Is this a good cpu

[lupesmom2]

2nd Gen AMD Quad-Core A10-5700 Accelerated Processor at 3.4GHz, does anyone have a machine with this processor?

[KarmaKiller]

'Good' is a rather vague and relative term. What is 'good' for one person may not be 'good' for another user.
What are you doing with your PC? What's the rest of the system specs?

[lupesmom2]

It's on sale at costco
$849.99 After $150 OFF

$849.99 After $150 OFF
HP Pavilion p7-1298cb Desktop
2nd Gen AMD Quad-Core A10-5700 3.40GHz
27" LED Monitor
AMD Radeon™ Graphics
Beats Audio™ with HP USB Speakers
Item # 657975 and it has a graphics card. or I can go for a customized one for $636.99 with an intel i52320 and a graphics card. I like having the hdmi hookup. My son plays WOWC and Guild walls sometimes. I watch a lot of movies and netflix instant.

[ShyguyXPC]

that system doesn't have a graphics card, its Graphics is integrated into the CPU. Granted its a fairly capable Graphics chip, but its still worlds apart from most dedicated Graphics cards.

Desktop PCs with AMD Accelerated Processors

An actual link to the system in question in this thread and the other one...

Costco - HP Pavilion p7-1298cb Desktop 2nd Gen AMD Quad-Core A10-5700 3.40GHz

it has 12GB of RAM, which to be honest is nice, but a waste, and its low speed DDR 1333Mhz, these AMD APU's with integrated Radeon graphics, really benefit from faster Speed RAM, for example, the GPU on that particular AMD APU really benefits from having 1866MHz DDR3, since it uses system RAM for video memory.

unlike a dedicated Graphics card, that would have memory at more than twice that speed and twice that bit rate (DDR memory, all types is only 64-bit, most dedicated memory on graphics cards are 128-bit or higher).

That system is kind of nice, but $1000 for it is a bit absurd given the hardware in it (even with the $150 off at checkout, its a bit high IMO), the only thing driving up the cost of that system is the 27" LED BACKLIT LCD Monitor.





As to the Intel i5 system, would be more powerful in CPU, and depending on what graphics card it has, might be a better way to go. (Of course this is assuming when you said graphics card you really meant graphics card, and not the integrated graphics on the CPU as well).

[ShyguyXPC]

nevermind on the i5, I see its a Dual core, the AMD Quad core would perform about similar in CPU performance, with better on CPU Graphics.

[lupesmom2]

Thanks Shy Guy. this is what I ordered (it's sitting in the cart)

Configuration Summary Selected Features:

• 2nd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2320 quad-core processor [3.0GHz, 6MB Shared Cache]
• 6GB DDR3-1333MHz SDRAM [2 DIMMs]
• 1TB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive
• 1GB DDR3 AMD Radeon HD 7450 [HDMI, DVI, VGA via adapter]
• Beats Audio (tm) -- integrated studio quality sound
• 15-in-1 memory card reader, 2 USB 2.0 (front), 2 USB 3.0 (top)
• Windows 7 Home Premium [64-bit]
• Microsoft(R) Office Starter: reduced-functionality Word & Excel w/ ads. No PowerPoint or Outlook
• No secondary hard drive
• Premium HP keyboard and optical mouse
• Integrated (Gigabit) Ethernet support, No wireless LAN
• SuperMulti DVD Burner
• 460W Power supply
• Roxio Secure Burn
• FREE UPGRADE to Norton Internet Security subscription 15-month
• No TV Tuner

Included Features:

• Type: Elite multimedia PC
• Chassis: uATX
• Memory card reader: 15-in-1 media card reader
• Processors: Intel 2nd gen Core
• Total memory slots: 4 DIMMs
• Ports: 2 USB 3.0
• Audio: Front headphone, mic (7.1 speaker capable), Beats(TM) audio
• Total slots: 1 PCIe (x16 graphics), 3 PCIe (x1), 1 MiniCard
• Power supply: configuration dependent
• Dimensions: 16.22"(L) x 6.89"(W) x 16.34"(H/D) approx.
• Wireless LAN: Optional
• Network interface: Integrated 10/100/1000Mbps (Ethernet)
• Software kit: HP Pavilion bundle
• DVD/CD burner software: Included
• Security software: Norton Internet Security 15-month subscription
• Tools: Desktop icon for built-in desktop Help and Support Center
• Warranty: 2-year In-Home limited hardware warranty
• Support: 1-year limited software, 2-year limited hardware support

[lupesmom2]

Most of the pre-built on Costco didn't have a graphics card unless they were way over budget.

[ShyguyXPC]

Video card on that one is really low end, not even really a gaming grade card.


If possible I would consider buying an upgraded Video card, once you get that rig, something like a Radeon HD 7750 would be low powered enough and actually several times more powerful than the one that comes with that PC.

the 7750's usually run about $100-120.

[lupesmom2]

I don't game. My son's game ran on a 516mg N Videa card. He mostly is on his PS3. If my son wanted to buy and upgraded video card and have his friend put it in, but for me, the card is fine for me.

[catkin938]

Thanks to Lupe's Mom and Shy Guy for questions asked and answered about this PC. It's on sale at my Costco for $799 and I think I'll take a chance on it if any are left. Lupe's Mom asked all the questions I had about it and Shy Guy's suggestion of a Radeon HD 7750 Video card makes me think it might work. I like that the system has Beats Audio and 4 USB 3.0 ports. I'm not a gamer but have a lot of graphic intensive software for astrology and Adobe applications. This is my very first post in a tech forum so if I sound like a dummy newbie -- well I am!

[ShyguyXPC]

Ignore the Beats Audio junk, its just some marketing BS on various hardware, Laptops, Mobile Phones, etc, they Beats Audio sound systems are a joke, and don't sound any better than most stock audio.



There's no way these systems have "Studio" Quality sound in them with out a $100-200 sound card and a pair for $150-200+ Stereo shelf speakers like M-Audio, or other brand speakers.


Its just marketing to dupe consumers into thinking their getting something better than they normally would.

[paul9]

The source might be "studio quality", but if you can find an actual legal definition of what "studio quality" means, you are probably being lied to or exaggerated to.

[ShyguyXPC]

Beats Audio is also just a software manipulation or EQ settings to enhance the sound, the chips used are often the same exact "lower" end chips usually found on most motherboards anyways.