For a long time, by the standards of the computer industry, the AMD A8 CPU model - 5500 - debuted in 2012. This chip combines acceptable technical parameters and affordable cost. It is about this product that we will go further.
Positioning
The main area of use of the AMD A8 - 5500 is the most low-cost computing systems, which include multimedia stations, accounting PCs and office computers. When assembling such computers, cost comes to the forefront, which should be as low as possible. But performance does not play such an important role. It is this combination of basic characteristics that the processor in question boasts.
Main settings
This chip belongs to the generation of the Trinity CPU and was manufactured according to technological tolerances of 32 nm. The AMD A8 - 5500 processor is equipped with four computing clusters. But their layout is very unusual. The number of integer blocks in this case is really 4, but the blocks for processing floating-point numbers are 2. The latter circumstance significantly reduces PC performance. The reference clock frequency of this microprocessor solution is 3.2 GHz. But also in the parameters of this CPU support for TurboCore technology is indicated. As a result, in the operating mode, the microprocessor in question is able to automatically increase the frequency depending on the level of complexity of the executable code. At the same time, its highest value can reach 3.7 GHz. 1303 million transistors are deposited on the semiconductor substrate of this CPU, and the base area is 246 mm 2 . The heat package was installed by developers at around 65W, and the maximum temperature is 71 ° C. It should be noted separately that such a CPU can be installed both in the FM2 socket and in the processor socket FM2 +.
Cache. RAM system
Only 2 levels of fast memory can be found on the AMD A8 silicon chip - 5500. The characteristics of the first of them indicate a total volume of 192 kb. At the same time, only 64 kb is provided for storing instructions, and 128 kb for data. The second cache level has been increased to 4 MB. But the third, as noted earlier - no. The RAM microcontroller is part of the chipset. It can operate in dual channel mode and is capable of addressing up to 32 GB of memory (4 modules of 8 Gb). The specifications feature support for DDR3 with frequencies up to 1866 MHz.
Video core
AMD A8 - 5500 contains an integrated graphics accelerator. Its model is AMD Radeon HD 7560D. It can address a video buffer of no more than 2 GB. And for these purposes, part of the RAM is used. The graphic accelerator itself is equipped with 256 executive processors that operate at a frequency of 760 MHz. For the implementation of most tasks, such characteristics are sufficient.
Conclusion CPU cost. Owners opinion
At the moment, AMD A8 - 5500 can still be purchased at a price of 4000 rubles from stock. The CPU itself has long been discontinued. The ideal ratio of price and performance, this device boasts. Such a chip is really ideal for creating an entry-level PC. Of course, against the background of modern analogues, this solution looks rather modest, but all its possible disadvantages are compensated by the minimum cost.