I know this is probably not the ideal list to ask this question, but I subscribe to this list, read it (sometimes ;-), and plan to install Debian on the motherboard / CPU that I buy. If someone can refer me to a better list, that could be helpful.
I'm considering buying a new motherboard and CPU, and I'm thinking about the AMD FM2+ combo. It seems they have a pretty good price / performance ratio, and slightly better than the AM3+ line. (BTW, I rarely buy Intel--I feel it has a higher (i.e., worse) price / performance ratio.) I've done a fair amount of googling, but I'm confused. IIUC, at least some of the FM2+ processors come with graphic processors built into the CPU, but, iiuc, not all FM2+ motherboards support that. Further, maybe some FM2+ motherboards provide graphics capability on the motherboard, but not utilizing the GPU built into the processor. I guess I would anticipate that the performance in this case is less. Below I list a little bit about three motherboards I am considering--any clarifications on their capabilities would be helpful. (Material is quoted from various pages on the newegg website.) Note: I plan to buy a fairly low powered (65 watt) 4 core CPU with the onboard GPU (i.e., an APU, iiuc)--this is one I'm considering: AMD A8-7600 Kaveri Quad-Core 3.1 GHz Socket FM2+ 65W AD7600YBJABOX Desktop Processor AMD Radeon R7 Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113371 Digression: While I'm asking questions, let me ask this, which has been on my mind for a while: Will a 4-core processor actually be utilized in the typical applications I use (which mostly include things like a mail client (kmail), web browsers (Firefox and Konqueror), and various editors (nedit, kate, and geany), or am I just as well off with a faster 2-core or single core processor? In other words, do those applications actually make use of more than 1-core? Motherboard 1: ECS A58F2P-M2 (V1.0) FM2+ AMD A58 review Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135396 Video Spec: Onboard Video Chipset Supports DirectX 11 .1 Supports AMD Dual Graphics Supports Full HD 1080P Blu-ray / HD-DVD Playback A comment from a user: This board is not compatible with Athalon x4 Kavari 860k Even though they are bundled together on newegg. Specific question(s): * It sounds like I'd get video without a video card (which is what I want), but I'm not sure it will make use of the on-CPU GPU (which I also want it to do)? * In other words, it sounds like I don't need the on-CPU GPU to get video? * There is no clarification on why the commentor says the board is not compatible with the Kavari 860K or whether he is correct. Motherboard 2: ASUS A68HM-K FM2+ AMD A68H FCH (Bolton D2H) SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813132408&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=IGNEFL072216&cm_mmc=EMC- IGNEFL072216-_-EMC-072216-Index-_-AMDMotherboards-_-13132408-S1A3D Video Spec: Onboard Video Chipset Integrated AMD Radeon R/HD8000/HD7000 Series Graphics in the A-Series APU Multi-VGA output support: DVI/RGB ports - Supports DVI with max. resolution 2560 x 1600 @ 60 Hz - Supports RGB with max. resolution 1920 x 1600 @ 60 Hz Maximum shared memory of 2048MB AMD Dual Graphics technology support Specific question(s): * It sounds like this makes use of the on-CPU GPU, and, without one, would not provide video? Motherboard 3: BIOSTAR Hi-Fi A70U3P FM2+ / FM2 AMD A70M SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138415&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=IGNEFL072216&cm_mmc=EMC- IGNEFL072216-_-EMC-072216-Index-_-AMDMotherboards-_-13138415-S1A4B Video Spec: Onboard Video Chipset By CPU model AMD Dual Graphics Technology Supports DX11.1 Supports HDCP Specific question(s): * It sounds (even more strongly than Motherboard 2) like this makes use of the on-CPU GPU, and, without one, would not provide video? Thanks for any response! Randy Kramer
