AMD more difficult than Intel?

[bernse]

Why is it that many people say AMD systems are more difficult to put together than a comperable Intel? With the exception of installing 4n1s, I would say it is identical. As a matter of a fact, I had less problem with my 1.2Ghz K7T Pro2A rig than I had with any other.... worked flawless first try.

Any reasons why people keep saying this? Is it true in the slightest?

 

[loosbrew]

personally i have never had a hard time with intel. i did have a hard time with my second amd system, because of the hpt370 controller on the abit kt7r board, but with my latest iwill, it went smoother than any intel system i hooked up! i honestly do think intel is the easier, pretty set up and go, but if you know what youre doing, you can really get an amd system with very very little effort. i think the chipsets have matured nicely so far.


loosbrew

 

[Ryan]

because they want to make things difficult

 

[CTho9305]

Who knows? probably marketing / "compatibility" bullcrap. I also think the 4in1's are the only difference. Of course, given the (in)competence of the average consumer now, installing the 4in1's while in 640*480*8bit color must be a frightening experience...

 

[AMD4ME2]

no I don't believe it is true.. and you don't have to install the 4in1's.. just like you don't have to install the intel INF and motherboard drivers.. (as long as windows has default working drivers)

my 900mhz tbird was a joy to build and get running.. only problems if had is games in win2k.. and FSB overclocking in win2k.. but thats not due to the processor...

now on the intel side.. ive built many p3 computers, and I will say this.. the stock intel HSF's really are a pain in the arse to install.. more so than any amd fan ive seen yet.

 

[loosbrew]

i only installed the via agp drivers as i think that the default windows drivers fo rthe ide bus are plenty fast! that was it, oh and sp2 for win2k to enable ata100..

loosbrew

 

[agg123456789]

I have only built AMD systems, and i have always found it to be extremely easy. I agree on the 4in1s. They were a bit scary my first time, because I had no idea what they were all for. However, even this problem has been fixed. My latest motherboard, which has the Iwill KK266 Mobo and the Iwill install CD, has an "autoinstall" feature that detects what windows version you have, and asks you if you want it to do the 4in1 install for you.


agg123456789

 

[sandorski]

I think most people who think Intel is better/easier are basing their opinion on the BX chipset. With the BX chipset the drivers were already included with Windows, so there was no need to install motherboard drivers. Unfortunetly, the newer Intel chipsets don't have the same ease of setup, although as others have said, what's so difficult with installing one more set of drivers?

 

[MGMorden]

I find both of them about the same (having owned 3 AMD system, 3 Intel, 2 Cyrix and an IDT Winchip based system ). The older systems (ie, based on the Via MVP3 chipset) were a little more difficult to get working, but the newer stuff is a piece of cake.

 

[nortexoid]

they're all the same to me...

 

[Noriaki]

My first AMD system was very easy to set up and stable as a rock.

My second AMD system (see sig) is a piece of sh*t. If I try to run IE while my TV-Tuner is on I BSOD. If I use my hardware decoder I BSOD.
:|

This system is a totally and complete piece of crap. And don't Via 4in1 me. I've done clean installs with 3 different versions of them and it does nothing. My AMD751/Via686A board was great, my AMD761/Via686B board is a whore. It's likely Via's fault not AMDs, but still I don't care who makes the chipset, the baord ain't stable it's useless to me.

 

[Jex]

All the "problems" I've heard in this thread or anywhere have NOTHING to do with the CPU being Intel or AMD. All the stuff you guys and anyone is talking about it chipset/motherboard issues.

Even with that, I think that Intel supporting mobos/chipsets and AMD supporting mobos/chipsets are pretty equal in difficulity or ease to set up.

If you don't wanna deal with the 4 in 1 drivers, don't get a mobo with a via chipset. You can still get and AMD system. If the Highpoint controller is giving you grief, don't get a RAID mobo.

That simple.

 

[SCUBA]

will with amd i had truble installing my ATA100 HDD+my wavefiles for the modem + my PS2 mouse
with intel i had truble with nothing and it wasnt an BX board it was a socket 7 one

 

[Duvie]

I hear your pain noriaki...I have a very stable 686a board, and free and clear from the last 3 installs of via 4 in 1's as I have no issues...

I am waiting for a good non via alternative in a ddr platform...sis? nforce? Ali isn't looking to impressive so far...


I agree with above...both are the same...actually getting easier as I go the more and more I learn. Do your resesarch on reviews, see what components are most brought up in the tech support areas of the forum and steer clear...worked for me so far!!!!

 

[ugh]

I keep hearing bout these 4in1 drivers. What do they do anyway? Bear my ignorance as I'm from the Intel "background".

 

[Pabster]

Jex wrote:

"If you don't wanna deal with the 4 in 1 drivers, don't get a mobo with a via chipset. You can still get and AMD system. If the Highpoint controller is giving you grief, don't get a RAID mobo."

Unfortunately, not one manufacturer has coupled the AMD-761 north with the 766 south bridges. They're using the damned VIA 686B south bridge, which is a shame. If you want no VIA, you're stuck with something like ALi MaGiK, which sucks arse as well. SiS 735 looks promising, but until a release mobo hits the shelves, I won't jump to conclusions.

 

[1967mustangman]

I have had some very serious troubles with Intel systems, but I have never had any problem with an AMD.

 

[gygheyzeus]

You still have to install 4in1's if you have a via chipset for a PIII. I didn't find it ANY harder to do my recent t-bird upgrade from my old PIII 800. Infact, I found the heatsink went on easier (yeah, I realize there are different brands and types of heatsinks, i was just happy to see that i didn't kill my thumb putting it on there).

 

[LukFilm]

After getting two Iwill KK266 that had a) bad North Bridge causing a problem with Shift-Restart in Windows, b) bad North Bridge resulting in inability of my system to boot up because of my USB devices, I must declare that Intel IS easier to set up for sure. I hate to say it, but until VIA gets its $hit together and produces 100% perfect product, I will have to say that Intel is easier. Sorry. I OWN AMD system, so I'm not Intel zealot, just looking at the issue unbiased.

 

[tjdavis1138]

As soon as I got away from using MSI motherboards I have had no problems whatsoever with AMD systems. I know alot of people praise the msi products, but all of them I had were junk. Of course many people will jump up and say EPOX is junk as well, but I've had nothing but smooth sailing with mine.

 

[jepritchett]

I agree about MSI, my very first AMD system was started out with a MSI K7T Turbo and it was complete junk. After the second day of having it I couldn't get it to boot period and was giving me error codes as if my CPU was fried. Got an Iwill KK266 and all was well.

-Justin

 

[splice]

First of all Epox is great! Anyways, my first AMD rig I built was based on a FIC 2013 1MB and a K6-2 300. It was killer! (for it's time). I had a Viper 330 (RIVA128) and a Voodoo2 8MB. I had zero problems getting it to run. Since then I've built too many systems to list, most were AMD, and a few Intel. Honestly, I find very little, if any, difference building and installing on either platform.

 

[Blundar]

in terms of ease for beginners, I'd definately have to go with intel... AMD CPUs are really picky about cooling compared to intel. They fry a lot harder a lot faster.

 

[JJ8]

I third that MSI is not what its cracked up to be. I jumped on the infmamous Pro2A bandwagon, and have been duly rewarded. The voltages in the BIOS are not correct, the board will not overclock an unlocked Duron/TBird, and it will not enable DMA on my Burner. I hate to say it, but my Abit KT7 had none of these problems!

 

[Midnight Rambler]

<< I think most people who think Intel is better/easier are basing their opinion on the BX chipset. With the BX chipset the drivers were already included with Windows, so there was no need to install motherboard drivers. Unfortunetly, the newer Intel chipsets don't have the same ease of setup, although as others have said, what's so difficult with installing one more set of drivers? >>

Hmm ... sounds like you haven't built any &quot;newer&quot; systems.



<< I have had some very serious troubles with Intel systems, but I have never had any problem with an AMD. >>

You're joking right? Either that, or you haven't built many of either type.