Dual-core desktop CPU bout: AMD vs. Intel

B

Bob

Copyright ©1995-2005 CNET Networks, Inc.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10442_7-6389077-1.html?tag=cnetfd.ld3

Dual-core desktop CPU bout: AMD vs. Intel
By Rich Brown

You may recall a few months back when AMD took out full-page newspaper
ads to challenge Intel to a dual-core server duel. Intel declined to
take up AMD on its offer, but the challenge got us thinking: what
would the results of a dual-core desktop CPU fight look like? Many
people equate Windows PCs with Intel Pentium processors (and soon will
likely be doing the same with Macs), but we've seen dual-core CPU AMD
systems power ahead of dual-core Intel-based PCs on more than one
occasion.

To answer the question once and for all, we circled up a bunch of cars
in an abandoned parking garage and set ourselves to a no-holds-barred
dual-core desktop CPU fistfight. AMD submitted its five dual-core
CPUs, and Intel matched with its lineup of four. We built two test
beds as nearly identical as we could for the two platforms and ran
each chip through a battery of tests. We then ran those results
through our price-vs.-performance calculator to find out not only
which is the best overall dual-core CPU in terms of raw performance
but also which one offers the most bang for your buck. Skip ahead to
the official ruling if you want, but the match itself is interesting.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-10442_7-6389077-9.html?tag=lnav


--

"One must realize that the world is a network of real and virtual
combat zones where the stakes are high, struggle is the primary
mode of being and only total victory is acceptable.
-- Sun Tzu, "The Art Of War"
 
S

stargazer257

I got to say I enjoyed the article. I am an AMD fan for two reasons.
I root for the underdog and I want the best bang for my buck. If thi
trend keeps up, I won't have the first reason for much longer... ;)
 
B

BillL

stargazer257 said:
I got to say I enjoyed the article. I am an AMD fan for two reasons.
I root for the underdog and I want the best bang for my buck. If this
trend keeps up, I won't have the first reason for much longer... ;) .

The picture may change when(?) Intel bring an on-die memory controller to
the table but hey I'd still go for AMD for your first reason ;o)
 
B

Bob

I got to say I enjoyed the article. I am an AMD fan for two reasons.
I root for the underdog and I want the best bang for my buck. If this
trend keeps up, I won't have the first reason for much longer... ;) .

I thought you AMD worshippers would enjoy this. I am a Celeron D fan
myself because all I need is a basic Internet machine. But if I ever
build a hot rod, I will look closely at AMD. The P4 Prescott chip is
just too expensive for my tastes. And for normal use like mine, it
doesn't perform all that better than my Celeron D Prescott chip.



--

"One must realize that the world is a network of real and virtual
combat zones where the stakes are high, struggle is the primary
mode of being and only total victory is acceptable.
-- Sun Tzu, "The Art Of War"
 
J

John

I thought you AMD worshippers would enjoy this. I am a Celeron D fan
myself because all I need is a basic Internet machine. But if I ever
build a hot rod, I will look closely at AMD. The P4 Prescott chip is
just too expensive for my tastes. And for normal use like mine, it
doesn't perform all that better than my Celeron D Prescott chip.

A lot of reviews sites have been tilting towards AMD ever since the
AMD 64s came out. Its kind of goes back and forth with AMD gaining
then INTEL coming back and then AMD coming back again.

The next gen INTELs in its vague forms sounds like it might be really
competitive if its not hype.

However Im more concerned that there might be way more problems with
the nforce4 chipset than I thought which might make nforce4 another
VIA and push everyone back to INTEL or even VIA if this keeps up.

Now Im not sure about some things. Like when I flashed my camera --
was it really a mysterious bad flash or was it the nforce4s fault?

When I flashed my 9600 card --- straight forward bad flash or should
it have worked somewhat anyway since they are both 9600s. Maybe with
bad artifacts but still work. Mayve its the nforce4s fault.

I just went through destroying my over 100 gigs of data with a new
RAID 0 setup which now find is not a rare occurence on nforce4s.

And my motherboard also died when I tried to flash it. Its like one
catastrophe after another. What bugs me more is theres no buzz about
it except a low level one at some sites and a very few sites common
talk about such problems but even they dont really blame nvidia or
nforce3/4s. So how come Toms Hardware and Anandtech arent mentioning
the problems in articles? I see some of their users talking about it.
 
K

kony

I thought you AMD worshippers would enjoy this. I am a Celeron D fan
myself because all I need is a basic Internet machine. But if I ever
build a hot rod, I will look closely at AMD. The P4 Prescott chip is
just too expensive for my tastes. And for normal use like mine, it
doesn't perform all that better than my Celeron D Prescott chip.


To me the significance of the article wasn't the challenge,
as Intel has been ahead before too and could've issued
similar challenge. The issue is AMD's more aggressive
advertising campaign... AMD has always been rather week in
the advertising department and many believed a large part of
their underwhelming success in the market was due to this.
It's not enough to make a great product, you also have to be
on the minds of the potential or prospective customers.
 
B

Bob

To me the significance of the article wasn't the challenge,
as Intel has been ahead before too and could've issued
similar challenge. The issue is AMD's more aggressive
advertising campaign... AMD has always been rather week in
the advertising department and many believed a large part of
their underwhelming success in the market was due to this.
It's not enough to make a great product, you also have to be
on the minds of the potential or prospective customers.

I would rather see AMD put its resources to work on R&D than paying a
bunch of blue fairies to prance around on stupid commercials.

What we need is the equivalent of NASCAR, so the best products get the
spotlight.


--

"One must realize that the world is a network of real and virtual
combat zones where the stakes are high, struggle is the primary
mode of being and only total victory is acceptable.
-- Sun Tzu, "The Art Of War"
 
K

kony

I would rather see AMD put its resources to work on R&D than paying a
bunch of blue fairies to prance around on stupid commercials.

I don't know that it'd need to be so silly, or blue.

What we need is the equivalent of NASCAR, so the best products get the
spotlight.


Maybe, but it's not the "best" products that sell the most
by far, it's the more cost-effective ones. Doesn't
necessarily have to be better or cheaper though, just less
generic sounding, increasing public perception through
advertising doesn't have to be based on reason, just look at
all the ads on TV over the years.
 

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