Switching from Athlon to Northwood... a fad they'll regret, or start of a trend?

[glenn1]

Just kinda curious, because this seems to be the big trend here lately...

 

[Def]

Intel has a very very slight(or non-existant) performance lead when overclocked now. When the Thoroughbreds come out though, I'm sure this will tip back in AMD"s favor.

People are spending money just because Intel finally caught up with AMD speed wise. This was common-place a few years ago(Athlon Classic vs. P3 Katmai, then Classic vs. Coppermine), but Intel has been behind for so long now it is just a novelty to have a "high" performing Intel CPU.

If a XP at ~1.7Ghz is giving high speed Northwoods a run for their money, I can't wait to see what an overclocked Thoroughbred can do.

-Defster

 

[smp]

Everything here is a trend.

 

[Daovonnaex]

I chose none of the above. People are simply buying superior performance. They'll switch to AMD once AMD outdoes Intel again.

 

[KenAF]

glenn,

People, as least those that are sensible, will buy whatever gives them the most performance for the money. Right now, that's what you get with Intel. In four months, the pendulum may swing back to AMD...or it may not...we will have wait and see.

It's hard not to give Intel a serious look right now...particularly when you get get a 2.4GHz system for $140 (processor) + $115 (motherboard) = $255, if you already got the memory. Moreover, this is achieved with the stock, quiet Intel heatsink.

Intel couldn't be competitive before...in part because their processors cost so much to produce. However, now that they dropped their production costs from $100 to <=$55 per processor (according to Cnet and other sites), they can afford to compete with AMD to some extent. The 2.2GHz P4, which will overclock from 2.8GHz to 3.1GHz, will drop to $220 online in late May. The 2.4 will debut then, and it may overclock to 3.2GHz; moreover, the 2.4 should be $220 itself by late July, and the 2.2A should cost about the same as 1.6A's do now. In July, Intel will debut the 2.53GHz P4 at $500, and it should drop to $220 by October...at which time the 2.4A's (oc'able to 3.2GHz?) should be the same price as 1.6A's are now. It looks like this cycle will repeat over and over...from 2.6GHz to 2.8GHz to 3.0GHz to 3.2Ghz and beyond.

When many here are buying the 1.6A, they're probably thinking..."I'll get the 1.6A for $140 and run it at 2400...and then get the 2400 when it hits $140 and run it at 3200...or maybe get the 2.8A when it drops to $150 and overclock it to 3600MHz."

 

[mchammer187]

<< I chose none of the above. People are simply buying superior performance. They'll switch to AMD once AMD outdoes Intel again. >>

 

[glenn1]

<< It's hard not to give Intel a serious look right now... >>



By no means am i trying to say, or imply, that people shouldn't consider Intel CPUs. Intel makes great CPUs, and i think it's fair to say i've been one of the more even-handed people here on the forums in declaring that in every single AMD vs. Intel thread (even before the days of Northwood). I have run both AMD and Intel at various points during even the last year (a P3 however, i've never owned a P4), so i'm not rigid at all when choosing a CPU platform

 

[Legendary]

I love how the benefits of competition have finally hit the processor market...AMD has really saved us all a lot of money, whether you buy AMD or not...

Also, I think one of the above guys is right...if you're going to get a CPU now...Intel is worth taking a look at, but in a few months when the next AMD processor is out, then people will be taking looks at Hammers/Thoroughbreds and comparing them to Northwoods, just like Northwoods to XPs now...

I think you should save this poll, then when the AMD releases their next processor type, ask a similar question and compare results. 'twould be interesting.

 

[ShadowFox]

<<will buy whatever gives them the most performance for the money. Right now, that's what you get with Intel.>>

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!!

the 2000+ performs as well as the northwood 2.2 and costs much less, dont want to start a flame war, but its the truth

 

[John]

<< the 2000+ performs as well as the northwood 2.2 and costs much less, dont want to start a flame war, but its the truth >>



That might be the case, but you can get a retail 1.6a (NW) for 150.00 and o/c it to 2.2+ which is roughly 100.00 cheaper than a 2000+.

 

[JellyBaby]

<< the 2000+ performs as well as the northwood 2.2 and costs much less >>

Not true if you bring a $150 P4 1.6A up to 2.2+ which is what many are doing now. Plus you get better heat control, great stability and your choice of memory (though rambust really isn't a valid choice!).

 

[kgraeme]

<< a fad they'll regret, or start of a trend? >>



Well, if people ARE going back to Intel, you could argue that the popularity of AMD was the fad. Personally, I think people are just being pragmatic.

 

[RagingGuardian]

John, you can also get a XP 1800+ and overclock it to 2000+. It all comes down to the consumer.

 

[John]

RagingGuardian, I am aware of that, but it looks like ShadowFox was not.

 

[j@cko]

Intel surely has a great advantage over AMD on the clock frequency. But you all know how those P4s perform.

 

[PlatinumGold]

actually the OC'd 1.6a's will outperform a non oc'd p4 of the same clockspeed.

e.g. 1.6a @ 2.2 will outperform the 2.2a and the difference should be huge 137 bus speed vs 100 bus.

 

[XMan]

<< I chose none of the above. People are simply buying superior performance. They'll switch to AMD once AMD outdoes Intel again. >>

Agreed! I had a K6-2 300 @ 350, a Celery 300A @ 450, a P3 450 @ 600, an Athlon Classic 500 @ 800, and a T-bird 1200 @ 1200.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

<< Intel surely has a great advantage over AMD on the clock frequency. But you all know how those P4s perform. >>

give comparison links please

 

[JellyBaby]

It seems when AMD and Intel are equal in terms of performance for the price people tend to go to Intel. Blame Via or the Cosmic Lords but this is true. It's happening right now.

 

[ShadowFox]

<<That might be the case, but you can get a retail 1.6a (NW) for 150.00 and o/c it to 2.2+ which is roughly 100.00 cheaper than a 2000+>>

are we forgetting that you can overclock athlons too?

 

[Antisocial Virge]

If it wasn't for AMD we would be paying $800 for 1 Ghz CPU's still.

 

[Slacker]

When you can buy a processor that runs at 2.4ghz and gives memory bandwidth around 2500mbps for $140.00 it is a no brainer

 

[JellyBaby]

Yes you can overclock Athlons but not as effortlessly as Northwoods and not quite to the levels of highest Northwood performance.

 

[Steven the Leech]

Price is everything! I personally own an amd[several, and several intel], but i had no hesitation when i orderd my northwood cpu. Hammer? will be time for a upgrade then possibly

Hell i started out with cyrix and was happy [BTW it still runs flawlessly at 120mhz]

 

[Huma]

I'm an amd user now, but if I were shopping for a new rig, the 1.6a would be a huge contender. I've been having some issues with my kt133a, and kinda miss what my old BX was like.

I know AMD is the price/performance king, but sometimes I just want reliable to a fault. My AMD rig is extremely stable, but some chipset issues have shown up that I'd rather not see.