Intel P4 vs AMD

As many of you know, I've been looking at the X2 4400 for some time. Well fellow members, I've finally taken the leap, but not for the X2 4400 that I've spent so much time discussing, I've decided to go with the Opteron 175 instead. I read so many good things about the Opteron that my imagination was allowed to run wild, and then ultimately it ran right into my checking account. LOL


Will keep in touch.

brobear, would you be interested in a slightly used 3500+ Venice core and two sticks of Corsair CMX512 3200 C2? LOL

 

Sophocles if money was not an issue and you needed to choose the fastest AMD processor knowing that even still you might O/C a bit, which one would you choose? X2 4800+ ? I am speaking about a single CPU setup with this question. Thanks

 

ScubaBud

No I wouldn't choose the X2 4800, that's a chip that's only for non technical enthusiasts' wanting a high clock speed. It's really the same chip as the 175 but with a clock multiplier of 12 and lower tolerance testing, more defects get through. The Opteron 175 are tested to higher standards because they're expected to survive 24/7 in a server environment. The 175's can in the hands of the knowledgeable leave the X2 4800 in the dust.

 

Hmmm. What sort of performance can you get out of a 175 stock then?
I've been sifting through information on the X2 for my possible next system (Summer 06). However, I didn't think of looking to the opteron. I am a keen gamer, but I also convert AVI2DVD a bit and am always making or extracting RARs and ISOs. What sort of advantages do Opterons have in this field?

 

Can you imagine dual FX 57's?

 

Thanks for the information Sophocles. I was basing my question on the Sandra example score comparisons when I suggested that X2 4800+. I look forward to your future Sandra posts with your new configuration. Good luck with the build.

 

scubabud


I never buy the top processor but I do buy high enough t0 reach the top speeds.

 

me too. Both my PC system choices that I made were (top minus one) as was my later graphics upgrade.
However, since this next upgrade will be taking place significantly closer to my last system than before I'm descaling that ever so slightly. After all, I'll be starting university later this year, so I'll be short on funds anyway, but I do place a PC quite high in my funding priority

This will be in about June/July 2006, but I'm currently looking at:
Athlon64 X2 4200+ (not planning to OC it, certainly not for a while, I'm after long-life this time rather than absolute maximum performance)
2GB RAM (likely dual channel 3200, and no more than 2 sticks. When I'm running a 64-bit kernel with Vista I'll want 4GB)
RAID0 array. Probably a small one like 2x160GB
Dual Layer DVDRW and DVD-ROM that's obvious.
FDD and MCR, that's obvious too.
512MB X1800XT. The GPU as far as I'm concerned is the most important at present, but I'm not looking at Crossfire (or for that matter SLi), it's just wasteful and greedy.

Taking up the offer of a "silent 550W PSU and <20dB CPU cooler + 120mm case fan with neon kit" - sounds fancy.
Unless they change it the motherboard will be an Asus A8N-E. I'm after a basic PCI sound card. I'm not interested in major features, but after my last experience with onboard sound I'm definitely going dedicated.
As for monitors I'm not sure. 19" fast response LCD looks to be the way I'm heading, although for the immediate time I'll stick with a CRT. Not this current one though, My Viewsonic E92f+ died and is awaiting replacement with a Shiny new G90f+, so since I'll have a mere 6-month old screen when I get the new PC, monitor replacement will be unlikely to be imminent. Trouble is, I'm not lugging a 19" CRT to university, that's half my luggage room gone!

All this lot i'm currently looking at is www.pcspecialist.co.uk
yes I know, prebuilt. I don't have the time or patience for a homebuild, especially not after the fiasco this PC has been. Besides, the prices are the most competitive I've seen around, so anyone who knows roughly what the REAL exchange rate from dollars to pounds is from US, or any english people for that matter, have a look!

Ciao for now,
Sam

 

Hello to everyone. Been using this site for a while, very useful for a variety of subjects. Ive now decided to buy myself a new P.C with monitor etc. Ive considered building but decided against as...I cant!

Im not a massive gamer on P.C.(ive got an Xbox) although I would like the option to play games on it-ill use it for downloading off internet, burning to discs-I wantd a PC which has a good spec but which will last be sometime and give me options to upgrade if I wish at a later date.

After much searching I think ive found 2 that I am fairly happy with. Was just hoping someone could have a quick look at the 2 specs and give their opinion.

Option 1:-

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.2ghz LGA775 HT 2MB Cache 800mhz FSB

Motherboard: ASROCK 775Dual-880Pro

Memory : 1,024MB DDR2 533mhz Dual-Channel Branded(not sure what brand)

Hard drive: 160GB Maxtor IDE ATA133 7,200RPM HDD + 8mb cache

Optical : 16x Sony DW-Q28A Double-Layer DVD-RW

Video : 16x PCI-Express ATI Radeon X550XT 256MB

Case : Gladiator case + 460W PSU

Perpherals: 19" TFT 12ms response monitor (Flat panel), Stylish black keyboard, mouse and speakers

Price £595.

Option 2:-

Processor: AMD64 Athlon 3500+ Venice-core Socket-939

Motherboard: ASROCK 775Dual-880Pro

Memory : 1,024MB 400mhz Dual-Channel Branded DDR(not sure what brand)

Hard drive: 250GB Maxtor IDE ATA133 7,200RPM HDD + 8mb cache

Optical : 16x Sony DW-Q28A Double-Layer DVD-RW

Video : ATI Radeon X700 512MB 16x PCI-Express

Case : Gladiator case + 460W PSU

Perpherals: 17" TFT 12ms response monitor (Flat panel), Stylish black keyboard, mouse and speakers

Price £635

Many thanks for your time.

 

To Sophocles: How in the world did you get your Venice Core 3500+ AMD up to 3.60 ghz+? You have to share with me how you did it? What are some of the bench mark and real world improvements you have seen? I am strongly considering a San Diego Core 3700+ or a Venice Core 3000-3200+. The highest overclock I have seen online for the San Diego Core 3700+ is about 3.22 and that is with sometype of below zero cooling device. There was nice bench mark increases but I am into more real world results improvements. Also you mentioned in another post about your consideration of Opteron instead of the X2 4400+. Aren't the Opterons socket 940 based or am I wrong? Can you pm me?

 

novicebb

Where the heck did you read that I got it to 3.6 Ghz? Look at my sig in my posts. It's at 2.753 Ghz. When I get it to go up to 3.6 then I'm quitting my job and going into business. If that number came from one of my posts point me to it so i can fix it. I do have to say that a guy on another forum claimed to get one to 4 Ghz but I think that he's a liar. LOL

I've had mine to just under 2.8 and I think that I could break that but I've just ordered an Opteron 175, and my Venice core is headed for a budget machine. BTW because they're priced so closely get the San Diego 3700+, it'll hit at least 3.7 with good memory and with great memory you have a faster than standard FX57 running at 2.8 Ghz. If you're interested in my benchmarks you can find them a few pages back.

 

Donald,
I'm no guru on chasing number designations on CPUs. How did you figure that particular CPU was a Northwood? I didn't see it mentioned anywhere. While I was looking, I noticed another 3.4GHz P4 for over $900.
http://www.starmicro.net/detail.aspx?ID=556
Wonder what happened there? Looked worse than the bunch at Dell.

Sophocles
I'll probably go along with Donald as his plan of action followed suit with what we'd discussed earlier. I'll probably keep what I have intact and build another PC. My son put in a new server at his clinic and told me I could have his old one. I have no idea what it is at this point. If it can do anything, I'll probably draft it into service for now. It just had some age on it, it hadn't burned out. I'm just wondering what processor(s) it has and what kind of memory.

 

To lofty.The second system will mop the floor with the first one, and the resolution is the same for 17" and 19" screens anyway. Unless you really need a big screen, I'd say definitely the second option, assuming you can afford the extra £40. The processor's better, as is the hard disk and definitely the graphics. There really is no major downside to going for #2 assuming you can afford it.

 

@brobear


Link for specs on Northwood 3.4 from Intel.
sSpec Number SL793
http://indigo.intel.com/compare_cpu/showchart.aspx?mmID=857154&familyID=1&culture=en-US


StarMicro Link
http://www.starmicro.net/detail.aspx?ID=543

I would call first and make sure that they have it and that it is what it is supposed to be. I didn't think that there were any 3.4 Northwoods around, including on eBay.

 

@lofty2x2

Am I reading this right? is this a 939 processor with a 775 motherboard? Your first option showed a 775 Intel with 775 mobo, different processor in option 2 but same board. Find equivilant motherboard for processor 2 and you'll be in business.

 

Oh yeah! Heh, I didn't notice that.

 

Hey, I got my computer... Yall know that, But i can only get CPU-Z, Cause th free sandra is only 32 bit.. and i got an msi 16x DVD player, My motherboard had the cable for one cd drive, I grabed a spare, And i can hook up both, But Together somtimes they will work, But when i umplug the DVD rom drive, Everything runs fine?!?!?

I dono.. . .. And i still cant find out how to post pictures...
Sorry.. BTW.. They sent me a Neo 2 mobo?? Is that what i ordered??
Thanx,
Triock

 

To sammorris and deadrum33.

Thanks for your comments.
£40 seems worth it if its gonna be lots better, not too bothered about 19" monitor anyway. Does the price seem good to you, ive checked around and it seems ok to me considering the spec. Doesn't mention the Athlon processor having a cache, is this a problem as the P4 has a 2mb cache?
Thanks alot.

 

Oh it will have one, they just haven't stated it.

The price seems very reasonable, where's this from?
For a 3500 CPU, a gig of RAM and a 512MB GPU plus a 17" TFT for little more than £600 that's an astonishing deal.

 

Brobear,

The Prescott should have an E designation and larger than 512 cache.