Processor benchmarks: Intel versus AMD
Published: 24 Aug 2004
Test environment
As a baseline for this comparison, we used Windows XP SP1 with all Hotfixes up to the point of testing. The standard resolution was 1,600 by 1,200 pixels, although the 3D gaming tests were also carried out at 1,280 by 1,024 and 1,024 by 768 pixels.
In the 3D gaming tests, image quality was boosted by turning on anti-aliasing (4x AA) and anisotropic filtering (8xAF). Most users of modern graphics cards like the Nvidia Geforce 6800GT -- as used for this test -- will activate these settings, so their effect on performance is worth considering.
For this performance comparison, we selected Intel and AMD's current fastest desktop processors. Intel's Pentium 4 560 running at 3.6GHz and the 3.4GHz Pentium 4 550 feature the new Prescott core and 1MB of on-board Level 2 cache. Both P4 processors are housed in the latest D925XCV motherboard from Intel.
The Athlon 64 3800+ running at 2.4GHz and the 2.2GHz 3500+ are housed in MSI's Nforce3-equipped K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard. Both systems have 1GB of main memory: DDR400-RAM is used in the Athlon system, while the Intel board is fitted with the new DDR2-533 RAM.
| Processor prices | |||
|
| |||
| Model |
Clock speed |
Socket |
Price |
|
| |||
| Athlon 64 3800+ | 2.4GHz | 939 | $643 |
| Athlon 64 3500+ | 2.2GHz | 939 | $346 |
| Pentium 4 560 (925X) | 3.6GHz | 775 | $637 |
| Pentium 4 550 (925X) | 3.4GHz | 775 | $417 |
|
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| Test systems | ||
|
| ||
| Component |
AMD |
Intel |
|
| ||
| Motherboard | MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum | Intel D925XCV |
| Chipset | Nvidia Nforce3 250GB | Intel 925X |
| Graphics card | Nvidia Geforce 6800GT (AGP) | Nvidia Geforce 6800GT (PCI-E) |
| Graphics driver | 61.76 | 61.76 |
| Hard disk | Maxtor SATA Maxline III 250GB | Maxtor SATA Maxline III 250GB |
| Memory | 2x Corsair CM512-3200LL (CL225) | 2x Micron DDR533 (CL444) |
| OS | Windows XP SP1 with current Hotfixes | Windows XP SP1 with current Hotfixes |
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Full Talkback thread
48 comments
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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
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This benchmark clearly shows that a chip... Anonymous -
The text and the charts are OK, the confusion... Jorge Espejo
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Folks: A lower score is BETTER on SOME of the... anon y. mous
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*" During my research in “silicon perfor... Ziggurat -
Great review! I appreciate the input as do others... Gene Dolan
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Good review, although I'd like to see a Visual C++... Tom Mason
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Strange how you hide the benchmarks from view unle... Andy Woudstra
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Whose computers are not needing to multitask all t... Anonymous
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Multi-tasking means USING multiple programs a... Anonymous
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>Whose computers are not needing to multitask... Anonymous
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The multi-tasking test is intersting to... Martin Hahnheuser
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FX53 is the fastest AMD workstation cpu. Anonymous
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Duo and Dual core offerings benefit greatly f... Pop3
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This review is clearly flawed. Chips that are cloc... Anonymous
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If you overclock a cpu, you may create imbala... Morten Bjoernsvik
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Just to confirm: some of the test metrics are 'big... Charles McLellan
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Hi, I have a AMD Athlon 2400 (2.0)ghz XP processor... Harjas
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NOTHING! depreciates faster than a computer.... Me
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lol, @Harjas:
"Hi, I have a AMD Athlon 2400 (... Anonymous
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lol, @Harjas:
"Hi, I have a AMD Athlon 2... Anonymous
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Harjas, it's nattural that the price of your... Farcau Pavel
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Although windows is not 64 bit, you can run 64bit... Morten Bjoernsvik
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how do those compare with the Apple G5? Anonymous
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AMD's Athlon 64 CPUs clearly outperform Intel's Pe... Ashwin V
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The article says the Prescott wins on apps that ar... Lefty
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Hi Folks: Just an observation here which is, that... john thomas
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There isn't a clear winner?? Bawhahaha...take a lo... Anonymous
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The time is giving us a very difficult decision in... Anonymous
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The Athlon chips' 64-bit capability is curren... Anonymous
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True, linux tests should be documented i... blopnuts
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does an amd 3000+ makes more noice while running j... Anonymous
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somebody ask if an amd 3000+ make more noise... Farcau Pavel
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Which one cost less? AMD
Which one uses less powe... Amd and Intel owner
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This is a little off the topic but what is th... Anonymous
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I own two computers. An Intel Pentium 4: 3E GHz (P... Brandon Craig
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Hi Branden. As with A64's the raw cpu MHz of... Martin Hahnheuser
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Friends,
During my research in... John
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for me, im conscious with the parts that i bought... peter lo
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Hi Peter
A lot of folks seem to think that FS... Martin Hahnheuser
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Apply your techonogy to end suffering.
Heck what b... centroweb
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"I own two computers. An Intel Pentium 4: 3E... Occulose
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to: Brandon Craig
Pentium 4: 3E GHz (Pre... Marcus Aurelius
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Charts and text do match up. Read the Better/Wors... Jenny Wolfe
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Whats up with the cheesy memory in the Intel syste... Jeff M
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