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General discussion

AMD vs Pentium

Oct 4, 2004 9:21AM PDT

This is to post a comment about the reference.

I recognize that AMD is a better microprocessor than Intel. However, AMD made a mistake: they switch to 64bit before time.

Inlet then stay within the 32 bits and get to the 800MHZ FSB. Now (for me) with this latter one can make the fastest system, despite that the highest video card memory speed is 533MHZ, AND probably one may use a 7,200 rpm or SATA HDD (unless one used a SCSI HDD).

Someone may argue that a 64bit system may be faster. I doubt it. Even when one can have a MB FSB and Video Memory running at 1.6GHZ... the fact that is a 64 bits system, the effective data transfer capability is cut in a half... 800MHZ of a 32 bits system because of the lenght of the "word" (64 bits long).

See it this way... what takes you more time... to write a few words or a whole sentence? A whole sentence. Therefore, the 64 bits system spend more physical time writing the instruction than a 32 bits system. Assuming that ALL system RAM (including video) and HDD could used the maximum FSB, then both system will have the same data transfer capacity per physical unit time. Therefore, they are the same from a functional standpoint!

As a consequence, despite that I dont like Intet, in this particular moment in PC history, I vote for them.

Discussion is locked

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You are giving the 800 MHz FSB far too much
Oct 4, 2004 10:15AM PDT

merit. Intel has had the 800 MHz FSB for some time now, also hyperthreading. Their CPU's also run at substantially faster clock rate than the AMD's.

AMD CPU's still outperform them with some applications. The Cache and the architecture of the CPU design is what makes the difference. Some say the very long pipeline in the Intel CPU's turned out to not be that great.

The 64 bit AMD's run 32 bit code every bit as well as Intel CPU's.

There is NO architecture that is that is best for all possible types of applications.

Also note that the AMD 64 bit CPU's have the MCH [memory Controller Hub] inside the CPU rather than in the Northbridge chip. Thus the FSB is a moot point. Located on the CPU die means that it can run as fast as the interior of the CPU, it's speed is not limited by the length of the printed circuit lines between the Northbridge and the CPU. {Intel calls the Northbridge the MCH].

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The 64 bit word is parallel!!!
Oct 4, 2004 10:28AM PDT

All of the registers et al are 64 bit, so it takes no longer to write a word. When running 32 bit code it can put two 32 bit instructions/ data / address et al in a single word.

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Re: AMD vs Pentium
Oct 23, 2004 2:38AM PDT

Hi i am a current member of the 64 bit amd community and i have had the pentium 32 bit computers and they cant compare in most cases. I have seen over the years amd has overcome intell in many occasions. Usually they are always ontop of intell on gaming and most large programs out there. When i used the intell i found it taht there was alot of slowdowns and when i had picked up the amd 64 bit it was like a anwser to my prayer there was never slow downs very little crashes on os xp even with the service pack 2. I am currently running the 3000+ and the K8V Deluxe Asuse board and they have done a sustantion job on the board its self and the chip and i sould not trade my 64 bit system for a intell anyday. I made sure i never bought a intell system again it is so disappointing when it is telling people it is 4.0 gigahertz when it dosent even run at that speed. Just so it may seem like intell is beating amd in processor speeds.