Intel 550 or AMD FX 53?

[warmasice]

I am intending to buy one of two computer systems I have seen within the next few days. I need some help. Firstly, I?m not so concerned with which processor is better. I?m sure the AMD will out-perform the Intel. What I am concerned about is future proofing myself as regards to the system as a whole.

Here are the benefits of the Intel 550 system:
PCI-Express motherboard with an ATI X800 XT video card (PCI-E slot).

AMD FX 53 system:
64-bit (also with a similar video card from nVidia - AGP)

I want the best of both worlds but of course i cant since the Intel isn?t 64-bit, and the AMD system doesn?t have the PCI-e architecture.

I have a few questions which may help me make up my mind, and would be grateful if you could help.

1. When Intel release their 64-bit processor, will it use socket 775? (This way I can easily upgrade the Intel 550 processor with the 64-bit one, and keep the existing motherboard)

2. Are there any motherboards that use the PCI-E architecture for the AMD FX 53 processor? If not, is there likely to ever be any such motherboard for the AMD?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Dman877]

No such thing as future-proof in this industry my friend.

 

[amdguy]

FX 53 will gangrape the intel 550 with an exploding condom

 

[CJP]

Remember just because a cpu uses a certain socket doesn't mean it'll work on all motherboards with that socket. My Asus P4t-e motherboard is socket 478 but won't run a socket 478 800mhz fsb P4 properly. I don't know if the motherboard you're considering will support a future 64 bit Intel cpu though, maybe it will.

There is information starting to trickle out about nForce4 motherboards that I imagine will be out by year end. They take the Athlon 64 and support PCI-Express among other things.

 

[Mik3y]

Originally posted by: amdguy
FX 53 will gangrape the intel 550 with an exploding condom

beautifully said!

 

[stevty2889]

I would also go with the FX-53. PCI express isn't really of any benifit at the moment, and I don't think the current intel chipsets with support the 64bit EMT Pentium 4's when they come out, I believe there will be a new chipset needed to support them. Plus they use DDR2 which is also more expensive and no faster than pc3200 DDR. Plus the FX-53 will completely annihilate the P4 550. DDR2 is also of

 

[mrwxyz]

neither system is really future proof, intel is lacking 64 bit and amd is lacking pci-e. However, i think it would be better to wait a little while and, as mentioned, get the amd with the pci-e mobo. hopefully that will come out soon.

but if u cant wait....the amd system will dominate the intel and give u better performance in the long run

 

[warmasice]

Thanks for the advice peeps, looks like the FX 53 system is the one to go for. The motherboard provided in the system is an Asus A8V Deluxe, and their site states:

"It features 2000 MT/s HyperTransport Bus, dual-channel un-buffered DDR400 memory support and AMD Cool 'n' Quiet! Technology."

...but the FX 53 has a Clock speed of 2400MHz, and a FSB of 2400MHz also. Does this mean I wont be able to get the maximum performance from the FX 53 processor, or am I getting confused? Can someone clarify this for me?

Thank you.

 

[Cerb]

RAMx2 -> CPU -> devices via HT link, and to AGP.

The hypertransport link is akin to a front-side bus. The P4 has a FSB. It connects to the RAM and devices through this bus. So if it is pulling a lot of memory transactions, time the FSB could be talking to other devices is being eaten up. So you have 6.4GB/s RAM bandwidth, but also 6.4GB/s bandiwdth for the CPU to do everything on. With the socket-939 A64, you have 6.4GB/s RAM bandwidth, and an additional 4GB/s to, and another 4GB/s from, devices (the chipset).

...and two corrections:
1. It has no FSB speed.
2. The HT link speed is 250MHz, 1000MHz, or 2000MHz, depending on how you want to look at it--not 2400MHz.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

get the fx 53.

there's no such thing as future proof. might as well upgrade the whole system whenever you want to upgrade in the future, which shouldn't be much of a prob considering you're price range on those processors.

there is no reason to get pci express unless you want to upgrade the video card again 1-2 years from now without upgrading the rest. if you want to use 64 bit windows next year remember that you can still use 32 bit versions of all software for the next couple years at least

 

[SonicIce]

You'll be upgrading in a few years anyway, forget furture proof. FX-53! :beer:

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: SonicIce
You'll be upgrading in a few years anyway, forget furture proof. FX-53! <img src="i/expressions/beer.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

The FX-53 might be the closest thing to future proof anyhow. AMD isn't supposed to move away from DDR400 until later next year; we'll likely see a 1066mhz FSB Intel setup before that.

 

[warmasice]

The feedback has been great, and the general consensus is that I opt for the FX 53 over the Intel 550 PCI-e system. The FX 53 is only £100 more than the Intel 550 system and also has a larger HD (by 50Gigs) and Wifi - not that I?ll be using it!

There is no point sacrificing present performance for so-called future proofing (if there is such a thing!).

Thanks for your advice!

 

[warmasice]

System ordered, waiting for arival now!