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, there is a configuration based on a 2-core, 4-thread Vinga CL-2001B with a cooler, an ASRock H110M-HDS motherboard and a low-profile MSI GeForce GT 1030 video card with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory. It stands out for its slight overclocking of the GPU: 1265/1518 instead of the reference 1227/1468 MHz. The effective memory frequency is 6 GHz. The remaining 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 the configuration based on AMD Ryzen 3 was about $384. A competitive system based on the 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 the indicated figures are very approximate. And, of course, we do not claim that the indicated assemblies are optimal, because everyone selects a system taking into account 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 produces 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 calmer, so a system with a discrete video card looks better.

IN 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 drops of up to 28. In turn, the Intel Pentium G4560 and GeForce GT 1030 combination produces only a little more on average - 66 frames/s. But the increase in the minimum framerate, rare and very rare events exceeds 50%. That is, the comfort of gameplay will be higher in a system with a discrete video card.

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

IN PUBG I had to choose a very low profile and reduce the rendering scale to 70%. But this did not protect against freezes up to 16 FPS in both cases. Moreover, very rare events in the system with GeForce GT 1030 were lower than in AMD Vega 8, but in other respects it was 50-60% ahead. And her frame timeline is calmer.

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

Heavy Assassin's Creed Origins You can run it on an iGPU with a very low preset, but the results will not please you - on average 27 FPS with a drop-off of up to 12. To complete it you will have to switch to HD. The combination with the GeForce GT 1030 also does not shine: on average 33 FPS with drops of up to 13. But the statistics for 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 repeatability of results. However, with a low preset, the indicators for minimum speed, rare and very rare events in both systems are at approximately the same level with an advantage of 1-3 FPS in favor of the GeForce GT 1030. In terms of average frequency, it is ahead by 28%.

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

Nice 21.5-inch all-in-one ASUS ET2230AGK based on 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. It uses a 21.5-inch Full HD screen with high-quality and natural color reproduction.

The new product is built on the basis of 4-core energy-efficient APUs of the AMD Beema series, which are complemented by an entry-level mobile video card (AMD Radeon R5 M230 or Radeon R5 M320), DDR3L RAM and HDD storage capacity 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 new product is a device completely ready for work and entertainment, which in the workplace only occupies the space of the monitor.

It will go on sale with Windows 8.1 pre-installed. The technical specifications of the ASUS ET2230AGK monoblock are 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 1.8 GHz; 15 W) / A6-6310 (4 x 1.8 - 2.4 GHz; 15 W)
Graphics core	AMD Radeon R3 / Radeon R4
Discrete graphics card	AMD Radeon R5 M230 / Radeon R5 M320 (2 GB VRAM)
RAM	DDR3L-1333 MHz
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 2 W) 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 rear panel	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

Choosing a computer 2015. Winter

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

As before, when creating configurations for certain tasks, the following set of components will be considered first: 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 ourselves from any brands, and if specific names are found somewhere, they should be considered only as an example, and not as a call to purchase. However, if some model turns out to be significantly better than its analogues, naturally, this point will be noted in the article. We took all indicated prices from popular online stores and calculated the average value. It is quite 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 indicated are approximate and are only indicative.

Well, we’ve sorted out the official part, now we can move on directly to computer configurations. In order of increasing functionality and cost, they can be arranged as follows:

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

All-in-one MSI Adora20 5M, AE200 5M and AE220 5M based on AMD Beema APU

MSI has launched three all-in-one models on the market: MSI Adora20 5M, AE200 5M and AE220 5M, which are based on different AMD Beema series APUs. Thus, the 19.5-inch MSI Adora20 5M is equipped with a 4-core AMD E2-6110 SoC processor operating at 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 with a clock frequency of 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 disk subsystem of the MSI Adora20 5M solution can use a single 2.5-inch drive, but the MSI AE200 5M and AE220 5M come with pre-installed 3.5-inch HDDs with a capacity of 500 GB or 1 TB.

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. Particularly noteworthy in the new products are the displays used, which support Anti-Flicker and Less Blue Light technologies to reduce eye strain.

MSIAE220 5M

The comparison table of the technical specifications of the new MSI all-in-one PCs is as follows:

Review and testing of the AMD Athlon 5150 processor

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

Specification:

Marking
CPU socket
Clock frequency, MHz
Factor
Base frequency, MHz
	4 x 32 (instruction memory) 4 x 32 (data memory)
Microarchitecture	AMD Jaguar + AMD GCN
Codename
Instructions support
Supply voltage, V
Critical temperature, °C
Technical process, nm
Technology support	AMD Virtualization AMD VCE (Video Codec Engine)
Built-in memory controller
Maximum memory capacity, GB
Memory types
Maximum frequency, MHz
Number of memory channels
Maximum number of modules per channel
Integrated AMD Radeon HD 8400 graphics (AMD Radeon R3 Graphics)
Stream processors
Rasterization modules
Texture blocks
GPU clock frequency, MHz
Instructions support	Shader Model 5.0

All prices for AMD+5150

Packaging, delivery and appearance

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

The box contains:

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

Externally, the AMD Athlon 5150 is no different from the previously reviewed solutions from the AMD Kabini family. The heat distribution cover contains the series name and model marking. 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 rear side corresponds to the Socket AM1 processor socket.

Standard cooling system

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

Although it is unlikely that the developers spent a lot of money on creating 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 50 mm 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). Let us remind you that coolers with mounts for boards equipped with Socket AM3 / AM3+ / FM2 / FM2+ processor sockets are not suitable for the AMD AM1 platform.

CPU heatingAMDAthlon 5150 in idle mode

CPU 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 the 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. At the same time, the fan rotation speed varied within 1300 - 2600 rpm. The maximum value is 4000 rpm, which can be achieved by activating the appropriate profile in the motherboard BIOS menu. As for the noise characteristics, up to the 3000 rpm mark the cooler operates quite quietly, and after overcoming this threshold a noticeable background appears.

Technical characteristics analysis

In normal operating mode, the speed of the AMD Athlon 5150 is 1600 MHz with a reference frequency of 100 MHz and a multiplier of “x16”. At the time the readings were taken, the voltage across the core was 1.296 V.

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

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

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

The DDR3 RAM controller operates in single-channel mode and is guaranteed to support modules with frequencies up to 1600 MHz. The maximum memory capacity can reach 16 GB.

The GPU-Z utility incorrectly determined the characteristics of the built-in 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 rasterizers and 8 texture units, and a clock speed of 600 MHz. To save energy when there is no heavy load on the iGPU, 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 results in games. However, for a more accurate answer, let's take a look at the test results.

New AMD Kaveri desktop APUs have started appearing in motherboard support lists

Currently, only two representatives of the AMD Kaveri desktop APU line are available on the market: AMD A10-7850K and AMD A10-7700K. It is unknown why AMD delayed the release of the remaining models, but they have already begun to appear in the support lists of some motherboards, which indicates an imminent debut.

In particular, AMD A6-7400K, AMD A8-7600 and AMD A10-7800 models were spotted 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. Its L2 cache capacity is 1 or 2 MB, and the video adapter uses an AMD Radeon R3 or AMD Radeon R5 series solution. It is difficult to say more precisely, since the information is contradictory. It is known for sure that its TDP is 65 W.

One of the most interesting is the 4-core AMD A8-7600 model. 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 a power-saving operating mode (TDP will be 45 W), while the speed indicators will drop to 3.1 / 3.1 GHz.

The AMD A10-7800 APU will be of interest to those who want high performance without planning to use additional overclocking. The base frequency of its 4 processor cores is at 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 is set at 65 W.

Summary table of technical specifications of the new AMD Kaveri series APUs:

Review and testing of the AMD Sempron 2650 processor

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

Since 2004, the AMD Sempron family has been replenished with different processors, but they all have a common attitude towards the lower price range. With the release of the new energy-efficient AMD AM1 platform, AMD 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
Volume of second level 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.

The AMD Sempron 2650 comes in a small white box made of thick cardboard. 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 application of the new product (solving everyday problems, 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;
• sticker on the computer case.

The instructions themselves, step by step, using visual icons, show the entire process of not only installing the APU into the connector, but also correctly fixing the complete cooling system.

The cooler consists of a small radiator, which is fixed to the motherboard using two spring-loaded clips, as well as a fan installed on it. In this case, the 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.

A curious thing is that the pad in contact with the processor through a thin layer of thermal paste has a round shape.

We also checked the efficiency of the standard cooling system on an open test bench. The operating speed range of the complete fan in automatic mode is between 1300 and 4000 rpm. Up to 3000 rpm it remains virtually silent, with only a subtle background noise appearing at 4000 rpm. In normal mode of operation of the turntable, the GPU temperature does not exceed 28°C, and the processor cores - 40°C, so there is no need to worry about overheating.

On the AMD Sempron 2650 case, in addition to the markings, the countries of production are indicated: the crystal itself was grown in Germany, and the final assembly took place 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 connector, you need to be extremely careful not to damage the rather long and thin copper contacts.

Marking
CPU socket
Base clock frequency (nominal), MHz
Maximum clock frequency with AMD Turbo Core 3.0, MHz
Factor
Base system bus frequency, MHz
Level 1 cache memory L1, KB	2 x 32 (data memory) 2 x 32 (instruction memory)
Volume of L2 cache memory, KB
Volume of L3 cache memory, KB
Microarchitecture	AMD Jaguar + AMD GCN
Codename
Number of cores/threads
Instructions 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
Technical process, nm
Technology support	AMD Virtualization AMD UVD (Universal Video Decoder) AMD VCE (Video Codec Engine)
Built-in memory controller
Maximum memory capacity, GB
Memory types
Maximum frequency, MHz
Number of memory channels
Integrated AMD Radeon R3 graphics (Radeon HD 8240)
Stream processors
Texture blocks
Rasterization modules
GPU clock frequency, MHz
Instructions support	Shader Model 5.0
Products webpage Product page

All prices for AMD+2650

The main advantage of the AMD Sempron 2650, which can be highlighted in the specification table, is its fairly 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 level of “x14.5”, and the clock frequency at the time the readings were taken was at 1447 MHz. The voltage at the core was 1.288 V.

In idle mode, the frequency dropped to 798 MHz with a multiplier 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 memory is allocated per core with 8 associativity channels, and 32 KB of L1 cache memory per core with 2 associativity channels is allocated for instructions. There is also 1024 KB of 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 frequencies up to 1333 MHz. Support for modules with a frequency of 1600 MHz and higher (with automatic reduction to a 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 slightest flap of a butterfly's wings at one end of the world
could 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 APU design, which involves the integration of central and graphics processor cores, as well as a memory controller, on a single chip. The first to enter the market were models from the AMD Zacate (AMD E) and AMD Ontario (AMD C) series, which were aimed at use in netbooks, nettops and entry-level laptops. This approach made it possible to abandon the design of printed circuit boards using North and South Bridge microcircuits. The first of them became part of the processor, and the second began to be called the “Chipset”. This significantly simplified the board layout and the design of the cooling system, increased the performance of individual components and reduced the overall cost of production.

The next evolutionary stage was the transition to SoC (System-on-Chip) design. It involves the integration of a chipset microcircuit into the processor, that is, along with the computing functions, the CPU also performs coordinating ones, ensuring the correct interaction of many internal interfaces. The result is increased ease of design and layout of motherboards, and eliminates the need for many additional controllers. All this leads to a further reduction in production costs, which has a positive effect on the final price.

The first APUs to support SoC design in AMD's lineup were the 28nm solutions of the AMD Temash and AMD Kabini series, which replaced the 40nm models of the AMD Ontario and AMD Zacate series. They are aimed at use as part of budget tablets, nettops, all-in-one PCs and laptops. There are even desktop motherboards on the market with integrated AMD Kabini APUs that 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 a socket on the motherboard at the factory. On the one hand, this approach reduces production costs, and on the other hand, the process of replacing such a processor becomes significantly more complicated. And if for laptops this is considered the norm and does not cause widespread complaints, then many owners of desktop PCs highly value and value the ability to freely update the configuration by replacing the processor.

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

Now let's go through the key aspects of the presentation of the AMD AM1 platform 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, the majority of the desktop systems market (38%) is occupied by entry-level solutions. Mainstream PCs make up 30%, and performance desktops make up 32%. Thus, the market for budget systems is quite large, so AMD did not want to give it entirely to the Intel Bay Trail platform and prepared its own alternative, which looks very worthy, taking into account the specific needs in this area. Particularly high hopes for the AMD AM1 platform are placed in the markets of developing countries, where price plays a paramount role.

That is why AMD decided to use the rather successful 28 nm AMD Jaguar microarchitecture to create a new generation of processors from the AMD Sempron and AMD Athlon lines. As mentioned earlier, they combine on one chip four CPU cores, a graphics adapter with AMD GCN microarchitecture and a single-channel DDR3-1600 RAM controller with support for a total capacity of up to 16 GB.

Additionally, they implement support for 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.);
• eDP, DisplayPort / HDMI and VGA video ports;
• 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 us about the improvements that the 28-nm AMD Jaguar microarchitecture brought with it. The 40nm AMD Bobcat was taken as the basis, but the transition to a new technological process made it possible to increase the number of structural elements and optimize all key blocks. AMD should not be blamed for improving the microarchitecture instead of implementing a radically new one, since there is an unwritten rule: “when changing the technical process, the microarchitecture should not be changed in order to avoid many errors.” Therefore, we can expect more significant changes in future versions of AMD AM1 platform processors. In this case, the engineers improved the integer (IEU) and fractional processing units (FPU), redesigned the load/store queue, provided 128-bit access to the FPU block, allocated more resources to the operation of prefetch units, and added support for new instructions (SSE4. 1/4.2, AES, CLMUL, MOVBE, AVX, F16C and BMI1) and made many other improvements.

Much in common can be found in the microarchitectures of AMD Steamroller (AMD Kaveri APU) and AMD Jaguar: 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. First is the size: four AMD Jaguar processor cores occupy the equivalent footprint of one dual-core AMD Steamroller module. Important differences between the energy-efficient AMD Jaguar 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 shared access to L2 cache for all cores. Let us recall that AMD Steamroller assumes the use of one FP block per dual-core module. The L2 cache memory is distributed using the same principle.

As a result of all the improvements, the IPC (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 is good news.

The integrated graphics adapter uses the already well-known AMD GCN microarchitecture, which is also present in . We have the same structure of CU (Compute Unit) computing clusters, which include four vector blocks and a scalar coprocessor. In turn, each vector block contains 16 stream processors, so the total number of stream processors in one CU is 64. Since the first APU APUs of the AMD AM1 platform use a maximum of two CU clusters, the total number of stream processors in them is 128.

Another interesting point in graphic adapters is worthy of attention, 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 structure of AMD. Let us 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 will most likely be used in 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 AMD Athlon 5350 model look very impressive. It quite confidently outperforms its main competitor, the Intel Pentium J2900. In undemanding games, the AMD Athlon 5350 even comes out ahead of the Intel Celeron G1610 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 210 discrete graphics card.

The test results become even more impressive after comparing the cost of these models, since the AMD APU together with the motherboard will cost less than a single Intel processor. But cost plays a very important role for entry-level platforms.

It is in the AMD AM1 platform APU that a very important advantage is a high-performance graphics adapter, the capabilities of which are sufficient 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, and quick photo editing and other similar tasks. Considering that such systems usually do not rely on the help of a discrete video card, AMD's APUs look very cool compared to their competitors. In addition, we continue to collaborate 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-class computers and AMD AM3+ - high-performance PCs.

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

				AMD Sempron 3850
Market segment			Desktop systems
CPU socket
Processor core
Microarchitecture
Technical process, nm
Number of Cores
Clock frequency, GHz
L1 cache memory, KB	Instructions
L2 cache memory, 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 6 Gb/s, LPC and others
Supported Ports			2 x USB 3.0 8 x USB 2.0 2 x SATA 6 Gb/s HDMI DisplayPort PS/2
TDP indicator, W

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 new product really as good as indicated in the presentation? Does it have any other hidden advantages or disadvantages? We will try to answer these questions further.

PlatformAMDAM1

We received for testing not only a representative of the AMD Kabini family, but also an entire system at once (processor + motherboard + RAM). This will give us the opportunity to fully evaluate the capabilities of the entire AMD AM1 platform, and will also allow us to 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 let's return to our ASRock AM1B-ITX board. As you can see, its layout is quite standard for such compact solutions: the processor socket is located in the middle; interfaces are located on the left edge of the PCB, and slots for RAM are located on the opposite edge; the lower part is reserved for the PCI Express x16 connector. Let us remember that it uses only 4 PCIe 2.0 lanes. But even this amount will be quite sufficient in this case, since the AMD AM1 platform is primarily positioned as the basis for office computers, nettops or HTPCs, and not for 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 TV tuner.

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

Since the processors of the AMD Kabini family have taken over many functions of third-party controllers, the number of additional chips on the motherboard has been significantly reduced. The first thing that catches your eye is the lack of a chipset. Now support for SATA 6 Gb/s ports is carried out directly by the processor, although only two in number. ASRock felt that this might not be enough and used an additional ASMedia ASM1061 controller, which supports 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 operate under the control of the processor, and the operation of 2 more, which can be connected to the header on the motherboard, is provided by the ASMedia ASM1042A controller.

The video interfaces on the rear panel include VGA, DVI and HDMI. 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 connectors, 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 practically not inferior to other popular solutions equipped with Socket FM2 / FM2+ / LGA 1150 processor sockets.

The TDP of AMD Kabini processors is stated at 25 W, so the requirements for its power subsystem are quite low. A 2-phase VRM module, which we can see on the ASRock AM1B-ITX board, is also quite sufficient. Its operation is ensured 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).

This simple configuration of the processor converter allows you to reduce the cost of manufacturing the motherboard and, as a result, reduce 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 the proprietary AMD Radeon Memory series. According to the markings and the inscription 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 radiators 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 frequencies above 1600 MHz. However, you shouldn’t worry too much about this, because increasing the speed of the memory subsystem has virtually 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 AMD AM1 platform.

AMD Athlon 5350 processor

Packaging, delivery set and standard cooling system

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

It differs from the usual coolers that come with processors from the AMD Trinity / Richland / Kaveri / Zambezi / Vishera families, primarily in its compact dimensions. The length and width of this cooling system are 55 mm (excluding clamps), and the height is only 40 mm. And these are the dimensions already included 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. To blow them, a low-profile FOXCONN PVA050E12L fan with a size of 50 mm and a power of 1.92 W is used. Power is supplied via a 3-pin connector with support for monitoring the rotation speed 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 rotation 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 case and looks very similar to other processors produced under the AMD brand. On the heat distribution cover there is a marking and the name of the country of manufacture (in this case, Taiwan). The processor was already there for final assembly. The crystal itself was grown in Germany, as indicated by the inscription “Diffused in Germany”.

Specification and technical characteristics:

Marking
CPU socket
Clock frequency (nominal), MHz
Factor
Base frequency, MHz
Level 1 cache memory L1, KB	4 x 32 (instruction memory) 4 x 32 (data memory)
Volume of L2 cache memory, KB
Volume of L3 cache memory, KB
Microarchitecture	AMD Jaguar + AMD GCN
Codename
Number of processor cores/threads
Instructions 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
Technical process, nm
Technology support	AMD Virtualization AMD UVD (Universal Video Decoder) AMD VCE (Video Codec Engine)
Built-in memory controller
Maximum memory capacity, 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
Instructions support	Shader Model 5.0

In normal operating mode, the speed of the AMD Athlon 5350 is 2050 MHz with a reference frequency of 100 MHz and a multiplier of “x20.5”. At the time the readings were taken, the voltage across the core was 1.288 V.

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

The AMD Athlon 5350 cache is distributed as follows:

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

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

10 Mar. 2016

This page below has links to download the latest free drivers for AMD video cards Radeon HD 8200 / R3, which is part of the Radeon HD 8000 series. 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).

To make it easier to select the files you need, the version of your Windows and its 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 - Get drivers using AMD Driver Autodetect

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

Instructions:

1. Run 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.

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

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

Although, in order to select a suitable model and determine whether its capabilities are sufficient to complete your tasks, it is worth considering the parameters of GPUs in more detail.

To make it easier to get acquainted with the characteristics of the equipment, you can create a table indicating the main quantities that affect the performance and functionality of the video card.

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

You can also focus on electricity consumption, which determines the power of the computer's power supply and the method of cooling the device.

Memory frequency and bus width

The memory frequency of a video card primarily affects its operating speed. The average value of this indicator is 1000 MHz for HBM memory and 6000–8000 for GDDR5.

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

The memory bandwidth of the video card primarily depends on the bus characteristics.

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

Thus, 64-bit boards are practically no longer used in modern computers, although they are still available for sale in online stores.

More modern video card models have 128 and 256 bits, top versions have 512 bits and higher.

The ten best AMD models today have the following bit capacities:

• RX 470, 480 and 380 series – 256-bit;
• 390 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 an 18 nm process technology, RX, has a bit depth of only 128 bits, which is why it has a low data transfer speed, although it is relatively cheap, representing a budget option for gamers.

The high-bit capacity of the latest AMD graphics cards, achieved through the use of multi-layer memory modules, allows for lower frequencies while providing more power.

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

The main feature of Radeon Fury and Nano is the ability to run more graphics-intensive 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 beginning to become obsolete.

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

• increased productivity;
• less need for electricity;
• a 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 compared to 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 operating speed compared to the manufacturer’s most powerful model, since it not only has GDDR5 memory, but also a 128-bit memory.

The memory capacity of 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.

Technical process

The main design elements of a processor, including a 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 video card developers, including AMD, use a 28 nm transistor process technology.

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

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

It is assumed that 14-nanometer technology provides the graphics core with 2-3 times faster performance and supports up to 3 independently operating monitors.

Bandwidth

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

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

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

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

A 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:

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

Moreover, even in one series of cards you can find models with high and low energy consumption.

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

The more powerful R9 Fury and Fury X cards have the same figure. While the R9 Nano consumes only 175 W, although its performance is not inferior to the others and even surpasses them.

And the inexpensive RX 460 model consumes only 75 W, having an optimal power-to-power ratio.

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

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

This means that to provide energy to modern AMD cards, one PCI connector is not enough and additional power is required.

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

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

• processors capable of running modern games also require more serious cooling - liquid. For example, the 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 installed 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 is superior to the previous generation in most respects (except power consumption).

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

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

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

advertising

What is the picture at the moment? 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 itself has been on sale for a long time, the 960 GB modification has literally just appeared;
• Micron MTFDDAV1T0TBN - from 16.8 thousand rubles - under 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 considerable, but no fundamental changes occurred during this time, and therefore we can assume that no special issues should arise with this decision either;
• Samsung 850 Evo – from 17.2 thousand rubles. A well-worn model, tested by all and sundry. There doesn’t seem to be much meaning;
• Crucial MX300 – from 17.5 thousand rubles – has already been mentioned a couple of paragraphs above;
• Intel SSDSCKKW010X6X1, also known as Intel 540s, priced from 17.9 rubles – also reviewed a year ago;
• WD Blue 3D NAND SATA SSD – priced from 17.9 thousand rubles – a new product that just went on sale, a week ago we tested the 500 GB modification and got some idea of ​​the potential of this modification;
• AMD Radeon R3 – 18 thousand rubles – we have not yet studied this drive;
• Kingston SSDNow UV400 – from 18.5 thousand rubles – similar;
• Toshiba HDTS896EZSTA - from 19 thousand rubles - a combination of Phison S10 and 15 nm planar TLC NAND Toshiba is familiar from the Toshiba TR150 test from a year ago, in fact, the remaining ones are already on sale, in the near future the drive should disappear from sale, since it is out of production;
• Corsair Force LE – priced from 19.5 thousand rubles – is 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 (administrative difficulties), 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 single out solutions in the M.2 form factor. The fact is that such a drive can easily be “turned” into a 2.5" drive – there are a lot of corresponding adapter cases on AliExpress/eBay at a price of 200-250 rubles with delivery.

And the difference between M.2 and the “original” 2.5" from a hardware point of view is vanishingly small. And even the seemingly denser layout with the emerging risk of overheating under heavy loads is in fact no longer such. In 2.5" cases, full-size printed circuit boards have become a vanishing feature view - recently, in order to reduce costs, manufacturers have switched en masse to shortened boards.

Drivers:

ASUS 8200 Ti200 - Detonator 11/23
ATI RADEON 8500 OEM - 4.13.9009.

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

The system, of course, by today’s standards is clearly not “Top”, rather average or slightly above that, but, on the other hand, video cards are also not the most expensive and fast, so there is some balance here.

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

All tests consider only resolutions of 1024x768, 1280x1024, since at these resolutions these video cards provide a completely comfortable level of playability in all modern games. In addition, in our opinion, most users in our conditions use 15"-17" monitors, for which only 1024x768 and 1280x1024 provide a completely “humane” refresh rate of 85-100Hz. And for LCD monitors, which have recently become increasingly popular, 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 trilinear) in these resolutions, quite playable fps are often given by weaker and, accordingly, less expensive cards, such as GeForce2 Titanium, ATI Radeon 7500, GeForce4 MX 440. Accordingly, many Actively gaming owners of GF3 and Radeon 8500 class video cards believe that playing on such powerful cards (even on their lower modifications) without additional load, such as anisotropic filtering, is like taking a taxi to a bakery, and as you know, “our people don’t take taxis to the bakery” :).

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 combining this mode with anisotropic filtering). The choice is actually between AA 2x and AF, of which we left the latter mode (as it gives, subjectively, a more pleasant 3D picture in most cases). Of course, giving up something is not the best solution, but with limited time for testing, you have to separate the essential from the unimportant.

For tests, the 8500 LE selected the mode with the maximum degree of anisotropic filtering, for the Ti200 anisotropic filtering level = 4 as a trade-off 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 overclocked (286/266). The Ti200 card, in turn, was also tested in stock (175/200) and overclocked (200/230) states. Of course, overclocking is a roulette; for some, the video card will overclock and work stably (and not just pass five tests) at higher frequencies, especially if you use additional cooling or resolder resistors. We settled on these numbers because, in our opinion, such overclocking is practically guaranteed for these video cards without additional measures.

Due to time constraints and a large volume of tests, it was decided to limit ourselves (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.