For whoever is interested in using a modern AMD CPU in their custom PC's. Release date is October 23rd. If it is a significant amount faster than Zambezi, then I'm getting my money's worth. If not, then Phenom II X6 I go.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display..._Date.html
Here's an unofficial specs comparison of both Zambezi (Bulldozer) and Vishera (Piledriver)
They really gotta do something.. And fast. All their newer CPU's than the Phenom II series has just been crap.
Like really. Their fastest octo-core CPU has been beaten by intels LAST GEN core i5 (2500k)
(2012-09-23 11:51)Kenwood Wrote: [ -> ]I mean the module design is interesting though poorly optimized for Windows 7.
You mean Windows 7 is poorly optimised for multicore, right?
Unfortunately, this is still the case for most general purpose programs, largely because efficient multicore programming is 'hard'.
If hardware manufacturers started to optimise for software and not the other way round, we'd never get anywhere.
Current Intel and Bulldozer CPUs both have their strengths and their weaknesses. For the enthusiast, which you buy depends mostly on what kind of software you need the most performance in. For everyone else they're all 'good enough'; none of the current Core/A-*/FX-* CPUs are 'crap'.
I found some information related to what's included in the retail box.
It includes a closed-loop liquid cooler, similar to a Corsair Hydro or Antec Kuhler H2O. Could as well be one without the stickers.
http://wccftech.com/retail-amd-fx-8350-w...-pictured/
I must admit, haven't experienced a Zambezi CPU, I jumped on the "unsure" bandwagon.
Looks promising. I'm as excited for Piledriver as I was for Bulldozer.
It's on the FX-8350 box at least, The cooler resembles mine, but with a larger radiator.
Although I am a big fan of AMD processors and 'bang for buck'. I think I'll be moving over to intel on my next upgrade.
The Vishera processors were released today. They are a good improvement from Bulldozer and are more power efficient, but Intel is still leading the way with general performance and power efficiency. The FX-8350 is priced at $220USD on Newegg, though I've read that it's $200USD at other retailers. The 8320 is priced at a respectable $180USD on Newegg.
I had high hopes for AMD, and I'm glad that the architecture was improved, however I think they should work on power efficiency since they can't seem to keep up with Intel performance-wise.
Considering Piledriver/Vishera is only really a tweaked Bulldozer, they've done a pretty good job - 10-15% faster per clock and at the same time reduced power usage per clock. Should be interesting once they've improved their new efficiency tech (first used in Piledriver/Vishera) and combine it with their planned (overdue unfortunately) process shrink.
Not bad considering Intel's latest tweak (Sandy -> Ivy) was a ~3% performance boost and better power consumption almost entirely due to a process shrink.
I hope AMD plans to increase performance by maybe 20% each generation instead of 10-15%, that way they can keep up with Intel.
Does anyone know how much of an improvement Haswell is supposed to be over Ivy Bridge?
(2012-10-24 21:13)Kenwood Wrote: [ -> ]Does anyone know how much of an improvement Haswell is supposed to be over Ivy Bridge?
More than Sandy -> Ivy, although I haven't actually looked into it (assuming there's even any info about it yet)