Intel vs AMD

[gyro]

While we are the subject of choices, how to decide between Intel and AMD for fairly high spec' Laptops ?.

How to compare the two "like for like" ?. Intel specs' are fairly easy to follow(Clock/FSB speed) but AMD specs' are confusing to me and I have never come across a comparison table that matches up the two makers processors.
I have heard that dedicated graphics cards are sometimes built into AMD chipsets.

Also, what is a level 2 cache (Intel) and where/what is the AMD equivalent.

[wraithe]

Hope this information isnt too late but for anyone wanting to know anyway, here goes...

Intel and AMD.

This confusion is quite common so dont feel worried if your reading this and think, yeh bit's of this, bit's of that...

AMD processors use a different cycle rate to Intel, so people use an Intel and wonder why it seems very fast...
The model numbers used in Intel cpu's and AMD cpu's, is more specific to them but the processor speeds can be confusing for some as the intel 2.4ghz cpu would be the equivilent to an AMD running at 1.8ghz...The reason why the slower AMD cpu could produce the same result is that they cycle differently, ie to process an instruction, Intel will cycle that instruction through 6 times where the AMD will cycle the instruction 5 times, to complete the same instruction...

Level 2 cache or otherwise known as L2 is instruction caching, ie if an instruction is repeated several times in an instruction set, then it may be flagged for cache and the processor wont be required to reprocess that same command(just fetch from cache)...

There is also L1 (level 1 cache) which covers another section of the processor, AMD kept these available in there processor's and Intel also did the same in certain series of processors.

In the last twelve months this has changed and they are very close with there references to clock speeds and the instruction sets arnt too far removed no more(except for the Intel specific 64 bit)...

Intel where known as leg warmers due to the extra heat they produced and the higher temperatures they ran, and limited over clocking safely, but saying that, they where also the better ones for gamers for doing this(overclocking is increasing the clock rate of the cpu to complete instructions faster(not a wise move, limits cpu life))..
On the other hand, AMD run a lot cooler but overclocking is a tricky bit with a lot of motherboards an cpu's and some overclocking with AMD cpu's required a jumper link across a couple of points on the cpu...
As I said, its not wise and can limit the cpu life, if you need more speed then buy a faster cpu...

The reasons behind people saying AMD has inbuilt or better graphical functions with there setup of 64bit...Now Intel use the same instruction sets in a series of there cpu's, they also run there own instructions which AMD followed in a sense but used there own..
The early Intel 64 bit was not graphical based but more along the server security lines..AMD went the graphical way...


With the leaps in multi threaded applications, any dual core machine can match a faster single core machine, so just go dual core, dont waste money on single core...
Depending on what applications you wish to use, it would be wise to consider whether you need L1 and L2 cache or just L2 cache...
also the size of the cache can make a huge difference...
Intel or AMD, hmm, i wont say one or the other as I purchase according to what is required, I have both for different jobs...(my laptop is an Intel and my desktop is AMD, my server is Intel but thats because its a leftover now, was an AMD specifically bought for the job)...

If your doing a lot of graphics work, then an AMD may be just the machine, if your doing little graphics, then an Intel may be the go..they are good for office applications...

But honestly, this is very little information compared to whats needed to know, to base a purchase upon there benefits...

Hope this doesnt confuse anyone and that it becomes useful...

[DarkSkyMan]

I always heard that AMD are better for games, graphics etc, and intels are better for word processing, spread sheets etc.

Brett

[wraithe]

Pretty much, but the Intel can make a better games machine, just a lot of gamers overclock and the AMD can handle more heat than the Intel...
Some gamers prefer the AMD std clocked, because they are more stable in some ways...

I dont mind either, but as both produce cpu's that will just about do the same job, its pretty much what you want now...
My laptop is setup for media work and its a Intel cpu...does OK for what it is, but a decent AMD for the same price would kick its bumm...

I use Linux but have tried windows(Vista and XP) on this machine, its ok, bit slow for me but quite stable...
I do find Windows goes better on Intel cpu's, and I dont know why because it should make little difference...
Gaming wise, my brother prefers AMD, his reasons are that he can play more games with less compatability issues...
Go figure, hey...

[Charlesedwin]

I have used AMD the whole time I have owned a computer, which is to say, since 99. I haven’t had any problems with them. I prefer them just to be perverse, because Intel is more popular , AMD has historically been significantly cheaper as well. I haven’t paid attention to the prices since I bought my last machine a couple years ago. Scientists prefer them because they are better at floating point calculations. Not sure that’s relevant here, but I just happen to know that.Whatever brand you do choose, the more important question to answer is when you’ll upgrade again. If you’re not going to upgrade for a few years, you should probably get a dual core, because it will last longer..:smile: