Review: amd fx8120

AMD recently launched its new generation of “ FX series ” home processors that replace the Phenom II. It is also known for Bulldozer or Zambezi, they incorporate 4, 6 and 8 cores (multiplier unlocked) and manufactured at 32nm.

We have taken the AMD FX8120 8-core 3.1 GHZ and 8MB cache to our test bench to assess its behavior with and without OC against the popular Intel i7 2600k with and without overclocking. Don't miss this duel of the titans!

We thank Aussar high-performance hardware and Gigabyte Spain for the transfers. Material sponsored by:

FX SERIES MODELS (BULLDOZER 32NM)
Processor Model	Speed	Turbo core	TDP	Cores	DDR3 Native
FX8150	3.6GHZ	4.2GHZ	125w	8	1866
FX8120	3.1GHZ	4.0GHZ	125w / 95w	8	1866
FX6100	3.3GHZ	3.9GHZ	95w	6	1866
FX4100	3.6GHZ	3.8GHZ	95w	4	1866

AMD's FX family is made up of 6 processors . In the table above we have put the characteristics of five of the six CPUs.

The FX8150 is the top of the range Zambezi series with a base frequency of 3.6ghz and 4.2ghz turbo core, 8MB of cache and a TDP of 125w.

Below we have two versions of FX8120 125w (the one analyzed) and the 95w one. Both run at 3.1ghz and a 4ghz turbo core and 8MB cache.

The remaining three are the 8-core, 2.8-ghz and 3.7-ghz FX8100 with 95w turbo core. The turbocharged 3.3ghz and 3.8ghz six-core FX6100 with turbo core also runs at 95w. And finally the 4-core FX4100 that works at 3.6ghz and 3.8ghz with turbo core. And a 95w TDP.

Zambezi architecture is manufactured by GlobalFoundries with 32nm 315mm square technology. The Bulldozer is actually made up of 4 modules, each module is made up of two AMD64 CPUs. That is, with four modules we have 8 cores attached . In addition to two million transistors, 8 MB of cache and an integrated memory controller.

Incorporates new instructions:

• AVX: Advanced Vector Extensions Increase Parallelism Designed Specifically for Scientific and 3D Applications Using Complicated Floating Point Calculations

• FMA4 and XOP: The floating point vector: multiply-accumulate, improves the performance of numerous vector functions (floating points and integers)

• AES: The Advanced Encryption Standard greatly increases performance in newer encryption applications such as TrueCrypt and benchmarks such as PCMark.

• SSE3 and SSE4.1: Video encoder. Biometric algorithms and intensive text applications.

AMD offers us native compatibility of the DDR3 channel at 1866mhz. This does not mean that our 1333/1600 mhz memories are not compatible (What they are!). Rather, it will be a great help with memory bandwidth without practicing OC.

Nor should we forget that all motherboards with 900 chipset are 100% compatible and some with 800 chipset (check with their manufacturer) by BIOS update with the new Bulldozer AM3 + processors.

As we see in the table provided by AMD of its roadmap. Bulldozer is the first of four new architectures. In each there will be a 10-15% improvement per core sharing the same instructions. Painted on paper promises the thing.

The processor is housed in a can !!!

In the back comes all the features and warranty of AMD.

On the side we can see the processor.

The top is sealed by an AMD seal. It comes detailing the processor model, socket and serial number.

Inside we find:

• AMD FX8120 stored in a blister. Stock heatsink. The always important AMD sticker. Quick guide and instruction / warranty book.

WE RECOMMEND YOU The prices of Radeon graphics cards will drop at the end of the year

The heatsink is already known to AMD Phenom (they haven't changed). Copper base and pre-applied paste. Enough to leave the processor at its serial frequencies?