Best FM2 Processor

Back in September 2012, the FM2 socket has been introduced to the market. It is created specifically for AMD Accelerated Processing Units (APU) or more commonly known as a fancy CPU which has an integrated GPU. The FM2 socket in fact is compatible with AMD Athlon chips. These chips are considered as one of the best budget oriented chips which could go head to head with Intel.
If you are looking for FM2 processor, you came to the right place as in this article, we shall feature the best FM2 Processors which will help you decide which would best suit your needs. Furthermore, through this article, you will also learn useful information.
Best FM2 Processor
Before we go into details we shall first learn the names of FM2 processors and what they are known for.
- A10 Series APU – considered as the fastest CPU and GPU. However, they are also considered as very expensive.
- A6-Series processors – considered as very affordable. They are perfect for light work including lightweight gaming. It comes with 2 cores and 2 threads which is not for anything multithreading.
- A8-Series – They are also affordable but as they say you get what you pay for and this series embodies that saying. Hence, you would get 20 to 30% lesser performance.
- A4- Series – Similar to A6 Series. Its slower and affordable. This is perfect for web browsing or similar tasks.
- Athlon X4 processors -Does not have a built-in GPU. Hence, you will have to have graphics card. Though these processors are on the cheaper side, their performance is awesome. Hence, if you have a dedicated graphics card, then this type of processor is perfect for you.
- Business-class processors – comes with a B in their model number and are shipped in OEM prebuilt computers. They are similar to non-B variants such as the A10-6800k and A10-6800B.
Now that we have covered that, we shall now get into details. Here is our list of best FM2 processors.
AMD A10- 6800K
Considered as the fastest APU. It is in fact, a successor of A10-5800K. It comes with 32nm process and TDP 100W. It also includes a 4.1 GHz clock speed and 4.4 GHz turbo speed. It is also considered as very powerful and it is perfect for playing video games. Furthermore, if you are into photo and video editing then this processor is perfect. It could accommodate multitasking and general tasks. Of course, as it provides great performance, its price is also on the expensive side with its price at $149. Though that is the case, this processor is a wise investment for your computer.
Pros
- Good for video and photo editing
- Could handle multi-tasking and gaming
- Stock cooler
- Integrated graphics processor
- Stock cooler
Cons
- Price
- Availability
AMD A6-6400K
This comes with 2-core APU. It is considered by many as great value. This processor is good for light tasks such as light video and photo editing. It is very affordable and it does not require you to purchase a dedicated graphics card. Unfortunately, this processor cannot handle multi-tasking and multithreaded workload. Though that is the case, it is fast. It is priced at $71 only. Furthermore, you will not have any problems finding this in the market as it is available almost everywhere. This processor is perfect for emailing, research, surfing and other simple tasks. Moreover, it is suitable for HD videos and gaming such as Battlefield 4. It also has a TDP 65W and APU with L2 cache of 1MB.
Pros
- Low power usage
- Cheaper
- Fast
- Okay gaming performance
Cons
- Has only 2 cores
- Cannot do multithreading tasks
- 1MB cache which makes it slow processors
AMD A8- 6500
Looking good value APU, A8-6500 is a good option. It offers good performance and faster cores. Its price is offered at around $112. Its TDP is 65W and it has AMD Turbo Core 3.0 technology. This means, you could automatically change its clock speed. Its clock base is 3.5 GHz and could turbo up to 4.1 GHz. Moreover, it comes with Dual Graphics supports which allows your APU and GPU to work together. It could play high definition videos and light gaming without any worries and hassles. It also allows you to web browsing, watch movies and edit photos and videos.
Pros
- Decent performance
- Low profile cooler
- Dual Graphics support
- Easy to install
- Affordable
Cons
- Not that powerful
- Old technology
- Limited availability
- Subpar gaming performance
AMD Athlon X4-750K
This processor does not have integrated graphics. It is perfect option for gamers as most gamers would want to use their own preferred graphics card. Its performance is amazing and yet it is cheaper. It is easy to overclock. Its TDP is 100W and it has about 1MB of L2 cache.
Pros
- Could easily be overclocked
- Cheaper
- Good performance
- Could do video and photo editing
Cons
- Old
- Does not have integrated graphics card
- Underpowered stick cooler
FAQs
Are FM2 Processors worth it?
If you are on a tight budget, FM2 processors could be a good option. It is also good option for non-techy people. It is easy to use and affordable.
Which model should I buy?
If you are not planning to get a graphics card, APU is highly recommended. If you are on a tight budget, then, we discourage you in getting 2-core A6 and A4. The reason behind this is because most programs could take advantage of 4 cores and 4 threads.
What is Dual Graphics Technology?
It is a technology that allows your APU’s graphics card processor and dedicated AMD graphics card to work together.
What dedicated Graphics Cards support dual graphics?
- HD 6450
- HD 6570
- HD 6670