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Intel vs AMD
I know AMD wins on gaming but when it comes down to multi tasking just how much better is Intel. Also I know that each company is coming out with new cpus. I heard that Intel would need more upgrades then AMD is this true?
Hold on Snow Leopard, imma let you finish, but Windows had one of the best operating systems of all time.
If the Powerball lottery was like Lotro, nobody would win for 2 years, and then everyone in Nebraska would win on the same day.
And then Nebraska would get nerfed.-pinkwood lotro fourms
AMD 4800 2.4ghz-3GB RAM 533mhz-EVGA 9500GT 512mb-320gb HD
Comments
I don't have good answers for you, but the reality is that the two chips are performing so well now days it is hard to distinguish them apart unless you are really pushing your system in one aspect or another. Even then, you often need a benchmark test to see the difference.
I have always leaned toward AMD since that is what I have always built for myself at home. They are easy, generally cheap, and with the good PSU's and coolers out nowdays, very reliable even when pushed hard.
I suggest, if you haven't done so already, check out Tom's Hardware and AnandTech for their reviews on the CPU's and Mobo's combos you are interested in the most.
I, too, recommend Anand Tech. I also recommend [H]ardOCP. I'm not a big fan of Tom's Hardware anymore.
At any rate, both Kyle at HardOCP and Anand at AnandTech were pretty disappointed by AMD's new CPU: the Phenom. It appears that Intel is going to have a large superiority in both raw processing power and instructions per clock for the foreseeable future.
Kyle thought AMD's new "Spider" chipset, the 790FX, was decent. It's certainly going to be cheaper than what Intel's got. But both Kyle and Anand said that the only reason to buy a Phenom CPU in the near future would be if you already have an AM2 motherboard (and the board maker has put out the necessary BIOS flash update).
Sad to say, Intel is clearly the better way to go right now. It pains me to say that because I'm not a fan of Intel by any stretch of the imagination. However, AMD has just flat out dropped the ball with this iteration of CPU: their claims of 40% advantage over Intel's comparitive offerings was pure BS. AMD is really hurting right now as a company, and it seems like Intel is trying not to make it worse so as to avoid the sort of monopoly problems that MS has had.
Finally, it is important to remember that if you're using your computer mostly for gaming, the GPU you have is much more important than your CPU (up to a point). Games tend to be much more GPU-bound than CPU-bound. That is likely to remain true for some time to come.
Since when does AMD beat Intel at gaming? Have you bothered to read anything on processors within the past year+? This isnt 2001 you know, Intel no longer thinks NetBurst is viable
The Core 2 Quad Q6600 which is $270, squashes the Phenom 9500 and 9700, which are $280+, and the Q6600 has been out for half a year +. AMD has been talking shit for over a year, its that simple.
"There's no star system Slave I can't reach, and there's no planet I can't find. There's nowhere in the Galaxy for you to run. Might as well give up now."
Boba Fett
Ya right now Intel is the better processor, but in certain areas more expensive. When Penryn arrives, the current motherboard architecture will be obsolete; so there really is no upgrade future in Intel right now. On the other hand AM2 will atleast have upgrades until 2009. One thing to remember about Phenom is its only been out like a day. It takes time to optimize them, not to mention there are some features on the processor that are not working right now like the next generation of its Memory Controller, and won't until next year with an update directly to the processor. Not to mention the 2.0 ghz lock on the L3 cache is going to slow the whole system down.
I wont argue that the Phenom is a good processor, as it is. But regardless AMD made some bad decisions with this generation, like the L3, and they still have very small L2. I also wont argue that Intel has some expensive stuff, but with Intel you are paying for what you get, with AMD you are paying for promises of the future. You make the judgement call.
"There's no star system Slave I can't reach, and there's no planet I can't find. There's nowhere in the Galaxy for you to run. Might as well give up now."
Boba Fett
I prefer Intel,XD.
LOL!
I see this so often. I have to scratch my head every time I see someone talking about a new AMD build. And sometimes talking to these people can be like trying to talk to that one japanese guy... you know, the one that was left on that pacific island fighting World War 2 for like 30 years after it ended.
Hope you got your things together. Hope you are quite prepared to die. Looks like we're in for nasty weather. ... There's a bad moon on the rise.
Up until Intel came out with the C2D, AMD did have better stuff (since the Athlon came out). Now, however, that is no longer the case. C2D is beating the crap out of AMD's newest stuff, and it looks like that trend is going to continue for some time to come (sadly). Lots of AMD fanboys (like me) were hoping for something good with the Phenom (despite it's dumbass name), and I, at least, am somewhat disappointed in it.
Yes, the AM2 motherboards will socket the Phenom, but you'll still need a AM2+ MB to take advantage of everything it offers. The same will be true when AM3 comes out: You can still use chips that work in AM3 boards, but you wont get the advantage of DDR3 memory. Still, that's better than Intel's (non-existant) upgrade path.
All-in-all, this is not a very fun time to be an AMD fan, IMO. Looking at those performance deltas, even I am starting to cast envious eyes in Intel's direction. AMD better pull their heads out soon or they wont be around much longer; that would be bad for everyone.
Dunno, reading up on stuff since the phenom came out...my opinion for right now is that intel quad is the way to go.
Down the road, I think it may change, depending on what AMD does. I think either:
a) They have a grand plan with the next gen motherboard chipsets
or
They shoved their heads really far up their asses.
It just seems like the phenoms COULD perform very well...but the chipset and motherboard support just isn't there yet. I could be wrong though.
D.
The phenom was released to early. Much of what makes the processor good won't be on the processor until January with an update directly to the processor for the people who already own one. Same with ATI's new vid cards. So right now its best to say Intel is the best cause AMD isn't showing and we all know how waiting for promises is.
I am running AMD's at home and office pc's. Our servers are intel. Just feels better to have intel in servers, I got nothing behind that other feel. All processors have been running FAH for last 4yrs straight at 100%, no problems. So probably only matters which has the newest chip out at the time to be "best".
I have a AMD x2 5200 and is Great For games, Job, and all things u can imagine!!!
The top line is still Intel. The Q6600 still beats the Phenom. Maybe when the Phenom 9900 comes out that will make it on top. But when it comes to price vs speed, AMD is all there is. They make excellent chipsets for the prices.
Doesn't look good for AMD again because Phenom and Barcelona are total garbage vs what Intel has. Every benchmark is like watching what AMD 64 did to Intels P4 chips before Conroe came out. AMD use to be crown in gaming but I think Intel will hold it for another 3yrs or more. Competition drives each of these companies to make faster better chips. If AMD would of died tomorrow then Intel can keep it's current lineup for another 5yrs without worrying about people needing faster chips.
Right now, don't look past Intel. AMD had the better product for years but Intel has definitely changed that.
Do not buy AMD anytime soon.