AMD's new processors 8700F and 8400F have sparked heated discussions
AMD's latest 8700F and 8400F processors have attracted widespread attention and heated discussions at the beginning of their launch. As a coreless version of the Zen 4 architecture CPU, their positioning seems a bit puzzling.
Specifications
According to AMD's official data, the 8700F is designed with 8 cores and 16 threads, with a base frequency of 4.1GHz and an acceleration frequency of up to 5GHz. The 8400F has 6 cores and 12 threads, a base frequency of 4.2GHz, and a boost frequency of 4.7GHz. Compared with the same series 8700G and 8600G, the frequency of the new product has been reduced. They all remove the GPU function and support PCIe 4.0 instead of 5.0.
It is worth noting that the G-series APUs sacrifice part of the CPU performance in order to enhance the performance of the GPU. The 8700F and 8400F are coreless versions, and a small reduction in specifications does not necessarily mean a significant drop in overall performance.
The focus of the performance controversy
It is precisely because of this feature that the actual performance of the 8700F and 8400F has become the focus of attention in the industry. On the one hand, they are freed from the burden of the GPU, and CPU performance may be improved, and on the other hand, this advantage may be offset by the reduction in frequency.
The lack of GPU functionality means that the 8700F and 8400F will not be able to enjoy the core selling points of APU products, and it is doubtful whether they will still have an advantage in terms of price/performance ratio. Some people bluntly said that these two processors "can't smell good".
8700F and 8400F performance data
Comparison of specifications and parameters
In order to fully evaluate the actual performance of the 8700F and 8400F, we first need to compare their specifications with other CPU products in the same series.
Compared to the 8700G, the number of cores and threads remains the same, but the base frequency is reduced from 4.5GHz to 4.1GHz, and the boost frequency is reduced from 5.1GHz to 5GHz. The cache size has also been reduced from 24MB to 32MB.
The 8400F compares similarly to the 8600G, with the same number of cores and threads, but with a base clock down from 3.7GHz to 4.2GHz, a boost clock down from 4.7GHz to 4.7GHz, and a cache cut from 32MB to 24MB.
It can be seen that the 8700F and 8400F have indeed been reduced in terms of specifications, especially in terms of frequency. However, as a coreless graphics version, whether they are necessarily inferior in CPU performance still needs to be further improved.
Measured performance data
According to the test data of several authoritative media, the CPU performance of the 8700F and 8400F has diverged.
In the multi-threaded load test, the 8700F performed quite well, on par with the 8700G, and even slightly better in some categories. This confirms that the CPU performance has indeed improved after removing the GPU function.
However, in the single-threaded load test, the 8700F is relatively inferior, not only lagging behind the 8700G, but also unable to completely suppress Intel's i5-13600K. This may be related to its lower single-core acceleration frequency.
The situation is even worse for the 8400F, which is far inferior to the 8600G for both single-threaded and multi-threaded loads, and is worrisome to compete in the low-to-mid-end market.
Price-performance evaluation
In addition to the performance figures, we also need to evaluate the price/performance ratio of the 8700F and 8400F in conjunction with pricing factors.
The 8700F was launched at $299, which is on par with the 8700G. Considering its multi-threaded performance, this price may be reasonable. But if it's mostly a single-threaded load, the $299 price tag is a bit high.
The 8400F is priced at $199, which is $500 less than the 8600G. The performance gap clearly outweighs the price gap, making it a significant discount for money.
Adjustments to AMD's processor lineup
Deficiencies of the 8700F and 8400F
From the above, we can show that the 8700F and 8400F processors have the following major shortcomings:
The specifications have been reduced, especially in terms of frequency.
Single-threaded performance is disappointing, with the 8700F not being able to completely overpower Intel's mid-range, and the 8400F even worse.
While multi-threaded performance is excellent, it is overpriced and difficult to appeal to consumers at a price/performance ratio.
After removing the core display function, the core selling point of APU products is lost, and there is no advantage in cost performance.
The product positioning is vague, which can not completely replace the G series APU, and it is difficult to become a leader in pure CPU products.
Both the 8700F and the 8400F are hardly the stars of AMD's lineup, and their value and market prospects are questionable.
AMD's future product line adjustments
In the face of the "failure" of the 8700F and 8400F, AMD is likely to make adjustments to the product line:
Abandon the coreless graphics version and return to the traditional APU and pure CPU product lines.
Increase investment in GPU performance in the APU product line to improve compatibility with discrete graphics cards.
In the pure CPU product line, more attention is paid to single-core performance, and reasonable control of pricing is made to improve cost performance.
Accelerate the iterative upgrade of the Zen 4 architecture and launch new varieties with better performance as soon as possible.
In the low-end market, we will increase the competitiveness with Interure, and do not let any market segment have a gap.
AMD needs to learn from the "lessons" of the 8700F and 8400F and adjust its product strategy to avoid similar mistakes in future product lines.
Consumer purchase advice
For consumers, the author's advice is:
If the load is mainly single-threaded, the price/performance ratio of the 8700F is not ideal, and it is not recommended to buy it.
If the main load is multi-threaded, the 8700F is cost-effective and can be purchased.
The price-performance ratio of the 8400F in any scenario is not ideal, and it is not recommended to buy it for the time being.
If you need a GPU, it is recommended to wait for AMD's next-generation APU products, or consider purchasing an integrated graphics CPU from Interure.
If you're on a budget, it's advisable to wait for AMD's future low-to-mid-range products, or consider buying the current previous generation.