Platform PC
In 2016, the year we are waiting for two great events: the release of the first table 10-core Intel Broadwell-E and the appearance of the first commercial chips on the AMD Zen architecture. But all this will happen in the second half of the year. And while manufacturers are expanding their existing line. Because something have to earn.
Domestic developments on processors “Baikal”
- Brief about product: my little girl!
- Release date: second quarter of 2016
- Price: no data
- Competitors and analogues: a candy bar
Last year was memorable for the presentation of the company “Baikal electronics”, which announced, in his own words, Russia’s first 28-nanometer MIPS processor. Same chip — “Baikal-T1” — got a good specifications for its class: dual core R5 Warrior P5600 32 operating at a frequency of 1.2 GHz, and built-in Ethernet controllers, PCI Express 3.0, SATA 3.0, USB 2.0. The fact is, domestic solutions based on this processor will be marketed to the masses and not be used solely for the purposes of national security (i.e. defense industry). Representatives of the “Baikal electronics” hope for large-scale production. The first consumer devices will become monoblocks “Meadowsweet Terminal”. In addition to the chip “Baikal-T1”, the computer got a NVIDIA discrete graphics card GeForce GTX 850M with two gigabytes of memory standard GDDR5, 4 GB to 32 GB of RAM and storage capacities from 512 GB to 1 TB. All of the iron monoblock packaged in a cute case with a 21.5-inch IPS-matrix (resolution Full HD). For obvious reasons, “Meadowsweet Terminal” installed operating system is Linux. The role of office workhorse the terminal can handle.
Monoblock “Meadowsweet Terminal”
In General, “Baikal electronics” presented a promising plan for the production of its own designs on ARM. In the second half of 2016 will appear a series of chips “Baikal-M”, designed for personal computers and embedded systems. These SoC will receive up to eight-core ARMv8-A vector ARM Neon coprocessor and up to eight blocks graphics Mali-T628. At the end of the year will roll out chips “Baikal-MS”. The same ARMv8-A, but with high efficiency. In 2017 planned release of systems-on-chip “Baikal-S”. Production will be transferred from 28-nanometer to 16-nanometer process technology, the chips will get up to 32 cores ARMv8-A promising memory and HMC (Hybrid Memory Cube) is the analogue of the HBM.
Processor “Baikal-T1”
The new AMD
- Briefly about the product: more processors, lower prices
- Release date: already on sale
- Price: FX-8370 — 190 USD; A10-7890K 164 USD; A10-7860K — 118$; A8-7670K — 106$; A8-7650K — 96 USD; Athlon X4 870K — $ 90; Athlon X4 860K — $ 80; Athlon X4 845 — 70 USD
- Competitors and analogues: Intel ® Core i3/i5
We are all waiting for the AMD processors on the architecture of Zen. The wait seemed endless, and the February replenishment frankly outdated lines A10 and FX/Athlon suggests that genuinely new solutions will not appear until the end of the year. And yet “red” presented some very interesting models.
For example, on sale processor A10-7860K. This 4-core chip operates at very high frequency 3.6 GHz, increasing the Turbo Core to 4 GHz. The level of TDP crystal is only 65 watts. “Hybridic” carefully wedged between the models A10-and A8 7870K-7670K respectively. By the way, the second chip is now worth 106 dollars.
The new AMD
The flagship hybrid processors A10-7890K. The same 4 cores as the A10-7860K, but only the nominal clock frequency is 4.1 GHz mode Turbo Core to 4.3 GHz. Let me remind you that all models with the letter “K” in the name have an unlocked multiplier. Therefore, to convert A10-A10 7860K in-7890K will not be easy.
The new AMD
The most interesting innovation was the Athlon X4 845. This is the first AMD desktop processor based on the Excavator architecture. Probably the only one. Series Athlon has no integrated graphics. The cores of the chip work at a decent 3.5 GHz, will automatically accelerate to 3.8 GHz. Notable features are the presence of only two megabytes of cache and only eight lines PCI Express 3.0.
The new AMD
First tests show that the architecture of the Excavator gives a nice increase relative to Piledriver. For example, in single-threaded Super Pi benchmark in the pattern 845 32M Athlon X4 with DDR3-2133 running in dual channel mode, with the result, 12 minutes and 39 seconds seriously ahead of the FX-8370, which passes this test somewhere in 22 minutes. In CINEBENCH R11.5 “excavator” gaining 4 points.
The results of testing AMD Athlon X4 845
Overclocking the Athlon X4 845, things are not very good. No unlocked multiplier, and bus chip overclockers to 4.22 GHz. At this frequency the Super Pi 32M benchmark was completed in 11 minutes and 28.5 seconds.
Overclocking AMD Athlon X4 845
Call vertelki:AMD A10-7860K3inline
ASRock 970A-G/3.1
- Briefly about the product: inexpensive but functional Board for AMD FX
- Release date: already on sale
- Price: $ 80
- Competitors and analogues: ASUS 970 Pro Gaming/Aura
Stream iron for AMD processors gushed back in January at CES in February — continued. Their innovations were noted and ASRock. From the list I chose cost 970A-G/3.1, as it is of the greatest interest because of the low price tag and decent ability to build productive gaming PC.
The power supply subsystem of the novelty has received the full 10 phases. Supported even the top-end processors FX-9000 with a TDP of 220 watts. And some Opteron processors. Superhot “stones” are not very popular. Better to take a simpler processor, and then overclock it yourself. 970A-G/3.1 will lose it.
Updated matplot for the platform AM3+ has got a good set of modern interfaces. Now it (the platform) is not so far behind the LGA1151 (the item has been added). Specifically 970A-G/3.1 received two port USB 3.1 different types. To connector M. 2 summarized four lines PCI Express 2.0. For example, it is a very fast solid state drive, Kingston HyperX Predator (review). Because of the limitation on the number of channels PEG PCI Express ports intended for installation of video cards, working in mode x16+x4. Supports CrossFire, but it is obvious that the Board is suitable only for systems with a single discrete graphics card.
Board received budget network controller Realtek RTL8111GR as well as audio circuitry with the flagship Realtek ALC1150 and the so-called audiophile capacitors.
ASRock 970A-G/3.1
Call vertelki:ASRock 970A-G/3.13 inline
GIGABYTE GA-F2A88X-D3HP
- Briefly about the product: inexpensive new with USB 3.1
- Release date: already on sale
- Price: 6500 roubles
- Competitors and analogues:
To update the motherboards for the platform FM2+ (Kaveri hybrid processors) decided GIGABYTE. Leader in the production of motherboards, has released several models, the most interesting — GA-F2A88X-D3HP top chipset A88X. The device had two USB 3.1 different types. Place the newfangled M. 2 interface is not found, but on the PCB unsoldered eight SATA 3.0.
Overall layout of the elements GA-F2A88X-D3HP is all right. Upset weak network and sound chips — and RTL8111GR alc892 codec from Realtek. With comparable ASRock 970A-G/3.1 price GA-F2A88X-D3HP in terms of equipment, looks worse, though not quite correct to compare solutions for different platforms. And yet based on this Board really assemble including a game system.
GIGABYTE GA-F2A88X-D3HP
Call vertelki:GIGABYTE GA-F2A88X-D3HP3inline
Drives
And we have a new player on the SSD market! But not just any day “noneym”, nakleikami their labels on the finished platform solutions, and is a serious player — Sony. However, not everything is so unambiguous.
Sony SLW-M
- Briefly about the product: Sony enters the market of component parts. So far only with the support of the PHISON and TOSHIBA
- Release date: already on sale
- Price: 9,000 rubles for a model with a volume of 240 GB (SLW-MG2); 16 000 rubles for a model with a volume of 480 GB (SLW-MG4)
- Competitors and analogues: any other SSD controller PHISON; Samsung 850 EVO
Interesting reasons for this decision. To enter the SSD market is not that tough. There are many existing platforms. Order reference card, glue their labels, sell. Sony went this way. As practice shows, seriously get this way will not succeed. Perhaps the series SLW-M to Sony — this kind of test.
In the basis of drives from the Japanese manufacturer is the platform budget PHISON. Far announced two models with a volume of 240 GB and 480 GB respectively. Both Packed in a 2.5-inch body thickness of 7 mm. Used three-bit flash memory production TOSHIBA TLC. The controller PS3110-S10 delivers performance at the level of 560 MB/s linear reads and 530 MB/s write.
In 2016, there are a couple dozen drives on the controller PS3110-S10. In order to compete successfully in the stormy ocean of clones, series SLW-M is unlikely to help the name. Model volume 480 GB is 16 000 rubles in retail. For example, OCZ Trion 100 with the same components estimated at 13 000. And Samsung is cheap, but a faster line 850 EVO. What to expect in Sony? Apparently, the fact that fans will run to update the drives in their PlayStation 4.
Sony SLW-MG2(4)
Call vertelki:Sony SLW-MG23inline
Seagate ST2000LM007
- Briefly about the product: the first 7-mm hard drive capacity 2 TB
- Release date: already on sale
- Price: 120 Euro
- Competitors and analogues: no
SSD is just fine, but the unit cost of stored data SSDs are still not able to compete with the classic hard drives. An elementary example. Samsung last year unveiled the 850 PRO has a capacity of 2 TB. Is this “targetlink” 875 Euros. With the release of ST2000LM007 Seagate offers a similar amount for just 120 Euros. This mobile version of hard drive got the 7-mm case, the drive will fit in most laptops. To achieve a similar density allowed two things. First of all, involves two 2.5-inch plate capacity of 1 terabyte each. Secondly, the technology uses “shingled” recording SMR (shingled magnetic recording). So the “side effect” of a high-capacity drive was its low productivity — 100 MB/with for operations of reading and writing. Slowly even among other hard drives with a spindle speed 5400 rpm Buffer memory exactly 128 MB.
Seagate ST2000LM007
Call vertelki:Seagate ST2000LM0073inline
Samsung EVO 750
- Product brief: Koreans conquer the market the release of the next series of inexpensive drives
- Release date: already on sale
- Price: US $ 55 for a model of 120 GB (MZ-750120); $ 75 for the 250GB (MZ-750250)
- Competitors and analogues: the drives on the controller PHISON: 100 Trion OCZ, Patriot Blaze, Kingston HyperX Savage
The Korean manufacturer has raged! Apparently, Samsung has decided to take over the SSD market, for now the company offers five lines for consumerlaw. Is the fastest SSD today — 950 PRO. There are flagship SATA SSD 850 PRO. There is a “national” series 850 EVO SATA 3.0, mSATA and M. 2 to choose from. There is a budget SSD 650 with a capacity of 120 GB. Now these drives are joined by a series of 750 EVO. Already from the name it is clear which device it is located. While the line included two models with a capacity of 120 GB and 250 GB respectively. Both models are made in the form factor of 2.5 inches. In both cases using a 16-nanometer flash memory type TLC controller Samsung MGX (850 EVO). Sequential write speed is 520 MB/s and read — 540 MB/S. the Performance of random read/write up to 97 000 IOPS 000/88. Very bad, especially considering the price. All the drive series are covered by a 3 year warranty.
Samsung EVO 750
Call vertelki:Samsung MZ-7501203inline