Joel~
Daemon Poster
- Messages
- 511
- Location
- United Kingdom
Recently, it has come to my attention that I want a new computer, seeing as the one I have is decent but not spectacular. I've always wanted a really good computer, but have only ever built what is 'adequate', so to speak. Now, my current machine is by no means poor (dual-core processor, 2GB RAM etc.) but I want something that will last a good while longer and be able to keep up with more games than mine has done. I've decided that, with the prices of quad-core processors not being very high (£150 isn't too much more than what I should have paid for my dual-core anyway - perhaps £30 more?) I may as well go for one of those, but that's where the trouble starts, and I'm sure you've heard it a million times before...
...AMD or Intel?
The models in question are the Phenom X4 9950 'Black Edition' and the Core 2 Quad Q6700. They are both very similarly-priced (from where I'm going to buy things, they're currently seperated by less than £2) and have practically identical clock speeds. Yet, I've read a lot about how the Core 2 Quad is a better piece of kit than the Phenom X4, but also that the Phenom X4 is better than the Core 2 Quad. Now, I'll admit, the reviewers were quite clearly biased from the way they wrote, so I decided that the best way to find out which would be better for me, without building two almost-identical systems and testing (because my wallet won't allow for it) is to ask people who I trust to give an honest opinion. Which, I hope, is still you lot
Now, major pro that I can see of the Intel CPU here is the additional cache memory - 8MB ish compared to the AMD's 4MB ish. However, the Intel only has Level 1 and 2 cache, whilst the AMD has Level 1, 2 and 3 - is there a distinct advantage of having three levels, or would it just be better to have more memory without the third level?
The major pro that I can see with the AMD is their HyperTransport technology, which would, in theory, allow for additional speed in certain areas.
But I can't see whether either would be better than the other, to be honest. Going off personal preference, I'd take the AMD purely because every system I've built has been AMD-based as have all but one of the total that I've owned. And I wasn't too impressed with the Intel machine, but don't feel that it's fair to make an opinion based on the lowly Celeron D. The reason I've always built AMD? They've always been pegged as the best in the field at the time of building. But things seem to be different now...
The other major parts of the system, if it helps, will be a 9600GT graphics card and 4GB of RAM running at 1066MHz.
So, my question to you is, for gaming and a little bit of web design here and there, which of those two CPUs would be the better buy?
Thanks.
...AMD or Intel?
The models in question are the Phenom X4 9950 'Black Edition' and the Core 2 Quad Q6700. They are both very similarly-priced (from where I'm going to buy things, they're currently seperated by less than £2) and have practically identical clock speeds. Yet, I've read a lot about how the Core 2 Quad is a better piece of kit than the Phenom X4, but also that the Phenom X4 is better than the Core 2 Quad. Now, I'll admit, the reviewers were quite clearly biased from the way they wrote, so I decided that the best way to find out which would be better for me, without building two almost-identical systems and testing (because my wallet won't allow for it) is to ask people who I trust to give an honest opinion. Which, I hope, is still you lot
Now, major pro that I can see of the Intel CPU here is the additional cache memory - 8MB ish compared to the AMD's 4MB ish. However, the Intel only has Level 1 and 2 cache, whilst the AMD has Level 1, 2 and 3 - is there a distinct advantage of having three levels, or would it just be better to have more memory without the third level?
The major pro that I can see with the AMD is their HyperTransport technology, which would, in theory, allow for additional speed in certain areas.
But I can't see whether either would be better than the other, to be honest. Going off personal preference, I'd take the AMD purely because every system I've built has been AMD-based as have all but one of the total that I've owned. And I wasn't too impressed with the Intel machine, but don't feel that it's fair to make an opinion based on the lowly Celeron D. The reason I've always built AMD? They've always been pegged as the best in the field at the time of building. But things seem to be different now...
The other major parts of the system, if it helps, will be a 9600GT graphics card and 4GB of RAM running at 1066MHz.
So, my question to you is, for gaming and a little bit of web design here and there, which of those two CPUs would be the better buy?
Thanks.