Which Computer Is Better? (AMD vs Intel Setup)

[Hankysmoo]

I have 2 computers to choose from, which would you guys choose and why? And obviously, I am a modest gamer. Thanks!

Computer 1:
Shuttle AN35N
AMD Barton 2500+ @ 2.2ghz (11 x 200)
1 gig Kingston pc2700 @ 3200 (2 x 512)
Radeon 9800 pro

Computer 2:
(Dell Dimension 4600)
Intel Motherboard
Intel Pentium 4 2.8C Prescott (1mb cache)
1 gig PNY pc3200 (2 x 512)
Radeon 9800 pro

 

[DaFinn]

P4

... oh wait, its DELL?

 

[RaistlinZ]

Computer 1

Dell machines use stock Intel boards which give you virtually no options for performance tweaking, and certainly no overclocking. The AMD rig will give you much better performance.

 

[zainali]

depends on how much it costs.i have a similar dell which cost me about $1000 (AR, returning parts, coupon/lots of other stuff) with the following specs.

dell 1703fp- the monitor is at least worth $350.
Intel Pentium 4 2.8C Prescott (1mb cache)+mobo- at least $150
1.5 gig pc3200 (3 x 512) - at least $150
Radeon 9800 pro - $150
mx wireless duo - $50
nec 2500a- $50
dell case - $50
so i would say i got a good computer for around $1000 (my estimate for prices are probably the cheapest/hottest deals you can find within a 2-3 week timeframe). i bought some stuff from FS/Ft forum. You can find some good prices for things people are trying to get rid of.


if you dont want to ever open your computer get the 4600.
anyways if you are looking into customizing and not overclocking get a dell 400 sc server.
if you are looking into overclocking then look into a custom amd setup.

 

[Hankysmoo]

Price has no factor on the decision, as I already have both comptuers. I take one computer and my brother gets the other =). It looks like AMD is winning so far...

 

[azazal]

I reckon the p4 will give better performance as it is,
this is a pretty good comparison of CPUS, although they are using different ram setups for each cpu.. :<, http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20030217/cpu_charts-23.html

 

[Yanagi]

I would take the AMD just for the heck of it

 

[BurnItDwn]

well ... I think I'd take computer 2, then sell it, and build something like computer 1, and keep the difference.

 

[GfW]

Anything AMD over everything Intel

 

[JBT]

AMD, mostly because ussually Dell machines are slower for 1 reason or another than a Intel system with relatively the same components built home made anyways.

EDIT: why don't u benchmark it?

 

[dguy6789]

An Athlon XP 3200+(speed yours is at) is faster then a 2.8C or E anyway, and the p4 is using dell mainboards and such, so go with the amd rig.

 

[Markfw]

AMD rig is faster at that speed, and is no-proprietary, so you can upgrade. Its really a nobrainer.

AMD

 

[Dman877]

Originally posted by: JBT

EDIT: why don't u benchmark it?

Exactly what I was thinking. Bench them and take the better one...

 

[obeseotron]

AMD is faster, and I would go for that one, although the intel one would be better if it wasn't an intel based dell motherboard.

Also Zainali, why do you have 3 sticks of ram in a prescott system? you need 2 or 4 for dual channel don't you?

 

[Cawchy87]

Originally posted by: obeseotron
AMD is faster, and I would go for that one, although the intel one would be better if it wasn't an intel based dell motherboard.

Also Zainali, why do you have 3 sticks of ram in a prescott system? you need 2 or 4 for dual channel don't you?

Dell boards only have 3 slots

 

[Gamingphreek]

No you dont need 2 or 4 anything above 2 will work but so far i think the max amount is 4 as we are slot limited.

AMD hands down. Dell uses sh!tty proprietary hardware, has no tweaking options in the bios. On top of all that they are slow! No matter how much you help it out it is still proprietary HW.

Also why dont you swap out that memory put the PNY 3200 in the AMD and the older 2700 memory in the dell that way you get a better set up.

-Kevin

 

[Delorian]

AMD rig

 

[jacktesterson]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
AMD rig is faster at that speed, and is no-proprietary, so you can upgrade. Its really a nobrainer.

AMD

agreed

 

[3chordcharlie]

swap the pc3200 ram into the AMD system, and keep that one.

If both had retail motherboards, I'd keep the intel when both are free (prescott seems to overclock well!). But the AMD system should perform better for most applications (marginally), and if it's also a better motherboard it's really a no-brainer.

Edit - oops! didn't mean to copy

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: GfW
Anything AMD over everything Intel

this man clearly knows what he is talking about!

:roll:

 

[zainali]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87

Originally posted by: obeseotron
AMD is faster, and I would go for that one, although the intel one would be better if it wasn't an intel based dell motherboard.

Also Zainali, why do you have 3 sticks of ram in a prescott system? you need 2 or 4 for dual channel don't you?

Dell boards only have 3 slots

no the dell board is like any other intel board with 4 slots. amd boards are the ones mostly with 3 slots.

anyways i have 3 sticks of RAM cause i bought 1 stick and bought 2 more from FS/FT forum. i

 

[Hankysmoo]

If I put the 3200 in the AMD system, the Dell will run at pc2700 instead of pc3200. Also, isn't memory bandwith not as important with AMD rigs? Thanks.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Hey I'm just advocating greediness wherever possible

Since you already put in your original post that the PC2700 is running at 3200, there's no reason to switch them.

And yes, the P4 needs PC3200 more than the AMD, even if both are running at 200fsb.

 

[iwantanewcomputer]

rock on amd fanboys... Did anyone vote intel?

just kiddin' guys, I understand that it is a dell.

another vote for the amd here

 

[imported_Hellbender]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
No matter how much you help it out it is still proprietary HW.

Actually, Dell uses off the shelf components for a lot of their hardware. Out of all the big brand name vendors, they use less proprietary hardware than anyone else. They're not as bad as you think.

EDIT: I'd lean towards the Dell, but benchmarking would be the way to know for sure.

-H