The six-core Vishera FX-6300 can be formed
from a full-feature semiconductor die by disabling some of 4 dual-core models. Regarding
clock frequency, this processor is similar to FX-8320. This six-core
processor’s nominal frequency is set at 3.5GHz, but in case of lower number of
operating threads, it can be raised up to 4.1GHz. The smaller number of core
and the average clock frequency allow the manufacturer to set TDP at 95W.
However, finally, its frequency is beaten by FX-6200 ones based on the
previous-generation Bulldozer micro-structures.
AMD
FX-6300
Disabling 2 of 4 source semiconductor dies
doesn’t affect the size of L3 cache, also featuring L3 8MB cache. However, the
L2 cache in FX-6300 is smaller, as in Piledriver microarchitecture (like in
Bulldozer); it is separate from each pair of cores. As you may guess, it
includes three 2MB parts, equal to 6MB and contrary to 8MB in eight-core
processor.
Another identification feature of the
Vishera six-core variant is lower frequency than in North Bridge integrated in
processing unit. This unit works at 3.2GHz in FX-8350 and FX-8320, while FX-6300
is 200MHz slower. As a result, the processor’s memory controller and L3 cache
are quite slow. However, practice showed that this difference in frequency was
not important.
Though, FX-6300 fits more pockets than
eight-core models. It is worth at $132 and positioned as the old Intel Core i5-2300
processor’s rival.
AMD FX-6300
·
Number of cores: 6 (3 modules)
·
Clock frequency: 3.5GHz
·
Clock frequency in Turbo mode: max. 4.1GHz
·
L2 memory: 3x 2MB
·
L3 memory: 8 MB
·
North Bridge frequency: 2.0GHz
·
Memory: DDR3-1866
·
TDP: 95W
·
Socket: Socket AM3+
·
RRP: $132
AMD FX-4300
AMD
FX-4300
FX-4300 seems the oddest FX model around. It
costs $122, $10 cheaper than only FX-6300, but it is considerably weaker,
depending on technical specs. Secondly, FX-4300’s cache was reduced down to 4MB
instead of 8MB. Therefore, we only have the half of FX-8350, but the price is
not halved.
This processor’s operating frequency is very
far from impressive. FX-4300’s nominal speed is 3.8GHz, which can be boosted to
4.0GHz in Turbo mode. North Bridge in this processor works at 2.0GHz, like so
in FX-6300. All of them allow four-core Vishera to maintain TDP in 95W, but at
the same time, it is clearly at a lower level, compared with the four-core
suggestion of the previous generation, FX-4170, regarding specs. The latter works
at higher clock frequency (by 200-300MHz) and supported by a full-sized L3
cache. Thus, we are afraid of the four-core Vishera’s advantage over the
four-core Zambezi of the last generation.
However, though AMD realizes about FX-4300
weak tech specs to position their product against the dual-core Core i3-2120
from Sandy Bridge. Moreover, according to the current price, it would be more
reasonable when choosing a four-core A10-5800K processor for Socket FM2
platform based on the same Piledriver structure. It is sold at a similar price
but has an integrated graphics processing unit and slightly higher clock
frequency.
AMD FX-4300
·
Number of cores: 4 (2 modules)
·
Clock frequency: 3.8GHz
·
Clock frequency in Turbo mode: max. 4.0GHz
·
L2 cache: 2x 2MB
·
L3 cache: 4MB
·
North Bridge frequency: 2.0GHz
·
Memory: max. DDR3-1866
·
TDP: 95W
·
Socket: Socket AM3+
·
RRP: $122
Tested configurations and methods
To start, we changed the method
considerably. Particularly, we moved to the latest Windows 8 OS. Of course, it
didn’t cause any harsh change as software environment didn’t focus on affecting
computer’s performance of tested platforms. However, bear in mind that Windows
8 is proud of a lot of improvements.
First, unlike previous operating systems,
the OS’s schedule is initially optimized for the entire microarchitecture of
the modern processor using SMT and CMT technologies. Meaning, from current AMD
processors with two pairs of cores to Intel models featuring Hyper-Threading don’t
require any patch: everything work efficiently right after unboxed. Second, the
new operating system’s kernel has gone through some important modifications
improving its functions on various laptops. And even though we concentrated on testing
desktops, these changes still concerned for us. Windows 8 uses system memory
more efficiently, fixes the CPU cores more firmly and tries to reduce the demand
for the processor cycles. Third, there is no Aero interface in Windows 8: it was
replaced with the new Metro interface with higher 2D performance. And fourth,
the new system was upgraded to DirectX version 11.1 (Direct3D 11.1, DXGI 1.2, and
WDDM 1.2...).
For the deep test of today’s products, AMD
FX-8350, FX-8320, FX-6300 and FX-4300 from Vishera generation will rival their
predecessors on Zambezi design as well as struggle against the contemporary
competitors from Intel on Ivy Bridge. The old Bulldozer microarchitecture’s
honor will be defended by the top processors in each category: eight-core
FX-8150, six-core FX-6200 and four-core FX-4170. Intel processors will be
represented by top LGA 1155 CPUs with four cores and Hyper-Threading support -
Core i7-3770K, simple quad-core products - Core i5-3570K and Core i5-3470,
dual-core Core i3-3240 with Hyper-Threading support and the youngest member of
the Ivy Bridge series - Pentium G2120.
As a result, our tests were built with the
following hardware and software parts:
|
Processors
·
AMD FX-8350 (Vishera, 8 cores, 4.0-4.2 GHz, 4
x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)
·
AMD FX-8320 (Vishera, 8 cores, 3.5-4.0 GHz, 4
x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)
·
AMD FX-6300 (Vishera, 6 cores, 3.5-4.1 GHz, 3
x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)
·
AMD FX-4300 (Vishera, 4 cores, 3.8-4.0 GHz, 2
x 2 MB L2, 4 MB L3)
·
AMD FX-8150 (Zambezi, 8 cores, 3.6-4.2 GHz, 4
x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)
·
AMD FX-6200 (Zambezi, 6 cores, 3.8-4.1 GHz, 3
x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)
·
AMD FX-4170 (Zambezi, 4 cores, 4.2-4.3 GHz, 2
x 2 MB L2, 8 MB L3)
·
Intel Core i7-3770K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores + HT,
3.5-3.9 GHz, 4 x 256 KB L2, 8 MB L3)
·
Intel Core i5-3570K (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores,
3.4-3.8 GHz, 4 x 256 KB L2, 6 MB L3)
·
Intel Core i5-3470 (Ivy Bridge, 4 cores, 3.2-3.6
GHz, 4 x 256 KB L2, 6 MB L3)
·
Intel Core i3-3240 (Ivy Bridge, 2 cores + HT,
3.4 GHz, 2 x 256 KB L2, 3 MB L3)
·
Intel Pentium G2120 (Ivy Bridge, 2 cores, 3.1
GHz, 2 x 256 KB L2, 3 MB L3)
Processor cooler
·
NZXT Havik 140
·
Mainboards
·
ASUS Crosshair V Formula (Socket AM3+, AMD
990FX + SB950)
·
ASUS P8Z77-V Deluxe (LGA1155, Intel Z77
Express)
Memory
·
2x 4GB, DDR3-1866 SDRAM, 9-11-9-27 (Kingston
KHX1866C9D3K2/8GX)
Graphic card
·
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 (2 GB/256-bit GDDR5,
1006/6008 MHz)
Disk drive
·
Intel SSD 520 240 GB (SSDSC2CW240A3K5)
Power supply unit
·
Corsair AX1200i (80 Plus Platinum, 1200 W)
OS
·
Microsoft Windows 8 Enterprise x64
Drivers
·
AMD Chipset Driver 12.10
·
Intel Chipset Driver 9.3.0.1025
·
Intel Management Engine Driver 8.1.2.1318
·
Intel Rapid Storage Technology 11.6.0.1030
·
NVIDIA GeForce 306.97 Driver
|
