AMD introduces second-generation FX processors

AMD today introduced second-generation FX-Series microprocessors, based on Piledriver microarchitecture. The released lineup consists of 4 products, having 4, 6, and 8 CPUs cores, and operating frequencies up to 4.2 GHz. The fastest processor in the series, eight-core FX-8350, has up to 15% higher performance than the former flagship FX-8150 model. Three other CPUs, FX-4300, FX-6300 and FX-6320, also offer better performance than their first-generation counterparts. Increased performance of new FX products is partly due to tweaked and more efficient architecture, and partly due to higher CPU clock speeds. The processors are priced from $122 to $195, and they should be available in stores starting today.

New eight-core CPUs are FX-8320 and FX-8350, that replaced FX-8120 and FX-8150 "Bulldozer" processors. The SKUs have 8 MB L3 cache, and 125 Watt TDP. These and other FX processors support Virtualization and Turbo Core technologies, and have x86 instruction set expanded with 64-bit, SSE - SSE4, AVX and AES instructions. The "Piledriver" microarchitecture also added support for FMA and F16C instructions. The processors work in socket AM3+ motherboards. Official prices of FX-8320 and FX-8350 CPUs are $169 and $195.

AMD FX-4300 and FX-6300 are 95 Watt parts with 4 and 6 cores accordingly. The quad-core chip has 4 MB L3 cache, and the size of level 3 cache was doubled on the FX-6300. These SKUs are successors of FX-4100 and FX-6100 microprocessors, that had 200 MHz lower base and Turbo Core frequencies, and the same core count and TDP. The FX-4300 is priced at $122, and the FX-6300 is $10 more expensive.

Specifications and prices of released today FX processors are below:

Model	Cores	Frequency	Turbo Frequency	L3 cache	TDP	Price
FX-4300	4	3.8 GHz	4 GHz	4 MB	95 Watt	$122
FX-6300	6	3.5 GHz	4.1 GHz	8 MB	95 Watt	$132
FX-8320	8	3.5 GHz	4 GHz	8 MB	125 Watt	$169
FX-8350	8	4 GHz	4.2 GHz	8 MB	125 Watt	$195