Intel Vs. AMD

[pauldun170]

How do they fit the potato in to the iDevice? I mean, wow, it is faster than my desktop! why are you losers still using x86! I'm sure they implemented it with the potato!

In the pursuit of going green, Microsoft in partnership with Asus have created a Version of windows 8 that runs on a potato that OEM's can grow themselves.
The licensing scheme is rather restrictive as the license is per potato and cannot be transferred once the potato is eaten. It will be ground breaking as Windows will still run as you start cutting into the potato.
You can create a word document, slice off that section of the potato where it displays and then start watching a movie on another slice.
Heat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 35 minutes and serve warm.
In just a few hours, you will poop out a turd that has a movie embedded in the word document.

 

[Arg Clin]

For $125 you'll have the Core i3-2120, better than the Phenom II X4 955/965.

Depends on that you're doing with you cpu. For most users I would advice against getting a dual core i3 over the quad core Phenom II X4 at this point, unless they specifically only or mainly need strong single thread performance.

EDIT: in the $ 100- $ 150 segment I'd also say the Llano A8-3xxx is the better choice unless you use a discrete GPU. (which few do in that segment)

 

[Rvenger]

Depends on that you're doing with you cpu. For most users I would advice against getting a dual core i3 over the quad core Phenom II X4 at this point, unless they specifically only or mainly need strong single thread performance.

EDIT: in the $ 100- $ 150 segment I'd also say the Llano A8-3xxx is the better choice unless you use a discrete GPU. (which few do in that segment)

Athlon II 631 would be the best bet

 

[frozentundra123456]

Some say it runs off a potato.

No, that is called "Glados".

 

[frozentundra123456]

Depends on that you're doing with you cpu. For most users I would advice against getting a dual core i3 over the quad core Phenom II X4 at this point, unless they specifically only or mainly need strong single thread performance.

EDIT: in the $ 100- $ 150 segment I'd also say the Llano A8-3xxx is the better choice unless you use a discrete GPU. (which few do in that segment)

Unless you plan to overclock, I disagree with you about the i3. Even in most multithreaded apps it is equal to the phenom. And I still believe most of the mainstream users use mostly lightly threaded apps. The i3 will also run cooler and use less power.
But if you overclock, then the phenom is attractive.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

You are mostly on-target here. I would argue that some great AMD options are available under $100. They are overclockable (unlike the Celeron/Pentium options) and are good alternatives. Cases could be made for either.
If you do not have a MC around, there is no better CPU between $150-200 than the X6. if you do have a MC, or get a good deal elsewhere, the i5 is better.

Yeah, but that will only take you so high... Previous $100 CPUs were exciting because of HOW much overclocking you could get, even on a stock cooler and with no additional overvolting. The Athlon II X2-X4 (AM3, not FM1) already come clocked high at 3.0-3.4GHz, and the highest they'll go on a stock cooler on stock voltage is 3.4-3.6GHz. You're gaining very little, and by then you'll barely be surpassing the Intel counterparts in some areas. You'd also have a less efficient processor, and because Bulldozer consumes so much power it's not advisable to get a cheap 3+1 phase motherboard for something like an FX-6100 in the future. Stock, a system with an FX-6100 will consume 50% more power than one with an i5-2400 or i5-2500K, which limits upgrade-ability.

I do agree on the X6 1055T in particular. For $150 you're getting a chip that at the same clocks as an i5 competes with it in multi-threaded workloads for a $40 lower price. Power consumption is obviously higher, though you should be able to get 3.5GHz on the stock cooler on stock voltage. Very few people have a MicroCenter near them, but if you have one near for $150 an i5-2400 is an obvious choice. You can easily get 3.8GHz out of it with the stock cooler and have a cool and efficient system.

Depends on that you're doing with you cpu. For most users I would advice against getting a dual core i3 over the quad core Phenom II X4 at this point, unless they specifically only or mainly need strong single thread performance.

EDIT: in the $ 100- $ 150 segment I'd also say the Llano A8-3xxx is the better choice unless you use a discrete GPU. (which few do in that segment)

I'd disagree. The Phenom II X4 955/965 is a bit faster than the Core i3-2120 in most multi-threaded applications, but in single-threaded it gets trashed. They don't have a lot of headroom on stock cooling either; having to spend $30 on an air cooler kinda makes the value go away. Most of them reach 3.6GHz on the stock cooler, and by then they'd widen the gap a bit in multi-threaded tasks while still being hugely behind in single-threaded and mildly multi-threaded while consuming a lot more power.

Llano is great, but for enthusiasts looking for bang-for-buck the Athlon II X4 631 and a dedicated graphics card is a better choice.

 

[Golgatha]

You can get an AMD with more cores or an Intel with fewer real cores that are faster and the same amount of logical cores that are still superior to the same amount of real cores as an AMD in most tasks.

What it somes down to is this.
AMD is the V12 in a 1990's BMW
Intel is the V8 in a brand new BMW

To put it another way (for those who haven't kept current)
Would you want a dual socket motherboard with two Williamette P4's running at 2.0 or would you want a single Athlon X2 3800?

The P4s, but only if they had RDRAM.

 

[Arg Clin]

Unless you plan to overclock, I disagree with you about the i3. Even in most multithreaded apps it is equal to the phenom. And I still believe most of the mainstream users use mostly lightly threaded apps. The i3 will also run cooler and use less power.
But if you overclock, then the phenom is attractive.

Most mainstream users would be better off with the Llano because it has a decent GPU.

For a rig with dsicrete GPU I'd pick the PH II because more and more apps use multithreading, so in the longer run would perform better than a dual core like the i3. The edge the i3 has in gaming is really quite theoretical, as almost all gaming is GPU limited anyway.