Appeared in the last quarter of 2012, AMD FX 4100 and FX 4130 are mandated to integrate machines with very good price performance ratio.
With a rate close to one hundred euros, you have a CPU socket AM3 + integrates four cores clocked at 3.6GHz and 3.8GHz, but also an appropriate cooling system.
That the AMD FX 4100 is different from the FX 4130.
It is therefore possible with these processors make a PC Dell Inspiron 1526 with ease of use attractive for the most basic tasks and will also go a little further in the use of multimedia or games not too demanding. In our test, we entrust to one of the best motherboards available on the market: The Asus Sabertooth 990FX R2.0.
The Bulldozer architecture used 2011 date. She had to replace K10 with the first signs of aging began to be felt.
AMD FX Series CPUs ship some of the most interesting features. The first to our attention is undoubtedly the multiplier unbridled. We can imagine easily exceed the frequencies of factory overclocking the chip.
AMD Overdrive technology is accessible via an application supporting and simplifying overclock.
Turbo mode will exceed the base frequencies at high loads and found not to change a lot of new instructions always bringing more efficiency.
Finally, AMD PowerNow! (Cool'n'Quiet) FX Series CPU provides management mechanisms to reduce energy consumption.
After Pavilion DV4 battery testing in August 2012 the very convincing AMD FX 8120 here, variations FX 4100 and FX 4130 will it also a good choice for entry level?
Presentation
Appeared in the second half of 2012, the generation of AMD FX had to replace the Phenom too down face to Intel Sandy Bridge. The latter having with their power, caused a real enthusiasm among both professional and private homes.
AMD FX Series were also the first to board eight cores although this claim has been strongly criticized by the press. Failing board eight independent computing units, the Compaq Presario CQ60 accounted actually four groups each comprising two hearts. In addition, the cache is shared.
Across three categories, FX differ mainly on the number of cores. FX 8000 include eight FX 6000: 6 and finally our FX 4100 and 4130 test: 4.
Based upon an architecture known as "Bulldozer" CPU entry-level FX also respond to the name "Zambezi". They are marked in 32nm and each computer unit is composed of two modules or threads.
While at Intel this modularity is purely software with Hyper Threading, AMD is going a little further but this is really effective in practice?
Compatible with 64-bit instructions, FX 4100/30 differ in the cache onboard. If it is the same on levels 1 and 2 (4x16KB for data 2x64KB instructions for L1 and 4096KB L2), it differs in L3: 8MB for the FX 4100 and 4MB for 4130.
This specificity is most amazing because in general, the most powerful processors are those that receive the most cache. We can therefore speculate that the Latitude E6500 battery based on a TDP of 125 watts, we imagine that the founder did not want to increase it by castrating the L3 half.
They have the HyperTransport 3.0 and can be coupled to the memory clocked at 1866MHz maximum. While the FX 4100 is clocked at 3.6GHz (3.8GHz with Turbo), the FX 4130 run at 3.8GHz (3.9GHz with turbo).
Us closer features of these processors for overclocking adorned with their coefficients unlocked. They embark new instruction sets AVX FMA4, XOP and AES significantly accelerate the processing of specific data.
The integrated DRAM controller supports up to 1866MHz modules clocked at a voltage range down to 1.2V. The theoretical available bandwidth being 29.9Go / s.
AMD FX Series supports virtualization technologies with AMD-V that makes them compatible with applications such as VMware.
A modern processor is to integrate advanced functionality in terms of consumption, AMD PowerNow Toshiba PA3465U-1BRS developed based Cool'n'Quiet. Its role is to adjust the tension as needed through C6 Power State.
Compatible chipsets
If Intel chipset choice is required depending on the chosen processor, AMD things may seem much more complicated for the novice.
AMD platform started with the main objective to ensure compatibility with future developments.
To maintain the life of its socket, the founder of a proposed new chipsets to meet the expectations of users. Thus we find sixteen controllers from Round 7 itself contains new versions. Series 8 and 9 have been greatly simplified by providing 3 or 4 models.
Three chipsets stand on the market and ensures compatibility with FX processors subject to compatibility with the manufacturer of the
Pavilion DV5 motherboard. They correspond to three distinct ranges: entry-level, mid and high range.
The AMD 760G is an economic model for the motherboards start shipping at a rate less than forty euros. Of course, it will ignore the multi-GPU solutions, and even USB 3 SATA III. It would be a shame to curb the CPU fault features missing.
The AMD 970 is much more interesting because it includes the SATA III allowing it to benefit from the speed of the SSD last generation. It will probably be the best solution for FX 4100/30 for a little over sixty euros, you will have access to the latest technologies.
Finally fans of high-end components will be based on the 990FX chipset only be compatible with multi-GPU solutions. Rates start for this chipset to one hundred euros.
Cooling system
The AMD FX 4130 has the same cooler as the Dell Inspiron 1525, a natural choice for the TDP of these processors is 125W.
It is based on the traditional radiator / fan. The heater uses four copper heatpipes traveled by many fins nickel. Relatively compact size, the block is surmounted by a very small fan pretending to 120mm face found on the majority of alternative models.
It has seven blades classical and ensures compatibility with PWM technology. (4 --------------------------- 3222222222222223 / this is comment Aaron over my 4 months).
Under the base of fully copper radiator, we find a pre-applied thermal paste.
On the model of the FX 4100 is a bit smaller and above all it is characterized by a bright red color. It is thinner, wider but thinner. It has nine blades and also a connector supports four PWM pins.
The radiator has two heatpipes and all fins corresponds to the first stage of the model dedicated to FX 4130.
This time the base of the radiator does not have the right to copper but found the same dough thermique.Il is time to measure the performance of AMD FX 4100/30 through a range of representative benchmarks renowned for their Pavilion DV6 quality and reliability . We compare the results with those of the Intel i3 2100 real current reference on this range.
Performance synthetic
We know very well, Intel is more swift in some spots like Super Pi calculation gross
This is why it offers more than ten seconds on all AMD tested.
Four cores of AMD FX have no trouble to go well beyond the i3 2100 which embeds two units calculations even if it has the Hyper Threading. It was found that the frequency of the FX 4130 outweighs the FX 4100 thanks to its slightly higher frequency.
Truecrypt uses the cache of the Dell Inspiron 6000 CPU and that is why the FX 4100 is better than the FX 4130. Once again, the FX coiffent Intel i3 but narrowly for it.
wPrime 1024 follows the pattern of Super Pi in which the i3 Intel achieved better scores than AMD. As is the frequency which determines the FX yet the i3 2100 is clocked at 3.1GHz only.
Passmark under the AMD still steal the spotlight by taking a minimum of 300 points.
GeekBench sequence contains a specially dedicated to CPU we use exclusively. This is why the i3 2100 beats the FX 200 points.
ScienceMark gives preference to Intel i3 with a big lead of 350 points. He also appreciates the 8MB cache.
Turning to compress files with 7Zip where the i3 2100 is very small with less than 9000 points. Such as Truecrypt, cache capacity is more important than the frequency and therefore the FX 4100 takes a slight lead.
It's time for the Pavilion DV2000 memory to be expressed via AIDA64. Intel has a big lead on this issue and it is not really a surprise if the i3 2100 is twice as fast writing. Read the gap is smaller with a difference of 30%.
PCMark 07 estimating the total power of a platform, the limit comparison absurd because unfortunately the graphics card was replaced. Radeon HD6950 with the deceased, we now use a GTX 570 appreciated by PCMark.
However, the difference between the two CPUs are tested and speaking clearly show the interest of a larger L3 cache. The i3 with an IGP did not take advantage of our GTX 570.
Cinebench rendering pass with or neither FX manages to distinguish. The two i3 (Sandy Bridge and Ivy) do not advance dramatically.
The best for last: X264Benchmark is our program of choice for measuring the performance of a Dell Vostro 1510 processor. The number of processing units makes the difference and that is why AMD have a slight lead. The i3 is not overclockable, the interest of AMD takes on its full meaning.
Now we integrate 3D 3DMark Fire Storm which does not favor one of the two CPU AMD FX with a little over 900 points.
Metro in 2033, the measured differences between the two processors are so small that they can not draw real conclusions for a particular model.
Overclocking
The AMD FX 4100/30 with their coefficients unlocked, overclocking is thereby simplified because all simply increase as the Vcore voltage. It took less than 1.5V to stabilize the two chips.
So the FX 4100 3.6GHz clocked base (3.8GHz Turbo Mode) and reached 4.6GHz FX 4130 (3.8GGz 3.9GHe with base and turbo) reached 4.8GHz. This is the frustration of not reaching the bar 5GHz while many models are suitable.
AMD FX 4130
The 4130 is therefore much better student and gains easily exceed 30%. Applications Latitude d830 benefiting the less still reach 25% without the need for alternative cooling system.
Cinebench love mounted frequency and for proof he is the first to gain performance through overclocking. Base within 3 points, almost 4 points.
Truecrypt also benefits greatly from the overclocking from 1300 MB / s to 1700MB / s.
Finally X264Benchmark shows that overclocking the FX 4130 video encoding times will be greatly accelerated from 18 FPS to 24 FPS on the second pass. The first pass 25FPS wins.
AMD FX 4100
The 4100 sentences compared to 4130 because the maximum gains to expect on our test processor is limited to 20% in the best case. They are on average around 10%. Whereas in the case of the Dell Vostro 1400, it is the applications related to the production of multimedia content, the FX 4100 wins more general tools where hearts are not fully exploited .
WPrime 1024 and is the benchmark in the most favorable way to the brink of the 500 seconds instead of 623 seconds at base frequency.
Super Pi, we gain 4 seconds, approaching very close to 20 seconds instead of 25 seconds frequency supported by the factory.
Finally 7Zip already beyond the 10 000 points Base frequency is approaching 12,000 points once the 4.6GHz configurés.Fans watts
The AMD FX 4100/30 it heats? Their stock coolers they are correctly proportioned and these chips require high power it electric?
Temperatures and fans
A base frequency, the temperatures are high enough to rest a little more than 40 ° C.
They exceed 50 ° C when the CPU at full speed which is very correct. We note that the XPS M2010 reached the highest value due to less efficient cooler.
Fans installed on the radiators each processor has very high speeds due to their small diameter. It is far above the rest of 2000 revolutions per minute and if the FX 4100 is limited to 500 RPM additional FX 4130 flew to almost 3500 RPM.
At this level the noise is naturally high and overclockng will not fix the situation really.
Once overclocked CPU, the resting temperature close to 50 ° C and not exceed 65 ° C or 10 ° C barely higher than the base frequency. It is clear that the coolers provided enough to properly cool the chips requirement not be demanding noise.
Because if the cooler FX 4100 happy 3000 RPM, the 4130 FX reaches its maximum 5000 RPM is causing a noise level bearable but only in small doses. It may possibly opt for a small cooler alternative to enjoy a perfect silence.
Finally finish the Vcore voltage. Announced as standing at 1.27V, it can easily reach 1.4V in the case of the FX 4100 and FX 4130 for 1.3V.
Once the CPU overclocked to 1.5V, again the Dell Latitude E5500 requires more power than the 4130. This finding suggests that the extra L3 cache is no stranger to this phenomenon. The FX 4130 he wanders with 1.4V.
While the i3 2100 is exemplary in terms of power consumption, the FX show far more greedy with the best 120 watts for the FX 4100 idle. Once overclocked, the FX 4130 remains below 200 watts with 189 watts.
Conclusion
They are the processors essential input range. FX 4100 and FX 4130 mostly have everything to rush towards a bright future.
Yes they do not include a GUI (IGP), they consume a lot against an Intel i3 and cooling systems are noisy quickly.
However, for a hundred euros, performance is the appointment and largely meet our expectations. You could tell by browsing the specifications they are widely equipped for basic applications.
But our tests showed that they were also able to go further by considering minor video, photos and music. About games, you will certainly turn to a dedicated graphics card but the FX 4100/30 will not be a real bride in the most current titles.
Particularly important in this Dell Vostro 1400 test good overclocking capabilities of the AMD FX 4130. Even if 5GHz have not been met, it is likely that tatillonnant the parameters, we can without too much trouble even earn a few hundred megahertz.
Care must be taken to use a cooler alternative if you want to gain noise. The 135 watt TDP FX 4130 will pose no problem to the great majority of cooling input range.
We especially appreciate the opportunities offered by a hosting platform AMD FX. Using a motherboard based on AMD 990FX chipset as the excellent Asus Sabertooth 990FX REV 2.0 we dedicate a full review in the coming weeks, we will move to a CPU much faster.
Reminder E5500 battery machines bases on such a card are the only ones to benefit from six SATA 6Gbps, an argument can no longer compelling for demanding users aware that Intel platforms do not embark two.
AMD FX 4100 and FX 4130 is an excellent option in the entry level models and competitors from Intel have their power consumption to distinguish.
Tags: VGP-BPS8, Pavilion DV7, Dell Latitude E6410
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