What's Your Preferences In Various Hardware?

**ryandigweed** · 12-03-2012, 07:42 PM

Originally Posted by Joshua_Mahr

I think so too. If there APU's keep going the way they are, I think they might be able to take over the casual laptop and basic gamer desktops. Just my two cents.

Yep I agree. The apus would make great budget laptops as well as htpcs and office systems

**TehYoyo** · 12-04-2012, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by ryandigweed

Yep I agree. The apus would make great budget laptops as well as htpcs and office systems

An APU for a graphics-heavy computer like a HTPC? I've never built one, so I wouldn't really know, but it logically seems like you need a nice graphics card, no?

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

That's exactly my point.

AMD isn't going for the high end market anymore. They're going for the low-end / laptop / casual gamer market like you said.

Good. They really can't compete w/ Intel high end. I think I've said that before. They need to hit the budget market because it's pretty wide-open.

**CDsDontBurn** · 12-04-2012, 01:10 AM

Originally Posted by TehYoyo

An APU for a graphics-heavy computer like a HTPC? I've never built one, so I wouldn't really know, but it logically seems like you need a nice graphics card, no?

Yes, the APU is equivalent to a range of low-end stand alone GPUs such as 5450, 5550, 6450, and 6550. All those cards are perfect for an HTPC. Seeing as the APU has that type of GPU embedded into it, it's perfect for an HTPC.

**ryandigweed** · 12-04-2012, 08:20 AM

Originally Posted by TehYoyo

An APU for a graphics-heavy computer like a HTPC? I've never built one, so I wouldn't really know, but it logically seems like you need a nice graphics card, no?

Like CDsDontBurn stated that they provide a good graphic output as compared to low end - mid range graphic cards. That's why everyone's so crazy about apus.

However I would like to add that htpcs aren't that graphic intensive as you'd think. I they just need a decent graphic card to handle high resolutions and clarity on screens.. Apart from that some hardware acceleration while watching movies. Nothing so intense. People are running htpcs on mobile chip sets from tablets and phones. So I don't think there's an issue

**peti1212** · 12-04-2012, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by CDsDontBurn

That's exactly my point.

AMD isn't going for the high end market anymore. They're going for the low-end / laptop / casual gamer market like you said.

Exactly. APUs, and apparently ARM based processors... ARM is still new and they are working on it, but we'll see in the next few years.

**ET3D** · 12-04-2012, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by TehYoyo

An APU for a graphics-heavy computer like a HTPC? I've never built one, so I wouldn't really know, but it logically seems like you need a nice graphics card, no?

The only reason to have a nice graphics card on an HTPC is if it's intended for gaming. Normally they're intended for video playback, and even the lowest end CPU and CPU can do that decently. APU's can work out well even for low end gaming (even hardcore gaming, but you'd have to use low quality settings).

**Joshua_Mahr** · 12-04-2012, 02:58 PM

Peti yea AMD is incorporating ARM into there server chips soon.

**Cody_Irwin** · 12-04-2012, 06:45 PM

Too bad AMD Doesnt care anymore it seems, since 7990 has been delayed for like 5 months or more now as well. Their stuff keeps getting cheaper and cheaper by the day too.

**CDsDontBurn** · 12-04-2012, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by Cody_Irwin

Too bad AMD Doesnt care anymore it seems, since 7990 has been delayed for like 5 months or more now as well. Their stuff keeps getting cheaper and cheaper by the day too.

This isn't the case. AMD dropped the 7990 entirely and left it up to their partners to decide if they wanted to come out with their own version 7990.

AMD has told me a few reasons why, but those are NDA so, yea...

**ryandigweed** · 12-05-2012, 01:14 AM

Isn't there the 6gb 7990 by powercolor which retails for around $800. Limited in quantity?

**CDsDontBurn** · 12-05-2012, 01:39 AM

Originally Posted by ryandigweed

Isn't there the 6gb 7990 by powercolor which retails for around $800. Limited in quantity?

Yes, the 7990 by PowerColor is available for $900 on NewEgg. However, the design and everything is not AMD's, it's PowerColor's design. PowerColor, as we know, is an AMD partner. So, my previous post on this was correct.

**TehYoyo** · 12-05-2012, 03:12 AM

Thanks for the clarifications, everyone.

Why aren't Intel CPUs w/ the right chipsets (H67 or similar) considered APUs? You can use the Intel integrated graphics for video output. In the case of H67, it's HDMI, DVI, and DP.

**werty316** · 12-05-2012, 05:04 AM

Integrated GPUs on Intel CPUs are integrated-class whereas integrated GPUs on AMD APUs are discrete-class.

**CDsDontBurn** · 12-05-2012, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by werty316

Integrated GPUs on Intel CPUs are integrated-class whereas integrated GPUs on AMD APUs are discrete-class.

Doesn't Intel call their integrated graphics "iGPU" or something like that? And AFAIK, AMD calls all their APUs "APU" and their CPUs "CPU" in reference to the APU / CPU having integrated graphics or not. EG, A8-3650 (APU) vs. FX-4170 (CPU). I don't believe Intel does this type of name recognition and call their CPU a CPU still with integrated graphics or "iGPU" support.

Somebody please correct me on the Intel part if I'm wrong on that.

**najiro** · 12-05-2012, 11:31 AM

^ yeah I think so to. AMD just want to make some kind of classification for their processor which I think is just right.
APUs got better graphics compared to intel processors, it's one of the huge advantage of the APUs. Plus, the integrated gpu can be crossfired if a compatible discrete graphics (6670 and I forgot the other one| 7750 as well) which is enough for an entry-level gamer.