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Group Test: AMD FX-8350, FX-8320, FX-6300 And FX-4300 - All Vishera Processors (Part 2)

4/17/2013 9:11:07 AM

The six-core Vishera FX-6300 can be formed from a full-feature semiconductor die by disabling some of 4 dual-core models. Regarding clock frequency, this processor is similar to FX-8320. This six-core processor’s nominal frequency is set at 3.5GHz, but in case of lower number of operating threads, it can be raised up to 4.1GHz. The smaller number of core and the average clock frequency allow the manufacturer to set TDP at 95W. However, finally, its frequency is beaten by FX-6200 ones based on the previous-generation Bulldozer micro-structures.

AMD FX-6300

AMD FX-6300

Disabling 2 of 4 source semiconductor dies doesn’t affect the size of L3 cache, also featuring L3 8MB cache. However, the L2 cache in FX-6300 is smaller, as in Piledriver microarchitecture (like in Bulldozer); it is separate from each pair of cores. As you may guess, it includes three 2MB parts, equal to 6MB and contrary to 8MB in eight-core processor.

Another identification feature of the Vishera six-core variant is lower frequency than in North Bridge integrated in processing unit. This unit works at 3.2GHz in FX-8350 and FX-8320, while FX-6300 is 200MHz slower. As a result, the processor’s memory controller and L3 cache are quite slow. However, practice showed that this difference in frequency was not important.

Though, FX-6300 fits more pockets than eight-core models. It is worth at $132 and positioned as the old Intel Core i5-2300 processor’s rival.

AMD FX-6300

·         Number of cores: 6 (3 modules)

·         Clock frequency: 3.5GHz

·         Clock frequency in Turbo mode: max. 4.1GHz

·         L2 memory: 3x 2MB

·         L3 memory: 8 MB

·         North Bridge frequency: 2.0GHz

·         Memory: DDR3-1866

·         TDP: 95W

·         Socket: Socket AM3+

·         RRP: $132

AMD FX-4300

AMD FX-4300

AMD FX-4300

FX-4300 seems the oddest FX model around. It costs $122, $10 cheaper than only FX-6300, but it is considerably weaker, depending on technical specs. Secondly, FX-4300’s cache was reduced down to 4MB instead of 8MB. Therefore, we only have the half of FX-8350, but the price is not halved.

This processor’s operating frequency is very far from impressive. FX-4300’s nominal speed is 3.8GHz, which can be boosted to 4.0GHz in Turbo mode. North Bridge in this processor works at 2.0GHz, like so in FX-6300. All of them allow four-core Vishera to maintain TDP in 95W, but at the same time, it is clearly at a lower level, compared with the four-core suggestion of the previous generation, FX-4170, regarding specs. The latter works at higher clock frequency (by 200-300MHz) and supported by a full-sized L3 cache. Thus, we are afraid of the four-core Vishera’s advantage over the four-core Zambezi of the last generation.

However, though AMD realizes about FX-4300 weak tech specs to position their product against the dual-core Core i3-2120 from Sandy Bridge. Moreover, according to the current price, it would be more reasonable when choosing a four-core A10-5800K processor for Socket FM2 platform based on the same Piledriver structure. It is sold at a similar price but has an integrated graphics processing unit and slightly higher clock frequency.

AMD FX-4300

·         Number of cores: 4 (2 modules)

·         Clock frequency: 3.8GHz

·         Clock frequency in Turbo mode: max. 4.0GHz

·         L2 cache: 2x 2MB

·         L3 cache: 4MB

·         North Bridge frequency: 2.0GHz

·         Memory: max. DDR3-1866

·         TDP: 95W

·         Socket: Socket AM3+

·         RRP: $122

Tested configurations and methods

To start, we changed the method considerably. Particularly, we moved to the latest Windows 8 OS. Of course, it didn’t cause any harsh change as software environment didn’t focus on affecting computer’s performance of tested platforms. However, bear in mind that Windows 8 is proud of a lot of improvements.

First, unlike previous operating systems, the OS’s schedule is initially optimized for the entire microarchitecture of the modern processor using SMT and CMT technologies. Meaning, from current AMD processors with two pairs of cores to Intel models featuring Hyper-Threading don’t require any patch: everything work efficiently right after unboxed. Second, the new operating system’s kernel has gone through some important modifications improving its functions on various laptops. And even though we concentrated on testing desktops, these changes still concerned for us. Windows 8 uses system memory more efficiently, fixes the CPU cores more firmly and tries to reduce the demand for the processor cycles. Third, there is no Aero interface in Windows 8: it was replaced with the new Metro interface with higher 2D performance. And fourth, the new system was upgraded to DirectX version 11.1 (Direct3D 11.1, DXGI 1.2, and WDDM 1.2...).

For the deep test of today’s products, AMD FX-8350, FX-8320, FX-6300 and FX-4300 from Vishera generation will rival their predecessors on Zambezi design as well as struggle against the contemporary competitors from Intel on Ivy Bridge. The old Bulldozer microarchitecture’s honor will be defended by the top processors in each category: eight-core FX-8150, six-core FX-6200 and four-core FX-4170. Intel processors will be represented by top LGA 1155 CPUs with four cores and Hyper-Threading support - Core i7-3770K, simple quad-core products - Core i5-3570K and Core i5-3470, dual-core Core i3-3240 with Hyper-Threading support and the youngest member of the Ivy Bridge series - Pentium G2120.

As a result, our tests were built with the following hardware and software parts:

Processors

·         AMD FX-8350 (Vishera, 8 cores, 4.0-4.2 GHz, 4 x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)

·         AMD FX-8320 (Vishera, 8 cores, 3.5-4.0 GHz, 4 x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)

·         AMD FX-6300 (Vishera, 6 cores, 3.5-4.1 GHz, 3 x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)

·         AMD FX-4300 (Vishera, 4 cores, 3.8-4.0 GHz, 2 x 2 MB L2, 4 MB L3)

·         AMD FX-8150 (Zambezi, 8 cores, 3.6-4.2 GHz, 4 x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)

·         AMD FX-6200 (Zambezi, 6 cores, 3.8-4.1 GHz, 3 x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)

·         AMD FX-4170 (Zambezi, 4 cores, 4.2-4.3 GHz, 2 x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)

·         Intel Core i7-3770K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores + HT, 3.5-3.9 GHz, 4 x 256 KB L2, 8 MB L3)

·         Intel Core i5-3570K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.4-3.8 GHz, 4 x 256 KB L2, 6 MB L3)

·         Intel Core i5-3470 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.2-3.6 GHz, 4 x 256 KB L2, 6 MB L3)

·         Intel Core i3-3240 (Ivy Bridge, 2 cores + HT, 3.4 GHz, 2 x 256 KB L2, 3 MB L3)

·         Intel Pentium G2120 (Ivy Bridge, 2 cores, 3.1 GHz, 2 x 256 KB L2, 3 MB L3)

 

Processor cooler

·         NZXT Havik 140

·         Mainboards

·         ASUS Crosshair V Formula (Socket AM3+, AMD 990FX + SB950)

·         ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe (LGA1155, Intel Z77 Express)

 

Memory

·         2x 4GB, DDR3-1866 SDRAM, 9-11-9-27 (Kingston KHX1866C9D3K2/8GX)

 

Graphic card

·         NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (2 GB/256-bit GDDR5, 1006/6008 MHz)

 

Disk drive

·         Intel SSD 520 240 GB (SSDSC2CW240A3K5)

 

Power supply unit

·         Corsair AX1200i (80 Plus Platinum, 1200 W)

 

OS

·         Microsoft Windows 8 Enterprise x64

 

Drivers

·         AMD Chipset Driver 12.10

·         Intel Chipset Driver 9.3.0.1025

·         Intel Management Engine Driver 8.​1.​2.​1318

·         Intel Rapid Storage Technology 11.​6.​0.​1030

·         NVIDIA GeForce 306.97 Driver

 

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