a more-than-dual-core CPU on the cheap, you go with AMD, but once you're spending about $120ish on the CPU you might as well go with Intel at this point. Is there anything else I'm missing that's in AMD's favour for CPU/APU's over Intel?

[TheAmazingCookieFromSquare]

[007agentHP]

the FM2+ (specifically the 860k) is good for games which the g3258 cant play due to it having only 2 cores. it can play pretty much any game without a problem (with a beefy gpu next to it)

the AM3+ is good for cheap streaming/ video editing rigs where they could get 8 cores to do the work. 

[Clyne]

AMD still rocks low price CPU/APU market anyway...the AM1 APUs are great for people who need a computer under a really tight budget.

APUs are good for normal stuff with a mix of gaming....

Only way i would ever recommend a FX CPU is people who do file compression or heavy content creation under a really tight budget. 

[Oberon.Smite]

The FX series is trash, but other than that the FM2+ CPUs and APUs are pretty good for budget builds.

[Valkyrie Lenneth]

The FX series is trash, but other than that the FM2+ CPUs and APUs are pretty good for budget builds.

if u do nothing else then browsing the internet +1 for budgetbuild

[Oberon.Smite]

if u do nothing else then browsing the internet +1 for budgetbuild

Lol what the A10 7800k APU and the 860k CPU are pretty good.

[Adepted K]

The FX series is trash, but other than that the FM2+ CPUs and APUs are pretty good for budget builds.

FX is not trash if people use them and they work for their needs, and also meet expectations.

[incarnate]

Honestly, the A series APUs are decent for an HTPC setup. Intel can do well here too for around the same price but performance wise, for an HTPC, one is as good as the other. The Athlon x4s have a place in a budget build with no intention of upgrading within the same socket. They are pretty nice budget gaming cpus, coming in under an i3 and being as good or better than the pentium that it shares its price with.

 

Other than that, I can't think of any legitimate reason for AMD cpus. A Xeon E3 1231 V3 and mobo isn't that much more expensive than an 8350/8320 and mobo and is better in every conceivable way. The FX line is the least relevant now. It has aged poorly.

[Agent181]

Well um pls let's not go there anymore

We all know @Faceman thing post thingy amd well yea...

Fx chip lines are good if your in 2012 but go Intel for now until zen or if you want to be on a dead socket

[Nena Trinity]

AMD CPUs are good but kinda old mostly some are new:

*The AM1 & FM2+ line is great for budget. (its true!)

*The AM3+ is old and has some issues but DX12 will make it a bit better, Cities Skyline & Witcher 3 proves it by using 6+ cores. (and DX12 is not even out yet!)

*Zen will replace both AM & FM sockets in late 2016 as a unified one maybe AM4 or FM3 not sure what they will name it yet...

[Crowes]

AMD CPUs are good but kinda old mostly some are new:

*The AM1 & FM2+ line is great for budget. (its true!)

*The AM3+ is old and has some issues but DX12 will make it a bit better, Cities Skyline & Witcher 3 proves it by using 6+ cores. (and DX12 is not even out yet!)

*Zen will replace both AM & FM sockets in late 2016 as a unified one maybe AM4 or FM3 not sure what they will name it yet...

Yeah, lower end stuff. AM1 and FM2(+) is like AMD's version of Pentium and Celeron. FX's after basically i5s that are better at 3D modeling and editing.

[Nena Trinity]

Yeah, lower end stuff. AM1 and FM2(+) is like AMD's version of Pentium and Celeron. FX's after basically i5s that are better at 3D modeling and editing.

Yep AM3+ is better for 3d work, multi tasking and video rendering!

[incarnate]

Yep AM3+ is better for 3d work, multi tasking and video rendering!

The only problem with the fx for rendering and stuff is that a xeon e3 will hand the fx's ass to it for just a bit more when comparing cpu+mobo pricing. Before haswell fx still had a place in the market, but now it's age is really starting to show

[Nena Trinity]

The only problem with the fx for rendering and stuff is that a xeon e3 will hand the fx's ass to it for just a bit more when comparing cpu+mobo pricing. Before haswell fx still had a place in the market, but now it's age is really starting to show

The Xeon cost a shiton here even with the cheapest mobo I could find it still cost more than FX and not to cheap mobo... (that is if both is ATX)

[Mindstab Thrull]

OK, thanks a ton guys (and gals?). Again, I have no intention of starting an Intel vs AMD war, because I know in most cases Intel reigns supreme. I appreciate the answers you folks gave and will keep them in mind - apparently, a build that I'd written up was better with an AMD chip rather than the G3258 because of multicore over single, but the AMx vs FMx socket confused me on which way to go.

 

Thanks for the feedback!

[Prysin]

AMD still rocks low price CPU/APU market anyway...the AM1 APUs are great for people who need a computer under a really tight budget.

APUs are good for normal stuff with a mix of gaming....

Only way i would ever recommend a FX CPU is people who do file compression or heavy content creation under a really tight budget. 

FX is great for servers too. Downside is that you need to get teh second most expensive 990FX mobo for it, but if you do, you can set it up with ECC memory. Which is neat for making small servers.

[miagisan]

FX is great for servers too. Downside is that you need to get teh second most expensive 990FX mobo for it, but if you do, you can set it up with ECC memory. Which is neat for making small servers.

If I remember correct all am3+ mobos can use ecc memory

[Hieb]

AM1 platform will do fine for anyone on a very small budget for just day to day applications... though I'd only use it for an HTPC or media server due to the low power consumption. For a daily computing system I'd rather get a Celeron and cheap H81 motherboard over a 5150/5350 + AM1 board. The 2GHz (and lower) AMD chip is soooo slow for daily applications... it's slower than a stock Core 2 Quad Q6600, and I had one of those... when I upgraded to an i5 I could notice a HUGE difference even in non-demanding things. The C2Q was much much slower in loading web pages, opening applications, working with long word documents.

 

So really IMO:

 

- AM1 platform if you're looking for HTPC or storage server

- AM3+ / FX if you have a productivity focused system (video editing, virtual machines, etc)

- FM2+ / Athlon 860K if you need a gaming system and cant afford i3, and wont be able to upgrade

 

And for Intel:

 

- Celeron or Pentium for cheap computer

- i3 or i5 for gaming system

- i7, Xeon for high end productivity

[Hieb]

*Zen will replace both AM & FM sockets in late 2016 as a unified one maybe AM4 or FM3 not sure what they will name it yet...

 

I believe the socket for Zen CPUs will be AM4... and I seem to recall hearing that in 2016 they will continue selling Excavator APUs. I suppose Exacavator APUs will be for the budget sector (like their current FM2+ lineup) selling at ~$75-150, while their new Zen CPUs will probably be priced much higher to reflect their more competitive performance.

[A10-FTW]

So I'm *not* going to get into the "Intel is better, get an Intel!" debate - you'd be preaching to the converted. What I *am* looking for is reasons specifically buy an AMD CPU.

 

First of all, the AM1 setup is good for if you want a low-powered system for cheap. You can start getting into an AM1 setup for under $75 between mobo and CPU pretty easily, and it's an APU which certainly helps there. So if you're just looking for a cheap, easy build, all you need then is case, PSU, and hard drive of some type and you're done.

 

But where I start getting stuck is the other AMD chips. The FM2/2+ and AM3/3+ division confuses me - it seems that the AM3 chips are better but the FM2 boards natively support better features? I dunno, I'm pretty confused here. Can someone help me wrap my brain around which one to use for what?

 

The only thing I've figured out is if you want a more-than-dual-core CPU on the cheap, you go with AMD, but once you're spending about $120ish on the CPU you might as well go with Intel at this point. Is there anything else I'm missing that's in AMD's favour for CPU/APU's over Intel?

hi 

 

AM1 and the Athlon 5150 are "the best" budget but of all so far

- but is not a gaming cpu/gpu - 

 

FM2+ and "any" A8 and A10 or 4x Atlhons are gaming cpu/gpu

- i really don't have anything bad to say on this, my A10 is awesome

- and Windows 10 love it

 

AM3+ and the FX 8350 Black Edition

- are works machines, 

- gaming machines, 

- and streaming machines

 

AM4 and Zen will put all cpu/gpu in the same socket

- i do not understand why people are so skeptical about the future of AMD,

- its future looks amazing for me 

[Guest trucker2]

For a 110 bucks I got an A10 7850k with MSI a68h MB at microcenter.

The amount of info and bechmarks out there is amazing. Everybody and there grandmother have reviewed this and the 7870k.

It will run any AAA title out there.

It makes more sense then an I7 with twin titan x's or i5 gtx 980 hooked to a 1080 monitor.(way too common)

It will run on any PSU with a 4 pin atx conector and 170 watt output.

So far it has never needed a software patch from a game developer to meet the need minimum requirements. (cough....3258..cough...i3)

Insanley upgradable and scales extremely well. Anandtech article with various high end dGPU's.

SATA 3 and PCIe 3 on a MB that was basically free after rebate.

Consoles going from VLIW to AMD 8 cores will affect PC gaming. Halo 5 so far is an AMD only game. We in PC gamer land are left begging for table scraps from console gaming....again.

[Prysin]

I believe the socket for Zen CPUs will be AM4... and I seem to recall hearing that in 2016 they will continue selling Excavator APUs. I suppose Exacavator APUs will be for the budget sector (like their current FM2+ lineup) selling at ~$75-150, while their new Zen CPUs will probably be priced much higher to reflect their more competitive performance.

The excavator APUs, known as Carrizo, is 100% laptop only.

The only upcoming FM2+ products in the pipeline that i know of is the A10 7890k and Athlon X4 870k

[nomnom123qwe]

i am a die hard amd fan but after buying my first 8350 gaming pc i would rather just go with intel >.> as its atm better at price and performance also u can use that with stock cooler :l

[Prysin]

The Xeon cost a shiton here even with the cheapest mobo I could find it still cost more than FX and not to cheap mobo... (that is if both is ATX)

that is because they do not sell that specific 4 core + HT Xeon in norway.... and not many places ship it here either, so no, you wont find a good xeon deal in norway, ever.