AMD Launches new Coolers and 65W Kaveri APUs: the A10-7860K and A6-7470K

Over the past two years we’ve reviewed almost every AMD Kaveri desktop processor to have been released – the A10-7850K, the A8-7600, the A10-7800, the A8-7650K, the A4-7400K, the A10-7700K, the A10-7870K and the A8-7670K. If there’s one thing that is clear, it is that AMD’s strategy in this space is to have a trickle effect - start with a few models and slowly fill out the product line. Some of those later models are part of the ‘Kaveri Refresh’ line, or ‘Godavari’, which are meant to be better binned and more robust parts. As part of this line, AMD is releasing two more APUs and another CPU into the mix. We’ll address the CPU in a separate piece because it implements something a little different, but the two APUs are 65W parts and include the first 65W part with a 4.0 GHz turbo frequency and a full set of eight compute cores. The new parts are:

• The A10-7860K, four threads, 3.6 GHz / 4.0 GHz turbo, R7 graphics (512 SPs) at 757 MHz
• The A6-7470K, two threads, 3.7 GHz / 4.0 GHz turbo, R5 graphics (256 SPs) at 800 MHz

The A10-7860K aims to replace three processors currently on the market, giving an upgrade to all of them:

In this case the Kaveri A10 parts all gain some GPU frequency, the new AMD 95W cooling solution, and at least one or two getting better TDP or two more GPU cores. The A10-7860K is set to retail for $118 MSRP. The other part, the A6-7470K, brings the improved Kaveri process down to a single module version, while still having up to 4.0 GHz and half the GPU of the A10 in the 65W TDP. The MSRP for the A6-7470K has not been officially set.

The next part of the announcement today is surrounding the new Wraith Cooler which was previewed at CES. This cooler is part of a family of new stock cooler solutions from AMD – one set at 95W and the other at 65W:

These are designed to have a similar sound profile than the Wraith (within 1-3 dB) but look to be aimed more at the APU market. These will be part of an all new ‘product-in-box’ (PIB) sales strategy, although it is worth checking with retailers to see which one is part of the bundle. As noted above, the new A10-7860K will get the 95W version and the A6-7470K will get the 65W model.

The Wraith cooler, designed for 125W, is going to be bundled with the FX-8370 only at this point. The cooler is a straight swap in for the old cooler with no extra cost, with the older solution now cheaper than before.

AMD understands that there are a number of users who may want the Wraith separately, or with other models (such as the APUs) to offer more headroom, although the plans to do this are currently in the works. Chances are that these coolers will play more in the market when the next platforms, Summit Ridge and Bristol Ridge, come into play.

The updated price list for the processors with the new coolers is as follows:

• AMD FX-8370 Wraith - $199.99
• AMD FX-8370 - $189.99
• AMD A10-7860K - $117.99
• AMD A8-7670K - $105.99
• AMD A8-7650K - $95.99
• AMD Athlon X4 870K - $89.99
• AMD Athlon X4 860K - $79.99
• AMD Athlon X4 845 - $69.99

As noted before, AMD will soon be consolidating their three CPU/APU platforms into one. So AM3+, FM2+ and AM1 will all be under the AM4 socket in the future. The timetable for this is unknown at this point, however part of the reason for the new cooler announcement at this time might be so it does not get overshadowed by the next generation.

We’ll be covering the new Excavator based CPU, the Athlon X4 845 in another news post.

Source: AMD