AMD A8 for VIVE?

Kurgen · 13 Apr 2016 at 09:33

a mate has asked me if an AMD A8 will handle a vive, with something like a gtx 970/980..

I have no idea how this cpu rates... will it be a total bottleneck? would an A10 be better? or is it scrap heap and buy new intel kit

Rilot · 13 Apr 2016 at 09:43

That'a bit slow I reckon. Can he run the Steam VR benchmark?

Kurgen · 13 Apr 2016 at 09:58

is it worth running the test at all? as his current card is pants

Rilot · 13 Apr 2016 at 11:14

Ah, I misunderstood. I thought you meant that he had a GTX970 in the rig.

Kurgen · 13 Apr 2016 at 11:41

he has some entry level amd card, cant remember what but its a £75 job so will be useless. I'm thinking he will have to get at very least the lowest non K i5 with a 970 (or pascal equivalent)

ukxenon · 15 Apr 2016 at 06:41

Simple answer is no run the steam vr test to confirm

8 Pack · 15 Apr 2016 at 19:19

I think the CPU is fine to be honest if you have 970 or above or Fury + should be totally fine.

Rilot · 15 Apr 2016 at 19:43

8 Pack said:
I think the CPU is fine to be honest if you have 970 or above or Fury + should be totally fine.

Based on what information? HTC and Oculus recommend a CPU that is vastly more powerful.
The problem with VR is that if your machine can't keep up then the experience is horrible. That is why the system requirements are so high. A few dropped frames are extremely jarring, much more so than on a monitor.

Calo · 18 Apr 2016 at 22:57

Rilot said:
Based on what information? HTC and Oculus recommend a CPU that is vastly more powerful.
The problem with VR is that if your machine can't keep up then the experience is horrible. That is why the system requirements are so high. A few dropped frames are extremely jarring, much more so than on a monitor.

Allow me to fill you in!

Id share a screenshot but its easier to write it.

My rig got 6.8 in Steam VR which places it in "VR Ready" territory for high quality VR gameplay. Only 2 dropped frames out of ~9999

A8, and any APU, is possibly the most misunderstood CPUs ive ever seen. Its just not easily comparable to intel and the HMD devs cant be bothered to test the APUs so dont know themselves.

Rilot · 19 Apr 2016 at 08:31

That is good news then.

Kurgen · 20 Apr 2016 at 11:17

I installed my vive yesterday, while I noticed no slow down or frame drop, I did take a peek at task manager and my i5 3570s, was hitting 85% most of the time.

The good thing about my mates setup he can get a new GPU etc... and try it.. if its crap he can buy a new motherboard cpu etc.

Calo · 20 Apr 2016 at 21:35

Kurgen said:
The good thing about my mates setup he can get a new GPU etc... and try it.. if its crap he can buy a new motherboard cpu etc.

Will be good to see how well it performs on the A8. Is it the K Black edition? Most of them overclock to 4.5Ghz apparently with little worry on stability - going higher to 4.8 etc will need an experts eye which is why ive not gone beyond 4.4.

FYI - My Cores were all hovering around 65-85% during the SteamVR test.

Kurgen · 20 Apr 2016 at 22:13

well I wont be able to post any time soon, hes just decided to get the vive plus he will be waiting for pacsal cards (or good offer on current ones)

Calo · 20 Apr 2016 at 23:10

Kurgen said:
plus he will be waiting for pacsal cards (or good offer on current ones)

See you in October then! (Or maybe June if they actually release a GTX 970 equivalent on time)