Topic: OT: Of Processers and GHz..a question for the comp tech types

[KBFLordKrueg]

Considering getting a new comp (Once a year those kids pay off  ) and I've been seeing a lot of the "Dual-Core" processers and wondering if anyone knows if it's really "better" or just "different".

As a comparison example:
Gigabyte 8I945GMF Motherboard
- Socket: 775 (64-Bit)
- Chipset: Intel 945
- 4 SATA Ports: SATA 1 & SATA 2
- 4 PCI Slots: 1 PCIe x16, 1 PCIe, 2 PCI
- Onboard 10/100/1000 GB LAN
- Max RAM: 4GB
Dual Core Intel Pentium D 930 3Ghz CPU
- Socket: 775
- Cache: 2x2MB
- FSB: 800MHz
 nVidia 6600GT 128MB Video Card
- 128MB of DDRIII Memory
- 256-Bit PCI-e x16 Interface
64-BIT Windows XP Pro

vs.

Gigabyte GA-8i915P Duo Motherboard
- Socket: 775
- Slots: 3PCI/e & 1 PCI-E X16
- Onboard 7.1 Audio, USB 2.0
- 4-SATA / IDE & SATA Raid Controllers
- Intergrated LAN Ports
- Max RAM: 4GB
- Dual Channel DDR & DDR2 Support
Intel Pentium 4-560 3.6GHz with HT Technology
 Speed: 3.6GHz
- Socket: 775-Pin
- Cache: 1MB
- FSB: 800MHz
Gigabyte nVidia 6600 PCI-E 256MB Video Card
 Chipset: GeForce 6600
- Memory: 256MB
Microsoft Windows XP Pro

These specs aside, both systems sport the same things as far as hardware, RAM, etc.
The second one looks slightly more powerful to someone as computer illiterate as myself, but, the dual core one sounds just as good, maybe better...
And there's only about 10 buck difference in price...the first one being cheaper.
Any advice/comments from those with more knowledge on the subject...?
I'd appreciate any insight from those that really know. 

[FPF-DieHard]

I'm an Intel junkie, but at this point in time you are better off buying an AMD dualcore CPU.  This will change in a few months when the Conroes come out but at this time, the AMDs perform better.

[likkerpig]

You should put this question in the engineering forum Krueg... lotsa technogeeks there!

[KBFLordKrueg]

Outstanding idea Likker...TY...

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

I'm an Intel junkie, but at this point in time you are better off buying an AMD dualcore CPU.  This will change in a few months when the Conroes come out but at this time, the AMDs perform better.

My cousin works for Intel (specificly with mobo's) and we had this conversation about intel vs amd (since I need to change mobo's soon). 

He said that unless amd comes out with something radical, they will be clearly on top within the next 12 months.

[Nemesis]

My cousin works for Intel (specificly with mobo's) and we had this conversation about intel vs amd (since I need to change mobo's soon). 

He said that unless amd comes out with something radical, they will be clearly on top within the next 12 months.

Right now Intel is forecasting continual success for themselves and failure for AMD (and have been since the classic Athlon was released).  They have a vested interest in such claims.  Currently however Intel is at the end (hopefully) of a string of competitive failures against AMD, they need to recover from them.  They need to relearn how to compete with others not just with themselves as they did for so long.

AMD seems poised to maintain at least parity for the foreseeable future at least until such time as Intel comes up with a new core design and proves its ability in the market place.  AMD does have a new design on the horizon.  Will it be good enough to succeed?  Who knows? 

Once AMD thought that the K5 then the K6 would equal Intel.  On the other hand Intel forecast the failure of the K7 (Athlon), of K8 (Athlon 64), of the 64bit designs, Hypertransport, built in memory controllers and multicore, yet all those are success stories.

I want Intel and AMD both to be successful. I like market competition.  I would like to see VIA make the C series chips that they are making into a price/performance competitive design.

[FPF-DieHard]

I'm an Intel junkie, but at this point in time you are better off buying an AMD dualcore CPU.  This will change in a few months when the Conroes come out but at this time, the AMDs perform better.

My cousin works for Intel (specificly with mobo's) and we had this conversation about intel vs amd (since I need to change mobo's soon). 

He said that unless amd comes out with something radical, they will be clearly on top within the next 12 months.

Yes, but the conroes ain;t out yet and there are other factors.  I have an ATI X800 AGPcard that I do not want to replace yet, all the Intel dualcores only have PCI express. If I choose to upgrade at this time I have no choice

[Capt_Bearslayer_XC]

Hey, I am just talking about what he said.

What he works on is the stuff that won't even be out for 1-2 years. 

Right now, he feels AMD is on top. 

When I told him I was thinking of going to AMD he said it is the smart thing to do. Not even a hesitation about it.

And I really hope that the competition stays fierce too b/c, as Nemisis points out, the competition rocks for US.

DH, the whole reason for the conversation in the first place was b/c I am starting to have real issues with today's games.... IE my ATI 9600XT isn't cutting it anymore... and the next card WILL be PCI express... so I need a new mobo...

[Nemesis]

Link to new thread in Engineering started by KBFLordKrueg

As that is where KBFLordKrueg has chosen to move the topic I move that we continue the discussion there.