I have a question about Athlon vs. Intel processor.

Athlon processors generally have less total megahertz than intel pentium 4s, which explains the whole + mechanism they added to their chip definitions in product lists.

And Athlon processors fastest current interface rate is 400 FSB while Intels fastest interface rate is 800 FSB.

Q Now here's my question, do these differences mean drastic speed differences or is Athlon faster than it looks?


Sir Spectre


Like Master Yoda's speak, Olde English is, yes? Hehmmmmhaha!
-- From the play "Zlothello"

good question. i'll try to make this quick and simple.

bang for bang the Intels are more powerful than the AMDs even though the latter may be just as fast if not faster. this is why business systems generally use Intels, plus there has always been a reliability and quality issue although this is much less so these days. so a lower clock speed Intel P4 will actually be as capable, if not more so, as a higher rated AMD.

for example, one I know well

AMD K6-2-500 is equal to Intel P2-300, but the P2-300 was still capabale of doing more.

but the AMDs give u the clock speed u need for less money. again like has been said, it depends what u want to do. AMDs are good for gaming and home PCs, and the new ones certainly perform, but for reliabilty and compatibility u go for the Intels if u want to spend the cash, the AMDs give u speed without the extra features of the Intel architecture (although again this disparity is less marked these days)

(obv. this does not apply to the new AMd 64-bit! but I'm an Intel man myself and always have been)

does that answer ur question?

Edited by - Tawakalna on 28-10-2003 23:53:45

@LV38_Eagle

I'll have some configurations for you in a few hours down to all parts including mobo type. I think I have a pretty good idea what your goal is. Stand by....

If you have a local PC shop that will build the comp for you you'll save big bucks. A link would be nice. Otherwise, you're going to spend some money on shipping. I also noted no refernce to a monitor. Does that mean you're set there? Obviously, for this thing to last that many years you'll want future expandability now without sacrificing todays gaming demands. Kewl, I've got a project!

@Taw, what is the new AMD 64bit chip about? I haven't heard anything myself. What bit is Intel?


Sir Spectre


Like Master Yoda's speak, Olde English is, yes? Hehmmmmhaha!
-- From the play "Zlothello"

Read all about it HERE Sir Spectre. It's the future of PC's. You heard it here first!

Edited by - Stinger on 29-10-2003 01:20:25

Intel P4's are 32bit chips, they do have the Opteron that comes in a 64 bit variation but they are specifically built for servers.

In laymans terms, 64 bit and 32 bit refers to the chunks of data the chip can process in one hit. Considering the amount of attention AMD are getting from thier 64 bit desktop chip, Intel will be sure to jump on the bandwagon reasonably soon.

@Stinger

Thanks for the offer of a system spec, I have no idea what monitor to go for yet either, needs to be a 17 inch Flat Screen type if you have any preference.

I will be building it myself to save on costs, so a reference to number/position of fans and other internal niceties would be helpful.

Thanks again

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If there is anything more important than my ego around here, I want it caught and shot immediately ~ (Zaphod Beeblebrox - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)

the best f'screens (at sensible prices) imho are Iiyama and Mitsubishi, but i still think the resolution is better on CRT

Sorry Taw, I have better things to do with my deskspace than have one of them, its got to be a flat screen.

What about resolutions and refresh rates, I thought 1400 x 1050 by something like 80 Hz.

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If there is anything more important than my ego around here, I want it caught and shot immediately ~ (Zaphod Beeblebrox - Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)

1400 x 1050: this is huge for anything smaller than *checks network settings* 23 inches and something like 80 Hz for a flatscreeen you are looking at around £1700.99 and thats a lot. On the scale of a grafics card if you wanna splurge you gotta get the new ATI RADEON 9800 128meg PRO now that is a goooood graphics card and can so far only be found here: http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/avcards/623c/

The titan Flies Like a cow.....
The saber Flies Like a cow.....
The eagle flies Like a cow.....
But They could turn a NPC Drake into Mashed potato in a Blink
STOP COMPLAINING

that's a lot of money for a monitor. even i wouldn't pay that.

@Mustang:

Ummm. Isn't the Intel server side 64bit chip called Itanium? I thought the Opterons server side AMD chips? Anyway, the Athlon 64s are now being reviewed in the magazines.

@Anyone

Anyone care to guess whether Intel's interim measure, coming out with a P4 with a huge L3 cache built in, will buy them the time they need to respond to the Athlon 64s?

Also, apart from MS currently working on a 64bit port of some of its software and Windows XP, who else is drawing up 64bit programs for the masses to consume?

How much difference does cache make?

Sir Spectre


... No more signature.

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needs to be a 17 inch Flat Screen type if you have any preference.

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You (or I) seem to be confusing and LCD/TFT for a Flat Screen (say Trinitron) monitor. Flatscreens are simply a CRT whose catode tube isn't curved, so the picture geometry is much closer to accurate than usual. If you wanted a monitor that's compact (small in size), you need an LCD/TFT monitor (I recommend Samsung 17x versions T or P), but if you want a true flatscreen, I agree with Taw's choice, Iiyama, alternatively, Samsung 757NF (top class)or 765MB (upper-mid class, nice colors)

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who else is drawing up 64bit programs for the masses to consume?

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Sonic Foundry, Adobe, Corel, Eidos Interactive, Discreet, ACD Systems, Power Quest, and a few others. Some of the software is already 64bit compatible, and majority of it is yet to become 64bit, say within 9-12 months.

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How much difference does cache make?

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L1 cash = huge difference, L2 cache = noticeable difference, L3 cache, especially when talking 2MB+ = subtle to unnoticeable difference.
Any more q's?


Careful what you wish... You just might get it.