APU or Bulldozer for gaming?

[satindemon4u]

Before I start, if you come in here and expect to post some shit about "Intel bro" then gtfo. I am an AMD fan, don't like it, stop reading.

Alright so I have always built my rig to suit me for gaming. I was planning on getting a Bulldozer upon release but now I am thinking maybe I should go with the APU! So for the argument of gaming, which would be more useful to me? If I get the APU I plan on getting the A8-3850.

Also, my video card I have now is an NVIDIA. Will this conflict the graphic power of the APU? (ATI)

 

[FordGT90Concept]

Bulldozer is going to be more oriented towards gaming than the APUs. Higher clockspeeds, GPU off-die (better cooling), etc.

There won't be a conflict between the onboard graphics and the NVIDIA GPU. If there is, just disable the the onboard graphics.

APUs are intended for el cheapo business and home computers suited mostly for spreadsheets, documents, Solitaire, internet browsing, and the occassional Flash game.

 

[erocker]

If you have a video card you don't need the APU.

 

[satindemon4u]

If you have a video card you don't need the APU.

Thought about that. Is the APU for those who would like the power of processing with graphics that is a step higher than integrated?

 

[Kantastic]

Thought about that. Is the APU for those who would like the power of processing with graphics that is a step higher than integrated?

APUs are tiers above even any integrated solution, but it's not definitely not powerful for any gamer that cares about graphics.

 

[satindemon4u]

Guess that answers that!

 

[hat]

I believe you should be able to crossfire the APU with a compatible AMD graphics card, but you already have a decently powerful Nvidia card, so don't worry about it too much. If you want to upgrade, and you don't want Intel, then just get a bulldozer CPU.

 

[satindemon4u]

Sounds goooooooooooooood

 

[Inceptor]

The current Llano APUs can be set up in an asymmetric crossfire config with a discrete card, but the discrete card can't be too powerful. Meaning something like a 6500 or 6600 class gpu. That set up would be very inexpensive, but performance would be barely adequate moving forward into the next 2 years.
There's no point buying a Llano with a more powerful discrete gpu, it would essentially be the same as running an Athlon II x4 with a discrete gpu, with no-so-great overclocking ability, unless you wait for the unlocked Llanos. But even then, cpu performance will not be great.
If you're buying AMD, you're better off getting a Bulldozer CPU with a discrete card, for gaming. At least there you've got upgrade options. It should be possible to run a crossfire rig with no CPU bottleneck with a Bulldozer, if you go with 2 cards now or in the future.

 

[seronx]

AMD APUs are good up to 1920x1080p30+

AMD CPUs are good up to 7680x1600p60+

 

[isbjorn77]

Hi, as a AMD builder since early 90, i felt i had to register to answear ur question.

As far as i understand u have a ok graphic card, my suggestion for would not be an apu, i would however get an AM3+ motherboard, put in a powerful enough athlon II cpu, a 3 core should do. Doing that u have an bulldozer ready rig, would make sure the a3+ mother bored had good capility for crossfire/sli, since u then have a nvida grapic card, u will have a cheap upprade to almost doubel ur graphic performanse with one more of the same nvida card u have when u get a bulldozer that comes , and if the BD that comes now isnt good enough then u can wait it a lil out, as far as i read round enchaned BD, scedule for q4 2012 will be am3+ compatibel.

Had just littel to do at the moment, but just would mention to you what an "old" Norweagian AMD builder would advice u to do,

 

[Fourstaff]

Neither, you want Sandy Bridge for gaming. Its currently loads more powerful than almost anything out there, and Bulldozer is still untested. Llano is limited to 400 internal stream processor, plus another 400 in hybrid fancy crossfire which brings the total to 800, or the number 5770 has. Not powerful enough if you want to game with good eyecandy, but otherwise fine.

 

[Mussels]

APU's are just the next evolutionary step of onboard video. they kick the ass of a traditional IGP, but they still dont do much for gaming - and their crossfireX benefits arent worth it, since you cant pair them with any decent cards.


so yeah, wait for bulldozer. if rumours are true, the prices will be low too.

 

[gourygabriev]

Seeing as you are planing on using your existing NVidia card, you should get a Bulldozer instead.

 

[JrRacinFan]

My thoughts; The quad core FX chips should be ~$120-130 USD. That right there is enough to wait. Clock for clock Llano is about as fast as Phenom II x4's in all regards.

Get a really really good AM3+ board along with an 1866 ram kit for the price you were going to pay towards that Llano chip and wait.

 

[lilhasselhoffer]

If you're a gamer, and willing to spend more money, go with Bulldozer.


My experience is that the APUs function well for on-die graphics, but can't come anywhere near a discrete card. They can run a hybrid crossfire with extremely low end 6xxx series video cards, but the performance boost only puts them on par with a single discrete graphics card.

On top of this, an Nvidea discrete card will not play with the APUs onboard graphics.


In short: go Bulldozer for performance, or APU for low cost and generally acceptable low to mid range graphics performance.


Note: I have built an run an APU system. They do not yet overclock well, the graphics are passable on lower settings, and they generally kick the crap out of other integrated graphics solutions. They are designed for mediocre graphics performance, dx11 support, and budget strapped builds. In that respect they are great. If you have a better budget then you can't go wrong with a discrete CPU and GPU (Bulldozer) solution.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Remember guys, with the CPU, OP already has a Phenom II x4 945 that can be used on the AM3+ board.

 

[de.das.dude]

the thing is... if you want the job done when it comes to gaming then, a phenom can get the job done as well. however if you like pwning them FPS, its better you go for bulldozer.

 

[nINJAkECIL]

It depens on your VGA.
If you have a relatively high-end VGA (AMD HD6800 series or up, or NVIDIA GTX460 or up), then you will better get Bulldozer for gaming purpose.
Prevent bottlenecking of your cpu.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Remember guys, with the CPU, OP already has a Phenom II x4 945 that can be used on the AM3+ board.

the thing is... if you want the job done when it comes to gaming then, a phenom can get the job done as well. however if you like pwning them FPS, its better you go for bulldozer.

It depens on your VGA.
If you have a relatively high-end VGA (AMD HD6800 series or up, or NVIDIA GTX460 or up), then you will better get Bulldozer for gaming purpose.
Prevent bottlenecking of your cpu.

Please show me with links to benchmarks on the benefit of sidegrading to Llano.

 

[cadaveca]

Please show me with links to benchmarks on the benefit of sidegrading to Llano.

Check any of my reviews, and F1 2010 results. 15 FPS more from the A8-3850 APU @ stock, vs 1100T @ stock(2.9 GHz vs 3.3Ghz).


Better memory controller helps in specific applications. No big deal...APUs are basically an Phenom II with less cache, and a better memory controller. That memory controller really can help.

that said, until Bulldozer releases, I cannot comment on which is better for gaming, overall. You'll remember, I'm sure, I've been complaining about AMD's memory bandwidth/whatever for some time now.

 

[JrRacinFan]

Thanks bro. Coming from you it means alot to me. What I would like to see is a multi gpu comparison.

 

[cadaveca]

Thanks bro. Coming from you it means alot to me. What I would like to see is a multi gpu comparison.

I dunno that multi-GPU would be the same, as that might be dependant on slot config.

The APU isn't faster for everything, that just an example where it IS.

 

[PopcornMachine]

APUs are not for gaming. They are for laptops and desktops that don't game.

Maybe at very low resolution, but that's it.

One of the reasons I'm excited about Bulldozer/Zambezi is that it is just a CPU. Like the I7 920 bloomfield I currently have, it does not have an embedded graphics process that I am likely never going to use.

So definitely wait then decide which way to go.

 

[brandonwh64]

Intel sandy bridge is king LOL j/k

Bulldozer will be your man when it comes to gaming with a addon GPU.

How bout the highest FX Cpu with a 6970 and call it a day