AMD BullDozer Review + Benchmarks

[DarthSWNT]

Yeah, I was holding off on getting the Phenom X4 BE 965, but now it looks like what I will be going for at the end of the day...

Totally, and it will more than likely be cheaper for the same performance in the coming months.

This tech is great for their server market though. Which might help them get some cash together to piledrive piledriver.

I will say though, that AMD is betting on software finally advancing and making use of threads better. Apparently windows 8 will be the first to help the Bulldozer, but then they should've waited for windows 8 to launch.

Lets hope that AMD mix things up in its next iteration eh.

[phoenix]

Okaaaay then. Looks like I'll be getting a Core i5 2400 after all.

[Grimspoon]

Hmmm, actually does look a little disappointing.

[Tank]

in gaming performance it rocks but everything else it's looking a bit limp

couple of factors here
software support not there
design very new
single threaded performance not good

but then again. in newer games and apps it holds it's own quite well

but sadly future potential does not help me now

sigh... Phenom 2 X4 975 BE or X6 1100T BE for now...

which one? ...

[phoenix]

I'm looking at a Core i5, MSI Z68MA-ED55 and 4GB DDR3-1333 combo then.

[DarthSWNT]

Oh and you forget that this is their 2nd rate chip... the 8170 is their flagship. So really the 8150 is meant to compete with the 2500K but is more expensive.

If you get an AMD chip now, you will be on AM3+ and can then get the next generation without upgrading your motherboard. If you get the intel, you will need to upgrade your motherboard for ivy bridge.

In most games the CPU isn't the biggest limiting factor. So if you want it for gaming or you have apps that use threading heavily then the bulldozer is a decent deal. When the win8 beta comes out you can expect 10-15% increase on current performance on the 8150 and hopefully not see these massive dips to lightly threaded apps.

[Ancalagon]

If you get an AMD chip now, you will be on AM3+ and can then get the next generation without upgrading your motherboard. If you get the intel, you will need to upgrade your motherboard for ivy bridge.

Not true - Sandy Bridge sockets also support Ivy Bridge. Probably dependent on a BIOS upgrade but thats it.

So you can buy BD and have terrible performance now, or buy Sandy Bridge and have amazing performance right now, or buy Ivy Bridge and have even better performance later. Hmm, choices choices.

[DarthSWNT]

Not true - Sandy Bridge sockets also support Ivy Bridge. Probably dependent on a BIOS upgrade but thats it.

So you can buy BD and have terrible performance now, or buy Sandy Bridge and have amazing performance right now, or buy Ivy Bridge and have even better performance later. Hmm, choices choices.

You are right, my bad. I was thinking of the 2011 socket and did not mean to type ivy bridge.

[DarthSWNT]

Hmm, reading through some stuff about the 8120 makes me wonder if that is not the bulldozer saviour. It is a lot cheaper than the 8150 but is still an 8C.

The downside is less clockspeed but you can still overclock it.

I don't know.... doesn't seem like a good buy in general, but if you were looking for a bulldozer chip for a decent price that seems to be the one.

[Fenix_ZA]

I cried (on the inside ) when I saw the benchies, I've always been pro-AMD and supported them through thick and thin, and thin, and thinner out of loyalty. I had such high hopes for the new architecture and new design, and thought: yes, they are back in the game. But perhaps this is just the beginning and foundation for for their new line. I trust they will bring out newer revisions of this and that the later models will show better performance, and hopefully less heat.

Bare in mind this is their first model in several years which have been redesigned from the ground up and requires some fine tuning. Or, ignorance is bliss.