If you want to build a multimedia PC, then Hybrid processors (APU) from AMD is the best choice that you need, because an AMD APU have both CPU and GPU in one core chip, and memory controller is additional.
Here in this review we have the APU from the Richland family named – AMD A8-6500T. There are two modifications of the APU in this model AMD A8-6500 and AMD A8-6500T; the difference between them is not so much but we have the full details of it in the table below:
Model APU AMD A8-6500 AMD A8-6500T Number of cores / threads 4/4 4/4 Frequency of processor cores (Base / Turbo Core) 3.5 / 4.1 – GHz 2.1 / 3.1 – GHz Graphics core HD 8570D HD 8550D Unified shader 256 256 GPU Frequency 800 – MHz 720 – MHz Memory Cache 4 – MB 4 – MB Maximum Memory Supported – DDR3 1866 – MHz 1600 – MHz TDP 65 – W 45 – W
The main difference in both models is energy-efficient, AMD A8-6500T reduced energy consumption due to lower clock frequencies, as well as a wide range of operating conditions.
Packaging and Cooling System:
Well box of the new model AMD A8-6500T is basically in white color, with the logo of the manufacturer and the stylized image processor with the inscription A Series. On the one side you can see the appearance of the processor, and below it you can see the recommended combinations of discrete graphics cards and APU, capable of operation AMD Dual Graphics. On the other side there is a label that contains the following information:
Model of Processor
Basic and Dynamic Maximum Clock Frequency
A Protective Hologram
Model Serial Number
In the box of the model you will find the APU AMD A8-6500T is quite standard, and:
Cooling System for the Processor
Quick Start Guide Manual
Computer Case Sticker
Well the cooling system of the model is normal, having small fan and aluminum radiator, made by Foxconn PVA070E12L with the diameter of 70 mm, which is the operating voltage of 12 V, and the current – 0.20 A Connection to the motherboard via a 4-pin connector that allows you to control the speed of rotation of the blades PWM method and implement monitoring.
Radiator which will contact with processor covered by thermal paste and has a very simple structure: it is completely made of aluminum and has a copper core. Given the relatively low level TDP of AMD A8-6500T, even such a simple cooling system for it to be enough.
Specifications Details:
Processor model is made in Germany and the final assembly was done in China. Set of contacts on the back of compatible processor sockets Socket FM2 and Socket FM2+.
Model AMD A8-6500T Labeling AD650TYHA44HL CPU Socket Socket FM2 (compatible with FM2+) Base Clock Frequency 2100 – Mhz Maximum Clock Frequency With AMD Turbo Core 3.0 3100 – Mhz Factor 31 Basic System Bus Frequency 100 – Mhz Cache Memory Of The First Level L1 4 x 16 – KB
2 x 64 (memory instructions)
Cache Memory Of The Second Level L2 2 x 2048 – Mhz Microarchitecture Piledriver Core Richland Number Of Cores / Threads 4/4 Maximum Rated Power (TDP) 45 – W Critical Temperature 71.3 – °C Tehprotsess 32- NM Technology Support Dual Graphics
UVD3
Turbo Core 3.0
PowerNow!
Eyefinity
Built-In Memory Controller Types Of Memory DDR3 (up to 1600MHz) Memory Channels 2 Integrated Graphics Core AMD Radeon HD8550D Stream Processors 256 GPU Clock Speed 720 – MHz Support Document DirectX 11
Shader Model 5.0
OpenGL 4.3
DirectCompute 11
OpenCL 1.2
According to the specifications table the main difference is frequency rate which is the minimum (2100 MHz) and highest (3100 MHz). This will allows it to choose optimal mode of operation, depending on the current load, which is beneficial to energy consumption.
If we look at the CPU-Z 1.69 results during testing utility LinX – it’s all good. In the basic mode of operation was included technology AMD Turbo Core 3.0, and clock speed most of the time kept at around 2794 MHz with a multiplier “x28″ and vcore 1.160 V.
During the test of AIDA64 – the CPU clock speed dropped below, up to the level of 2100 MHz, or to maximum of 3100 MHz. All changes to the clock in the process of passing the different stages of tests.
In idle mode the multiplier dropped to “x14″, and the frequency at the moment of reading was at around 1397 MHz. Supply voltage for this dropped to 0.856 V, and the core temperature – 23 °C.
Cache memory in AMD A8-6500T is allocated 16 KB cache per core with 4 channels associativity for caching data and 64KB for each of the two dual-core modules with 2 channels associativity for instructions. There is also a 2 MB L2 cache with 16 channels of associativity for each dual module.
Controller RAM running in dual channel mode and support DDR3 modules with up to 1600MHz.
Testing Performance:
As for the testing the new model, we have used both motherboard form AMD and Intel of the same brand – ASUS, with the total memory of 8-GB – 2x4GB. Other details of the system is listed below:
AMD ASUS F1A75-V PRO (AMD A75, SFM1, DDR3, ATX) GIGABYTE GA-F2A75-D3H (AMD A75, sFM2, DDR3, ATX) AMD ASUS SABERTOOTH 990FX (AMD 990FX, sAM3 +, DDR3, ATX) Intel ASUS P8Z77-V PRO / THUNDERBOLT (Intel Z77, sLGA1155, DDR3, ATX) ASUS P9X79 PRO (Intel X79, sLGA2011, DDR3, ATX) Intel ASRock Z87M OC Formula (Intel Z87, sLGA1150, DDR3, mATX) Coolers Scythe Mugen 3 and ZALMAN CNPS12X (LGA 2011) Access Memory 2x 4GB DDR3-2400 TwinMOS TwiSTER 9DHCGN4B-HAWP Video Card AMD Radeon HD 7970 3GB GDDR5 Hard Disk Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EALX, 1TB Power Supply Seasonic X-660, 660W, Active PFC, 80 PLUS Gold
Well, with the AMD Turbo Core 3.0, the performance of the processor is increased up to about 15%, which is good for this model and as well as other AMD APU.
Now if we compare it with the AMD A6-6400K, the performance is increased about 8% which is due to twice as many cores. And as compare to AMD A8-6600K, the performance of the tested model is as low as about 25%, due to higher clock frequencies, but with the higher level TDP (100 W), which is much complicates the assembly on the basis of its low noise computer in a compact package.
As compared to the Intel – the performance difference is about to 33% of the Intel Core i3-3220 and 52% of the Intel Core i3-4130. The main advantage of AMD A8-6500T on the data processors can be considered integrated graphics AMD Radeon HD 8550D, which shows better performance in gaming applications.
Overclocking:
During overclocking we have disabled AMD Turbo Core 3.0, and the multiplier was put on the maximum mark – x31 at 37 MHz was raised FSB frequency, but the CPU voltage is not changed. It should be noted that the data manipulation did not affect the clock frequency, which during operation was constantly at 2883 MHz. During the stress test program LinX 0.6.4 CPU is working stable, and its core temperature did not exceed 34 °C.
The results that have been achieved as a result of manual overclocking, can be estimated as follows:
Normal Mode Overclocking Performance Futuremark PCMark 7 PCMark Score 2551 2632 3.18% Computation Suite 5687 5832 2.55% Futuremark 3DMark11 Score 5409 5902 9.11% Physics 2735 3326 21.61% Futuremark 3DMark Vantage CPU Score 6901 7751 12.32% SiSoft Sandra 2012 Arithmetic Overall performance GOPS 26.76 31.82 18.91% Dhrystone whole, GYPSUM 32.85 39.73 20.94% Whetstone double floating point Gflops 21.79 25.48 16.93% Multimedia Overall multimedia performance, megapixel / s 70.48 84.69 20.16% Multimedia integers Mpixel / s 84 101 20.24% Multimedia FP32/FP64 float megapixel / s 43.6 52.21 19.75% CINEBENCH R11.5 OpenGL 45.16 49.08 8.68% CPU 2.01 2.46 22.39% CPU (Single Core) 0.79 0.75 -5.06% WinRAR 4.20 3049 3175 4.13% Fritz Chess Benchmark 4.2 4434 5089 14.77% TrueCrypt 7.1a Encryption 73.2 89 21.58% Decryption 77.4 94.3 21.83% Batman Arkham City DirectX 11 (fps) 46.5 49 5.38% Rezident Evil 5 Benchmark DirectX 10 Smoothing x8 (fps) 62 72 16.13% RUSE DirectX 9, fps 17 21.51 26.53% Average: 14.81%
Average performance is increased up to 14.81% which is quite a good result. And memory overclocking, the frequency is raise from 1600 MHz to 1831 MHz without voltage increase.
IGPU overclock AMD Radeon HD8550D conducted by raising its frequency. Thus value was obtained in 1108 MHz, which is simply an excellent result (an increase of 65% compared with the nominal index).
Final Thoughts:
According to the testing and overclocking results, this new model APU AMD A8-6500T is quite good for creating a home media computer. At comparable cost models Intel Core i3 lower price range it can boast the presence of more efficient graphics core (AMD Radeon HD8550D). TDP of the processor do not exceed 45 watts, and even allows you to install it in a compact housing HTPC.
With the overclocking potential increase the performance of processor cores by 14.81%, while the graphics core – 2.64%. If there is a desire to improve graphics performance without significant cash investments, you can use the proprietary technology, AMD Dual Graphics, which allows you to combine into a single configuration of the built-in graphics adapter and a discrete graphics card.
AMD A8-6500T Review and Testing Performance If you want to build a multimedia PC, then Hybrid processors (APU) from AMD is the best choice that you need, because an AMD APU have both CPU and GPU in one core chip, and memory controller is additional.