AMD CEO Teases Zen Processor Family, Summit Ridge Makes An Appearance

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Intel has a solid roundup of new 10-core Extreme Edition processors, so the 8-core Zen architecture will face stiff competition. "Zen is alive, Zen is on ...

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Computex 2016: AMD inches closer to Zen, announces Polaris graphics and new APUs

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At its Computex press conference, AMD announced the expected Polaris graphics and the latest generation of its A-Series and E-Series processors, ...

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Intel unleashes 10-core CPU for 4K and VR gaming

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Intel announced an Extreme Edition line for its i7 processors this week, designed for VR and 4K gaming and videos, and includes a 10-core CPU.

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AMD Summit Ridge Processor With Zen CPU Architecture Shown off – 8 Core / 16 Thread ...

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AMD's CEO, Lisa Su, has just shown off the first sample of their company's Zen architecture based Summit Ridge processor. The latest chip was ...

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Let the CPU battles begin! AMD shows off a working 8-core Zen processor

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AMD's long-awaited high-performance Zen desktop CPU will feature 16 threads across 8 physical cores and begin sampling later this year, the ...

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AMD Showcase their first Zen "Summit Ridge" CPU

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AMD Showcase their first Zen "Summit Ridge" CPU, which will be used on AMD's upcoming AM4 platform, have 40% higher IPC than AMD's last generation designs and will come with 8 cores and 16 threads.

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AMD Briefly Shows Off Zen “Summit Ridge” Silicon

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After an already packed Computex 2016 event with Radeon Polaris and Bristol Ridge/Stoney Ridge news, AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su had one final surprise to close out the company’s presentation: Zen, in the flesh.

Zen taped out earlier this year, and AMD is now working on bringing it up in their labs. To that end Dr. Su pulled out a very early engineering sample of what will be AMD’s Summit Ridge CPU, an 8 core Zen-based CPU. Summit Ridge will use AMD’s new AM4 socket – currently being rolled out for Bristol Ridge – making it a drop-in platform replacement.

Little in the way of new details on Summit Ridge and Zen were released, but Dr. Su confirmed that AMD is still targeting a 40% IPC increase. On the development front, the chip still has some work to undergo, but AMD is to the point where they are going to start sampling their top-tier, high profile customers with engineering samples here in a few weeks. Wider sampling to their larger OEM base will in turn take place in Q3 of this year. AMD has not mentioned a retail product date, but keep in mind there’s a fairly significant lag time between OEM sampling and retail products.

Finally, Dr. Su also reiterated that Zen will be the basis of a range of products for AMD. Along with the desktop CPU, AMD will be using Zen as the basis of their next, 8^th generation APU. And further down the line it will be appearing in server products and embedded products as well.

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AMD 7th Generation Processors: What You Need to Know

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With a couple of SKUs that take on Intel's Core i5 and Core i3 directly, the new "Bristol Ridge" processors could make it easier for budget-conscious ...

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AMD A-Series Processor Gen7 Launched

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amd-cpu-gen7-bristol At Computex 2016, AMD has just launched its latest A-Series PC processors with integrated graphics. Known under the ...

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AMD's new processors let you binge watch for longer on laptops

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What do you really need from a computer processor? AMD is thinking you want to "work faster, play longer" with its newest range of processors.

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AMD Announces the 7th Generation APU: Excavator mk2 in Bristol Ridge and Stoney Ridge for Notebooks

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The Carrizo SoC, using Excavator cores, was touted in the press as being the biggest upgrade to the base Bulldozer design since the introduction of Bulldozer itself. This was as a result of new high-density silicon libraries, a new voltage/frequency response unit based on internal sensor data, a redesign of the metal stack to afford high density, improvements to caches and scheduling, improved video units for 4K decode, and a mobile-driven focus for the platform. Today AMD is launching the second version of Excavator, based on an updated core, in two forms: Stoney Ridge for entry level notebooks and Bristol Ridge for mainstream devices.

AMD’s future roadmap, at a high level, has been known for some time. First another crack at the Bulldozer architecture, and then we get the new microarchitecture the generation after. On a high-level, that’s a good thing to know. The issue has been that no-one has been able to get hold of deep details, and it does not help when faked slides are posted, outed as fakes, and then reposted continuously anyway. AMD took the lid off their press deck late last week, showing that the last crack at Bulldozer will be mobile driven like the last generation. It should be noted that AMD declined to comment about future desktop platforms at this time.

AMD APU Generations
	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th
Platform Name	Llano	Trinity	Kabini	Kaveri	Beema	Carrizo	Bristol Stoney
Core	K10 / Stars	Steamroller	Jaguar	Piledriver	Puma	Excavator
Released	Q2 2011	Q2 2012	Q2 2013	Q1 2014	Q2 2014	Q2 2015	Q2 2016
Market	Main	Main	Entry	Main	Entry	Main	Both
Top SKU	A8-3550MX	A10-4657M	A6-5200	FX-7600P	A8-6410	FX-8800P	FX-9830P
Threads	4C / 4T	2M / 4T	4C / 4T	2M / 4T	4C / 4T	2M / 4T	2M / 4T
Peak MHz	2.7 GHz	3.2 GHz	2.0 GHz	3.6 GHz	2.4 GHz	3.4 GHz	3.7 GHz
TDP	45 W	35 W	25 W	35 W	15 W	35W	35 W
IGP Family	HD 6620G	HD 7000	HD 8400	R7	R5	R7	R7
IGP Generation	VLIW-5	VLIW-4	GCN 1.0	GCN 1.1	GCN 1.1	GCN 1.2	GCN 1.2
SPs	400 444 MHz	384 686 MHz	128 600 MHz	512 686 MHz	128 850 MHz	512 800 MHz	512

The 7^th Generation APU, in silicon, is by and large similar to the 6^th Generation platform called Carrizo with some updates to help drive efficiency and improve performance. This is due to the updated Excavator core, primarily supporting DDR4 memory through the controller (similar to the R-series embedded AMD parts announced earlier), but also tweaks to the 28nm Bulk CMOS physical design that improved the voltage/frequency characteristics of the silicon. This combined with new AVFS (adaptive voltage frequency scaling) algorithms via improved through internal sensors enables AMD to offer a higher frequency for the same Thermal Design Power on the 7th Generation. With this, AMD is claiming that a move from a Kaveri ‘15W’ APU in 2014 to a new Bristol Ridge APU in 2016 can afford a 56% increase in raw CPU performance, or +10% over last year’s Carrizo.

Additional 6/1: AMD has shared with us die sizes and transistor counts. The Bristol Ridge dual module die, including the integrated graphics, comes in at 250.4 mm2 with 3.1 billion transistors. The Stoney Ridge single module die (including IGP) is 124.5mm2 and 1.2 billion transistors.

The improvements to the silicon design, such that a better die can be manufactured, was explained to provide about half the benefit from moving up to the 7th Generation. In this graph, the green line is designed to represent the frequency improvement for the same power between the older Carrizo process and the new Bristol Ridge process.

New in the 7th Generation APU will be what AMD calls 'Shadow Pstates', which AMD is combining with a check at POST on the quality of the silicon. As most silicon dies perform 'around an average point' so to speak, the absolute end AVFS application embedded in the die should need to cover AMD in the case of a bad die in a bad enviroment - this leads to a loss of excess headroom. What AMD will do with 7th Gen is apply a Shadow Pstate (or rather, a differential forced T-state) which allows the AVFS to change depending on the quality, age, degredation and performance of the processor. To put it simply, it allows the AVFS curve to ride nearer each CPU's specific characteristics, rather than a 'one size fits all' approach, and the user will end up with longer boost periods with a high quality die, or use less power when in lower frequency modes (and binning will take this into account).

Another piece in the puzzle is what AMD calls 'Skin Temperature Aware Power Management', which is perhaps a feature that has been on other platforms but AMD has been missing up to now. Despite the unwieldy name, this solution allows an OEM to place up to five sensors over the I2C interface on the SoC and use AMD's internal controller to allow for longer boost periods while the chassis is cool or adjust as necessary. By working with AMD, the OEM's placement of the sensors will allow AMD to suggest appropriate coefficients for their internal controller to respond in the correct way via firmware adjustments. 

The big thing to note here, aside from the generational changes in the core, is that AMD is adjusting their mobile strategy. Previously the mobile APU line used low cost, low power ‘cat’ cores such as Bobcat in their entry level products and fatter Bulldozer based cores (like Steamroller and Excavator) in their mainstream line. For the 7^th Generation, this goes away with both entry and mainstream parts now going full Excavator, and the two main differences being core count and power window. There’s also some adjustments to the naming of the processors which should help customers and OEMs choose the right part for their workloads.

The baseline platform will be Stoney Ridge, featuring one Excavator module for two threads and support for up to DDR4-2133 in single channel operation. These parts will be +1 GHz compared to the previous cat cores, and feature GCN 1.2 integrated graphics with support for HDMI 2.0, PCIe 3.0, the upgraded video decoder and codec engine, and thus support for VP9 and HEVC decode in AMD’s lowest parts. AMD is also touting a +50% graphics improvement over the last cat core generation at the entry level.

Users will be able to identify Stoney Ridge APUs based on their core count (one module, advertised as dual core), and that the APUs will carry the A9, A6 or E2 branding. The APUs will default to 15W, with only a small configurable TDP window for OEM (except the A9, which can run up to 25W).

The Bristol Ridge platform is for the mainstream. We get an expected dual module design for four threads, support for up to DDR4-2400 but with dual channel operation. Bristol Ridge APUs and Stoney Ridge APUs are the same socket, which means the can be used in the same design similar to Carrizo and Carrizo-L, and back with Carrizo it caused confusion as the high-end part in a platform designed for the low-performance part would only operate in single channel, reducing performance. We double checked with AMD about the whole single/double channel miasma that befell the Carrizo line, and AMD stated that while it is still an OEM decision, they are working closer with OEMs to ensure that users can get a more optimal configuration.

Users will be able to identify Bristol Ridge-based devices by the core count (advertised as quad core), and the APU will be in the FX, A12 or A10 branding. These SKUs will also have a ‘P’ in the name. These APUs will be in two different variants, 15W and 35W, each with a different name to be easily identified. There is a small configurable TDP window for each APU, however the 15W and 35W parts do not overlap.

One device with the 7^th Generation APU was actually announced several weeks ago: the HP Envy x360. This device is going to be one of the premium products to use both Bristol Ridge and Stoney Ridge, offering a 360-degree laptop design, a 15.6-inch FHD or UHD display, both PCIe and HDD options, an option for a Windows Hello capable camera, premium audio and up to 10 hours battery life. We expect to see one during Computex this week, but the x360 should be on sale today. We checked with AMD on this too: the x360 will be offered in Stoney Ridge and Bristol Ridge formats, with the latter being dual channel.

The new APU SKUs are split by their FX/A12/A10/A9/A6/E2 branding and thermal design power. The main difference with a change in TDP is going to be the CPU frequency both in base and boost frequency, however some models and cTDP options may adjust the graphics frequency as well.

Each brand will carry ‘7^th Gen’ in the image to confirm the use of a *Ridge APU. AMD is stating that APUs equipped with R5 and R7 graphics will allow for dual graphics configurations if the OEMs decide to use a comparable discrete graphics card, and we expect a couple of devices to be launched with this feature.

As the table also shows, users asked for TDP specific product numbers (myself included) and we have them here, especially in the Bristol Ridge parts. Any part that ends in ‘30P’ will be the higher TDP version.  Despite this, AMD still offers that cTDP window for each APU, and it is up to the OEM to advertise if this is used. If the Carrizo devices are any indication, OEMs will not state nor will they open the option in the BIOS.

Information on the exact GPU configurations and frequencies should be on its way. We contacted AMD’s PR team after our briefing for this information, and they are sourcing it for us.

Additional 6/1: For the exact graphics configurations, we were given the following:

• FX 9830P: R7, 8 CUs, 512 SPs, 900 MHz max
• FX 9800P: R7, 8 CUs, 512 SPs, 758 MHz max
• A12-9730P: R7, 6 CUs, 384 SPs, 900 MHz max
• A12-9700P: R7, 6 CUs, 384 SPs, 758 MHz max
• A10-9630P: R5, 6 CUs, 384 SPs, 800 MHz max
• A10-9600P: R5, 6 CUs, 384 SPs, 720 MHz max
• A9-9410: R5, 3 CUs, 192 SPs, 800 MHz max
• A6-9210: R4, 3 CUs, 192 SPs, 600 MHz max
• E2-9010: R2, 2 CUs, 128 SPs, 600 MHz max

A story about new AMD products wouldn’t be complete without mentioning gaming bundles. AMD is offering OEM game bundles for any processor that is A9 and up, with the Bristol Ridge parts expanding in their options. It is up to the OEM to take on this offer and pass it on to the customer, so mileage on which products will offer this will vary.

Final Thoughts

Despite many users believing that AMD would be discussing AM4 and their desktop versions of Bristol Ridge at Computex, the opposite seems to be the case. AMD isn’t discussing it, and I’ve hit a solid wall with the motherboard manufacturers as well. If rumors are to be believed, based on a CPU cooling company Facebook post that was deleted, the socket is mostly likely the same dimensions as AM2/AM3, however we can’t even verify that. It would seem that whatever your prediction for hearing about new desktop products was, add at least a quarter.

But put this into perspective here. Bristol Ridge is still based on Excavator – a core that was initially designed to run at 15W in dual-module configuration. AMD stated at the Tech Day in 2015 that the higher TDP/frequency you run a Carrizo platform, the lower the differential to a 2014 Kaveri platform. AMD teased Carrizo on the desktop with the Athlon X4 845 at 65W for the FM2+ socket (and I apologize that I haven’t got around to writing the review fully yet), however this was one part without integrated graphics and a very low-frequency ceiling when overclocking. Despite this, Carrizo on the desktop was still a surprising performer, but only at the low powered part of the product stack. If we’re going to see Carrizo mk2 and Bristol Ridge on the desktop, it might only be for those lower power 35W-45W parts, and there’s no point releasing a platform with just 45W parts if it is going to evolve into the extreme platform with a Zen drop in: you need both, especially if each one is designed for specific markets. There’s an obvious line of thought I’m going down here, and while I won’t say it outright, the signs are getting less fuzzy as time moves on.

Desktop aside, we reviewed the OEM implementations of AMD’s Carrizo platform earlier this year and came away feeling that an opportunity to show off the hardware had been missed. I know that AMD took on board our points and discussed them internally, and hopefully working with HP on the x360 can show what the APUs should be able to do. We expect to see more 7^th Generation device announcements at Computex this week, and I’ll ping AMD and HP for some hands-on time with a review unit in due course.

Gallery: AMD Announces the 7th Generation APU: Excavator mk2 in Bristol Ridge and Stoney Ridge for Notebooks

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Intel LGA 1155 1156 Processor CPU Fan Heatsink

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Asking $5 for a like new Intel LGA1155/LGA1156 CPU Fan and heatsink. Part number: E97378-001.

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EVGA's handy tool improves graphics card power cable management

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At Computex we often see a huge collection of expensive new hardware, such as Intel's $1,700 enthusiast CPU and Macbook competitors from Asus, but it can sometimes be the little tools and handy gadgets that interest the most.





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AMD's Stony Ridge chips promise big boost for “value” laptops

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You can divide AMD's 7th-gen A-series processors into two families: there are the higher-performance AMD A10 and A12 chips for premium laptops, ...

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Kaby Lake starts strong as Intel retools PC strategy

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Kaby Lake will succeed the current crop of 6th Generation Core processors code-named Skylake. The processor design has the underpinnings of ...

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Digital Storm crams a 10-core CPU and GTX 1080 inside an all-in-one

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Digital Storm crams a 10-core CPU and GTX 1080 inside an all-in-one ... The least expensive model comes with an Intel Core i5-6500 processor, ...

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Intel Launches 10-Core Processor for Virtual Reality and Gaming

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Intel unveiled its new 10-core CPU for VR and gaming on Monday at the 2016 Computex event in Taipei, Taiwan. The 10-core Core i7-6950X ...

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Intel Launches 10-Core Processor for Virtual Reality and Gaming

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Intel unveiled its new 10-core CPU for VR and gaming on Monday at the ... The processor has as many as 10 cores, or computing brains, on a single ...

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Intel Corporation Releases Super Quick Processor

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Intel announced the new CPU at the Computex trade show in Taiwan on May 30th. The new processor, called the Intel Core i7-6950X Extreme Edition ...

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Buying Guide: The 10 best graphics cards in the world

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Best Graphics Cards

Are you a PC gamer? Then trust us on this: there is no other component nearly as important as the graphics card.

Yes, your monitor and even your mouse matter. But nothing has more impact on both frame rates and fun than your graphics card. Problem is, at any moment there are scores of cards to choose from and they typically all claim to have pixel-pushing perfection.

The simple solution is to buy the very best. But that also means the most expensive. For most of us, then, it's all about bang-for-buck at a given budget. Just remember to think carefully about how you match your graphics card with the rest of your PC.

If you have a super-high resolution monitor, for instance, you're going to need a high-end graphics card to make the most of it. But, equally, there's little point unloading on the finest GPU money can buy if its being bottlenecked by an old CPU or feeding a feeble screen.

With all that in mind, here's our guide to not only the fastest, but also the best value PC graphics you can buy.

1. EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition

Unparalleled performance

Stream Processors: 2,560 | Core Clock: 1,607MHz | Memory: 8GB GDDR5X | Memory Clock: 7,010MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 266.7mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI

EVGA GeForce GTX 1080 Founders Edition

Great all around performance

Makes 4K gaming viable

Great all around performance

Makes 4K gaming viable

If you want proper entry into 4K gaming, the Titan X no longer reigns supreme. With the launch of Nvidia's Pascal architecture, you can get the performance of two 980Tis for a fraction of what you'd spend on an EVGA Titan X SuperClock. Of course, no graphics card is perfect. This GTX 1080 falls prey to an early adoption tax in what Nvidia calls the "Founders Edition" model, based on the reference set by the company and manufactured by EVGA. Though you may want to wait for the inevitable launch of more affordable, more powerful GTX 1080 GPUs from third parties, the GTX 1080 is undoubtedly the best in its class right now – as if it's even a contest.

2. Zotac GeForce GTX 980Ti AMP Extreme Edition

Titan X power without Titan X cost

Stream Processors: 2816 | Core Clock: 1253MHz | Memory: 6GB | Memory Clock: 7220MHz | Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Length: 267mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI

Zotac GeForce GTX 980Ti AMP Extreme Edition

Almost as powerful as the Titan X

Beats Titan X with the OC

Still pretty expensive

Only worth it for high-res gaming

Though it can't match the Titan X in terms of video memory (6GB versus 12GB), the GeForce GTX 980Ti offers a higher clock speed and can often beat that card for considerably less money. Cards with the 'AMP' moniker usually mean business, and this card lives up to its name. It'll let you game in resolution up to 4K, even if some titles push the card to its limit. The 980Ti AMP Extreme Edition may be better value than the Titan X SuperClock, but it's far from cheap, costing around the same as a budget (or entry level mid-range) gaming PC.

3. Gigabyte Radeon R9 Fury X

Uses an all-in-one liquid cooling system and new High-Bandwidth Memory

Stream Processors: 4096 | Core Clock: 1050MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 1000MHz | Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Length: 195mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI

Gigabyte Radeon R9 Fury X

High bandwidth memory

Over 4,000 stream processors

Only 4GB of HBM, struggles at 4K

Water-reservoir takes up space

The first AMD entry in our list features an all-in-one liquid cooling system that's similar to ones that keep computer processors cool. It means you'll need a spare fan mount inside the case to fit it, but the advantage of having one is quieter operation and lower temperatures than what you'd get without such a setup.

The R9 Fury X is AMD's answer to the Nvidia GeForce 980 Ti, and although it isn't quite on par in terms of performance, its 4096 stream processors, 256 texture units and a massive 4068-bit memory bus helps it shift more pixels than ever before. Oh, and the card also saw AMD make the leap from GDDR5 to faster HBM memory, although there's only 4GB of it. That means the R9 Fury X can struggle if you're playing particularly demanding titles in 4K.

4. Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano

Tiny graphics card packs a big punch

Stream Processors: 4096 | Core Clock: 1000MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 1000MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin | Length: 152mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI

See more Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano deals

Beautifully small

Low power consumption

Small size doesn't make it cheaper

Not quite as powerful as the Fury X

Building a small PC no longer means passing on power thanks to new graphics cards like the Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano. AMD's dinky video card is short enough to squeeze into the smallest of PC cases without sacrificing the raw grunt that you get from high-end cards. Highly efficient for a Fiji GPU, it has the same 4GB of 4096-bit HBM memory found in the Fury X, with an identical number of texture units and ROPs. The clock speed is 5% lower, but on the plus side you won't need as huge power supply to go with it due to the power envelope dropping to just 175W.

Read the full review: Sapphire Radeon R9 Nano

5. Palit GeForce GTX 980 Super JetStream

A potential bargain, despite only 4GB of memory

Stream Processors: 2048 | Core Clock: 1203MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 7200MHz | Power Connectors: 2 x 6-pin | Length: 269mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI

Palit GeForce GTX 980 Super JetStream

Can be found at decent prices

Plenty of gaming performance

Only 4GB of memory is a bit mean

Heavily OC'd models are pricey

If you're looking for a card that will handle 4K games on Medium quality settings, look no further than the Palit GeForce GTX 980 Super JetStream. This card used to be Nvidia's fastest non-Titan offering before the 980Ti came along, so it's no slouch. Featuring 2,048 stream processors, a 1,203MHz core clock speed and 4GB of memory, it offers a decent blend of clout and value.

6. Sapphire Radeon R9 Tri-X 390X

AMD's card has the GTX 980 in its sights

Stream Processors: 2816 | Core Clock: 1055MHz | Memory: 8GB | Memory Clock: 6000MHz | Power Connectors: 2 x 8-pin | Length: 308mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI

Sapphire Radeon R9 Tri-X 390X

Lower price than GTX 980

Triple-fan cooler from Sapphire

GDDR5 memory rather than HBM

375W power consumption

When it comes to cost, the Radeon R9 Tri-X 390X sits somewhere between Nvidia's GTX 970 and 980 cards. It often gets the better of the former card, though the 970 performs better in some games. The Tri-X 390X produces blistering frame rates at resolutions up to 2,560 x 1,440 with all graphic details dialled up to 10. Featuring 2,816 stream processors and a core clock speed of 1,055MHz, it doesn't quite pack the muscle required for 4K gaming unless you're playing lesser demanding titles.

7. MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Edition

Value meets performance in Nvidia's capable card

Stream Processors: 1664 | Core Clock: 1140MHz | Memory: 4GB | Memory Clock: 7010MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 269mm | Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 2 x DVI

MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Edition

Best performance for under £300

Still equipped to handle 1440p

Struggles with high detail at 4K

Still a whole lot of cash

A variant of one of the most popular graphics cards around, the GTX 970 Gaming edition is a 1080p monster. You could even get away with gaming at 2,560 x 1,440, though you'll have to temper expectations when it comes to 4K. Featuring 1,664 stream processors, a core clock of 1,140MHz and 4GB of memory, the GTX 970 offers the mainstream performance you may be looking for without breaking the bank.

8. Asus Radeon R9 380X OC STRIX

Consoles beware, the OC STRIX delivers stunning 1080p performance

Stream processors: 2,048 | Core Clock: 1,030MHz | Memory: 4GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 1,425MHz | Power connections: 2x 6-pin | Length: 271mm | Outputs: 2x DVI, 1x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI 1.4

Asus Radeon R9 380X OC STRIX

Great 1080p performance

Excellent Asus cooling

Middling 1440p prowess

Quicker GPUs aren't much pricier

In a similar vein to the MSI GTX 970 card above, the Asus Radeon R9 380X OC Strix handles 1080p gaming with ease, and can deliver impressive frame rates at QHD too. AMD's mid-range card is closer positioned to the GTX 960 in terms of raw performance, which is impressive considering the cost. And because it uses Asus' STRIX cooling design, the card stays relatively quiet when being put through its paces, with the fans only kicking in when it tops 60 degrees C.

Read the full review: Asus STRIX R9 380X OC review

9. Asus GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU2 OC Strix

On a budget? The affordable GTX 960 still delivers the goods

Stream Processors: 1024 | Core Clock: 1253MHz | Memory: 2GB | Memory Clock: 7200MHz | Power Connectors: 1 x 6-pin, 1 x 8-pin | Length: 215mm | Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI

See more Asus GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU2 OC Strix deals

Absolutely fine for gaming at 1080p

Short and easy to fit into most cases

Lags behind AMD's R9 380X

Only 2GB video memory

The GeForce GTX 960 is an affordable card and a great option if you're looking to game on a budget. With a short design that makes it easy to slip into PC cases, the card delivers great gaming performance at 1080p thanks to its 1,024 stream processors, core clock speed of 1,253MHz and 2GB of video memory. Performance-wise, Nvidia's card lags behind ones in the price bracket above, so things start to get choppy when you begin to raise the resolution. Still, you can't go wrong if you're looking to game at what is still the most popular resolution today.

Read the full review: Asus GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU2 OC Strix

10. EVGA GeForce GTX 750Ti SC

A graphics chip that's super (and super cheap)

Stream Processors: 640 | Core Clock: 1176MHz | Memory: 2GB | Memory Clock: 5400MHz | Power Connectors: None | Length: 170mm | Outputs: 1 x HDMI, 1 x DVI, 1 x VGA

EVGA GeForce GTX 750Ti SC

Great value at under £100

Fine to at run 1080p games

More cash spent = more performance

Can't handle the latest games

Based on Nvidia's Maxwell architecture, the GTX 750Ti SC is an affordable card that still packs the latest technology. This entry-level offering is still up to the task of playing the latest games if you're happy with playing on Low or Medium quality settings at 1080p resolution, and because it's small it's easy to drop into a basic PC to give it some extra graphical grunt. Just don't expect it to work miracles.

Gabe Carey has also contributed to this article

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Intel Core i7-6950X Processor Review – 10-core Broadwell-E Benchmarked

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Intel Broadwell-E processors are finally here and sadly before I even started to type this review most of the details have been leaked out around the ...

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A New Trick On-Board Intel Broadwell-E Chips Is Key To Their Killer Performance

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However, with Intel's family of Broadwell-E processors, the company has introduced their Turbo Boost 3.0 technology that not only manages clock ...

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Intel Broadwell E: What You Need to Know

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Another year, another new set of powerful Intel processors. Broadwell E represents the latest family of Intel CPUs, sporting more cores and support for ...

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Intel Corporation Releases 10 Core Gaming CPU

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Intel has also introduced a new turbo technology with this family of extreme processors. The Intel Turbo 3.0 can check each processor for maximum ...

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TYAN Storage, Cloud Computing and HPC Solutions to Deliver Exceptional Performance, Power ...

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The 1U GT62B-B5539 platform supports Intel Xeon processor D-1500 series CPU with up to 16 cores, 4x DDR4 DIMM slots, 2x 10GbE (Intel^® X557) ...

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Intel 10-Core i7-6950X CPU Will Destroy Bank Accounts

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You are getting a beast of a CPU for the price. The 3GHz 10-core processor can run 20 concurrent work threads, and Intel includes its Turbo Boost to ...

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Be quiet! Debuts New Entry-Level Compact CPU Cooler, The Pure Rock Slim

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Be quiet! has expanded its Pure Rock family of CPU coolers with the Pure Rock Slim, a compact cooler specially designed for use in microATX and miniITX systems.

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TYAN Storage, Cloud Computing and HPC Solutions to Deliver Exceptional Performance, Power ...

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The 1U GT62B-B5539 platform supports Intel Xeon processor D-1500 series CPU with up to 16 cores, 4x DDR4 DIMM slots, 2x 10GbE (Intel((R)) ...

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HSA 1.1 Specification Launched: Extending HSA to More Vendors & Processor Types

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The foundation is composed of many members, including a number of CPU/GPU design heavyweights such as ARM, Qualcomm, Imagination, and ...

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Dell's new Inspiron 11 convertible: Up to Core M3 CPU, up to 4GB RAM, up to 500GB storage

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But the latest additions to the family feature some significant upgrades. In January Dell began selling a model with an Intel Braswell processor and a ...

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Intel Supercharges Enthusiast Line With New Broadwell-E Processors

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If you're looking to buy or build the most powerful home system possible, whether for gaming or high-end design and editing work, Intel this week ...

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Computex 2016: Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition is the Most Powerful Desktop PC Processor Ever

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Designed for so-called “mega-tasking,” the new high-end CPU delivers 10 processor cores, a 3 GHz base clock speed, and 40 PCIe lanes. “With the ...

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Intel Unveils VR And 4K-Focused 10-Core i7 CPU

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Intel has wheeled out its first ever 10-core desktop processor, specially ... The CPU is the flagship 'Extreme' chip for Intel's Broadwell i7 family.

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Origin PC, Velocity Micro jump on Intel's 10-core processor

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Now that Intel has officially trotted out Core i7 Extreme Edition processors based on its shiny new Broadwell-E platform, gaming PC makers are ...

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Intel Core i7 Extreme Edition Deca-Core Processors Offer Crazy Performance

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The next processor for Intel's Broadwell-E family will have 10 cores. Yeah, you heard it right, 10 cores in a CPU meant for mass market. Their new ...

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Intel Launches 10-Core Broadwell-E Processor For VR And Gaming: Here's The Deal

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Intel used its stage time at Computex 2016 to showcase its new line of Extreme Edition processors, the best of which is a mind-blowing 10-core CPU.

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Intel Announces Beastly New 10-Core i7 Processor, Confirms 7th Generation Processors Will Be ...

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Dedicated gamers have a new and very expensive toy to save up for today — at Computex 2016 in Taipei, Intel announced the Intel Core i7 processor ...

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Intel Launches Its First 10-Core Desktop CPU With Broadwell-E

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Intel at Computex 2016 has introduced its latest lineup of enthusiast processors, the Broadwell-E series of Core i7 offerings. The entire series is ...

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Marvell Launches Advanced Suite of IoT Application Processors for Home Automation, Industrial ...

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"Marvell's highly integrated IAP processors and software stack provide OEMs with a comprehensive solution for IoT systems, allowing them to quickly ...

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Fast Processor Model of Renesas RL78 CPU Released by Imperas for Open Virtual Platforms

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The model of the RL78 processor core, as well as models of other Renesas processors, work with the Imperas and OVP simulators, including the ...

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ARM announces new Cortex-A73 CPU, Mali G71 GPU

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ARM announces new Cortex-A73 CPU, Mali G71 GPU ... efficient and higher performing follow-up to its first high-end 64-bit processor, the Cortex-A57.

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Intel's incredible 10-core Broadwell-E CPU arrives with a $1723 price tag

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Intel's latest Extreme Edition line of processors has just been revealed at Computex. The company's new flagship product, the Core i7-6950X, is its first ...

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Intel launches its most powerful desktop CPU with 10 cores

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Intel will also offer its Extreme Edition processors in 8-core and 6-core versions- Core i7-6900K, Core i7-6850K, Core i7-6800K. All processors are ...

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Intel has a crazy-fast 10-core desktop gaming processor that costs more than a MacBook Pro

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And before you ask, yes, these are consumer chips, which means you'll be able to buy them and build yourself the ultimate computer gaming rig, right ...

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Digital Storm sticks a ten-core i7-6950X and a GTX 1080 into its 34-inch all-in-one PC

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It’s only been a few hours since Intel’s monstrously powerful and terrifyingly expensive 10-core i7-6950X was announced, and now we’ve just learned that boutique computer manufacturer Digital Storm’s Aura all-in-one PC will be one of the first machines to feature the Extreme Edition CPU. ...





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HP and MSI Demonstrate Backpack PCs for VR Gaming

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Virtual reality gaming promises to drive demand for higher-performance graphics cards as well as richer game content. But even before the first AAA VR games make their debut, computer manufacturers are inventing a new PC form-factor specifically for virtual reality gaming: backpack PCs. Truth to be told, the concept of such systems sounds somewhat odd, but HP and MSI think it's worth investigating ahead of any attempts at commercialization.

Virtual reality gear changes the way we perceive games, whereas specially designed controllers (e.g., Oculus Touch) are supposed to change the way we interact with video games. Meanwhile, backpack PCs are expected improve the way we feel VR video games by enabling relative freedom of movements by making wiring of the VR headsets a little more comfortable.  

Backpack PCs are essentially fully-fledged personal computers without displays, which are integrated into special backpacks, which can then be worn and used to play games. For example, MSI’s Backpack PC contains Intel’s mobile Core i7 Extreme processo as well as NVIDIA’s GeForce GTX 980 graphics adapter along with RAM, SSD, networking capabilities and so on. Meanwhile, HP’s Omen X VR Backpack Concept integrates an Intel Core i5/i7 CPU as well as up to 32 GB of memory (which implies on rather high-end specs in general). The HP backpack PC features only one HDMI output, two USB ports as well as an audio jack (everything one needs to connect the HTC Vive) and a power input. As of now, the Omen X VR Backpack Concept has a battery that only lasts an hour, but allows swapping bats without shutting the PC down. Both systems are compatible with wireless keyboards and mice, so users can navigate typical Windows apps (or rather solve problems with software) with relative convenience.

Because it is not possible to build wireless VR headsets due to latency issues right now, backpack PCs can indeed improve VR experience. However, keep in mind that Oculus Rift’s positional tracking system (the Constellation) connects to PCs using a USB cable, which means that while the backpack PC can enable some additional freedom of movement compared to conventional desktops or laptops, it still needs to connect to the Constellation IR LED sensor for positional tracking. With the HTC Vive everything is a little easier since the tracking system does not need to be connected to the PC itself.

HP plans to supply its Omen X VR Backpack Concept to select software developers in the coming weeks. This will help the company not only to ensure that makers of apps take such PCs into account when they create their programs, but will eventually provide them with valuable input regarding necessary design and features. In addition, the backpack PCs are going to be used in various VR showrooms to demonstrate advantages of virtual reality.

It is unknown if and when backpack PCs will make it to the market, and how much companies like MSI or HP intend to charge for such systems.

Right now, the backpack PCs help game developers to design games, which will be used with wireless VR headsets when and if they emerge. However, it is unclear how comfortable it is to play a game with a PC on your back, albeit, a small one. Therefore, it is difficult to say whether backpack PCs can be commercially successful.

Sources: MSI, Tom’s Guide, The Verge.

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Intel at Computex 2016: 5 Things to Know

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By combining the performance of Intel® Xeon® processors with the graphics power of Intel® Iris Pro graphics P580, Intel's most advanced graphic ...

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Intel unveils first 10-core consumer processor

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Intel today introduced a new range of high-end processors, headlined by the company's first consumer-facing 10-core CPU, the USD$1,723 Extreme ...

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Intel's incredible 10-core Broadwell-E CPU arrives with a $1723 price tag

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Intel’s latest Extreme Edition line of processors has just been revealed at Computex. The company’s new flagship product, the Core i7-6950X, is its first desktop CPU to feature a monstrous 10 cores. But that kind of power doesn’t come cheap – hardcore fans will have to pay $1723 if they...





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