These video cards are only able to handle old and resource-intensive games.

NVIDIA NVS 4200M
The business-grade graphics card based on the GeForce GT 520M has special BIOS drivers that are useful for business applications.
Core - 810 MHz, shaders - 48, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 8350G
Integrated graphics in AMD Richland (A4) processors without dedicated video memory.
Core - 514-720 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.

AMD Radeon HD 8330
GCN-based integrated graphics with 128 stream processors but no native video memory. Usually paired with AMD Richland A4-5000 "Kabini" processors.
Core - 500 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.1.

AMD Radeon R3 (Mullins/Beema)
Integrated graphics based on the GCN architecture.
Core - 350 - 600 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.2. Memory - 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 6510G2
Two graphics cards connected via asymmetric CrossFire - discrete Radeon HD 6430M/6450M/6470M and built-in 6480G A-series processors.
Shaders - 400, DirectX 11.

AMD Radeon HD 7450M

Core - 700 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11. Memory - 1800 MHz, 64-bit.

NVIDIA GeForce 610M
Graphic arts entry level, based on the older GeForce GT 520M or GeForce GT 520MX.
Core - 672-900 MHz, shaders - 48, DirectX 11. Memory - 1800 MHz, 64-bit.

NVIDIA GeForce 705M
Entry-level graphics based on the GF119 chip, like its predecessors the GeForce GT 520M, 520MX and 610M.
Core - 775 MHz, shaders - 48, DirectX 11. Memory - 1800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 6470M
Entry-level graphics based on the Seymore XT core and including the UVD3 video processor.
Core - 700/750 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD FirePro M3900
Entry-level graphics for mobile workstations based on the AMD Radeon 6470M.
Core - 700-750 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11. Memory - 900 MHz, 64-bit.

NVIDIA GeForce GT 520M
Entry level graphics based on GF119 chip with 64-bit memory bus or GF108 chip with 128-bit but with lower clock speeds.
Core - 740/600 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11. Memory - 800/900 MHz, 64/128-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 7420G
Processor-integrated graphics found on Trinity A4 series processors (such as the A4-4300M). Based on the VLIW4 architecture of the Radeon HD 6900 desktop series.
Core - 480-655 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.

Intel HD Graphics (Haswell)
Graphics integrated into Haswell Celeron and Pentium processors.
Core - 200-1000 MHz, shaders - 10, DirectX 11.1.

AMD Radeon HD 6520G
Graphics integrated into the Llano A6 series processors.
Core - 400 MHz, shaders - 320, DirectX 11.

AMD Radeon HD 8310G
Graphics embedded in AMD Richland ULV A4 series processors that do not have their own video memory.
Core - 424-554 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.

AMD Radeon HD 7400G
Graphics integrated in Trinity A4 series processors (eg A4-4355M). Based on the VLIW4 architecture of the desktop Radeon HD 6900 series.
Core - 327-423 MHz, shaders - 192, DirectX 11.

AMD Radeon HD 6480G
Graphics embedded in A4-Series Llano processors that do not have their own video memory.
Core - 444 MHz, shaders - 240, DirectX 11.

NVIDIA GeForce GT 415M
The slowest of the GT 400M series.
Core - 500 MHz, shaders - 48, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 128-bit.

NVIDIA GeForce 410M
Entry-level graphics based on the GF119 chip and comparable in performance to the 520M, but running at lower clock speeds.
Core - 575 MHz, shaders - 48, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 7370M
Renamed HD 6370M / HD 547.
Core - 750 MHz, shaders - 80, DirectX 11. Memory - 1600 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 6370M
Renamed HD 5470.
Core - 750 MHz, shaders - 80, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 8280
Integrated graphics based on the GCN architecture and does not have its own video memory. Usually paired with AMD E2-3000 "Kabini" processors.
Core - 450 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.1.

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5470
Entry-level graphics with support for GDDR5 memory, but with only 80 processor cores. Supports Eyefinity (up to 4 monitors) and eight-channel HD audio via HDMI port. The performance is comparable to the older GeForce 8600M GT.
Core - 750 MHz, shaders - 80, DirectX 11. Memory - 1800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 6450M
Entry-level graphics based on the Seymore-PRO chip and supporting Eyefinity+.
Core - 600 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 7430M
Renamed Radeon HD 6450M.
Core - 600 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11. Memory - 1800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon R6 (Mullins)
Graphics integrated into some AMD Mullins processors based on the GCN architecture.
Core - 500 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.2. Memory - 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 8240
Integrated graphics based on the GCN architecture and does not have its own video memory. Usually paired with AMD E1-2500 "Kabini" processors.
Core - 400 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.1.

AMD Radeon HD 8250
Integrated graphics in AMD A6-1450 "Temash" processors. Based on the GCN architecture.
Core - 300-400 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.1.

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5450
Entry-level graphics with the same frequency and performance as the HD 4570, but with lower power consumption.
Core - 675 MHz, shaders - 80, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon R2 (Mullins/Beema)
Graphics integrated in AMD Beema or Mullins processors. Based on the GCN architecture.
Core - 300-500 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.2. Memory - 64-bit.

Intel HD Graphics 3000
Graphics integrated in Intel Sandy Bridge (Core ix-2xxx) processors.
Core - 350-1350 MHz, shaders - 12, DirectX 10.1.

NVIDIA GeForce 405M
Renamed GeForce 310M / 315M, still based on the G2xx GeForce G210M architecture.
Core - 606 MHz, shaders - 16, DirectX 10.1. Memory - 1600 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 6430M
The slowest graphics based on the Seymour chip, has support for the UVD3 video processor and Eyefinity +.
Core - 480 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 6380G
Graphics embedded in E2 Llano series processors that do not have their own video memory.
Core - 400 MHz, shaders - 160, DirectX 11.

ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5430
Based on a chip codenamed Park LP, the slowest of the HD 5400 series.
Core - 550 MHz, shaders - 80, DirectX 11. Memory - 800 MHz, 64-bit.

AMD Radeon HD 8210
Integrated graphics based on GCN, usually paired with AMD A4-1250 "Temash" and E1-2100 "Kabini" processors.
Core - 300 MHz, shaders - 128, DirectX 11.1.

Intel HD Graphics 2500
Graphics integrated in Ivy Bridge (Core ix-3xxx) processors.
Core - 650-1150 MHz, shaders - 6, DirectX 11.

Intel HD Graphics (Ivy Bridge)
Graphics integrated into Ivy Bridge Celeron and Pentium processors.
Core - 350-1100 MHz, shaders - 6, DirectX 11.

Comparison of AMD Ryzen 3 2200G/Radeon Vega 8 and Intel Pentium G4560/GeForce GT 1030: what to choose?

Test stand with :

• ASRock A320M-HDV
• MSI B350I PRO AC
• CHIEFTEC GPE-500S 500W
• Vinga CS207B

In contrast to it, there is a configuration based on a 2-core 4-thread with a Vinga CL-2001B cooler, an ASRock H110M-HDS motherboard and a low-profile MSI graphics cards GeForce GT 1030 with 2 GB GDDR5 memory. It stands out with a slight overclocking of the GPU: 1265 / 1518 instead of the reference 1227 / 1468 MHz. The effective memory frequency is 6 GHz. The rest of the accessories test systems the same.

Test bench with Intel Pentium G4560:

• ASRock H110M-HDS
• Vinga CL-2001B
• MSI GeForce GT 1030 2G LP OC
• 2x 4GB DDR4-2400 GOODRAM (GR2400D464L17S/4G)
• SSD AMD Radeon R3 120GB (R3SL120G)
• HDD i.norys 1TB (INO-IHDD1000S2-D1-7232)
• CHIEFTEC GPE-500S 500W
• Vinga CS207B

At the time of writing, the total cost of a configuration based on AMD Ryzen 3 was about $384. Competitive system based on Intel Pentium G4560 cost $435 or 13% more. For the purity of the experiment, we took almost all prices from the price list of one store, but we do not exclude that in other stores the price tags for individual products may be higher or lower, so these figures are very indicative. And, of course, we do not claim that the indicated builds are optimal, because everyone selects a system based on their own needs.

Now let's see what these systems are capable of in a variety of games at Full HD resolution. Graphics profiles were selected in such a way that the integrated AMD Vega 8 video core could handle the launch.

Benchmark World of Tanks Encore with an average preset, it gives an average of 56 FPS with drawdowns of up to 26 on a system with AMD Ryzen 3. The opponent's results are 30-50% higher. And the frame time graph is much smoother and quieter, so the system with a discrete graphics card looks better.

AT Rainbow Six Siege I had to go down to a low profile to get playable performance on Ryzen 3: an average of 62 FPS with drawdowns of up to 28. In turn, the combination of Intel Pentium G4560 and GeForce GT 1030 gives out only a little more on average - 66 frames / s. But the increase in the minimum frame rate, rare and very rare events exceeds 50%. That is, the comfort of the gameplay will be higher in a system with a discrete graphics card.

Watch Dogs 2 is considered a processor-dependent game, therefore, even at a low preset, the Pentium is sometimes loaded to capacity. The processor part of Ryzen 3 does a better job - 4 full-fledged cores make themselves felt, but the video core does not pull out and there are drawdowns of up to 14 FPS, while with the GeForce GT 1030 the speed does not drop below 21 frames / s. In general, the preponderance of the second configuration can be estimated at 40-60%.

AT PUBG I had to choose a very low profile and reduce the rendering scale to 70%. But even this did not save up to 16 FPS from freezes in both cases. Moreover, very rare events in a system with a GeForce GT 1030 were lower than those of AMD Vega 8, but in other parameters it was ahead by 50-60%. Yes, and her frame time schedule is calmer.

Jogging in Novigrad Third Witcher took place at low graphics and post-processing presets. On average, the system with the GeForce GT 1030 looks better: 34 vs. 29 FPS, but the rest of the statistics speak in favor of AMD Vega 8, although the gap is only 2 FPS at best. Clearly affects the lack of processor power.

Heavy Assassin's Creed Origins you can run on iGPU at a very low preset, but the results will not please you - an average of 27 FPS with a drawdown of up to 12. To pass, you will have to switch to HD without fail. The connection with the GeForce GT 1030 also does not shine: an average of 33 FPS with drawdowns up to 13. But the statistics of very rare and rare events are much better: 22-25 versus 12-17 FPS.

Network mode Battlefield 1 cannot be synchronized, so it is difficult to talk about the repeatability of the results. Nevertheless, at a low preset, the minimum speed, rare and very rare events in both systems are approximately the same level with an advantage of 1-3 FPS in favor of the GeForce GT 1030. In terms of average frequency, it outperforms by 28%.

Completes the first benchmark test block Far Cry 5 at a low preset. Here the processor load is not as high as in Battlefield 1, which allows you to feel the advantage of using a discrete graphics card in every statistic: the difference is in the range of 10-60%.

Nice 21.5-inch ASUS ET2230AGK AIO with AMD Beema

If you are looking for an All-in-One computer for office work, study or entertainment, then take a closer look at the ASUS ET2230AGK model. She uses a 21.5 inch Full HD screen with high-quality and natural color rendering.

The novelty is built on the basis of 4-core energy-efficient APUs of the AMD Beema series, which are supplemented with an entry-level mobile video card (AMD Radeon R5 M230 or Radeon R5 M320), DDR3L RAM and HDD storage from 500 GB to 1 TB. Additionally, the package includes an optical DVD drive RW, a pair of stereo speakers with support for ASUS SonicMaster technology, a set of necessary network modules and external interfaces, as well as a webcam with a microphone. That is, the novelty is a device that is completely ready for work and entertainment, which occupies only the monitor space at the workplace.

It will go on sale with Windows 8.1 preinstalled. The technical specification of the ASUS ET2230AGK monoblock is presented in the following table:

Operating system
	21.5" (54.6 cm), 1920 x 1080, 16:9 with LED backlight
CPU	AMD A4-6210 (4 x 1.8GHz; 15W) / A6-6310 (4 x 1.8 - 2.4GHz; 15W)
Graphics core	AMD Radeon R3 / Radeon R4
Discrete graphics card	AMD Radeon R5 M230 / Radeon R5 M320 (2GB VRAM)
RAM	DDR3L-1333MHz
Storage device	500 GB - 1 TB SATA HDD
optical drive	DVD RW SuperMulti
Network interfaces	802.11 b/g/n or b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, Gigabit Ethernet
Webcam	1 MP with microphone
Audio subsystem	Built-in speakers (2 x 2W) with ASUS SonicMaster technology
External ports on the side panel	2 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 1 x multimedia card reader (6-in-1: SD / SDHC / SDXC / MS / MS Pro / MMC) 2 x audio jacks
External ports on the back	2 x USB 3.0 1 x USB 2.0 1 x HDMI Out 1 x RJ45 1 x TV (optional) 1 x DC-in 1 x Kensington
Power adapter
	520 x 409 x 4.9 - 181 mm

Computer choice 2015. Winter

After a long break, we decided to continue publishing analytical materials on the choice of components. Of course, the situation in the country affected the domestic IT market and the purchasing power of citizens. However, judging by the comments on the reviews and messages on the specialized forums, the issues of assembling the optimal configuration still do not lose their relevance. In addition, exactly one year has passed since the release of the article “Computer Choice 2014. Winter”. During this seemingly insignificant period of time, a lot of changes have taken place in the IT industry: several new platforms have appeared, promising technologies and standards have seen the light, many PC components have stepped to a higher level of performance. In such a whirlwind of events, and even with constant exchange rate fluctuations, it is sometimes difficult even for experienced users to keep track of all the changes. What can we say about those who are interested in the world of digital technology only at the level of a simple layman. Naturally, in such conditions, choosing the optimal PC for them can turn into a real horror. We hope that this material will help at least slightly simplify this task, as well as assess the state of the domestic component market at the beginning of 2015.

As before, when making configurations for certain tasks, the following set of components will be considered first of all: motherboard + processor + video card + RAM + drives + power supply + cooling system + case. The remaining components (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.) are deliberately not included in the list, because their choice is greatly influenced by the subjective factor. In this case, it is not entirely correct to advise something specific.

Also, we will continue to abstract from any brands, and if we meet somewhere specific titles, then they should be considered only as an example, and not as a call to purchase. However, if some model turns out to be much better than its counterparts, naturally, this point will be noted in the article. We took all the indicated prices from popular online stores and deduced the average value. It is possible that in your city the cost of some components will be higher or lower. And in today's conditions, this situation is more than real, especially if we talk about the same components imported into the country at different times. Therefore, guided by this material when choosing a PC, you need to understand that the prices are approximate and are only indicative.

Well, we figured out the official part, now you can go directly to the computer configurations. In order of increasing functionality and cost, they can be placed as follows:

• computer for studying and surfing the Internet;
• office computer;
• HTPC;
• HTPC, which combines the functions of a mini-PC;
• home computer to run modern games at minimum / low settings charts;
• home computer to run modern games at low / medium graphics settings;
• home computer to run modern games on medium / high graphics settings;
• home computer to run modern games at high / maximum graphics settings and high resolutions;
• home computer to run modern games at ultra-high graphics settings and high resolutions;
• computer for multi-monitor systems and workstations.

MSI Adora20 5M, AE200 5M and AE220 5M All-in-Ones Based on AMD Beema APUs

MSI launched three models of all-in-one PCs at once: MSI Adora20 5M, AE200 5M and AE220 5M, which are based on different AMD Beema series APUs. So, the 19.5-inch MSI Adora20 5M is equipped with a 4-core SoC-processor AMD E2-6110, operating at a frequency of 1.5 GHz. But the 19.5-inch MSI AE200 5M and 21.5-inch MSI AE220 5M are based on a more powerful 4-core version of the AMD A4-6210 clocked at 1.8 GHz.

The video subsystem of all new products is entrusted to the integrated into the APU graphics core, and to install modules random access memory two SO-DIMM slots are available. The MSI Adora20 5M solution's disk subsystem can use one 2.5" drive, while the MSI AE200 5M and AE220 5M come pre-installed with 500GB or 1TB 3.5" HDDs.

All three models also boast support for the necessary network modules and external interfaces, a pair of 3-watt speakers, a Tray-in DVD Super Multi optical drive, a webcam and a card reader. Particular attention in the novelties deserves the displays used, which have support for Anti-Flicker and Less Blue Light technologies to reduce eye strain.

MSIAE2205M

The technical specification comparison table of MSI's new all-in-ones is as follows:

Review and testing of the AMD Athlon 5150 processor

Not so long ago, the new energy-efficient AMD AM1 platform and a number of processors for it were introduced to the world. With three of them (, AMD Sempron 3850 and) we have already met in practice. In this review, we will continue to explore the capabilities of the AMD Kabini family and take a closer look at the model. It is, so to speak, a lite version of the flagship of the series (AMD Athlon 5350 processor) and differs from it only in clock speed.

Specification:

Marking
Processor socket
Clock frequency, MHz
Factor
Base frequency, MHz
	4 x 32 (instruction memory) 4 x 32 (data memory)
microarchitecture	AMD Jaguar + AMD GCN
codename
Instruction Support
Supply voltage, V
Critical temperature, °C
Process technology, nm
Technology support	AMD Virtualization AMD VCE (Video Codec Engine)
Built-in memory controller
Maximum memory, GB
Memory types
Maximum frequency, MHz
Number of memory channels
Maximum number of modules per channel
AMD Radeon HD 8400 integrated graphics (AMD Radeon R3 Graphics)
Stream Processors
Rasterization modules
texture blocks
GPU clock frequency, MHz
Instruction Support	Shader Model 5.0

All prices for AMD+5150

Packaging, scope of delivery and appearance

All AMD Kabini APUs, including the AMD Athlon 5150 model, come in the same red and white box. The difference lies only in the emblem and the information on the sticker, on which the manufacturer has traditionally placed only the main technical characteristics: clock speed (1.6 GHz), L2 cache size (2 MB) and the number of processor cores (4). It is also noted that the cooling system is already included in the package.

The box contains:

• processor packaged for additional protection in a plastic blister;
• cooler;
• user's manual;
• AMD Athlon APU series logo sticker.

Externally, AMD Athlon 5150 is no different from the previously reviewed solutions from the AMD Kabini family. The heat-distributing cover bears the name of the series and the marking of the model. The countries where the crystal was grown (Germany) and where the final assembly of the processor took place (Taiwan) are also indicated. The arrangement of contacts on the back side corresponds to the Socket AM1 processor socket.

Regular cooling system

All solutions of the AMD Kabini family have the same TDP level (25 W), so it is quite logical that their "stock" coolers are identical. In addition, this versatility saves money when developing processors, since it is not necessary to recalculate the parameters of the cooling system for each group of models.

Although it is unlikely that the developers spent a lot of money on the creation of this cooler, because its design is extremely simple: a small aluminum radiator, consisting of four sections of aluminum fins, is cooled by a low-profile 50mm fan.

It is noteworthy that the height of the cooling system is only 40 mm, which will allow it to be used in very compact cases, which often serve as the basis for nettops and multimedia PCs (HTPCs). As a reminder, coolers with a mount for motherboards equipped with Socket AM3 / AM3+ / FM2 / FM2+ processor AMD platforms AM1 won't fit.

Processor heatingAMDAthlon 5150 idle

Processor heatingAMDAthlon 5150 at maximum load

On practice regular system cooling has proven itself quite well. During a long stress test for processor cores and an integrated graphics core, the temperature of the AMD Athlon 5150 did not rise above 47°C, and when the computer was idle, it was 33°C. In this case, the fan rotation speed varied within 1300 - 2600 rpm. The maximum value is 4000 rpm, which can be achieved by activating the corresponding profile in the menu motherboard BIOS fees. As for the noise characteristics, up to 3000 rpm the cooler operates quite quietly, and after overcoming this threshold, a noticeable background appears.

Analysis of technical characteristics

In normal operation, the AMD Athlon 5150 speed is 1600 MHz with a reference frequency of 100 MHz and a x16 multiplier. At the time of taking the readings, the voltage on the core was 1.296 V.

In idle mode, the multiplier is reduced to the value "x8", thereby lowering the frequency to 800 MHz. The voltage in this case is 1.092 V.

The AMD Athlon 5150 cache memory is distributed in the same way as in the previously reviewed 4-core models of the AMD Kabini family:

• cache memory of the first level L1: 32 KB for data with 8 associativity channels and 32 KB for an instruction with 2 associativity channels are allocated for each of the 4 cores;
• L2 cache: 2 MB for all cores with 16 associativity channels;
• There is no L3 cache.

The DDR3 RAM controller operates in single-channel mode and is guaranteed to support modules with a frequency of up to 1600 MHz. The maximum memory can be up to 16 GB.

The GPU-Z utility did not correctly determine the characteristics of the integrated graphics core, so for these purposes we used another popular program for diagnostics - AIDA64.

The AMD Athlon 5150 has a video core from the AMD Radeon R3 Graphics series, codenamed AMD Radeon HD 8400, which is built on the advanced AMD GCN microarchitecture. It includes 128 stream processors, 4 ROPs and 8 texture units, and clocks at 600 MHz. To save power when the iGPU is not under heavy load, its frequency is automatically reduced to 266 MHz.

By the way, exactly the same graphics core is used in the flagship model of the AMD Kabini family. Therefore, we can assume that both APUs (AMD Athlon 5150 and AMD Athlon 5350) will show approximately the same result in games. However, for a more accurate answer, let's take a look at the test results.

New AMD Kaveri desktop APUs start appearing on motherboard support lists

AT this moment only two representatives of the AMD Kaveri desktop APU line are available on the market: AMD A10-7850K and AMD A10-7700K. It is not known why AMD delayed the release of other models, but they have already begun to appear in the support lists of some motherboards, which indicates an imminent debut.

In particular, the AMD A6-7400K, AMD A8-7600 and AMD A10-7800 models were seen on the websites of MSI and Biostar. The AMD A6-7400K version is equipped with two processor cores with a base frequency of 3.5 GHz. The volume of its L2 cache is 1 or 2 MB, and as a video adapter, the solution of the AMD Radeon R3 or AMD Radeon R5 series is used. It is difficult to say exactly, because the information is contradictory. It is known for sure that its TDP is 65 watts.

One of the most interesting is the 4-core model AMD A8-7600. In nominal mode (TDP at 65 W), its processor cores operate at a base / dynamic frequency of 3.3 / 3.8 GHz, respectively. However, the user can switch it to an energy-saving mode of operation (TDP will be 45 W), while the speed performance will drop to 3.1 / 3.1 GHz.

APU AMD A10-7800 will be of interest to those who want to get high performance without planning to use additional overclocking. The base frequency of its 4 processor cores is at the level of 3.5 GHz. The video accelerator of the AMD Radeon R7 series consists of 512 stream processors and operates at a frequency of 720 MHz, which will allow it to demonstrate a fairly high level of performance. At the same time, its TDP indicator is set at around 65 watts.

A summary table of the technical specifications of the new AMD Kaveri series APUs:

Review and testing of the AMD Sempron 2650 processor

Ultra-budget processors are always in stable demand among buyers due to their undeniable advantages. They make it easy to assemble an inexpensive work or first school computer for a child that will have enough performance to run standard, everyday applications.

Starting in 2004, the AMD Sempron family has been replenished with different processors, but all of them are united by a common attitude towards the lower price range. With the release of the new energy-efficient AMD AM1 platform, AMD has changed their design and moved from classic CPUs to hybrid devices with an integrated graphics core - APU.

The new AMD Sempron APUs are based on the AMD Jaguar microarchitecture. In accordance with the SoC (System-on-Chip) design, they combine computing and graphics cores, a RAM controller, and a chipset. At the moment, the new series includes two models: AMD Sempron 2650 and AMD Sempron 3850, the summary table of technical specifications of which is as follows:

APU model		AMD Sempron 3850
Number of processor cores/threads
Processor clock frequency, GHz
Level 2 cache (L2), MB
Graphics core
Graphics core frequency, MHz
Number of unified shader processors
Max speed supported DDR3 memory, MHz
Thermal package (TDP), W

This review will focus on the dual-core model, which has a good chance of success in the lower price category products.

AMD Sempron 2650 comes in a small white cardboard box. It has a small transparent plastic window that allows you to evaluate the appearance of the processor.

On one of the sides, the manufacturer noted the scope of the novelty (solution everyday tasks, in other words - working with documents and multimedia files, as well as surfing the Internet). On the opposite side there is a sticker with a protective hologram and the serial number of the product.

The AMD Sempron 2650 package includes:

• cooling system;
• brief instructions for installing the processor;
• computer case sticker.

The instruction itself, step by step, with the help of visual pictograms, shows the whole process of not only installing the APU into the slot, but also the correct fixation of the complete cooling system.

The cooler consists of a small heatsink, which is fixed to the motherboard with two spring-loaded clips, as well as a fan mounted on it. In this case, a Foxconn PVA050E12L model with a diameter of 50 mm with an operating voltage of 12 V and a current of 0.16 A is used as a propeller.

It is curious that the area in contact with the processor through a thin layer of thermal paste has a round shape.

Also on an open test bench, we checked the efficiency of the standard cooling system. The operating speed range of the complete fan in automatic mode is between 1300 and 4000 rpm. Up to 3000 rpm it remains almost silent, and only at 4000 rpm there is a barely perceptible background noise. In the normal mode of operation of the turntable, the temperature of the GPU does not exceed 28°C, and the temperature of the processor cores - 40°C, so you should not worry about overheating.

On the case of AMD Sempron 2650, in addition to markings, the countries of production are indicated: the crystal itself was grown in Germany, and the final assembly took place already in Taiwan. The reverse side contains a set of contacts compatible with the latest connector - Socket AM1.

We also remind you that when installing the APU into the socket, you need to be extremely careful not to damage the rather long and thin copper contacts.

Marking
Processor socket
Base clock frequency (nominal), MHz
Max clock speed with AMD Turbo Core 3.0 MHz
Factor
Base system bus frequency, MHz
L1 cache size, KB	2 x 32 (data memory) 2 x 32 (instruction memory)
L2 cache size, KB
L3 cache size, KB
microarchitecture	AMD Jaguar + AMD GCN
codename
Number of cores/threads
Instruction Support	MMX(+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, x86-64, AMD-V, AES, AVX
Supply voltage, V
Maximum design power (TDP), W
Critical temperature, °C
Process technology, nm
Technology support	AMD Virtualization AMD UVD (Universal Video Decoder) AMD VCE (Video Codec Engine)
Built-in memory controller
Maximum memory, GB
Memory types
Maximum frequency, MHz
Number of memory channels
AMD Radeon R3 Integrated Graphics (Radeon HD 8240)
Stream Processors
texture blocks
Rasterization modules
GPU clock frequency, MHz
Instruction Support	Shader Model 5.0
Products webpage Product page

All prices for AMD+2650

The main advantage of AMD Sempron 2650, which can be highlighted in the specification table, is a rather low TDP level (25 W). Thanks to this, it becomes possible to use not only a compact and low-noise active cooler, but also a completely passive system cooling.

When performing stress tests, the APU multiplier was at the maximum mark of "x14.5", and the clock frequency at the time of reading was at the level of 1447 MHz. The core voltage was 1.288 V.

In idle mode, the frequency dropped to 798 MHz with a multiplier value of "x8" and a supply voltage of 1.072 V.

Now let's study the cache allocation scheme. For data caching, 32 KB of L1 cache per core with 8 associativity channels are allocated, as well as 32 KB of L1 cache per core with 2 associativity channels is allocated for instructions. There is also 1024 KB shared L2 cache with 16 associativity channels. This processor is not equipped with L3 cache memory.

The built-in RAM controller operates in single-channel mode and supports DDR3 modules with a frequency of up to 1333 MHz. Support for modules with a frequency of 1600 MHz and higher (with automatic reduction to nominal 1333 MHz) depends on the specific motherboard model with which this APU will be used.

Review and testing of the AMD Athlon 5350 processor for the AMD AM1 platform

"Even the smallest flap of a butterfly's wings at one end of the world
can trigger a tsunami on another"
Butterfly effect from Chaos Theory

In 2011, in the budget segment of AMD processors, a transition began to the active use of the APU design, which involves the integration of central and GPUs, as well as a memory controller. The AMD Zacate (AMD E) and AMD Ontario (AMD C) series models were the first to enter the market, which were focused on use in netbooks, nettops and entry-level laptops. This approach made it possible to abandon the design of printed circuit boards using chips of the North and South bridges. The first of them became part of the processor, and the second became known as the "Chipset". This greatly simplified the layout of the board and the design of the cooling system, increased the performance of individual components and reduced the overall cost of production.

The next evolutionary step was the transition to SoC (System-on-Chip) design. It involves the integration of a chipset chip into the processor, that is, along with the computational functions, the CPU also performs coordinating functions, ensuring the correct interaction of many internal interfaces. The result is improved ease of motherboard design and layout, and eliminates the need for many additional controllers. All this leads to a further reduction in the cost of production, which positively affects the final price.

The first APUs to support SoC design in model range AMD introduced 28nm AMD Temash and AMD Kabini series solutions, which replaced the 40nm AMD Ontario and AMD Zacate series. They are focused on use as part of budget tablets, nettops, all-in-ones and laptops. Even desktop motherboards with integrated AMD Kabini APUs have appeared on the market, which allow you to create entry-level systems for everyday tasks or multimedia entertainment.

The only controversial point in AMD's first SoC processors is the use of a BGA package, which involves soldering the CPU to the socket on the motherboard at the factory. On the one hand, this approach reduces the cost of production, and on the other hand, the process of replacing such a processor becomes much more complicated. And if for laptops this is considered the norm and does not cause massive complaints, then many owners of desktop PCs highly appreciate and value the possibility of free configuration updates by replacing the processor.

Therefore, AMD decided to create desktop versions of AMD Kabini APUs, placing them in a PGA package that allows you to easily change the processor if necessary. It should also be added that AMD decided to use well-known brands for naming new APUs - AMD Athlon and AMD Sempron, thereby reviving the competition of these chips with solutions Intel series Pentium and Intel Celeron (Intel Bay Trail platform).

And now let's go through the key aspects of the AMD AM1 platform presentation and look at the main features of the new processors. To begin with, AMD decided to give a reasonable answer to the question: “Why release a new budget platform at all?”

According to IDC data for the fourth quarter of 2013, most of the desktop systems market (38%) is occupied by entry-level solutions. Mainstream PCs make up 30%, while high performance desktops make up 32%. So the market budget systems large enough, so AMD did not want to give it completely to the Intel Bay Trail platform and prepared its own alternative, which looks very worthy, given the specifics of requests in this area. Particularly high hopes for the AMD AM1 platform are placed in the markets of developing countries, in which the price issue plays a paramount role.

That is why AMD decided to use the rather successful 28nm AMD Jaguar microarchitecture to create a new generation of AMD Sempron and AMD Athlon processor lines. As mentioned earlier, they combine four cores on one crystal central processing unit, AMD GCN microarchitecture graphics adapter, and single-channel DDR3-1600 RAM controller supporting up to 16 GB in total.

Additionally, they support a number of controllers, which in traditional systems are part of the chipset chip. In particular, this applies to:

• SD memory cards up to 2 TB;
• two USB 3.0 ports;
• eight USB 2.0 ports;
• PS/2 interface and various internal sensors (temperature, fan speed, etc.);
• video ports eDP, DisplayPort / HDMI and VGA;
• four line interface PCI Express x16 for connecting a discrete video card;
• two SATA 6 Gb/s ports;
• four lines PCI interface Express x1, one of which is used to connect a gigabit network controller.

AMD specialists did not forget to remind about the improvements that the 28-nm AMD Jaguar microarchitecture brought with it. The 40-nm AMD Bobcat was taken as the basis, however, the transition to a new technical process made it possible to increase the number of structural elements and optimize all key blocks. You shouldn't blame AMD for improving the microarchitecture instead of implementing a radically new one, since there is an unwritten rule: "when changing the technical process, you should not change the microarchitecture in order to avoid many errors." Therefore, we can expect more significant changes in future versions of AMD AM1 platform processors. In this case, engineers have improved the integer processing units (IEU) and fractional numbers (FPU), redesigned the load / store queue, provided 128-bit access to the FPU, allocated more resources to the operation of prefetch units, added support for new instructions (SSE4. 1/4.2, AES, CLMUL, MOVBE, AVX, F16C and BMI1) and many more improvements.

A lot of similarities can be found in the AMD Steamroller (AMD Kaveri APU) and AMD Jaguar microarchitectures: the same OOO (Out-of-Order) design, the use of a 28-nm process technology, support for new instruction sets, etc. However, there are significant differences. The first is size: four AMD Jaguar processor cores cover the equivalent of one dual-core AMD Steamroller. Important differences between the AMD Jaguar power-efficient microarchitecture and AMD Steamroller are also: support for 32 KB L1 data cache instead of 16 KB, the use of an FPU unit in each core, and general access to the L2 cache for all cores. Recall that AMD Steamroller assumes the use of one FP-block per dual-core module. The L2 cache is distributed following the same principle.

As a result of applying all the improvements, the IPC (number of instructions executed per clock) for the AMD Jaguar microarchitecture increased by 17% compared to the AMD Bobcat result. Performance in single- and multi-threaded tasks has increased significantly, which cannot but rejoice.

The integrated graphics adapter uses the already familiar AMD GCN microarchitecture, which is also present in . Before us is the same structure of computing clusters CU (Compute Unit), which include four vector units and a scalar coprocessor. In turn, each vector unit has 16 stream processors, so the total number of stream processors in one CU is 64. Since the first AMD AM1 platform APUs use a maximum of two CU clusters, the total number of stream processors in them is 128.

Noteworthy is another curious moment in graphics adapters, which is associated with their name. Initially unofficial sources indicated the use of the "AMD Radeon HD 8000" naming scheme. In the official presentation, the name "AMD Radeon R3" is used, which greatly simplifies the classification of the performance level of the graphics adapter in the current AMD structure. Recall that the first AMD Kaveri APU models are equipped with an AMD Radeon R7 graphics core. As a result, the name AMD Radeon R5 remains free, which is most likely to be used in the less productive APUs of the AMD Kaveri line. They should appear in the second half of 2014.

The results of comparative testing in popular synthetic and gaming benchmarks of the flagship model AMD Athlon 5350 look very impressive. She quite confidently bypasses her main competitor in the form of Intel models Pentium J2900. In undemanding games, the AMD Athlon 5350 even outperforms the bunch Intel processor Celeron G1610 and discrete NVIDIA graphics cards GeForce GT 210.

The test results become even more impressive after comparing the cost of these models, since AMD's APUs, along with motherboard cost less than one processor by Intel. But the cost for entry-level platforms plays a very large role.

It is in the APU of the AMD AM1 platform that a very important advantage is a high-performance graphics adapter, the capabilities of which are enough for fast and high-quality interface processing. operating system, video playback high resolution(4K Ultra HD), wireless video transmission (Miracast), running light games, quick photo editing and other similar tasks. Considering that in such systems they usually do not count on the help of a discrete graphics card, AMD's APUs look very cool compared to competitors. In addition, collaboration continues with many popular software developers to optimize their products for the microarchitectural features of AMD solutions.

At the end of the presentation, AMD recalled the positioning of all its desktop platforms: AMD AM1 - entry-level systems, AMD FM2 + - mainstream computers and AMD AM3 + - high-performance PCs.

The summary table of the technical specifications of the first AMD AM1 platform APUs is as follows:

				AMD Sempron 3850
Market segment			Desktop systems
Processor socket
Processor core
microarchitecture
Process technology, nm
Number of Cores
Clock frequency, GHz
L1 cache, KB	Instructions
L2 cache, MB
Graphics core
		Number of stream processors
		Clock frequency, MHz
RAM controller		Number of supported channels
		Maximum number of modules
				DDR3-1600 / DDR3L-1600	DDR3-1600 / DDR3L-1600	DDR3-1600 / DDR3L-1600
		Maximum volume, GB
Additional controllers			PCI Express 2.0, HD Audio, SD, USB 3.0, SATA 6Gb/s, LPC and more
Supported ports			2 x USB 3.0 8 x USB 2.0 2 x SATA 6Gb/s HDMI display port PS/2
TDP, W

And now let's move on to the review and testing of the flagship APU model of the AMD AM1 platform -. Is the performance level of the novelty really as good as it is indicated in the presentation? Does it have any other hidden advantages or disadvantages? We will try to answer these questions further.

PlatformAMDAM1

Not only a representative of the AMD Kabini family came to us for testing, but the whole system at once (processor + motherboard + RAM). This will give us the opportunity to fully evaluate the capabilities of the entire AMD AM1 platform, as well as understand what tasks it is best suited for.

Let's start with the motherboard - the basis of the entire computer. In our case, it is represented by the model ASRock AM1B-ITX made in Mini-ITX format. This form factor will be the main one for the AMD AM1 platform, although solutions made in the microATX format will also appear on the market. At least all major motherboard manufacturers, including ASRock, have already announced at least one such model.

But back to our ASRock AM1B-ITX board. As you can see, its layout is quite standard for such compact solutions: the processor socket is in the middle; interfaces are located on the left edge of the textolite, and slots for RAM are located on the opposite side; the lower part is reserved for the PCI Express x16 slot. Recall that it uses only 4 lanes of the PCIe 2.0 standard. But even this amount will be quite enough in this case, since the AMD AM1 platform is primarily positioned as the basis for office computers, nettops or HTPCs, and not gaming configurations. Therefore, most likely PCI slot Express will be occupied by some kind of card that enhances the multimedia capabilities of the system, for example, an external sound card or a TV tuner.

Some restrictions are also imposed on RAM: its volume can reach 16 GB, and the speed is 1600 MHz. In addition, there is no support for dual-channel mode. However, for the tasks mentioned above, these limitations are not so critical, and in practice they will not play a special role.

Since the AMD Kabini family processors have taken over many of the functions of third-party controllers, the number of additional chips on the motherboard has significantly decreased. First of all, the lack of a chipset is striking. Now support for SATA 6 Gb / s ports is carried out directly by the processor, however, in the amount of only two pieces. ASRock felt that this might not be enough and used an additional ASMedia ASM1061 controller, which implements support for two more SATA 6 Gb / s ports. Exactly the same picture is observed with USB connectors 3.0: 2 USB port 3.0, located on the interface panel, operate under the control of the processor, and the work of 2 more, which can be connected to the block on the motherboard, is provided by the ASMedia ASM1042A controller.

VGA, DVI and HDMI are placed on the rear panel from the video interfaces. In the latter case, there is support for a resolution of 4096 x 2160 at a refresh rate of 24 Hz. Also present here: a LAN connector, an LPT port, three audio jacks, a pair of USB 2.0 and one PS / 2 Combo for connecting a keyboard or mouse. Sound path is based on the Realtek ALC662 chip, and the network interface is controlled by the Realtek RTL 8111GR gigabit chip.

By functionality The AMD AM1 platform is almost as good as other popular solutions equipped with Socket FM2 / FM2+ / LGA 1150 processor sockets.

The TDP of AMD Kabini processors is declared at 25 W, so the requirements for its power subsystem are quite low. A 2-phase VRM module, which we can observe on the ASRock AM1B-ITX board, is quite enough. Its operation is provided by the Richtek RT8179B PWM controller, which includes two phase drivers, and also has a number of protective technologies (according to the specification - OCP / OVP / UVP / SCP).

Such a simple configuration of the processor converter reduces the cost of manufacturing the motherboard and, as a result, reduces the final cost of the entire computer.

The system is powered via a 24-pin ATX connector. Although, given the low power consumption of AMD Kabini processors, it is quite possible that we will see motherboard models powered by an external adapter (DC 19V).

The RAM subsystem received for configuration testing consists of one module AMD AE34G1609U1S, which belongs to AMD's proprietary Radeon Memory series. According to the marking and label on the sticker, it has a capacity of 4 GB and can operate at a nominal frequency of 1600 MHz with delays of 9-9-9-28 and a voltage of 1.5 V. Since nettops and HTPCs are assembled in compact cases, where, as a rule, hard to organize good cooling, then the presence of additional heatsinks on memory chips will definitely not be superfluous.

We did not check the overclocking potential of the AMD AE34G1609U1S module, since the memory controller built into the processor will not allow it to operate at a frequency above 1600 MHz. However, you should not worry about this too much, because increasing the speed of the memory subsystem has practically no effect on the performance of most real applications. A small increase is observed only in highly specialized programs that are unlikely to run on configurations built on the basis of the AMD AM1 platform.

AMD Athlon 5350 processor

Packaging, delivery set and standard cooling system

And now let's move on to the most interesting - AMD processor Kabini, which in our case is represented by the flagship model . It got to the test laboratory as part of the system, so we omit the description of the box, and immediately consider the standard cooling system.

It differs from the usual coolers that come with processors. AMD families Trinity / Richland / Kaveri / Zambezi / Vishera, primarily for their compact dimensions. The length and width of this cooling system is 55 mm (excluding clamps), and the height is only 40 mm. And these are the dimensions already with the installed fan.

Note that for the first time in many years, AMD has changed the mounting system: instead of the usual latches, the cooler is attached to the board using two spring-loaded plastic clips. As a result, cooling systems with mounts for boards equipped with Socket AM3 / AM3+ / FM2 / FM2+ processor sockets will no longer fit here.

The radiator has a familiar design - an aluminum core, from which four sections of thin aluminum fins extend. For their blowing, a low-profile FOXCONN PVA050E12L fan with a size of 50 mm and a power of 1.92 W is used. Power is supplied through a 3-pin connector with support for monitoring the speed of rotation of its blades.

Despite its compact size, the standard cooling system does its job well. In idle mode, the processor temperature was 36°C, and at maximum load (created by the stress test built into the AIDA64 utility) - 43°C. The maximum fan speed during the experiment reached 2950 rpm. All measurements were carried out on an open bench.

Appearance and data sheet

The AMD Athlon 5350 model is made in a micro-PGA package and looks very similar to other processors manufactured under the AMD brand. On the heat-distributing cover there is a marking and the name of the country of production (in this case, Taiwan). The processor got there already for the final assembly. The crystal itself was grown in Germany, as indicated by the inscription "Diffused in Germany".

Specification and specifications:

Marking
Processor socket
Clock frequency (nominal), MHz
Factor
Base frequency, MHz
L1 cache size, KB	4 x 32 (instruction memory) 4 x 32 (data memory)
L2 cache size, KB
L3 cache size, KB
microarchitecture	AMD Jaguar + AMD GCN
codename
Number of processor cores / threads
Instruction Support	MMX(+), SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, SSE4A, SSE4.1, SSE4.2, x86-64, AMD-V, AES, AVX
Supply voltage, V
Maximum design power (TDP), W
Critical temperature, °C
Process technology, nm
Technology support	AMD Virtualization AMD UVD (Universal Video Decoder) AMD VCE (Video Codec Engine)
Built-in memory controller
Maximum memory, GB
Memory types
Maximum frequency, MHz
Number of memory channels
Integrated AMD Radeon R3 Graphics (AMD Radeon HD 8400)
Stream Processors
texture blocks
Rasterization modules
GPU clock frequency, MHz
Instruction Support	Shader Model 5.0

In normal operation, the AMD Athlon 5350 speed is 2050 MHz with a reference frequency of 100 MHz and a multiplier of "x20.5". At the time of taking the readings, the voltage on the core was 1.288 V.

In idle mode, the multiplier is reduced to the value "x8", thereby lowering the frequency to 800 MHz. The voltage in this case is 1.024 V.

The AMD Athlon 5350 cache is distributed as follows:

• cache memory of the first level L1 - 32 KB for data with 8 associativity channels and 32 KB for instructions with 2 associativity channels are allocated for each of the 4 cores;
• cache memory of the second level L2 - 2 MB for all cores with 16 associativity channels;
• cache memory of the third level L3 - absent.

The DDR3 RAM controller operates in single-channel mode and is guaranteed to support modules with a frequency of up to 1600 MHz.

Solid-state drives with a volume of 1 TB in the domestic market are in very limited demand because of their cost - too expensive. Therefore, we rarely test solutions of this class. But still we test - selecting the most affordable models at the time of writing the review. And we try to do it in such a way as to cover exactly the hardware platforms in general, and not just the models.

advertising

What is the current picture? The cheapest SSD models according to Yandex.Market are:

• SmartBuy Ignition Plus - from 16.5 thousand rubles - is a representative of a rare hardware platform that combines Phison S11 and MLC 3D V-NAND Micron. Although the family of these drives has been on sale for a long time, the 960 GB modification has just appeared;
• Micron MTFDDAV1T0TBN - from 16.8 thousand rubles - this furious name hides the Marvell 88SS1074 controller and TLC 3D 32L V-NAND Micron, the essence is the Micron M1100 (and also the Crucial MX300). We tested this hardware configuration in January;
• WD Blue PC SSD - from 17.1 thousand rubles - Marvell 88SS1074 and 15 nm planar TLC NAND SanDisk. We studied this configuration a little over a year ago. The period is fair, but no fundamental changes have occurred during this time, and therefore we can assume that there should not be any special issues with this decision;
• Samsung 850 Evo - from 17.2 thousand rubles. Beaten up and down the model, tested by all and sundry. It doesn't make much sense;
• Crucial MX300 - from 17.5 thousand rubles - has already been mentioned a couple of paragraphs above;
• Intel SSDSCKKW010X6X1, aka Intel 540s at a price of 17.9 rubles - also considered a year ago;
• WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD - at a price of 17.9 thousand rubles - a novelty, just on sale, a week ago we tested a 500 GB modification and got some idea of ​​​​the potential of this modification;
• AMD Radeon R3 - 18 thousand rubles - we have not studied this drive yet;
• Kingston SSDNow UV400 - from 18.5 thousand rubles - similarly;
• Toshiba HDTS896EZSTA - from 19 thousand rubles - the combination of Phison S10 and 15 nm planar TLC NAND Toshiba is familiar from the Toshiba TR150 test a year ago, in fact, the remnants are already being sold, in the near future the drive should disappear from sale, since it is out of production;
• Corsair Force LE - at a price of 19.5 thousand rubles - essentially the same Phison S10 and 15 nm TLC NAND Toshiba.

In total, only three drives are unfamiliar to us in this weight category and with price tags that can somehow still be called “budget” (up to 20 thousand rubles): SmartBuy Ignition Plus, AMD Radeon R3 and Kingston SSDNow UV400. With the first - alas, the issue is still in limbo (difficulties of an administrative nature), the second was chosen for this material, and with the third we will try to resolve the issue.

Let me explain separately: I did not stand out in any way solutions in the M.2 form factor. The fact is that such a drive easily “turns” into 2.5 "- the corresponding adapter cases with a shaft on AliExpress / eBay at a price of 200-250 rubles with delivery.

And the difference between M.2 and “original” 2.5" is vanishingly small from a hardware point of view. And even the seemingly denser layout with the emerging risk of overheating under heavy loads is actually no longer so. In 2.5" cases, full-sized printed circuit boards have become a disappearing view - in recent years, in order to reduce costs, manufacturers have massively switched to shortened boards.