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 GeForce GT 1030 graphics card with 2 GB of 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 components of the test systems are 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.

V 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 on average gives only a little more - 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 the eyeballs. 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%.

V 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. It uses a 21.5-inch Full HD screen with high-quality and natural colors.

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 a DVD RW optical drive, 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 specific names are found somewhere, 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 on minimum / low graphics settings;
• 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-One PCs 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 assigned to the graphics core integrated into the APU, and two SO-DIMM slots are available for installing RAM modules. 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 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 packed for extra protection in a plastic blister;
• cooler;
• user guide;
• 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). Recall that coolers with a mount for boards equipped with Socket AM3 / AM3+ / FM2 / FM2+ processor sockets will not work for the AMD AM1 platform.

Processor heatingAMDAthlon 5150 idle

Processor heatingAMDAthlon 5150 at maximum load

In practice, the standard cooling system 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 BIOS menu of the motherboard. 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 diagnostic program - 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 the 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
Maximum speed of 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 of 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 (solving 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 pad that contacts 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
Maximum 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 cooling system.

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 is 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 graphic processor cores, as well as a memory controller, on a single chip. 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.

AMD's first SoC design-aware APUs in AMD's lineup were the 28nm AMD Temash and AMD Kabini series solutions, which replaced the 40nm models from the 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 from the Intel Pentium and Intel Celeron series (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%. Thus, the market for budget systems is quite large, 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 CPU cores, an AMD GCN microarchitecture graphics adapter and a single-channel DDR3-1600 RAM controller with support for a total of up to 16 GB on a single chip.

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 PCI Express x16 interface lines for connecting a discrete video card;
• two SATA 6 Gb/s ports;
• four PCI Express x1 interface lines, 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 should not 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 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 the AMD Steamroller also include support for 32KB L1 data cache instead of 16KB, per-core FPU, and shared L2 cache across 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. It confidently outperforms its main competitor, the Intel Pentium J2900. In undemanding games, the AMD Athlon 5350 even outperforms the combination of the Intel Celeron G1610 processor and the NVIDIA GeForce GT 210 discrete graphics card.

The test results are even more impressive after comparing the cost of these models, since an AMD APU together with a motherboard will cost less than a single Intel processor. 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 processing of the operating system interface, high-resolution video playback (4K Ultra HD), wireless video transmission (Miracast), launching undemanding games, quick photo editing and other similar tasks. Given 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 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, the PCI Express slot will be occupied by some kind of card that expands the multimedia capabilities of the system, for example, an external audio 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 3.0 connectors: 2 USB 3.0 ports located on the interface panel are controlled by a processor, and 2 more, which can be connected to a block on the motherboard, are 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. The audio path is based on the Realtek ALC662 chip, and the network interface is controlled by the Realtek RTL 8111GR gigabit chip.

In terms of 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 its power subsystem has rather low requirements. 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, it is difficult 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 too much about this, because increasing the speed of the memory subsystem has almost 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 - the AMD Kabini processor, 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 are bundled with AMD Trinity / Richland / Kaveri / Zambezi / Vishera family processors, primarily due to its 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 stand.

Appearance and technical specification

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 speed of AMD Athlon 5350 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.

AMD produces not only high-quality and known for its performance (albeit energy-intensive) processors, but also Radeon video cards, the characteristics of which are sufficient to run the most productive games.

This technique, especially released during the last 2 years, allows you to work with resource-intensive applications (3D graphics).

Although in order to choose the right model and determine whether it has enough capabilities to perform your tasks, it is worth considering the parameters of GPUs in more detail.

In order to make it easier to get acquainted with the characteristics of the equipment, you can make a table indicating the main values ​​\u200b\u200bthat affect the performance and functionality of the video card.

These include bus parameters (frequency and bit depth), memory type, manufacturing process used in the manufacture of the graphics processor, data speed and memory size.

You can stop the attention on the consumption of electricity, on which the power of the computer's power supply and the method of cooling the device depend.

Memory frequency and bus width

The frequency of the video card memory, first of all, affects the speed of its operation. The average value of this indicator is 1000 MHz for HBM memory and 6000-8000 for GDDR5.

At the same time, the dependence of the card's performance on its frequency is not always directly proportional, since the second indicator that affects the throughput of the device is the bus width.

The characteristics of the bus, in the first place, depends on the bandwidth of the memory of the video card.

The larger its width, the faster the data is processed by the graphics processing unit (GPU).

So, 64-bit boards are practically not used in modern computers, although they are still available for sale in online stores.

More modern models of video cards have a bit depth of 128 and 256 bits, top versions - 512 bits and higher.

The top ten AMD models to date have the following bit depths:

• RX 470, 480 and 380 series - 256-bit;
• 390th series R9 - 512 bits;

• the latest models, R9 Fury and Nano, equipped with a new type of memory - 4096 bits;
• one of the models produced using the new technology with the 18 nm process technology, RX, has a bit depth of only 128 bits, which is why it has a low data transfer rate, although it is relatively cheap, representing a budget option for gamers.

The high bit depth of the latest AMD graphics cards, obtained through the use of multi-layer memory modules, allows you to have a lower frequency, providing more power.

At the same time, the specific energy consumption of the equipment (1 W of power per 1 GB / s data transfer rate) becomes lower - R9 models with HBM memory consume less electricity compared to other cards.

The main feature of the Radeon Fury and Nano is the ability to run more graphics-demanding applications and resource-intensive games with a high FPS (frame rate).

Type and amount of memory

GDDR5 memory, which until recently was considered the best option for a graphics card, is starting to become obsolete.

Moreover, manufacturers say that its capabilities are approaching their limit, and begin to look for new solutions. One of them is HBM technology, which is different:

• increased productivity;
• less need for electricity;
• feature of the organization of the memory subsystem.

For this reason, modern and more expensive video cards R9 Fury, Fury X and Nano, having a low frequency of 1000 MHz, work 33% faster than the flagship of the previous generation R9 390X - 512 GB / s instead of 384.

The same relatively new, but budget model RX 460 with a good frequency of 1212 MHz has 5 times lower speed compared to the most powerful model of the manufacturer, since it not only has GDDR5 memory, but also a bit depth of 128 bits.

The amount of memory for modern Radeon graphics devices is at the level of 4096-8192 MB.

At the same time, modern games require at least 4 GB of memory to run with normal settings.

Although this indicator is not so important for HBM memory, attention should be paid to the bandwidth, which is higher than that of GDDR.

Process technology

The main structural elements of the processor, including the graphics processor, are transistors that pass or block electric current in a certain direction.

The performance of the video card depends on their number, and this indicator, in turn, depends on the size of the transistors and the technology used in their manufacture.

Most graphics card developers, including AMD, use the 28nm transistor process technology.

All modern models have this indicator value, except for the RX 400 series.

New generation graphics processors are based on 14 nm technology. And in the future, Radeon cards will be produced using the 7nm process technology.

The 14nm technology is expected to give the graphics core a 2x to 3x performance boost and support up to 3 independent monitors.

Bandwidth

The speed of data transfer using video cards primarily depends on the product of the effective frequency of their memory and the bit depth.

The larger this value, the faster the information is transmitted, and, therefore, the games work better.

At the same time, the new HBM memory has a bit depth 8 times higher, which means that the frequency may be lower.

For example, for the R9 Fury X, the throughput is (4096/8) bytes*1 GHz = 512 GB/s. This value is more than enough to run any game at maximum settings.

The 128-bit RX 460 video card can transfer only 112 GB / s of information (= 7000 * 128/8).

Power consumption and cooling

The power consumption of different video cards depends on various factors:

• the technology used to create the processor;
• memory type;
• graphics card power.

At the same time, even in the same series of cards, you can find models with high and low power consumption.

So, for example, the R9 390 and 390X models consume up to 275 W of power and require a power supply unit of at least 500 W.

The same figure for more powerful cards R9 Fury and Fury X. Whereas R9 Nano consumes only 175 watts, although the performance is not inferior to the rest and even surpasses them.

And the low-cost RX 460 consumes only 75 watts, with an optimal power-to-energy ratio.

Power up to 75W is provided by a single PCI Express slot.

Exceeding this value is compensated by additional 8-pin sockets, through each of which you can apply up to 150 watts.

This means that a single PCI slot is not enough to provide power to modern AMD cards and additional power is required.

The design of the cooling system also depends on the power consumption of the GPU:

• less productive models are cooled by a conventional fan system;

• processors capable of running modern games also require more serious cooling - liquid. For example, R9 Nano's ventilation system includes not only a cooler, but also an evaporation chamber with heat pipes. And the R9 Fury has a metal plate under the radiator.

conclusions

AMD, like its main competitor Nvidia, continues to increase most of the characteristics of its video cards.

And the Fury series surpasses the previous generation in most indicators (except for power consumption).

Although this only applies to older versions, budget RX graphics cards based on the new 14nm process are inferior to older flagships and are comparable to inexpensive models of the past generation.

Therefore, when choosing a card for your PC, the main attention will still have to be paid to the financial side of the issue - high costs will allow you to get better characteristics.

10 Mar. 2016

On this page below there are links to download the latest free AMD graphics card drivers Radeon HD 8200 / R3, which is part of the Radeon HD 8000 series. The installation files are taken from the official website and are suitable for: Windows 7, 10, 8, 8.1, XP, Vista 32/64-bit (x86/x64).

For the convenience of choosing the right files, the version of your Windows and its bit depth (“bit depth”) are indicated below.

Your computer runs on:

1. Download (153.5 MB / version 16.8.2 (Crimson Edition 16.8.2 Hotfix) / release date 08/12/2016)

   For Windows 7 32-bit

2. Download (239.8 MB / version 16.8.2 (Crimson Edition 16.8.2 Hotfix) / release date 08/12/2016)

   For Windows 7 64-bit

3. Download (134.8 MB / version 16.8.2 (Crimson Edition 16.8.2 Hotfix) / release date 08/12/2016)

   For Windows 10 32-bit

4. Download (208.24 MB / version 16.8.2 (Crimson Edition 16.8.2 Hotfix) / release date 08/12/2016)

   For Windows 10 64-bit

5. Download (205 MB / version 14.4 (Catalyst Software Suite) / release date 04/25/2014)

   For Windows 8 32-bit

6. Download (260 MB / version 14.4 (Catalyst Software Suite) / release date 04/25/2014)

   For Windows 8 64-bit

7. Download (154.21 MB / version 16.8.2 (Crimson Edition 16.8.2 Hotfix) / release date 08/12/2016)

   For Windows 8.1 32-bit

8. Download (239.88 MB / version 16.8.2 (Crimson Edition 16.8.2 Hotfix) / release date 08/12/2016)

   For Windows 8.1 64-bit

9. Download (179 MB / version 14.4 (Catalyst Software Suite) / release date 04/25/2014)

   For Windows XP 32 and 64-bit

10. Download (151 MB / version 13.12 (Catalyst Software Suite) / release date 12/18/2013)

    For Windows Vista 32-bit

11. Download (209 MB / version 13.12 (Catalyst Software Suite) / release date 12/18/2013)

    For Windows Vista 64-bit

Fallback - Obtain Drivers Using AMD Driver Autodetect

This option is convenient because the program AMD Driver Autodetect will automatically select and download the latest working drivers, which are suitable for your AMD graphics card and for your version of Windows. The program does not need to be installed, it was created by AMD and the files are downloaded from their official servers.

Instruction:

1. Launch AMD Driver Autodetect and it will immediately automatically select the necessary files for installing drivers.
2. To download files, click on the "Download Now" button.
3. Wait for the files to download and start the installation.

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
Entry-level graphics 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 8-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.

Drivers:

ASUS 8200 Ti200 - Detonator 23.11
ATI RADEON 8500 OEM - 4.13.9009.

By the end of testing, these drivers were the recommended versions (release) for both cards for Windows 98/ME.

The system, of course, is clearly not "Top" by today's standards, rather average or slightly higher, but, on the other hand, video cards are also not the most expensive and fastest, so there is some balance here.

The tests were conducted only in 32-bit color (games in 16-bit color were not considered), VSync was disabled in all tests. Other settings were taken by default, i.e. after installing the driver, no changes (except for disabling VSync) were made. The sound in all tests was turned off.

In all tests, only resolutions of 1024x768, 1280x1024 are considered, since these video cards provide a quite comfortable level of playability in all modern games at these resolutions. In addition, in our opinion, most users in our conditions use 15 "-17" monitors, for which a completely "humane" refresh rate of 85-100Hz is provided only at 1024x768 and 1280x1024. And for LCD monitors, which are gaining more and more popularity lately, these resolutions are also the main ones.

We conducted almost all tests both in normal mode and with anisotropic filtering. Why, in fact, with anisotropic filtering? The fact is that in modern games in normal mode (with a trilinear) at these resolutions, quite playable fps are often given by weaker and, accordingly, less expensive cards, such as the GeForce2 Titanium, ATI Radeon 7500, GeForce4 MX 440. Accordingly, many Actively playing owners of video cards of the GF3 and Radeon 8500 class believe that playing such powerful cards (even on their lower modifications) without additional load, which is anisotropic filtering, is like taking a taxi to a bakery, and as you know, "our people don't go to the bakery by taxi" :).

The only question is what type of load to choose. We deliberately excluded other types of load, because (again, in our opinion), not all today's games can be played simply with antialiasing in 4x mode (not to mention the combination of this mode with anisotropic filtering). The choice is actually between AA 2x and AF, of which we left the last mode (as it gives, subjectively, a more pleasant picture in 3D in most cases). Of course, giving up something is not the best solution, but in the conditions of limited time for testing, you have to separate the main from the secondary.

For tests, the 8500 LE is set to the mode with the maximum degree of anisotropic filtering, for the Ti200 anisotropic filtering level = 4 as a compromise between quality and performance.

To evaluate the effect of overclocking video cards, we tested the Radeon 8500 LE both in normal mode (250/250) and in overclocked mode (286/266). The Ti200 card, in turn, was also tested in the stock (175/200) and overclocked (200/230) states. Of course, overclocking is a trick, someone's video card will overclock and work stably (and not only pass five tests) at higher frequencies, especially if you use additional cooling or resoldering resistors. We settled on these numbers, because, in our opinion, such overclocking is practically guaranteed for these video cards and without additional measures.

Due to the limited time and large volume of tests, it was decided to limit (at this stage) to tests only under the Win98SE operating system. In the foreseeable future, we plan to prepare the 2nd part of this article with tests in Windows XP.