Gigabyte meets Trinity - A Computex Look At FM2 and A85
by Ian Cutress on June 4, 2012 6:55 AM EST- Posted in
- Trade Shows
- Gigabyte
- Trinity
- GPUs
- Computex 2012
- FM2
One of the meetings today was with Gigabyte, up on the 36F of the Taipei 101. We got a chance to see close up their FM2 prototype design, for use with upcoming AMD Trinity CPUs. The CPUs will feature an enhanced Bulldozer core (Piledriver), but information concerning the chipset and the types of motherboards coming to market is currently sparse. Hopefully that will change at Computex this week, and our first look at Gigabyte's GA-F2A85X-UP4 is a good place to start.
The UP4 features Gigabyte's new power delivery system, which promises much cooler VRM temps thanks to some interesting IP from International Rectifer and 60A per phase. A demonstration of these VRMs showed that surface temperatures under load reduced from the high 90s (Celsius) to the mid 60s in a very low airflow environment. The purpose of this power delivery is to help system builders utilise minimal airflow in overclocked systems, such as those using all-in-one cooling. Systems using this technology will use the 'UP' naming system rather than the 'UD' that Gigabyte has been using recently.
The UP4 clearly has access two at least two full length slots for GPUs (the third full length slot is electrically only x4, suggesting it comes from the chipset), all four display outputs, DualBIOS, and USB 3.0/SATA 3.0. Gigabyte expect this board to be at the launch of Trinity.
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lunarx3dfx - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
I'm really confused by this board. It's a nice looking board for sure, but what market is Gigabyte planning to target with this thing? I can't think of any builder who would put an AMD Trinity in their system and pair it with dual GPU's. It just doesn't make sense. You can get better CPU performance for the same money, which is what someone who is planning to use dual GPU's would more than likely choose to do anyway. Not to mention, if you are planning on spending the money for dual GPU's you probably have the extra cash to get a decent CPU.Iketh - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
maybe piledriver is clocking extremely well? we'll just have to see...Taft12 - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
But you'd want to use the AM3+ platform (with a new Piledriver CPU) for a high-end system.The whole point of FM2 is the integrated graphics. If you want to be using discrete GPUs, you want the 990FX chipset.
codedivine - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
More than desktops, I am more interested to see Trinity notebooks. In the Computex coverage so far, I have not seen any mention of Trinity notebook announcements :(plonk420 - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
totally curious about a uATX Trinity to replace my underwhelming E-350 HTPC or Phenom II X3 705e + Nv GT440 desktop (3D use is pretty much only for LoL and Minecraft) ... would be nice to have just one heat source.of course REAL gaming would still be done on my i7 ;)
ddrum2000 - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
furthermore I am interested in mini-ITX boardsArnulf - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
"The UP4 clearly has access two at least two ..."should probably say "to at least two" ?
Soulkeeper - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
I agree with the posts above concerning full atx fm2/fm1.Trinity (or APUs in general) in anything larger than matx just don't make sense. Unless piledriver shares the same socket/chipset. It just seems very niche to me.
Assimilator87 - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
Do you guys have any official information about compatibility between FM1 and FM2? Also, how has the pinout changed?Soulkeeper - Monday, June 4, 2012 - link
Everything i've heard since the release of FM1 has said they are incompatible.FM1 was a "deadend" platform from the beginning.
I'd really like to see the APUs share a socket with the desktop/workstation CPUs.
I suppose they have reasons for not doing this.