System Power Consumption
When outfitted with the GeForce GTX 580, the Llano-based system ran 26-27W higher than the i5 2500K and i5 655K under load – though, the A8-3850 didn't exactly strike out either. Despite carrying all its extra hardware, the new part was more efficient than the Athlon II X4 640 thanks to its die shrink.
A similar story is told when the GTX 580 is removed. While running on integrated graphics, the A8-3850 uses considerably more power than the Sandy Bridge processors. However, this is justifiable when you consider the massive performance gains we saw when testing the IGP performance earlier.