AMD duel core or one of the new Intel duel cores????

[divemaster127]

Hey guys I have been running AMD for years & I have a 3800 dual core right now AMD, I have been kicking around doing a upgrade to a AMD 4600 dual core, but I have been hearing the new Intel dual cores are just kicking the crud out of AMD, is this true just looking for some opinions
thanks
dm

[torez]

Yes, it is true.  AMD has some new chips on the horizon, but there are no benchmarks yet.  I'm waiting with new mobo purchase (for my main comp) until wireless USB technology will be applied sometimes first half of next year.

[hnugz]

my e6400 smokes the competition.  if you are buying now it makes no sense to go amd.

[ahofle]

This seems like one of the few times I can remember where one brand of chip is so far superior to the other.  Normally the competitor at least wins in a few benchmarks, but the core 2 duo is pretty much the undisputed winner at the moment.

[krick]

Yeah, Core 2 Duo (Conroe) is the way to go at the moment.

I knew AMD was in trouble when my Pentium M 730 @ 2.7GHz was beating my AMD Opteron 148 @ 2.8GHz in everything except really floating point intensive benchmarks (and generating a lot less heat while doing it).

I figured all that Intel had to do was make a dual core Pentium M with good floating point performance and they'd be king of the hill.  It appears that's what they did with the Core 2 Duo.

I'm really curious to see how the single core "Conroe-L" chips turn out.  I'm guessing they'll be even better overclockers because they will have a smaller die and will generate less heat and electrical "noise".   *wrings hands in anticipation*

[Hockeyboy]

I'm not an Intel spokesperson but I do happen to work for Intel and I can tell you all there's a lot of excitement within Intel these days...it seems that our chips are making several different groups of people happy with what we've accomplished and what our chips are doing. From a slightly technical standpoint we haven't created faster chips per se, but we have created chips that can do more and consume less power and generate less heat than before while still maintaining breathtaking computing power.

If you are a true AMD fan, I won't try to switch you - I will just say this: don't take my word for it. Do some reviews - Tom's Hardware is a great place to start - and see what others are saying.

Personally, I'd love to have a new Core Duo or Core 2 Duo, but I just can't justify the expense of trying to make a new computer when I have tons of projects going on at the brand-new house and while trying to save money to build a MAME computer.

[Bluedeath]

I respect intel technology, but i've switched to AMD 3 years ago and i do'nt plan to chang e my mind soon. My X24200+ does quite a good job for it's price.

[shmokes]

That's the really special thing about the new Intel chips.  Intel has ALWAYS beat AMD in horsepower aside from the last couple years when AMD made the Athlon and especially the Athlon 64.  The fact that Intel managed to get back on top of the speed game isn't what surprises me.  That should be expected in the same way ATI and nVidia trade the speed crown back and forth.

What REALLY surprises me about the Core Duo chips is that for the first time in, well, ever, Intel isn't just beating AMD on speed, they're beating them on price too.

[ahofle]

What REALLY surprises me about the Core Duo chips is that for the first time in, well, ever, Intel isn't just beating AMD on speed, they're beating them on price too.

Are they?  I thought AMD severely dropped prices and the core 2 duo chips were comparatively expensive.  As far as I've heard, price is the only downside to them.

[divemaster127]

I looked yesterday & on pricewatch the Intels are now cheaper than the slower AMD x2 chips
dm

[ahofle]

I looked yesterday & on pricewatch the Intels are now cheaper than the slower AMD x2 chips
dm

The Core 2 Duo was cheaper?  Or the older intel chips were cheaper?

[krick]

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/guides/WCPG/article.php/3636096
Weekly CPU Prices - Week of October 2, 2006
October 4, 2006

Dual core AMD Athlon64 and Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, sorted by price...

$160 Athlon 64 X2   3800+  2.0GHz  AM2    Retail
$175 Athlon 64 X2   3800+  2.0GHz  S939   Retail
$183 Core 2 Duo     E6300  1.86GHz LGA775 Retail
$185 Athlon 64 X2   4200+  2.2GHz  S939   Retail
$186 Athlon 64 X2   4200+  2.2GHz  AM2    Retail
$224 Core 2 Duo     E6400  2.13GHz LGA775 Retail
$227 Athlon 64 X2   4400+  2.2GHz  S939   Retail
$234 Athlon 64 X2   4600+  2.4GHz  S939   Retail
$245 Athlon 64 X2   4600+  2.4GHz  AM2    Retail
$280 Athlon 64 X2   4800+  2.4GHz  S939   Retail
$318 Core 2 Duo     E6600  2.4GHz  LGA775 Retail
$524 Core 2 Duo     E6700  2.66GHz LGA775 Retail
$569 Athlon 64      FX-60  2.6GHz  S939   Retail
$965 Core 2 Extreme X6800  2.93GHz LGA775 Retail

[divemaster127]

The core duo 6400 is cheaper than the fastest amd X2 chips, its the low end of the intel duo chips but its kills the amd x2 chips in speed
dm

[krick]

If I was going to buy any of the Core 2 chips, I'd only consider the chips with 4MB cache...

Extreme X6800 2,933 MHz x11 266 MHz (FSB1066 QDR) 4 MB cache
Duo E6700     2,666 MHz X10 266 MHz (FSB1066 QDR) 4 MB cache
Duo E6600     2,400 MHz X9  266 MHz (FSB1066 QDR) 4 MB cache
Duo E6400     2,133 MHz X8  266 MHz (FSB1066 QDR) 2 MB cache
Duo E6300     1,866 MHz X7  266 MHz (FSB1066 QDR) 2 MB cache

...so that's basically the E6600 and up.

[Level42]

I hope you guys are all talking about your desktop PC's, cause I really don't see the sense of a dua core proc in a Mame cab

I've been actualy switching between AMD and Intel over the past years. However the PC I had before the one I have now (which is starting to build up some serious dust since I got my Mac Mini a couple of weeks ago) was AMD, but was having quite some problems. I think most were BIOS related (soundcard, later other newer cards, even after BIOS upgrades) so not AMD's fault, but still this made me decide for an Intel chipset Mobo + proc back then. However, the el-cheapo mobo and proc in my mame machine is AMD again, plenty of power and since I opted for a "mobile" proc and doesn't need so much cooling......which brings me to my ultra-silent Mac Mini.......yes Intel Core2 and I gotta say I love every minute with it.

I haven't used a computer in such silence since my Atari 130XE

[Dervacumen]

Core 2 Duo is better for sure, but if you've already got an x2 3800, then keeping the same platform and going to the x2 4600 is only $240 for the chip, and if you sell your old chip on ebay you can probably get $80-$100 for it.  That makes your upgrade price net about $140-$160.

If you switch to Core 2 Duo, you're looking at a minimum $150 for a CPU plus $$ for a new MOBO.  If you have DDR2 memory you're good to go, if you have DDR1 memory you can get the ASRock 775Dual-VSTA LGA775 mobo since it takes DDR1 and DDR2.  It's cheap at around $60.

Depends I guess.

[Goz]

Quad core AMD's are on the horizon...

[divemaster127]

Your right that's what I was going to do orginal was sell the old chip on ebay & upgrade, I was just surprised the low end duo is faster than the best amd, there really is nothing wrong with my 3800 I just get the itch about once a year
dm

[Bluedeath]

I hope you guys are all talking about your desktop PC's, cause I really don't see the sense of a dua core proc in a Mame cab

I've been actualy switching between AMD and Intel over the past years. However the PC I had before the one I have now (which is starting to build up some serious dust since I got my Mac Mini a couple of weeks ago) was AMD, but was having quite some problems. I think most were BIOS related (soundcard, later other newer cards, even after BIOS upgrades) so not AMD's fault, but still this made me decide for an Intel chipset Mobo + proc back then. However, the el-cheapo mobo and proc in my mame machine is AMD again, plenty of power and since I opted for a "mobile" proc and doesn't need so much cooling......which brings me to my ultra-silent Mac Mini.......yes Intel Core2 and I gotta say I love every minute with it.

I haven't used a computer in such silence since my Atari 130XE

Of course using a multicore in a mamecab would be a waste. Plus one can buy more "old" single core processor and cheap mobos to power multiple machines.

[torez]

Older AMD cpus are getting cheaper, as new ones are soon to be expected, so they make room for new stock.

Quad core AMD's are on the horizon...

... so are quad cores from Intel (sometime in January) ... just think about price drop on 2-core when 4-core come out
... Windows Vista will be available in January
... and Office 2007 as well
... January is also scheduled for new chips for laptops

Talking about busy New Year LOL

[Hockeyboy]

Interesting that AMD had quad-core chips "on the horizon"...right now the latest news says that AMD has "taped out" - what we in the biz call it when the reticle plates have been made but no chips have actually been manufactured in quantity and sold - the design of a quad-core chip. They also have said numerous times that they are manufacturing 65nm dual-core chips but have shipped zero to date. 65nm chips consume less power, generate less heat while delivering the same (or better since there is no power loss) performance. Performance/watt is now the name of the game, not top-end speed.

Again, not trying to knock AMD in any way - all I'm saying is do some research and find out just what Intel has been doing in the last 3-6 months. I realize there are lots of people that are dedicated AMD fans and I truly respect and appreciate that -- all I ask is that Intel be given it's due and out of fairness, a closer look at what has been put on the table.

And, yes, I agree - all this discussion is reserved for desktop PCs and not MAME cabinet PCs - that would be a tremendous waste of horsepower and money.

[Level42]

As mentioned, I'm a customer of both companies, but I sure do hope AMD will be able to always keep up with Intel. I don't want to imagine what will happen when there's only 1 source for CPU's.

[Gambit]

I think we need both Intel and AMD.

If not for AMD, then Intel would not push hard to create new technologies and improve as fast.  If you know what I mean.

[elvis]

I'm a huge AMD fanboi, but the new Intel Conroe (ie: the "Core Duo") chips have impressed me no end.

Take a look at some benchmarks I did:
http://benchmark.mameworld.net/

Conroe certainly is the platform of choice for MAME.

Oh, and for the record:

1) MAME will never benefit from dual-core, so there's no real need for it.  But even so, Conroe is still the fastest chip out there for MAME

2) DUAL = two of.  DUEL = a fight between two people.  "Duel Core" - two cores fighting? 

[rdowdy95]

Guys think about it.  Hell AMD has been whooping Intel for the past 5 years as far as I am concerned.  AMD will be back on top in no time.

[Hockeyboy]

^^^

Actually, it should be duAL core, not duEl core.

Intel does appreciate the competition from AMD - honestly, we do. We wouldn't "slack off" if we were the only game in town, but we do appreciate that AMD (pretty much the only CPU competitor) keeps driving us to do better. It's been an interesting past few years (yes, there are times Intel has been beaten fair and square) but there has been a big drive from within Intel to do well again and I think we've earned our way back on top, even if naysayers don't believe that Intel will stay there.

Okay, enough of the  and  for me.