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AMD refreshes FX Series product line with three new CPUs

by Parm Mann on 2 September 2014, 13:00

Tags: AMD (NYSE:AMD)

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It has been a busy day for the folks at AMD. In addition to launching the Radeon R9 285 graphics card, the firm has refreshed its line of FX Series CPUs with the introduction of three new models.

Priced between $147 and $200, the trio is comprised of the performance-optimised FX-8370, along with the power-optimised FX-8370E and FX-8320E, both of which reduce chip TDP from 125W to 95W.

Based on the 'Piledriver' architecture, all three new additions continue to offer eight native x86 cores in AM3+ package. Putting the new models into sharper focus, the below table highlights the key specifications of AMD's various eight-core FX Series parts.

The quickest of the new crop, FX-8370, slots in near the middle of the pack with a turbo frequency of up to 4.3GHz, 8MB of cache, a 125W TDP and a suggested price of around $200. Arguably of more importance to enthusiasts, however, is the fact that AMD has slashed the cost of the top-of-the-line FX-9590. As we reported last month, the cost of the best FX processor is being reduced to $230 (roughly £175 inc VAT).

AMD Eight-Core FX Series Processors

APU Model
CPU Cores
CPU Base Clock
(GHz)
CPU Turbo Clock
(GHz)
L2 Cache
Memory Support
(MHz)
Socket
TDP
(Watts)
Suggested Price
FX-9590
8
4.7
5.0
8MB
DDR3-2,133
AM3+
220
$229.99
FX-9370
8
4.4
4.7
8MB
DDR3-2,133
AM3+
220
$210.99
FX-8370 (new)
8
4.0
4.3
8MB
DDR3-1,866
AM3+
125
$199.99
FX-8370E (new)
8
3.3
4.3
8MB
DDR3-1,866
AM3+
95
$199.99
FX-8350
8
4.0
4.2
8MB
DDR3-1,866
AM3+
125
$179.99
FX-8320
8
3.5
4.0
8MB
DDR3-1,866
AM3+
125
$146.99
FX-8320E (new)
8
3.2
4.0
8MB
DDR3-1,866
AM3+
95
$146.99

What's interesting further down the ladder is that AMD has added two power-optimised parts that tout greater efficiency. Denoted by FX E-Series branding, the FX-8370E and FX-8320E have plenty in common with their namesakes but reduce CPU base clock in order to cut TDP by 24 per cent.

In order to meet the requirements of the more-efficient power envelope, the E-Series parts are unlikely to maintain their peak clock speeds for sustained periods, resulting in reduced overall performance. However, the 95W TDP makes the processors better suited to small-form-factor PCs or workstations, where heat output and running costs do matter. Giving end users the option to choose without penalty, AMD has mirrored pricing for both variations. Select either a 125W FX-8370 or a 95W FX-8370E and the same $199.99 price tag applies.

Following in the footsteps of current FX Series CPUs, all three new additions are multiplier unlocked to help maximise overclocking potential, and the trio is presented in the existing AM3+ form factor. This means compatibility with the widely-available 990FX, 990X, 980G and 970 chipsets, which in turn presents users with a hassle-free upgrade path.

These eight-core processors are a whole lot cheaper than recent rival offerings, but have the price cuts or new additions managed to tickle your fancy? Let us know in the comments below, and if you need to see some hard-and-fast benchmark results, stay tuned, our review of the FX-8370E is coming up soon.



HEXUS Forums :: 13 Comments

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The US$199 price point for the 8370(E) is the same as the old Phenom II X6 1055T according to this April 2010 article from Anandtech. That being the case, the net effect of four years of progress is that for the same price, (and TDP), you get another two cores, more L2cache and 1GHz better peak performance. I'm sure the Intel fans will claim that this is not that impressive AMD! :(

On the other hand, £150ish for that performance bump, and it's a drop-in replacement for that four-year old processor, (or at least it will be on my Sabertooth motherboard once I get a firmware update to support the new chips). That makes it “interesting” in my book.

What I'm also very interested in is how the “lesser” 8370E performs compared to the non-E-rated part. After all, if the two chips are very close in performance then perhaps the lesser TDP would be appealing.
crossy
That being the case, the net effect of four years of progress is that for the same price, (and TDP), you get another two cores, more L2cache and 1GHz better peak performance. I'm sure the Intel fans will claim that this is not that impressive AMD! :(

Compare the 1055T against the FX8350, I wouldn't consider the X6 for a second http://www.anandtech.com/bench/product/147?vs=697
In fact I did have that exact choice with my last upgrade as that was the only X6 I could find still available. It just wasn't in the running, I ended up mulling the 8350 vs spending a load extra to go Intel.

And to be fair, Intel has been pretty stagnant apart from the Atom lines where they were playing catch-up.
If AMD can get the FX-9590 built on 28nm tech, knock it down to a 125W envelope and get it down to £100, I'll be tempted. All these different bin parts are not keeping the AM3+ platform alive. Obviously someone at AMD has worked out that moar SKUs means moar $.

AM3+ is dead. We will not see any die shrinks or improved IPC architectures on that platform
DanceswithUnix
Compare the 1055T against the FX8350, I wouldn't consider the X6 for a second
The FX wasn't available when I bought my X6 - although in my case it was the 1090T not the 1055T - I figured that the extra expense was worth it. Actually, checking my records and it cost me £147.99 for the 1090T on 1st December 2010 from Scan, and I'm guessing that the FX8370 will probably be around the same price.
semo
If AMD can get the FX-9590 built on 28nm tech, knock it down to a 125W envelope and get it down to £100, I'll be tempted. All these different bin parts are not keeping the AM3+ platform alive. Obviously someone at AMD has worked out that moar SKUs means moar $. AM3+ is dead. We will not see any die shrinks or improved IPC architectures on that platform
I think everyone - including AMD - sees AM3+ as “legacy”, otherwise why so long between SKU announcements? AMD's CPU focus - as far as I see it - is 100% focussed on the APU's and if you don't want to buy into that combo of okay-CPU-with-great-GPU then you really need to figure on paying the Intel premium. Shame, because AMD's prime usefulness was to keep Intel cpu team on it's toes and not complacent.
yup time for a new chipset and socket with support for all the latest and greatest toys and ssd types etc. I dont care about ddr 4 as its shown to make almost no difference in games on the x99 platform and the price is horrendous atm.

crossy
because AMD's prime usefulness was to keep Intel cpu team on it's toes and not complacent.

Yes it gave them some new ideas to copy.. sorry i mean innovate :P