AMD or Pentium?

[Geoff Watson]

I'll be getting a new computer soon, and aren't sure whether to get a Pentium 4 or an Athlon AMD.

They cost about the same.

Which is better, and why?

Geoff.

 

[KenM]

My first computere had a P3, no problems. The system I use now has an AMD Athlon 2400, no problems. I heard the AMD's run games faster, better, and are cheaper for about the same speeds the Pentium's are.

 

[gariig]

If you are buying prebuild you will have to go out of your way to get an AMD. So if that is the case..Pentium it is!

Gariig

 

[Tsyr]

If your buying a computer online, however, as is very, very common, AMDs are as easy to come by as Pentiums. And for that matter, Best Buy I am pretty sure stocks Athalon based systems.

 

[Goobermunch]

This thread (http://www.enworld.org/forums/showthread.php?t=70831), while mainly discussing the P4/Celeron split, has some useful information on the subject.

Ultimately, it depends on how fast you want to go though. Up to about the Athlon XP 2600+, Athlon's a better bang for your buck. Higher than that and performance drops off significantly and you should start looking for genuine Intel product.

--G

 

[KenM]

If your buying a computer online, however, as is very, very common, AMDs are as easy to come by as Pentiums. And for that matter, Best Buy I am pretty sure stocks Athalon based systems.

Thas where I got mine.

 

[Nifft]

AMD is cheaper for the same power at low-to-mid levels, and P4 goes faster at the very-high-end-expensive level.

So, if money is an issue, go for AMD and a mid-range speed.

-- N

 

[der_kluge]

My current computer is an AMD XP 1700. I love it. Before that, I was exclusively an Intel customer.

I doubt I'll ever go back to Intel. AMD is just far cheaper, and I haven't had any problems with it.

 

[Cergorach]

I'm currently pro AMD, not because i'm anti Intel (have always had an Intel before my AMD), but because AMD has generally a better price/performance comparison. I'm now the proud owner of a dual AMD 2400XP (modded to MP), if i bought an Intel setup with the same specs, it would have been a lot more expensive...

On what kind of budget are you, what OS will you be running, what kind of games/applications will you be runing at what kind of resolution?

 

[Psionicist]

On what kind of budget are you, what OS will you be running, what kind of games/applications will you be runing at what kind of resolution?

I am glad you asked, now I don't have to.