Processor benchmarks: Intel versus AMD
Published: 24 Aug 2004
Conclusions
So, after performing many tests, which is the fastest CPU -- AMD's Athlon 64 or Intel's Pentium 4? The answer depends on which software you use: there is no clear winner here.
The Athlon 64 has an advantage with mainstream office and Internet applications, and 3D games. Meanwhile, the Pentium 4 can always score with optimised software -- particularly 3D and video rendering. The multitasking tests also show an advantage for Intel's Pentium 4.
The Athlon 64 has a clear advantage in terms of cost. Although AMD's and Intel's fastest chips are comparably priced, system costs are higher for Pentium 4-based PCs with DDR2 memory. The price difference between Athlon 3500+ and Pentium 4 550 systems is even larger, because the AMD chip costs $71 less than its Intel counterpart.
Post-purchase costs should not be ignored, either. A Pentium 4-based system uses 60 to 70 Watts more power when idling and up to 89 per cent more power relative to an Athlon 64 PC. For a household with a few computers, this may not add up to a significant cost saving, but for larger enterprises with several thousand PCs the sums will look completely different.
The Athlon also supports the NX feature, which offers protection from certain viruses in conjunction with Windows XP Service Pack 2. Intel has announced that the Pentium 4 is to support the NX feature later this year. The Athlon chips' 64-bit capability is currently no advantage, as 64-bit Windows XP isn't due to ship until 2005.
Previous
Did you find this article useful?
243 out of 389 people found this useful
Full Talkback thread
48 comments
-
Folks:
The slide and the text don't match on all o... Larry Karnis -
Why do the Charts not match the review. I se... Anonymous -
Text and Graphics do match, you need to look... Nic
-
This benchmark clearly shows that a chip... Anonymous -
The text and the charts are OK, the confusion... Jorge Espejo
-
Folks: A lower score is BETTER on SOME of the... anon y. mous
-
*" During my research in “silicon perfor... Ziggurat -
Great review! I appreciate the input as do others... Gene Dolan
-
Good review, although I'd like to see a Visual C++... Tom Mason
-
Strange how you hide the benchmarks from view unle... Andy Woudstra
-
Whose computers are not needing to multitask all t... Anonymous
-
Multi-tasking means USING multiple programs a... Anonymous
-
>Whose computers are not needing to multitask... Anonymous
-
The multi-tasking test is intersting to... Martin Hahnheuser
-
FX53 is the fastest AMD workstation cpu. Anonymous
-
Duo and Dual core offerings benefit greatly f... Pop3
-
This review is clearly flawed. Chips that are cloc... Anonymous
-
If you overclock a cpu, you may create imbala... Morten Bjoernsvik
-
Just to confirm: some of the test metrics are 'big... Charles McLellan
-
Hi, I have a AMD Athlon 2400 (2.0)ghz XP processor... Harjas
-
NOTHING! depreciates faster than a computer.... Me
-
lol, @Harjas:
"Hi, I have a AMD Athlon 2400 (... Anonymous
-
lol, @Harjas:
"Hi, I have a AMD Athlon 2... Anonymous
-
Harjas, it's nattural that the price of your... Farcau Pavel
-
Although windows is not 64 bit, you can run 64bit... Morten Bjoernsvik
-
how do those compare with the Apple G5? Anonymous
-
AMD's Athlon 64 CPUs clearly outperform Intel's Pe... Ashwin V
-
The article says the Prescott wins on apps that ar... Lefty
-
Hi Folks: Just an observation here which is, that... john thomas
-
There isn't a clear winner?? Bawhahaha...take a lo... Anonymous
-
The time is giving us a very difficult decision in... Anonymous
-
The Athlon chips' 64-bit capability is curren... Anonymous
-
True, linux tests should be documented i... blopnuts
-
does an amd 3000+ makes more noice while running j... Anonymous
-
somebody ask if an amd 3000+ make more noise... Farcau Pavel
-
Which one cost less? AMD
Which one uses less powe... Amd and Intel owner
-
This is a little off the topic but what is th... Anonymous
-
I own two computers. An Intel Pentium 4: 3E GHz (P... Brandon Craig
-
Hi Branden. As with A64's the raw cpu MHz of... Martin Hahnheuser
-
Friends,
During my research in... John
-
for me, im conscious with the parts that i bought... peter lo
-
Hi Peter
A lot of folks seem to think that FS... Martin Hahnheuser
-
Apply your techonogy to end suffering.
Heck what b... centroweb
-
"I own two computers. An Intel Pentium 4: 3E... Occulose
-
to: Brandon Craig
Pentium 4: 3E GHz (Pre... Marcus Aurelius
-
Charts and text do match up. Read the Better/Wors... Jenny Wolfe
-
Whats up with the cheesy memory in the Intel syste... Jeff M
-
Further benchmarks t0minit
