AMD FX-8320: review and testing of the processor

A powerful game processor from the manufacturer AMD - FX-8320 - is very often mentioned in Intel's performance tests (it's about Core i5), so the reader will be interested in getting to know a new player in the elite class of computer components. The review and testing of the processor, as well as the feedback of the owners, will help the potential buyer to decide on the choice before going to the store.

AMD FX-8320 Processor Specification

Technical specifications do not leave indifferent any potential buyer, the processor has something to surprise the future owner:

• The crystal is built on a 32-nanometer technical process on the Vishera core;
• The processor area is 315 square millimeters, and it employs 1.2 billion transistors;
• On the basis of four modules, 8 physical cores were built;
• The nominal frequency of each AMD FX-8320 core is 3.5 GHz (in turbo mode 4 GHz);
• The first level cache is 16 KB for each core and 64 KB for each module (8х16 + 4х64);
• The level 2 and 3 cache is identical and equal to 8 megabytes separately;
• At the hardware level, dual-channel DDR3 1333/1600/1866 MHz memory mode is supported;
• The heat release at the nominal frequency is 125 watts.

Price policy of the producer

On the market, users are offered two modifications of this processor: AMD FX-8320 OEM (supplied without cooling system) and FX-8320 BOX (with cooler). The difference in the price of the two devices is insignificant and fluctuates between 800-1000 rubles (by the way, the processor itself in the BOX version costs about 10,000 rubles). What kind of equipment to give preference to the buyer, after all, as practice shows, the proprietary cooling system does not cope with the task at overclocking the processor.

Therefore, many owners in their reviews recommend everyone wishing to increase the processor's performance by increasing the voltage, to look closely at the OEM version of the product. After all, in any case, you have to buy a more powerful cooler. But users who do not plan to make overclocking can save a lot on buying the BOX version, because the standard processor cooling system will always cost less than analogs.

First acquaintance with AMD representative

The AMD FX-8320 processor, as it is supposed to be the main element of the personal computer, comes in a huge black box with red trim. On large displays of the package there is an image of the crystal itself, and on the side faces the manufacturer placed a detailed description of all the technologies used by the processor. Also on one of the sides is a proprietary label of the manufacturer with the serial number indicated by a hologram (protection against forgery).

Getting to the processor inside the box is not so easy. A lot of partitions made of cardboard, designed to ensure the safety of the device during transportation, resemble labyrinths. Unlike its competitor, Intel, the AMD FX-8320 product bundle is a bit nicer: in addition to the crystal itself, the brand sticker on the case, installation instructions and the cooler (we are talking about the BOX version), the user will discover the thermal paste for mounting the cooling system in the box.

Choosing a decent cooler

In the media on the AMD FX-8320 processor, reviews primarily concern the efficient cooling system for overclocking. The fact is that the branded cooler supplied in the kit is limited by the performance at 125 watts. Increasing the frequency of the processor increases the heat output to 140-160 watts. Here, the cooling system from the budget class can not solve the problem.

It's clear that the user will try to find a cooler for attaching AM3 + with the appropriate heat removal (many are oriented at a maximum of 160-165 W). However, as experts note in their reviews, the owners overlook the lack of free space on the motherboard or in the case of the system unit for mounting the cooling system. Therefore, before buying a cooler, you need to pay attention to this factor as well. And if we are talking about brands and their products, they have proved themselves well: Zalman CNPS10X Optima or Thermalright Macho Rev (A).

Potential for overclocking

For the AMD FX-8320 processor, overclocking is more a certain indicator of power compared to more expensive analogues on the market. After all, it's no secret that everyone, even the most productive, games have enough and four cores working at a frequency of 3 GHz. The potential for overclocking is, it is quite large and directly depends on decent cooling.

Using a regular cooler and "turbo" mode, the user at home will not increase the processor frequency to 4 GHz. At the same time, the core temperature will not exceed 70 degrees Celsius, however the cooling fan will work at the limit of its capabilities, delivering inconvenience to the user with its buzz.

The installation of a cooling system with improved blowing can keep the temperature of the AMD FX-8320 crystal within 80 degrees Celsius (at a frequency of 4.6 GHz). Further overclocking with the use of air blowing will not succeed, as evidenced by numerous reviews of the owners.

Comparison with Intel representative

Many potential buyers are interested in comparing the AMD FX-8320 vs Intel Core i5-4690. The analogy is rather strange, as it seems at first glance to users, but it is this combination that displays all the advantages and disadvantages of both platforms. If you proceed from the price, then a representative with eight cores is almost one and half times cheaper than an Intel representative with 4 cores. In synthetic tests, both these processors demonstrate the same performance, which attracts attention:

• Fans of AMD rejoice at the cost of the product, which allows you to save quite well (for example, these funds can be spent on a powerful cooling system);
• Followers of Intel ideas praise their brand, which has half the number of cores, competes with the flagship of the enemy's line, and even has a graphics core on board (about $ 100 can save on buying a budget video card).

Results of testing in specialized programs

AMD FX-8320 processor demonstrates high performance in all synthetic tests, which use the total power of all crystal cores. Uniquely 8 cores will be more productive than competing systems. However, in tests where only one thread is used, the AMD representative is much inferior to competitors. It is worth noting that most office software, as well as graphics editors and video processing software, use one or two stream calculations. This means that the advantage in working applications remains with the Intel manufacturer. To somehow improve the situation with the distribution of CPU time, the owners of AMD FX-8320 processors recommend installing additional software like CPU Control for proper load sharing between the cores.

Game features of the processor

When it comes to games and the AMD FX-8320 processor, the owners' responses are filled with positive emotions. There is no toy that would not work correctly. The thing is that the processor time is not a basic indicator for the performance of the game, in the priority the performance of the entire system as a whole (video card, motherboard, RAM, drive) is important speed of data exchange, rather than mathematical calculations.

There is already something to think about the owners of components, the characteristics of which are morally outdated (such as RAM or video adapter). Many users still own DDR3 memory with a maximum frequency of 1333 MHz and do not plan to switch to 1866 MHz. Yes, and video cards five years ago, it's time to replace the more productive system.

The right approach to saving

It is not important that I chose to choose the buyer - AMD FX-8320 OEM processor or BOX version. He must understand that, in addition to the large heat emission, the device consumes a large amount of electricity every second - 105 watts per hour. Naturally, overclocking this figure increases by one and a half times. For comparison: the same representative of Intel consumes half the power.

Fans saving need to take into account the need for financial costs for the video adapter, which will have to be bought in the store, even if the computer is not intended to be used for games. Unlike the competitor, AMD processors do not have a graphics core. And with the cooling system is not all smooth - the same competitor Intel accelerates without special heating to 4.5 GHz using a regular cooling system, and the owners of AMD FX-8320 without a decent cooler can not do.

Finally

To date, AMD FX-8320 processor is the best purchase in the segment of productive systems for games. First of all, this is due to the presence of eight physical cores. Novelty, unlike other competitors, can work with fast RAM at a frequency of 1866 MHz at the hardware level. The processor supports all existing technologies and instructions, as well as copes well with any tasks. Do not forget that motherboards for AMD platforms are considered more advanced in terms of interfaces, and the price they have is more affordable than that of competitors.

There are, however, grievances that concern the low cost of the AMD FX-8320 processor. First, we are talking about a cooling system, which for some reason many people do not take into account when buying (and in vain, it contains 2-3 thousand rubles). Secondly, when it comes to building non-game platforms, the owners of AMD processors need to incur additional costs for the purchase of an entry-level video adapter (this is another 5-7 thousand rubles). It turns out that the purchase is already clearly not cheap.