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QOTW: Do you favour efficiency or performance in your CPU?

by Parm Mann on 17 January 2014, 16:30

Tags: AMD (NYSE:AMD)

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qab7qj

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AMD's launch of the Kaveri A8-7600 brought with it an interesting feature. This mainstream APU is designed to run at either 45W or 65W TDP, with the consumer having the ability to select either operating mode.

Running at the lower TDP sacrifices some CPU performance - typically less than 15 per cent - but the chip's GPU component continues to run at full speed.

This seems like a small price to pay for a markedly-lower TDP rating, though, this is not wholly surprising given that AMD has designed this series of APU with power efficiency very much in mind.

Lower TDPs result in less heat, noise and energy consumption, all of which are increasingly important as PCs become smaller in size and energy prices continue to rise.

Unlike yesteryear, where performance was paramount, today's chips take other considerations into account. It's a great feature to have, we feel, and looking ahead, we can see every reason for subsequent processors to offer easily-configurable TDP levels, allowing the consumer to choose a particular level of performance/efficiency that suits their needs.

Taking all this into account, the question we're asking you, the readers, is do you favour efficiency or performance in your CPU? And if you owned an A8-7600, would you run it at 45W or 65W? Let us know your thoughts using the comments facility below.



HEXUS Forums :: 55 Comments

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If folks were worried about power consumption they wouldn't be selling dual GPU cards needing 800W+ PSU's.
Give us more power…….
If was building an HTPC, then efficiency.

But for my typical machine, it's all about raw power. I'm confident that with the right gear I can cool it efficiently enough to keep it quiet, so why hold back?
I would like both. Quiet and Thrifty when I'm surfing and typing…ALL OUT GODLIKE POWER and quiet when I want to take on the world…all this for a reasonable Ā£67.28.
It depends on usage. I game a lot so my usage requires more power than average and I enjoy building + tweaking my computer so getting the latest technology to improve performance has always been a priority for me. Hence the high spec gaming rig in my profile.

I now have a second computer of old bits that weren't sold on which I used for watching youtube video's and word processing. I am interested in a low power, small form factor PC for that use because power is not as important. Cooling the higher power processor is problematic in a smaller case with less optimal airflow and you typically don't want a system that makes too much noise when you are working.

So for a simple answer to the question, both but for different machines.
Noxvayl
It depends on usage. I game a lot so my usage requires more power than average and I enjoy building a tweaking my computer so getting the latest technology to improve performance has always been a priority for me. Hence the high spec gaming rig in my profile.


I was about to say more or less the same thing but you put it so well I don't think I'll bother :)