Help Differing Intel and AMD!

yELLOthar

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Sep 11, 2004
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Well, I know AMD has lower numbers, but still actually perform better, but how can I tell? What AMD processor is equal to a 3GHz P4? I really want my next rig to be AMD, but I have no clue about the way AMD measuers their GHz's.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
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For the most part an Athlon 64 3000+ performs the same as a P4 3.0, a 3200+ the same as a 3.2, etc.
 

yELLOthar

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Sep 11, 2004
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Ah, ok. I just didn't know how to shop for them, thanks for the info. Also, I'm not planning on overclocking, so will it still be better?
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Originally posted by: yELLOthar
Ah, ok. I just didn't know how to shop for them, thanks for the info. Also, I'm not planning on overclocking, so will it still be better?
What will you use it for? Here's one gauge: HalfLife2 performance. 2GHz Athlon64 ~ 3.8GHz Pentium4 Prescott there.

Another set of benchmarks that I was reading over at XBit Labs: this page onwards. Although the article is about the new Venice-core Athlon64's, it includes some Pentium4's and some other A64's too.

Bigger picture: if you're buying a new rig at this point, Socket939 looks like the right move on the AMD side, since it leaves you an upgrade path to dual-core when the time is right. That involves a PCI-Express graphics card and maybe a 24-pin power supply, though.
 

mechBgon

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Oct 31, 1999
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It better be a good chip, because I just ordered one today myself :D To go with that, you would want a Socket939 motherboard, probably a 24-pin power supply, and a PCI-E x16 video card. What is your budget, and what items do you already have that you want to re-use?

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30441 <---- my project
 

yELLOthar

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Sep 11, 2004
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I'm shooting for around $1000, and I don't have anything I can use from this Dell except for my LCD and Speakers (keyboard, but I plan to get wireless soon, anyway). Are the new PCI cards more expensive than regular AGP? I'm hoping for at least 128MB, as I only have 64mb now, and I also plan on getting 1GB of RAM, but I saw rosewill at $33 for 512MB! Definitely buying 2 of those!
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
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AMD's PR scheme is wacked when a 3400 can beat 3500 in every benchmark.

I think you'll find these multipliers very accuate compared to P4.

1.5 for newcastle 754
1.53 for CH 754
1.55 for 939 512kb lvl2 Cache chips
1.57 for 939 1mb lvl2 Cache chips

so in other words what's a 3500? Well first it runs at 2.2Ghz so:

2200mhz x 1.55 = 3410Mhz P4

How fast is a 3800Mhz P4 compared to an FX type chip? 3800/1.57 = 2420Mhz or about same as the FX53/4000.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: yELLOthar
I'm shooting for around $1000, and I don't have anything I can use from this Dell except for my LCD and Speakers (keyboard, but I plan to get wireless soon, anyway). Are the new PCI cards more expensive than regular AGP? I'm hoping for at least 128MB, as I only have 64mb now, and I also plan on getting 1GB of RAM, but I saw rosewill at $33 for 512MB! Definitely buying 2 of those!

PCIe cards are about the same price as AGP, sometimes cheaper. You should probably shoot for a GeForce 6600GT for WoW and HL2. A friend with a 6800 (slightly faster than the 6600GT) and a 3000+ runs WoW and HL2 without any speed issues at all.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
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If you want a good site that normalizes the results for ya this is it:
http://www.behardware.com/articles/525/page10.html

Go ahead check my math above you'll find it accurate.

You could do the same as they do for any review on the net inside excel if you want too. I have and feel fairly confident about those multipliers.
 

MDE

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
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Originally posted by: yELLOthar
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103501

I'm confused about something. Can use an IDE HD with that? It doesn't have it, and I noticed there were some HDs with IDE and some with SATA or something. Does that mean I need to buy the SATA HD?

BTW:

Thanks Zebo!

The motherboard (chipset actually) determines what HDs you can use. Every Socket 939 chipset out there will support SATA and IDE hard drives.
 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
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Originally posted by: yELLOthar
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103501

I'm confused about something. Can use an IDE HD with that? It doesn't have it, and I noticed there were some HDs with IDE and some with SATA or something. Does that mean I need to buy the SATA HD?

BTW:

Thanks Zebo!

That's a processor. Motherboard is what controls what HD's you can use not procesor.

BTW I strongly recommend site below if buying AMD setup. Free FarCry, Free Half Life, and Free Nappy, And free test AND cheap too.


Winchester core:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...n=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=80152

Venice Core:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...n=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=80163


 

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
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And BTW a 3000 939 chip is really only 2.8 pentium PR (ie it's overrated)

3200 is about 3.1Ghz

3500 is about 3.4 Ghz

AMD got a little crazy this time around (939) with thier high PR's plus intel has made some core improvements like 2mb lvl2 cache. Compare prices and buy accordingly.
 

yELLOthar

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Sep 11, 2004
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Does that site assemble it before it's sent too, then? Like, I won't have to bother putting the chip in and stuff?
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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The Rosewill RAM might not be your best choice in terms of reliability/stability. How about maybe some Corsair ValueSelect?

The Monarchcomputers.com guys will assemble the items you buy in the bundle deal and test them together. If you need more info on mechanical assembly of the new computer once your parts arrive, and maybe keeping it secure during setup, then my photo guide might help with that part.
 

yELLOthar

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Sep 11, 2004
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I know how to do just about everything but the processor, because that's the only thing I haven't taken out and looked at how it works in my current computer. I may go with the Corsair Value, it's only like $20 more right now. Either way, thanks for that monarch link, thats a pretty good deal. So far, I'm at $700, which is really good for the system I'm getting, but I'm not buying a monitor or speakers, so that's why its so cheap. Thanks for all the help guys!
 

Aenslead

Golden Member
Sep 9, 2001
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Originally posted by: mechBgon
It better be a good chip, because I just ordered one today myself :D To go with that, you would want a Socket939 motherboard, probably a 24-pin power supply, and a PCI-E x16 video card. What is your budget, and what items do you already have that you want to re-use?

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30441 <---- my project

So mech's finally getting a much needed upgrade over good old Duron 1Ghz+?

congratulations! twas' about time.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Originally posted by: Aenslead
Originally posted by: mechBgon
It better be a good chip, because I just ordered one today myself :D To go with that, you would want a Socket939 motherboard, probably a 24-pin power supply, and a PCI-E x16 video card. What is your budget, and what items do you already have that you want to re-use?

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30441 <---- my project

So mech's finally getting a much needed upgrade over good old Duron 1Ghz+?

congratulations! twas' about time.
Yeah, it's scary when my 65-year-old mom has twice as good a home system as I do! I mean, that's just wrong! :p I do have one A64 already, but I keep it down at the office since they can't afford to indulge my tastes themselves :eek: Non-profit agency, currently heading into the famine side of the feast-or-famine cycle.
 

Aenslead

Golden Member
Sep 9, 2001
1,256
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Originally posted by: mechBgon
Originally posted by: Aenslead
Originally posted by: mechBgon
It better be a good chip, because I just ordered one today myself :D To go with that, you would want a Socket939 motherboard, probably a 24-pin power supply, and a PCI-E x16 video card. What is your budget, and what items do you already have that you want to re-use?

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30441 <---- my project

So mech's finally getting a much needed upgrade over good old Duron 1Ghz+?

congratulations! twas' about time.
Yeah, it's scary when my 65-year-old mom has twice as good a home system as I do! I mean, that's just wrong! :p I do have one A64 already, but I keep it down at the office since they can't afford to indulge my tastes themselves :eek: Non-profit agency, currently heading into the famine side of the feast-or-famine cycle.

Oh, my dear God... you just made a tear roll down my cheek... You should ask for 1buck everyone here "pro-Mech' puter" and I'm quite certain you could get yourself a really nice computer in compensation to all the helpful advices you've given us. ;)
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
30,699
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Originally posted by: Aenslead
Originally posted by: mechBgon
Originally posted by: Aenslead
Originally posted by: mechBgon
It better be a good chip, because I just ordered one today myself :D To go with that, you would want a Socket939 motherboard, probably a 24-pin power supply, and a PCI-E x16 video card. What is your budget, and what items do you already have that you want to re-use?

http://www.anandtech.com/mysystemrig.aspx?rigid=30441 <---- my project

So mech's finally getting a much needed upgrade over good old Duron 1Ghz+?

congratulations! twas' about time.
Yeah, it's scary when my 65-year-old mom has twice as good a home system as I do! I mean, that's just wrong! :p I do have one A64 already, but I keep it down at the office since they can't afford to indulge my tastes themselves :eek: Non-profit agency, currently heading into the famine side of the feast-or-famine cycle.

Oh, my dear God... you just made a tear roll down my cheek... You should ask for 1buck everyone here "pro-Mech' puter" and I'm quite certain you could get yourself a really nice computer in compensation to all the helpful advices you've given us. ;)
Actually, I sort of view my help crusade as "paying it forward" for something the Forum members did for me a while back. :) I was quite flabbergasted to get a check for over $500 from them! Which reminds me, I must get back on the ball and do a Distributed Computing project with my new rig! Use my powers for good... yeah... :D

 

aGreenAgent

Senior member
Apr 25, 2005
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So you can gauge...my A64 3000+ S939 is running HL2 at about 108FPS with a radeon 9700 pro.

So any A64 S939 should be fine.