The future is/seems APU

[Dirk Broer]

Apart from the so-called 'Gladiator', a FX variant that also doubles as room-heating due to its 220 Watt tdp there been frightfully little news from the AM3+ front.
The sole -AFAIK- PCIe 3.0 supporting AM3+ mobo, the ASUS 990FX/Gen3 R2.0 Sabertooth, has even been withdrawn from the market here as far as I can tell!

So AMD seems to be laying all its eggs in the APU basket, at least where we crunchers are concerned. How's things there? Do we see improvement over the various iterations of the platform(s)?
Let's take a look at the top models of each of the manufacturers for the FM1, FM2 and FM2+ boards. For a quicky I stick now to the ATX and μATX boards, more (e.g. ECS) to come!

As there is a max of 15 pictures I might have to break up the article per manufacturer later when I add iTX boards, as I want clickable thumbnails of the various boards to go with the article. As it is all entries have a clickable link (apart from the FM2+ μATX MSI board as that page does not exists yet -but I have the future url)

Format	Model	Socket	Chipset	PCIe x16 Slots	Crossfire/SLI	Max RAM	VRM phases	Video out	Audio	WiFi	Bluetooth	eSATA	FireWire
ATX	A75 Extreme6	FM1	A75	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 2400MHz	8+2	D-Sub, DVI-D and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	Yes	Yes
ATX	FM2A85X Extreme6	FM2	A85X	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2600MHz	8+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC898	No	No	Yes	No
ATX	FM2A88X Extreme6+	FM2+	A88X	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2600MHz	8+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC1150	No	No	Yes	No
μATX	A75M	FM1	A75	16	up to dual CrossfireX, no SLI	16GB, up to 2400MHz	n.a.	D-Sub and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
μATX	FM2A85X Extreme4-M	FM2	A85X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2600MHz	4+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	Yes	No
μATX	FM2A88M Extreme4+	FM2+	A88X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2600MHz	4+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No

Format	Model	Socket	Chipset	PCIe x16 Slots	Crossfire/SLI	Max RAM	VRM phases	Video out	Audio	WiFi	Bluetooth	eSATA	FireWire
ATX	F1A75-V EVO	FM1	A75	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2250MHz	6+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	Yes	No
ATX	F2A85-V PRO	FM2	A85X	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	6+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	Yes	No
ATX	A88X-PRO	FM2+	A88X	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	6+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC1150	No	No	Yes, 2	No
μATX	F1A75-M PRO	FM1	A75	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2250MHz	4+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
μATX	F2A85-M PRO	FM2	A85X	16-0 or 8-8	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	4+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	Yes	No
μATX	A88XM-PLUS	FM2+	A88X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	4+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC887	No	No	No	No

Format	Model	Socket	Chipset	PCIe x16 Slots	Crossfire/SLI	Max RAM	VRM phases	Video out	Audio	WiFi	Bluetooth	eSATA	FireWire
ATX	TA75A+	FM1	A75	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 2000MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
ATX	Hi-Fi A85X	FM2	A85X	16-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	8+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC898	No	No	No	No
ATX	Hi-Fi A88W 3D	FM2+	A88X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2600MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
μATX	TA75M+	FM1	A75	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 2000MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
μATX	Hi-Fi A85S	FM2	A85X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 2400MHz	4+1	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
μATX	Hi-Fi A88S3+	FM2+	A88X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 2600MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No

Format	Model	Socket	Chipset	PCIe x16 Slots	Crossfire/SLI	Max RAM	VRM phases	Video out	Audio	WiFi	Bluetooth	eSATA	FireWire
ATX	GA-A75-UD4H	FM1	A75	16-8	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	8+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC889	No	No	Yes	Yes
ATX	GA-F2A85X-UP4	FM2	A85X	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	6+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	Yes	Yes
ATX	GA-F2A88X-UP4	FM2+	A88X	16-0-4 or 8-8-4	up to quad CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	6+2	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	Yes	No
μATX	GA-A75M-UD2H	FM1	A75	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC889	No	No	Yes	Internal
μATX	GA-F2A85XM-D3H	FM2	A85X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC887	No	No	No	No
μATX	GA-F2A88XM-D3H	FM2+	A88X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2400MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC887	No	No	No	No

Format	Model	Socket	Chipset	PCIe x16 Slots	Crossfire/SLI	Max RAM	VRM phases	Video out	Audio	WiFi	Bluetooth	eSATA	FireWire
ATX	A75A-G55	FM1	A75	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 1866MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
ATX	FM2-A85XA-G65	FM2	A85X	16-0 or 8-8	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 2133MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, HDMI and DisplayPort	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
ATX	A88X-G43	FM2+	A88X	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	64GB, up to 2133MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC892	No	No	No	No
μATX	A75MA-G55	FM1	A75	16-4	up to triple CrossfireX, no SLI	32GB, up to 1866MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC887	No	No	No	No
μATX	FM2-A85XMA-E35	FM2	A85X	16	up to dual CrossfireX, no SLI	16GB, up to 2133MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	7.1 Realtek ALC887	No	No	No	No
μATX	A88XM-E45	FM2+	A88X	n.a.	up to at least dual CrossfireX, no SLI	n.a. up to 2133MHz	n.a.	D-Sub, DVI-D, and HDMI	n.a.	No	No	No	No

[Nflight]

Thanks for the post Dirk

[drezha]

Having got an APU system the other day, it seems to work fine for what I need it to.

Actually, wonder if it'll play some of my older Steam games (though that might be asking to much).

[Dirk Broer]

The combination A-10 APU/HD 6670 (or two or even three HD 6670s) should be able to play any older steam, that shouldn't be too much to ask.

[Nflight]

Having got an APU system the other day, it seems to work fine for what I need it to.

Actually, wonder if it'll play some of my older Steam games (though that might be asking to much).

Look who dropped in after a long over due walk away from DCing. How you doing there old friend! Whats new?

[drezha]

Look who dropped in after a long over due walk away from DCing. How you doing there old friend! Whats new?

I'm good thanks - I guess the biggest news since I've been gone is that I'm now officially a doctor! Earned my PhD this year and passed my viva in May. I thought finishing the thesis would give me some time to get back into computers and DC but not much luck so far!

What've I missed here in the mean time?

[Nflight]

Congratulations are due; What academia studies have your pursued in your life's dream? I am surely hoping its in the realm of science?

The forum is pretty quite lately but there are some very active talkers who post with regularity, where we used to have several different conversations going at the same time. We seem to maintain a solid plus on knowing when material will be released and challenges on how the material will adapt to our already over worked apparatus. Heat Transfer Technology is the root cause of discussion most of the time; From fans to liquid cooling efforts, to cased boxen to open operations. Then the snag of Forum interuptus where by trouble makers take down our illustrious forum for an hour or two. Our Team effort continues in many Boinc and Non-Boinc Projects. We are never first everywhere but the rest of the world knows we still have a few serious contenders.

I look forward to learning about your Educational achievement; I am excited for you in achieving such a high mark regarded as the pinnacle of excellence. There isn't a day goes by in the past 4 years that I have not read some part of a thesis in my field of expertise (Molecular Biology). I am looking for some details I can't find anywhere, I shower praise in hopes of gaining access to personally and not-published yet criteria. It is a mind bending situation when you stand on a pinnacle of knowledge and you can never tell anyone the level of which you have achieve something till your document is published. I recently found some contributing data and an author willing to applaud my concepts. I look forward to learning your specialty with earnest.

[Dirk Broer]

Earned my PhD this year and passed my viva in May.

Found your Viva!

Back in the days when you could really see what was behind you in the mirrors left and right of the hood.

[AMDave]

"Is there a Doctor in the house?" ... ahhhm ... actually, YES!
Major Congrats! Very well done, sir.

[drezha]

Thanks all.

Not science, but engineering - I hope that qualifies as a realm of "science"! I'd argue so as it's a STEM subject ;) Thesis was on fire engineering - making sure buildings are fire safe from a design point of view. You know you've made it as an academic/student when you have a journal article published. Now a lot of my work seems to be computer modelling related (modelling smoke and fire spread within buildings to make sure people don't die) - this has had the side effect of making me look once again at distributed computing and computing (I'm more of a Mac fan now though... I got fed up of upgrading and I found I like OSX as a cross between Windows and Linux).

Back crunching on a small OVH dedicated Atom server at the minute - it's £3 a month for it and it's handy to have should I want a Linux box for whatever reason. I should probably look into using it as an offsite backup at some point but I'm using Spideroak (free) for that and Crashplan (free trial at the minute but looking to backup all my media) so feel covered. Do have an AMD machine at home now (my home server) but not sure I want to crunch on it (it's also my media centre and is sat in the front room next to the TV so I'm concerned it'll be to noisy).

I'm sure I can post some graduation photos next month when I finally graduate! (passed in May but was to late for the July ceremony).