Is it even worth considering AMD?

[AshMcD]

I don't want to turn this into an AMD Vs Intel slanging match. I've always gone with whatever is better at the time and have no brand loyalty to either.

Just looking at the Custom PC CPU test in this months read (well, May edition oddly enough, we're not even half way through april!)

The Intels just seem to absolutely wipe the floor with them in every possible area and yet I still see a lot of people going for AMD.

Is this a cost thing or is it for overclocking ability (although even overclocked they still don't compete).

Would be interested in your thoughts into why I should consider AMD over Intel. Is there any price range of computer where it's better to use an AMD chip because if there is, I can't find it!

[nvening]

How much does a good overclocking skt 775 motherboard cost?

[crazyfool]

basically (my opinion anyways)... I find that amd is a good option if you are on a budget, I recently built a computer for simple tasks like web browsing which came to 300 quid for the lot, based around a 50 quid 5050e and amd 8200 board, I also used a 780g and 4050e for my htpc. A decent intel cpu with an integrated gpu that can handle low res gaming and blu ray would've cost maybe 50-100 quid more and although this mite not seem like a lot as tescos says "every little bit helps"... but for a gaming machine intel all the way

[AshMcD]

How much does a good overclocking skt 775 motherboard cost?

That's what I'd presumed it to be about. Does it come down to overclocking then?

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Just looking at the Custom PC

Sort of explains it then!! Not that great a magazine TBH.

The Intels just seem to absolutely wipe the floor with them in every possible area and yet I still see a lot of people going for AMD.

Is this a cost thing or is it for overclocking ability (although even overclocked they still don't compete).

You need to read more reviews it seems - things are not so clear cut TBH.

Would be interested in your thoughts into why I should consider AMD over Intel. Is there any price range of computer where it's better to use an AMD chip because if there is, I can't find it!

It is all about price to performance ratio FOR THE WHOLE platform.

TBH when I assembled my computers a while ago the Intel processors were unchallenged but not anymore.

[format]

I think it may have something to do with the fact that the new AM3 chips that are coming out can be used with a current AM2+ motherboard, whereas if you get a C2D775 mobo/cpu, you'll need a complete overhaul of that AND new memory to upgrade to i7.

[AshMcD]

basically (my opinion anyways)... I find that amd is a good option if you are on a budget, I recently built a computer for simple tasks like web browsing which came to 300 quid for the lot, based around a 50 quid 5050e and amd 8200 board, I also used a 780g and 4050e for my htpc. A decent intel cpu with an integrated gpu that can handle low res gaming and blu ray would've cost maybe 50-100 quid more and although this mite not seem like a lot as tescos says "every little bit helps"... but for a gaming machine intel all the way

I thought about this too. It was the case when I build my 939 system AMD would give the same/better performance for less money but if we're looking at a £300 machine but isn't the E5200 considered one of the best CPUS of its generation when considering price?

I thought it was pretty much de rigeur to use a 5200 when building on a budget?

[nvening]

That's what I'd presumed it to be about. Does it come down to overclocking then?

Well, im not sure, it was actually a serious question, i was looking to get some new AMD parts but i think i should really explore the intel route a bit more, even if its just for piece of mind XD.

How do the intel chips clock? Specifically the Q8200?

Neil

[AshMcD]

Sort of explains it then!! Not that great a magazine TBH.



You need to read more reviews it seems.



It is all about price to performance ratio FOR THE WHOLE platform.

TBH when I assembled my computers a while ago the Intel processors were unchallenged but not anymore.

I read a few different ones. I've always liked Custom PC and I don't see how you can argue with their benchmarking technique?

That's why I'm here, in case the reviews I've read are rubbish .

[AshMcD]

Well, im not sure, it was actually a serious question, i was looking to get some new AMD parts but i think i should really explore the intel route a bit more, even if its just for piece of mind XD.

How do the intel chips clock? Specifically the Q8200?

Neil

According to Custom PC The 8200 will clock to 2.8GHz but the Q6600 on the Kentsfield core will go upto 3.7GHz Lower bus though.

8300 will clock 3.3GHz according to CPC.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I read a few different ones. I've always liked Custom PC and I don't see how you can argue with their benchmarking technique?

That's why I'm here, in case the reviews I've read are rubbish .

Never base your decisions on only one review and some of their recommendations seem a bit rubbish TBH.

Also things such as price change rapidly and hence the relative value of any component can go from good to worse and vice versa very quickly!!

[AshMcD]

Never base your decisions on only one review and some of their recommendations seem a bit rubbish TBH.

Also things such as price change rapidly and hence the relative value of any component can go from good to worse and vice versa very quickly!!

I couldn't agree more but I've read a few more and most (all, in fact. Nothing I've seen suggests any AMD CPU is comparitive to the equivilent Intel system) seem to agree. If we're taking Overclocking out of the equation (which I'm not into) AMD can't compete from what I've seen...

[Sputnik]

I couldn't agree more but I've read a few more and most (all, in fact. Nothing I've seen suggests any AMD CPU is comparitive to the equivilent Intel system) seem to agree. If we're taking Overclocking out of the equation (which I'm not into) AMD can't compete from what I've seen...

Well, in that case AMD wins. The 7750+ BE is faster than the E5200 at stock speeds.

Edit: and £2 cheaper!

[AshMcD]

Well, in that case AMD wins. The 7750+ BE is faster than the E5200 at stock speeds.

Edit: and £2 cheaper!

Hmm. It's a good point. On gaming isn't it a bit slower?

And obviously it's rubbish at overclocking but since I don't do that it doesn't matter .

[TAKTAK]

According to Custom PC The 8200 will clock to 2.8GHz but the Q6600 on the Kentsfield core will go upto 3.7GHz Lower bus though.

8300 will clock 3.3GHz according to CPC.

That's just phooey on CustomPCs part...

You can't just state what clocks you can achieve with certain chips, as no chip is made equally...
Some may overclock well others not so well, from the same family, and even the same batch, shame on them if they just made a blanket statement (obv if they were talking about their particular sample, then that is a different story )...

[AshMcD]

That's just phooey on CustomPCs part...

You can't just state what clocks you can achieve with certain chips, as no chip is made equally...
Some may overclock well others not so well, from the same family, and even the same batch, shame on them if they just made a blanket statement (obv if they were talking about their particular sample, then that is a different story )...

They do overclock the CPUs as they benchmark them at the max stable OC but to be fair it doesn't state if the max OC they have is the max they achieved on their CPU or if it's just a presumed blanket estimate.

One would hope it's the former, but it doesn't clarify.

It sounds like I just base all my opinions on Custom PC . I promise this isn't the case, they just lay it out in the clearest way for me to be able to try and explain what I'm on about.