General Questions Concerning Processors

[Chriscross3234]

Hi,

I'm currently planning to dish out around $200-$300 for a CPU to go in my new gaming rig. I've been a bit behind on current technologies and I guess my overall question is what would be the best processor for gaming purposes? I don't intend on OC my processor either.

What's the major difference between AMD X2's and Intel C2D's?
Does gaming even utilize dual core capabilities?
What's the difference between processor speed and FSB speed?

Any pointers that would guide me in the right direction would be appreciated. Thanks :beer:

 

[myocardia]

If you're planning on spending ~$300 for a new processor, there's only one you should even be considering-- the Core 2 Duo E6600. The major difference between AMD's X2's and Intel's C2D's are clock for clock efficiency. A C2D is 15-25% faster at the same speed than an X2. And there is no difference at all between processor speed and FSB speed. All processors of any type use the same FSB; each individual processor's speed is determined by it's multiplier.

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: myocardia
If you're planning on spending ~$300 for a new processor, there's only one you should even be considering-- the Core 2 Duo E6600. The major difference between AMD's X2's and Intel's C2D's are clock for clock efficiency. A C2D is 15-25% faster at the same speed than an X2. And there is no difference at all between processor speed and FSB speed. All processors of any type use the same FSB; each individual processor's speed is determined by it's multiplier.

Not true. A stock X2 uses 200, but its not really FSB, since it goes over the hypertransport link. And the C2D uses 533 (266 at DDR) FSB, and the old P4 uses quad pumped, and the latest ones were at 200x4 or I thing they even had a 5266x4, 1066 total.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Not true. A stock X2 uses 200, but its not really FSB, since it goes over the hypertransport link. And the C2D uses 533 (266 at DDR) FSB, and the old P4 uses quad pumped, and the latest ones were at 200x4 or I thing they even had a 5266x4, 1066 total.

You obviously know nothing about processors, then. Which X2 doesn't use a 200 Mhz HTT? Which C2D doesn't use a 266 FSB?

 

[Markfw]

Originally posted by: myocardia

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Not true. A stock X2 uses 200, but its not really FSB, since it goes over the hypertransport link. And the C2D uses 533 (266 at DDR) FSB, and the old P4 uses quad pumped, and the latest ones were at 200x4 or I thing they even had a 5266x4, 1066 total.

You obviously know nothing about processors, then. Which X2 doesn't use a 200 Mhz HTT? Which C2D doesn't use a 266 FSB?

Your statement that "all processors of any type use the same FSB" is totally wrong, and AMD doesn;t really even technically have an FSB, so it is you who know nothing about processors. Even by your own admission the Athlon64 and the C2D run at different speeds.

In answer to a couple of your questions, SOME games use dual-core, and more will every day.

And last, cpu speed = memory bus speed x multiplier. for Intel, they call it FSB, AMD uses a totally different technology, since it has the memory controller in the CPU, there as Intel uses a external chip called the northbridge to do this.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Your statement that "all processors of any type use the same FSB" is totally wrong, and AMD doesn;t really even technically have an FSB, so it is you who know nothing about processors. Even by your own admission the Athlon64 and the C2D run at different speeds.

Wrong, as usual. I have never in my life said that any A64 had an FSB. And like I said the first time, every processor's speed is determined by it's multiplier. Now, where in that statement did you misconstrue me saying that A64's have an FSB?:roll:

 

[Duvie]

All processors of any type use the same FSB; each individual processor's speed is determined by it's multiplier.

This is what threw him off Myocardia....

I think you meant of each type of the respecting makers AMD and INtel....

All AMD X2 chips have a 1000HTT but some early on A64's had 800HTT since they only used a 4x HTT multiplier and not 5x multiplier that is common now...

As for C2D that statement will soon be changing as well..As the newer E4300 and E4400 chips will be using an 800fsb not 1066fsb as most common C2Ds use now. Plus I believe 4 core server line of chips will utilitze a bus 1333fsb...

 

[Markfw]

And of course if you overclock, then you just threw out that statement altogether.... 490 fsb x 7 = 3430 mhz for my E6300's.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Duvie

All processors of any type use the same FSB; each individual processor's speed is determined by it's multiplier.

This is what threw him off Myocardia....

I think you meant of each type of the respecting makers AMD and INtel....

You're right. I thought it was evident in that first post that what I meant was "all processors that use an FSB"... And when I said of any type, I didn't mean AMD or Intel, I meant type, as in Athlon XP, Intel P4B, Intel P4C, Smithfield, Conroe, Allendale, etc. I realize that you and I call those "cores", but the average person who asks that type of question usually doesn't.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
And of course if you overclock, then you just threw out that statement altogether.... 490 fsb x 7 = 3430 mhz for my E6300's.

Not true at all, since 490x9=4410, if you have an E6600, and 490x10=4900 Mhz, if you have an E6700.