Dual-Core Duel

wee017

Well, I picked up a copy of computer shopper today. In the front cover there was something about a Dual-Core Duel. It turns out that computer shopper has tested 9 dual-core processors (5 from AMD, 4 from Intel) to see which would do better.



To see the results:

Dual-Core Duel

Many of you are wondering how would you compare an Intel and an AMD since they both require different parts, here are the test systems:

Intel:
"Asus P5N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard (nVidia nForce 4 SLI chipset); 1GB Crucial DDR2 SDRAM (667MHz); nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX graphics card (256MB, PCI Express); Western Digital WD740GD-00FLA2 Serial ATA hard drive (74GB, 10,000rpm); Windows XP Professional (with Service Pack 2); Antec 550-watt power supply. "

AMD:
"Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard (nVidia nForce 4 SLI chipset); 1GB Crucial DDR SDRAM (400MHz); nVidia GeForce 7800 GTX graphics card (256MB, PCI Express); Western Digital WD740GD-00FLA2 Serial ATA hard drive (74GB, 10,000rpm); Windows XP Professional (with Service Pack 2); Antec 550-watt power supply. "

As you can see, both motherboards are the same series, just one if made for Intel and one for AMD. Same amount of RAM, but different speeds. Same, video card, same hard drive, same OS, even the same power supply. The motherboard and RAM didn't lean to either side, so I think that these benchmarks are pretty accurate.

big_D

Hmm, the Intels didn't do very well... And the new Skype will only do 10-way conferencing with Intel dual core processors because the AMD dual core processors aren't powerful enough?!?! WFT!

wee017

Actually the Intels did poorly in my opinion, I thought there would be a much smaller gap, considering Intels are more expensive.

big_D

And "faster"...

nForcer

This just further proves the point I've seen all along. You can no longer compare them in a side by side manner WITHOUT showing bias to one or the other.

Intel has faster clocks, AMD has faster access to RAM

Since they're using almost completely different architecture, this is fastly becoming a competition between apples and oranges. What runs well for Intel, doesn't for AMD, and vise-versa. Why do people still do these comparisons...for marketing, plain and simple.

Best advice, figure out what you want to do with the machine, find out what you can afford (lets be honest, its the $$$ that will be the final decision), research which technology will work better for you, and then go for it. If you second guess yourself, then you might as well have not done any research at all - or not bought/built the machine in the first place.

Use what works, and leave the 'running in circles' for the Olympics.

wee017

nForcer, just by your Avatar you I can tell you like Intel. I'm on an Intel right now, but this test was very fair, the testing machines were the same. I would go by these tests to buy something or not.

They tested almost every single aspect that depends on processors, so I don't see what you're trying to say.

nitrousoxide52

I also saw a test like this in another magazine (PC Magazine or something like that) and it had the same results, with Intel's processors performing poorly than anticipated, and AMD's performing above most expectations. So, coming from two magazines, it must be clear that the AMD X2's do outperform the Intel Dual processors.

__________________
AMD Athlon64 X2 3800+
XFX Geforce 7800GT
ABIT AN8-SLI
BFG Tech 650w

dipstick

huh? Thats like saying we cant compare the X1900 to the 7800 because ATi uses a ringbus for faster mem access. I know it hurts but there's only one reason one would buy current intel dual cores....Blind brand loyalty