Hello,

I’m building a HTPC based on the FM2. I’m torn between the following CPU’s:

AMD A10-5800K Black Edition
(http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-327-AM&groupid=701&catid=1967&subcat=1946)

And the

AMD A10-5700 3.40GHz (Socket FM2)
(http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-331-AM&groupid=701&catid=1967&subcat=1946)

I would normally go for the black edition. However, this is a 100W TDP compared to the 65W TDP of the “vanilla” version.

Will the 65W version produce significantly less power/heat then the 100W?
(any one recommend a cooler for this CPU?)

This will be used with the following:

Patriot Intel Extreme Masters 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 PC3-17000C11 2133MHz
(http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-072-PA)

Gigabyte F2A85XM-D3H AMD A85X
(http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-427-GI&groupid=701&catid=1903&subcat=2399)

Cheers,

The TDP is a worst-case thermal envelope. It represents how much heat a particularly bad cpu from the batch may generate under full load.

The absolute maximum difference would be 35W under load, with a more likely difference 25W. When idle the chips may be about the same power, or may be far apart. Then there's the question of whether the faster chip spends less time working hard than the slower one, because it finishes the task sooner.

Get the faster chip. 30W just isn't significant.

Thank you very much! (didn't know any of that)

The faster chip is also more likely to be a better clocker, so in theory you could undervolt it too.

Good point, if I have any heat/noise problems I will.

I’ve posted this in the cooling section but might as well ask here.

I need a cooler no more than 115mm in height, anyone suggestion one? A Scythe mini ninja is perfect but it’s discontinued…

Cheers