AMD FX-8150 Processor Review - Bulldozer Arrives

[Apoptosis]

AMD FX-8150 Processor Review - Bulldozer Arrives

Today is a huge day in terms of significance for AMD, who just moments ago launched the first major redesign of their processor architecture since 2003. AMD has not been able to keep the new architecture much of a secret as the new 'Bulldozer' core architecture is widely known amongst enthusiasts and gamers. Read on to see how the AMD FX-8150 processor performs compared to many of the popular processors on the market today.



Article Title: AMD FX-8150 Processor Review - Bulldozer Arrives
Article URL: http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1741/1/
Pricing At Time of Print: $245 MSRP for the FX-8150

[slugbug]

I wonder how it runs folding@home -bigadv and -bigbeta work units.

[TraceHagan]

Gorgeous. Time for me to pick one up for some overclocking fun!

Also, Agree with person above me. Any folding numbers?

[Athlonite]

Well looks like I'll have to give up smoking now so I can afford an new Mobo, CPU, Ram

[Sttm]

The performance level is enough that AMD remains a reasonable choice and around for more years to push Intel, but not high enough that I regret that I bought a 2600k back in June. So it's pretty good from my point of view.

*Edited for clarity, my writing ability after a mountain dew fueled gaming marathon in the middle of the night was not good.

[Major_A]

Hmm... Were you guys reading the same review I just did? If you look closer the performance isn't much better than a Thuban X6. That's pretty disheartening considering it's running two more cores at a higher frequency. Maybe this can be tweaked with a BIOS update. Intel overall is still the more expensive platform but for the added cost it seems like a no-brainer. I like whatever hardware I can afford and performs the best. That said I'll be skipping the Zambezi.

[Athlonite]

Hmm... Were you guys reading the same review I just did? If you look closer the performance isn't much better than a Thuban X6. That's pretty disheartening considering it's running two more cores at a higher frequency. Maybe this can be tweaked with a BIOS update. Intel overall is still the more expensive platform but for the added cost it seems like a no-brainer. I like whatever hardware I can afford and performs the best. That said I'll be skipping the Zambezi.

It may have 2 more x86 integer cores that thubin based x6's but it lacks the extra 2 x87 floating point cores of the x6's so it does OK in floating point ops but not great, for me I can see this being a better deal than intel

FX8150 + 990FX mobo + DDR3 = shitload less than Intel platform

[FZ1]

If this launched back when Intel launched the 2550k/2600k processors, the pricing would have been more competitive. Right now, I can't see a compelling reason to choose AMD over Intel.

[Athlonite]

If this launched back when Intel launched the 2550k/2600k processors, the pricing would have been more competitive. Right now, I can't see a compelling reason to choose AMD over Intel.

that all depends on what you plan on using your PC for considering whats in my sig I don't call myself a enthusiast on the bleeding edge of hardware this will be a good upgrade for me

[jnanster]

Thank you for the fine review.
This will be a great CPU for me when I plan to build my next system in 3 years.
The single threading issues should be fixed and more software will be written to use it.

[Skippman]

Any reason the i5 2500k was missing from the tests?

[bubba]

Think the i5 2500k is not in Nate's hands, but in one of the other writers for his test bench.

[Skippman]

Think the i5 2500k is not in Nate's hands, but in one of the other writers for his test bench.

Well THAT makes sense! The i5 seems to be the defacto processor for gaming enthusiasts who don't need hyper threading for encoding things.

[Sttm]

FX8150 + 990FX mobo + DDR3 = shitload less than Intel platform

How?

From New Egg, 8150 $279.99, 2600k $315, 2500k $219
Amazon has the 8150 for $269.99, but then you could pick up a 2600k at a Microcenter for $279.99. New Egg seems to be the preferred choice so I'll use that for comparison.

Cheapest 990X MSI 990XA-GD55 $134.99
Cheapest Z68 ASRock Z68 PRO3 $104.99

DDR3 is the same cost for both platforms.

Using NewEgg An 8150/990X setup would cost $414.98, while a 2600K/Z68 setup with cost $419.99, and a 2500K/Z68 setup would cost $323.99.

I do not understand how that is **** loads less, especially when you consider the actual performance of the 8150 which in a few situations manages to barely outperform a 2600k, but in the vast majority is outperformed by both a 2600k and a 2500k. If it was a real value the 8150 would be priced under a 2500k, not above.

[Apoptosis]

Some of the test results include the 2500K and some don't. While I had three 2500K processors at one point, I sent them all out to other reviewers and didn't get them back in time for this review. A miss on my part. But with the 2120 and 2600K included I think you can fill in the void.

[Skippman]

Some of the test results include the 2500K and some don't. While I had three 2500K processors at one point, I sent them all out to other reviewers and didn't get them back in time for this review. A miss on my part. But with the 2120 and 2600K included I think you can fill in the void.

As I'll be ordering parts for my new build next week to be ready for BF3 launch day would you consider the i5 2500k to be the best processor for gaming purposes only?

[Sttm]

Some of the test results include the 2500K and some don't. While I had three 2500K processors at one point, I sent them all out to other reviewers and didn't get them back in time for this review. A miss on my part. But with the 2120 and 2600K included I think you can fill in the void.

As I'll be ordering parts for my new build next week to be ready for BF3 launch day would you consider the i5 2500k to be the best processor for gaming purposes only?

I came across one 8150 review that did benchmark with the BF3 Beta, http://www.hardocp.com/article/2011/10/ ... e_review/2
Which even shows the 8150 slightly ahead, but the difference between all 3 cpus was minimal.

[Apoptosis]

Some of the test results include the 2500K and some don't. While I had three 2500K processors at one point, I sent them all out to other reviewers and didn't get them back in time for this review. A miss on my part. But with the 2120 and 2600K included I think you can fill in the void.

As I'll be ordering parts for my new build next week to be ready for BF3 launch day would you consider the i5 2500k to be the best processor for gaming purposes only?

Well, for $179 at our local Micro Center in STL it is hard to beat and it also overclocks well. For gaming alone I don't see a $100 difference in the CPUs. Newegg has the FX-8150 for $279, so you could get the 2500k and a water cooler for the price of a 8150...

[Tator Tot]

On Newegg the FX-8120 is $220 right now. So the same price as the Core i5 2500K.

If you're overclocking then the difference won't be anything.

[Athlonite]

FX8150 + 990FX mobo + DDR3 = shitload less than Intel platform

How?

From New Egg, 8150 $279.99, 2600k $315, 2500k $219
Amazon has the 8150 for $269.99, but then you could pick up a 2600k at a Microcenter for $279.99. New Egg seems to be the preferred choice so I'll use that for comparison.

Cheapest 990X MSI 990XA-GD55 $134.99
Cheapest Z68 ASRock Z68 PRO3 $104.99

DDR3 is the same cost for both platforms.

Using NewEgg An 8150/990X setup would cost $414.98, while a 2600K/Z68 setup with cost $419.99, and a 2500K/Z68 setup would cost $323.99.

I do not understand how that is **** loads less, especially when you consider the actual performance of the 8150 which in a few situations manages to barely outperform a 2600k, but in the vast majority is outperformed by both a 2600k and a 2500k.

If it was a real value the 8150 would be priced under a 2500k, not above.

yeah your looking at US prices I don't live in the US here in NZ Intel costs way more than AMD here
i7 2600K = $470.95 + mobo = $196.41 + ddr3 = $129.23 total cost = $796.59NZD

FX8150 = $429.00 + mobo = $165.95 + ddr3 = $129.23 total cost = $724.18NZD