IS INTEL really better?

[Neos]

I have used AMD for years, and I have yet to build a really trouble free system. There are always a few glitches to aggravate.

I read recently that Intel controls the total design of it's chipsets - while AMD does not - using VIA or NVIDIA ..the like. I kow that they make it to work with AMD cpu's, but I am wondering if a lack of absolute control like Intel has would contribute to the glitches I mention.

Any takers on this one?

 

[ChicagoPCGuy]

Originally posted by: Neos
I have used AMD for years, and I have yet to build a really trouble free system. There are always a few glitches to aggravate.

I read recently that Intel controls the total design of it's chipsets - while AMD does not - using VIA or NVIDIA ..the like. I kow that they make it to work with AMD cpu's, but I am wondering if a lack of absolute control like Intel has would contribute to the glitches I mention.

Any takers on this one?

That is definitely not an easy question to answer. Stability often comes down to a multitude of things, the primary one being the OS. This is followed closely by motherboard quality. System stability, and this is the short list, is based on:


The OS you use
Motherboard quality (caps, BIOS, build quality in general)
PSU quality and sufficiency
Chipset quality and associated driver quality
Add-in card quality, and the associated driver quality with those cards

and on and on.

Discounting the old VIA 686B fiasco with the Creative sound cards (and half of that blame can be placed on Creative I would like to add), AMD motherboard chipsets have been EXTREMELY reliable--given a good motherboard and drivers.

Tom's Hardware (even being the Intel whores they are), basically had to admit that AMD based systems are just as stable, all other variables held the same, as Intel systems from their extended burn-in session they had. I am sure it nearly killed good 'ol Tom to have to post that one.

 

[Neos]

OK - that makes sense. I was thinking that many of the older programs that I have hung onto for years had something to do with some of the glitches. One day I will have a system with all Microsoft XP Pro approved.

Thanks again.

 

[CheesePoofs]

No.

Intel just recently had to recal a whole bunch of chipsets. I personally don't consider that the signs of a stable platform.

I have an nforce2 rig - completely stable since september '03.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Back in the days of the PII and PIII, intel's chipsets might have mad a difference. But not today. Sure, Intel still provides stable chipsets that offer the best performance for their CPUs, but that isn't really a factor anymore.

Ever since the about the KT266A and on AMD systems have been just as stable, and largely thanks to competition to VIA from nVidia the AMD chipsets have really come full circle in offering great performance and stability. Also the fact that the memory controller is built into all current K8 CPUs, thats part of the chipset equation chipset makers don't have to worry about milking performance out of anyways.

 

[jamesbond007]

Originally posted by: CheesePoofs
No.

Intel just recently had to recal a whole bunch of chipsets. I personally don't consider that the signs of a stable platform.

Neither would I. However, I do call that awesome quality control/customer service. It takes balls to do a recall and to admit your flaws.

In my opinion, I would say Intel chipsets are better than nVIDIA, VIA, and SiS in terms of maturity. They've been doing it for quite some time, as have SiS and VIA, but I'm sure Intel will always have the upper-hand, considering they make the CPUs AND the chipsets. nVIDIA is really new to the game and they have done very well in their stance. I have made many machines based on the nForce chipsets for clients and not a single person has complained.

Again, as stated above, it varies upon the system configurations, driver releases, OS patches, and many other things.

 

[Mari0Br0s]

here's a review you might like: http://www.tbreak.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26313

 

[asmielia]

Based off of personal experience alone, I would say that I have had much better success with Intel than with AMD. In the past 5 years, I've had an Athlon 900 with a VIA chipset, then an Intel P4 1.8A with an Intel 845 chipset, then an Intel P4 2.4C with an Intel 865 chipset and now I've just made the switch to an Athlon 64 3200+.

I didn't like the VIA board at all, and because of constant stability issues, I decided never to buy a VIA board again.

The two Intel boards were both made by Abit and they were both rock solid. I was really happy with both of them. Only issue I can possibly complain about is my 865 Springdale chipset refuses to go above 260 mhz FSB with a 1:1 divider. It does do 290 at other dividers and I was blessed with an incredible 2.4C.

When I got the 3200+ a month ago, I originally had a Gigabyte SLI board. That wasn't great. It had a lot of weird issues, some of them due to nForce 4, some of them due to Gigabyte. The board eventually blew up on me, so today, I finally received my replacement MSI Platinum SLI board. We'll see how that goes.

I love AMD CPUs and I love Intel mb chipsets. I wish Intel could go back to making decent desktop chips again and that AMD would make their own motherboard chipsets. I don't know why they don't. Well, lets hope this Nvidia chipset matures quickly and things improve with that, but for now, I would say it's definitely a step below Intel quality.

 

[Neos]

Good comments, all.

I finally had to reload my XP Pro OS. I had the drive partitioned so it made it pretty easy. I mmention this because as I am typing - the system is rock solid.

I promised my wife that I would leave it simple this time - so I will not add things such as Registry Mechanic - and some other proggies that are supposed to help keep the PC running sharp. Now that I think back on it - my tweaking is what usually got the system in a mess.

We will see if it stays solid.

 

[sharpnsmart]

I've owned all types of motherboards, and in my experience, the most stable, trouble-free platform I've used has/is the Nforce4. Next is Nforce2, then Intel, AMD, Via.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

I have been using Intel boxes at work for 20+ years
and AMD boxes at home for the last 10+ years

None of them have been completely free of glitches. But I would have to give the reliabily and stability award to AMD.