AMD v Intel: Advice please
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AMD v Intel: Advice please
Please can someone help.
I've been offered a desktop with this spec:
1000Mhz AMD Athlon Processor (option of 1400Mhz)
ECS Socket-A Motherboard
256Mb PC133 SD RAM (option of double for little more money).
I'm tempted because it's cheaper than the Intel equivalent. (I currently use Intel Pentium)
Q:
(1) Are there any disadvantages to using AMD instead of Intel?
(2) Is it true that some programmes/hardware won't work with AMD processors?
(3) Is the new Pentium 4 worth the extra cost?
(4) Is SDRAM still OK? (I've read about DDRAM (?), Dual Channel memory etc.)
(5) Which version of Windows is best? (they offer Windows ME as standard.)
I tend to keep computers quite a long time so usually try to go for the latest spec in an attempt to be future proof.
Main use of computer: WP, Excel, Internet. No games. No DVD
Also, thinking of MS Flight Sim - only because I'm constantly embarrassed by small children who can't underatsnd why I can't fly theirs for more than two minutes without crashing!
Thanks in advance for your help.
[ 24 September 2001: Message edited by: Heliport ]
I've been offered a desktop with this spec:
1000Mhz AMD Athlon Processor (option of 1400Mhz)
ECS Socket-A Motherboard
256Mb PC133 SD RAM (option of double for little more money).
I'm tempted because it's cheaper than the Intel equivalent. (I currently use Intel Pentium)
Q:
(1) Are there any disadvantages to using AMD instead of Intel?
(2) Is it true that some programmes/hardware won't work with AMD processors?
(3) Is the new Pentium 4 worth the extra cost?
(4) Is SDRAM still OK? (I've read about DDRAM (?), Dual Channel memory etc.)
(5) Which version of Windows is best? (they offer Windows ME as standard.)
I tend to keep computers quite a long time so usually try to go for the latest spec in an attempt to be future proof.
Main use of computer: WP, Excel, Internet. No games. No DVD
Also, thinking of MS Flight Sim - only because I'm constantly embarrassed by small children who can't underatsnd why I can't fly theirs for more than two minutes without crashing!
Thanks in advance for your help.
[ 24 September 2001: Message edited by: Heliport ]
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If it were me I would opt for AMD. I use Intel at the moment but AMD are doing bigger and better things at the moment. The Athlon chip, whilst a 1.4Ghz chip often outperforms the Intel chipset - take a look at this:
AMD Benchmarks
and the AMD offering is cheaper than Intel.
As for OS I would go for Windows XP (comes out in October) - Windows ME is Windows 98 in a different box.
As I say, this is just my opinion.
AMD Benchmarks
and the AMD offering is cheaper than Intel.
As for OS I would go for Windows XP (comes out in October) - Windows ME is Windows 98 in a different box.
As I say, this is just my opinion.
Go for th3 1.4ghz
A:
(1) No
(2) No
(3) No
(4) Yes
(6) I use W98se so can't comment on WME, if upgrading from 98SE to WME then I don't think it is worth the cost. Most devices have drivers that work for ME don't know about XP though.
A:
(1) No
(2) No
(3) No
(4) Yes
(6) I use W98se so can't comment on WME, if upgrading from 98SE to WME then I don't think it is worth the cost. Most devices have drivers that work for ME don't know about XP though.
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As luck would have it, this month's PC Magazine (the November 2001 issue)reviews business PCs using either the AMD Athlon or the Intel Pentium 4. The AMD powered Systemax A1400RV Premier 1150 came out as best value for money but not the fastest by any means. It did use DDR (double data rate) RAM as well. Of course, Intel will soon launch their DDR version of the P4.
I've no personal experience of the two chipsets in competition. But the leapfrogging of manufacturers makes it difficult to judge when to take the plunge.
AMD has the price advantage at the moment and historically was better at floating point operations until Intel did some catching up. I may go for the AMD soon.
WinME was specifically for the games market and as you, like me, don't do games, you may be better going for W2K. However the Sony laptop that I use with ME and the Sony Digital Video software do go together very well. I suppose that's a spin-off from the games architecture.
XP is very well reviewed but it's more pennies for yet another upgrade before you've got your money's worth from the last one...
I've no personal experience of the two chipsets in competition. But the leapfrogging of manufacturers makes it difficult to judge when to take the plunge.
AMD has the price advantage at the moment and historically was better at floating point operations until Intel did some catching up. I may go for the AMD soon.
WinME was specifically for the games market and as you, like me, don't do games, you may be better going for W2K. However the Sony laptop that I use with ME and the Sony Digital Video software do go together very well. I suppose that's a spin-off from the games architecture.
XP is very well reviewed but it's more pennies for yet another upgrade before you've got your money's worth from the last one...
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The AMD processor will probably be fine for your uses described. You will certainly
get more for your money.
Windows ME is an excellent OS, and it has a very nice feature
that allows you to roll back the system settings on your OS back
to a date you know it was good. So if you install something and it
messes up the system, you can simply roll back a couple of days and
it will be gone. It has saved me rebuilding my PC 3 times now
Windows XP is one to be very carefull with. I have tested it and was
not impressed at all. It also failed to run quite a lot of my software.
I admit that some of it was games, but it wouldn't take it anyway. I dont
want to use an OS that can't load software off the shelf.
Maybe MS will fix it before the offical release, dont know ( wouldn't count
on it ! )
As for memory...........SDRAM will do you fine unless you are going to do a
lot of gaming. Flight Sim 2000 loves RAM, and so ( I guess ) will FS 2002, so
if you can afford it you would be wise to go for DDR memory.
DDR memory is much faster than SDRAM as it runs on a MUCH faster FSB ( 400Mhz )
128Mb of DDR is probably about 3 times faster than 128Mb of SDRAM ( at 133 FSB )
Hope this helps ..........and good luck with the new toy when you get it !!
Bingo
modified for typo ! Damn this keyboard !
[ 25 September 2001: Message edited by: markbingo ]
get more for your money.
Windows ME is an excellent OS, and it has a very nice feature
that allows you to roll back the system settings on your OS back
to a date you know it was good. So if you install something and it
messes up the system, you can simply roll back a couple of days and
it will be gone. It has saved me rebuilding my PC 3 times now
Windows XP is one to be very carefull with. I have tested it and was
not impressed at all. It also failed to run quite a lot of my software.
I admit that some of it was games, but it wouldn't take it anyway. I dont
want to use an OS that can't load software off the shelf.
Maybe MS will fix it before the offical release, dont know ( wouldn't count
on it ! )
As for memory...........SDRAM will do you fine unless you are going to do a
lot of gaming. Flight Sim 2000 loves RAM, and so ( I guess ) will FS 2002, so
if you can afford it you would be wise to go for DDR memory.
DDR memory is much faster than SDRAM as it runs on a MUCH faster FSB ( 400Mhz )
128Mb of DDR is probably about 3 times faster than 128Mb of SDRAM ( at 133 FSB )
Hope this helps ..........and good luck with the new toy when you get it !!
Bingo
modified for typo ! Damn this keyboard !
[ 25 September 2001: Message edited by: markbingo ]
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I've been using AMD for years; NO PROBLEM!
Using a 850 Athlon Thunderbird at present and it fly's.
I haven't yet come across a program that will not run due to the processor. If this happens, its normally the operating system or bad drivers that are the route cause of the problem.
Using a 850 Athlon Thunderbird at present and it fly's.
I haven't yet come across a program that will not run due to the processor. If this happens, its normally the operating system or bad drivers that are the route cause of the problem.
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For a little more than two weeks I am a new owner of a AMD 1.4Ghz with DDR memory.
Coming from a P-I 100 , I must say I feel like steering a rocket!
I do not regret so far the choice and made a lot of research on the net and mags around before making the decision. AMD was the final choice.
I am using WinME and I had some problems with him. Nothing worth of smashing the computer , but in general a nice system..if you don't have the W2K or the 98SE
Go for the AMD!
Coming from a P-I 100 , I must say I feel like steering a rocket!
I do not regret so far the choice and made a lot of research on the net and mags around before making the decision. AMD was the final choice.
I am using WinME and I had some problems with him. Nothing worth of smashing the computer , but in general a nice system..if you don't have the W2K or the 98SE
Go for the AMD!
