AMD 64 3700+ versus Intel P4 940 D

[GamingDaemon]

A week ago, I built an Intel gaming rig with a P4 940 D dual core processor. It seemed to smoke during Windows operation, but I heard that I would get faster gaming performance with an AMD.

Last night, I used a some of the parts from the Intel rig, like the Sata2 hard drives, DVD drives, and Antec PSU, and built a new gaming rig using an AMD 3700+.

Well, Windows ran a bit slower. And so did FEAR. At least, it did with the settings the game used after autodetecting.

I also went from a Sapphire X850XT video card to an eVGA 7600gt.

I know this is apples and oranges, but I would have expected better performance from the AMD when trying FEAR.

Note: I have not done anything to tune the settings, or the rig. I also have 2GB of dual channel memory for the AMD rig, while just 1GB for the Intel rig.

Comments? Ideas? Feedback?

TIA

 

[coldpower27]

ah yeh F.E.A.R actually runs better on ATI hardware, I would expect the X850 XT to offer better performance then 7600 GT in this particular game. The Pentium D 940 is a fine processor for most things, for a gaming machine concentrate your efforts on improving your video card.

 

[Duvie]

The 1gb versus 2gb isn't likely going to be the big diff there...What are the default cas timings the 2gb of ram using...then also list the INtel memory settings...

Also...Duh!!! The 940 is a dual core chip and the 3700+ is not....Everyone knows dual core or dual cpu systems are much more crisp on the desktop...more responsive, etc....

Apples and oranges??? More like apples and grapes....

 

[Framelord]

Hm

ok I can tell about graphic.I just RMA my X800XL and have chance to pick new VGA for free, so I pick the 7600GT.

This is what I got ,the games and all staff the some settings:

X800XL(425/510) 7600GT(625/800)
FEAR 64fps 86fps
3D Mark 05 5568 6667
3D Mark 06 1825 3384

So you see for me I got little upgrade for free! Also SM3.0,HDR and HW HD Video Acelorator

 

[GamingDaemon]

Ok, so FEAR may not be the best game to try the 7600gt on. What would be a good game? I have Civ IV, HL2, FarCry, Guild Wars.

Also, the memory I was using in the Intel rig was DDR2 667 and 1GB. I am using dual channel 2x1GB DDR400 memory in the AMD rig.

I got a 6100 score on my 3dMark05, so it looks like I need to do some overclocking in order to keep up with Framelord, huh?

 

[Duvie]

It isn't so much that it is 400ddr as what are the cas settings...big diff on AMD machines...

 

[dguy6789]

Your results are not unexpected in the least.

For one thing, you have a Pentium D, not a Pentium 4D. Dual cores will do better in general usage than single cores.

As for your game performance, there are two reasons.


1. A Radeon X850XT is faster than a 7600GT.

2. Fear developers have stated that Fear is multithreaded. If this is true, A Pentium D 940 should be faster than an Athlon 64 3700+.


Why did you "upgrade" to an inferior CPU and inferior GPU?

 

[GamingDaemon]

dguy6789, where were you when I was posting last week, and everyone was telling me to go AMD?!?!? Also, I saw that the 3700+ was better in game performance than a 940 D. And I thought the X850XT and 7600gt were evenly matched.

Well, this will stil lbe a good experiment, once I get home this evening and try some different games.

Duvie, what are cas settings. Sorry if this is just a newb question.

 

[Bobthelost]

CAS settings are to do with how fast the RAM answers questions from the CPU. Typical values for DDR400 are between 1.5-4 bigger sticks generally 2-4, there are a whole load of other values that with CAS are called the "latency" but the CAS is the important bit.

 

[dguy6789]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
dguy6789, where were you when I was posting last week, and everyone was telling me to go AMD?!?!? Also, I saw that the 3700+ was better in game performance than a 940 D. And I thought the X850XT and 7600gt were evenly matched.

Well, this will stil lbe a good experiment, once I get home this evening and try some different games.

Duvie, what are cas settings. Sorry if this is just a newb question.

I apologise if I was not able to give you some advice in time. I probably did not see the thread. The 3700+ would play games faster than a Pentium D 940 by a tiny and unnoticable amount. In fact, most of the time, you will be GPU limited and the cpu will not matter much.

For some information, the PC in my signature, with all settings at stock, gets 6500+ in 3DMark 05.

I would like to know what genius on this forum recommended that you upgrade from a Pentium D 940 with an X850XT to an Athlon 64 3700+ and a 7600GT.

 

[robertk2012]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
dguy6789, where were you when I was posting last week, and everyone was telling me to go AMD?!?!? Also, I saw that the 3700+ was better in game performance than a 940 D. And I thought the X850XT and 7600gt were evenly matched.

Well, this will stil lbe a good experiment, once I get home this evening and try some different games.

Duvie, what are cas settings. Sorry if this is just a newb question.

Im not sure how I miss these posts where advice like this is given out.

 

[GamingDaemon]

so robertk2012, you think that it was unecessary to go the AMD route when I had the 940 dual core?

But what about this?

This seems to tell me to go the AMD route.

 

[robertk2012]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon

so robertk2012, you think that it was unecessary to go the AMD route when I had the 940 dual core?

But what about this?

This seems to tell me to go the AMD route.

Yes I think it was unecessary. Your money would have been spent much wiser on a x1900 or 7900. For the most part you will be GPU limited on most any new game with a modern processor. Oblivion seems to be different though as you can get performance gains from the cpu at the same time. Seems that it doesnt bottleneck on one or the other unlike most games.

If your using a 7600 you will hit the GPU bottleneck even sooner. So what good could a new cpu possibly do?

 

[GamingDaemon]

OK robertk2012 and dguy6789,

Here I am with an AMD 3700+ and a 7600gt, and am running close to the end of my budget. Should I upgrade the CPU? The GPU? Or just leave it alone? What would you do given my situation (I am going to give the 940 D and X850XT to my wife).

What can I do to get a wicked fast gaming rig given what I have and not spending too much more money?

TIA

 

[coldpower27]

I would probably sell the 7600 GT and get the 7900 GT instead.

 

[robertk2012]

If your going to do anything then upgrade the GPU. If your happy with the performance then save your money for the next build. You may want to keep the x850xt for the gaming computer. I think it may be the faster of those two GPUs but then again it may just depend on the game.

 

[GamingDaemon]

I have to say I am a lot happier after trying some different games. Civ IV, AOE III, Guild Wars all worked great. I even tuned FEAR so it plays smoothly too. I think I will just wait a while and when prices come down on the dual core AMD processors and the 7900gt, I will buy them. In the meantime, I can OC my video card and processor.

Does that make sense?

 

[Hanpan]

Originally posted by: GamingDaemon
OK robertk2012 and dguy6789,

Here I am with an AMD 3700+ and a 7600gt, and am running close to the end of my budget. Should I upgrade the CPU? The GPU? Or just leave it alone? What would you do given my situation (I am going to give the 940 D and X850XT to my wife).

What can I do to get a wicked fast gaming rig given what I have and not spending too much more money?

TIA

Marry me?

 

[GamingDaemon]

Too funny! My wife says sure!