Nvidia Quadro 4000 Vs Fx 4800

TechRadar Verdict

We can't help just feel disappointed with the lack of performance progress the FX-8150 represents. It'due south not a bad chip, merely we wanted more.

Pros

+
Keen overclocking
+
Serious multi-threading chops for less than £200

Cons

-
Only slightly faster at stock than 1100T
-
Struggles against 2500K
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And is pricier

We've waited a long time for AMD to release a make new processor compages, but finally the AMD FX-8150 has arrived.

This starting time chip is the vanguard of the somewhat tardy Bulldozer applied science and is this summit-of-the-line AMD FX chip, lawmaking-named Zambezi. This is the total-fat, eight-core AMD super-chip running at a not inconsiderable 3.6GHz directly out the box.

The FX moniker isn't a new one for AMD chips.

The last fourth dimension we saw information technology used for its high-terminate parts was in the 90nm Athlon 64 FX-74 in late 2006. It's been reborn this year to cover the first in what AMD hopes will exist a long line of Bulldozer-based CPUs.

The AMD FX CPUs stand for the chip maker's first real new architecture since the exciting times of the get-go Athlon back in 2003.

And it is very much a new architecture; AMD has started from scratch with the design of the Bulldozer modules, taking a very unlike approach to what makes up a CPU cadre than anyone else.

We'll explore the depths of that architectural modify later, but the existent key is the use of that give-and-take 'module'.

Each of these modules holds the essential makeup of a standard dual-core processor, sharing sure non-timing sensitive parts.

The AMD FX-8150 has 4 of these Bulldozer modules and AMD claims that makes it the world'southward first eight-core desktop flake. It's tough to ignore the sickly sweetness scent of fudge here, though this hardware-based solution ought be a lot more constructive than Intel'south more often than not software-oriented HyperThreading.

The Bulldozer module represents the hereafter of AMD processors going forwards.

Speaking with Bernard Seite, an AMD Technical Advisor, terminal month he told united states that the Bulldozer modules are probable to terminal every bit the basis for its CPU range for the next 5-7 years.

At the moment we've simply seen the roadmap for the next couple of years, with the Piledriver update coming next twelvemonth, Steamroller coming in 2013 and Excavator in 2014.

Yes, nosotros know information technology sounds similar a joke, but AMD's latest roadmap really does read like the Urban Lexicon Karma Sutra.

But hopes are even so loftier for these new AMD FX processors, specially afterwards it managed to snag the Guiness Globe Record for highest CPU clockspeed in September.

We saw this pinnacle CPU hither running at well over 8GHz.

That is impressive, but realistically it'due south just numbers. The world record didn't need the motorcar to actually run any applications, it just needed to boot into Windows and report it's clockspeed. It as well didn't need to exist running all its cores. The earth tape was actually only broken past a single Bulldozer module in performance and under serious liquid helium cooling too.

The precedent is at that place though and means the AMD FX-8150 ought to be one hell of an overclocker'southward chip. What that volition mean in real-world applications though we'll before long see.

So how does the new AMD FX CPU stack upwardly then? Can it requite Intel's Sandy Bridge a run for its money and tin information technology brand AMD a performance chip manufacturer once again?

Current page: AMD FX-8150 - Overview

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