P4 vs. Athlon

amirsan · Aug 06, 2003, 12:24 PM

Hmmmmmm...

Which is better for the gaming computer, Pentium or Athlon???

CrackedCrystal · Aug 06, 2003, 12:47 PM

For everyday use, Athlon is better. Much more bang for the buck. If you are looking high end though, P4 edges out.

dannyevilcat · Aug 06, 2003, 02:52 PM

go AMD!

amirsan · Aug 06, 2003, 02:52 PM

They are cheaper too huh...

nixon · Aug 06, 2003, 02:58 PM

AMD is only better because of the price, in my mind. Pentium is quality.

Jeratain · Aug 06, 2003, 03:17 PM

Considering that most programs are built to run on a Pentium chipset, that gives Intel the boost it needs to get my vote - programs run better on Intel.

Sodapop · Aug 06, 2003, 03:24 PM

At equal power, an athlon beats a P4 to death. Proof is that AMD's naming scheme compares CPU that are way slower in theory, but that end up giving the same power in the end. However, when you get to the 800 Mhz FSB line, P4 have an advantage over XPs. You need about an XP 2800 to equal a P4 2.4c (both cpus have about the same price too). So if you go with a high end model, the P4 is better, if you are happy with the non top-of-the-line, the athlon's for you.

Oh, and the P4 has another advantage with sse2 instructions, but not a lot of things are compiled to take advantage of that, so it doesn't matter that much in the end. And hyperthreading too...

Conclusion : Different CPUs for different people and different use.

Colonel Kraken · Aug 07, 2003, 10:00 AM

Definitely if you want a top-of-the-line, rocking gaming system, where price is not a real big issue, Pentium is the way to go.

AMD = more bang for the buck.

Check out http://www.tomshardware.com for CPU comparisons. More directly check out this article.

amirsan · Aug 07, 2003, 05:27 PM

Ok, I think I'll go for Athlon becuase I dont have enough money for the "top of the line PC" so I gotta save my money now...

Thanks everyone for your input!

nihilistic · Aug 07, 2003, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by amirsan
Ok, I think I'll go for Athlon becuase I dont have enough money for the "top of the line PC" so I gotta save my money now...

Thanks everyone for your input!

If youare building one from scratch, be sure to buy the best cooling system availble if youare buying a athlon. They really do burn.

amirsan · Aug 07, 2003, 06:16 PM

Yeah, I think your supposed to buy a fan for every component anyways.

Mikoyan · Aug 07, 2003, 10:12 PM

I prefer Intel's processors, so i'll say Pentium 4, for it's power.

Turner · Aug 07, 2003, 11:50 PM

I have an Athalon at home. I haven't noticed any problems with it as a processor. Any crash or software not working has yet to be traced to the processor. Guess I'm just lucky.

I don't care, really. My understanding is that the Pentium chips run business software better, and the Athalons are better gamers. I'd buy either one.

Colonel Kraken · Aug 08, 2003, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by nihilistic

If youare building one from scratch, be sure to buy the best cooling system availble if youare buying a athlon. They really do burn.

This is great advice. Pick something from CoolerMaster or Thermaltake.

JoeP · Aug 08, 2003, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sodapop
Conclusion : Different CPUs for different people and different use.

That's my stance, too.

Since you'll go AMD route, though, get an Athlon 1700+ t-bred "b" or a 2500+ barton. They are the best overclockers out of all the Athlons! They oc nicely at stock voltage, too!

eocf.com <-- I'm there all the time

bobgote · Aug 13, 2003, 12:16 AM

dunno if you guys saw the video of what happens when the cooling system is removed from different brand processors. The pentiums just slow down the system hugely. the athlons start smoking and burn out - processor and m/b

That said i'm about to buy an athlon.

JonathanValjean · Aug 13, 2003, 01:38 AM

I think the P4 is an excellent chip, but I prefer the Athlon. I have been putting Athlons in my system since they were released in 1999 and haven't looked back. Their price/performance ratio has a lot to do with it, but I also appreciate their overclockability.

Toasty · Aug 13, 2003, 11:29 PM

How 'bout 'neither?

Before you ask, I've used both.

Comraddict · Aug 14, 2003, 01:25 PM

AMD = more heat for the buck. Yea Eskimos and Russians!

HuckFinn · Aug 17, 2003, 09:37 PM

Back in the days when the 1.2GHz Thunderbirds were AMD's top of the line CPU, AMD actually kicked Intel's butt pretty well, because at the same time early P4s were crippled because of a nonexistent level 2 cache, if I remember correctly. That was when AMD for a brief while was both cheaper and faster.

These days it is true that P4 is faster than the Athlon AMD claims is equivalent. However, the "bang for buck" argument makes me always buy AMD when I'm building a computer, and in practice, I have never regretted... the performance difference is marginal, and you can spend the money you save by buying other good components that make your system more well-rounded... remember, your PC is not merely your CPU.

View Poll Results: Pentium or Athlon?
Pentium is better!	5	35.71%
Athlon is better!	9	64.29%
I dont know which is better?!?!	0	0%
Voters: 14. You may not vote on this poll

Aug 06, 2003, 12:24 PM	#1
amirsan King of all Kings Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC to Connectcut... Posts: 6,529	P4 vs. Athlon Hmmmmmm... Which is better for the gaming computer, Pentium or Athlon???

Aug 06, 2003, 12:47 PM	#2
CrackedCrystal Where am I? Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 1,007	For everyday use, Athlon is better. Much more bang for the buck. If you are looking high end though, P4 edges out. __________________ A beginning is a time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct.

Aug 06, 2003, 02:58 PM	#5
nixon Rationale is leaving you Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Дания Posts: 2,589	AMD is only better because of the price, in my mind. Pentium is quality. __________________ So as through a glass and darkly, the age long strife I see, where I fought in many guises, many names -- but always me. - General George S. Patton.

Aug 07, 2003, 10:00 AM	#8
Colonel Kraken Deity Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 2,451	Definitely if you want a top-of-the-line, rocking gaming system, where price is not a real big issue, Pentium is the way to go. AMD = more bang for the buck. Check out http://www.tomshardware.com for CPU comparisons. More directly check out this article. Last edited by Colonel Kraken; Aug 07, 2003 at 10:03 AM.

Aug 06, 2003, 02:52 PM	#3
dannyevilcat DESTROYER OF FURNITURE Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Burnaby B.C. Posts: 1,713	go AMD!

Aug 06, 2003, 03:17 PM	#6
Jeratain On the can. Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: SF, CA Posts: 2,694	Considering that most programs are built to run on a Pentium chipset, that gives Intel the boost it needs to get my vote - programs run better on Intel.

Aug 06, 2003, 03:24 PM	#7
Sodapop Teh pop in teh can Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The geeky town of Lévis, Québec Posts: 409	At equal power, an athlon beats a P4 to death. Proof is that AMD's naming scheme compares CPU that are way slower in theory, but that end up giving the same power in the end. However, when you get to the 800 Mhz FSB line, P4 have an advantage over XPs. You need about an XP 2800 to equal a P4 2.4c (both cpus have about the same price too). So if you go with a high end model, the P4 is better, if you are happy with the non top-of-the-line, the athlon's for you. Oh, and the P4 has another advantage with sse2 instructions, but not a lot of things are compiled to take advantage of that, so it doesn't matter that much in the end. And hyperthreading too... Conclusion : Different CPUs for different people and different use.

Aug 07, 2003, 05:27 PM	#9
amirsan King of all Kings Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC to Connectcut... Posts: 6,529	Ok, I think I'll go for Athlon becuase I dont have enough money for the "top of the line PC" so I gotta save my money now... Thanks everyone for your input!

Aug 07, 2003, 06:16 PM	#11
amirsan King of all Kings Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC to Connectcut... Posts: 6,529	Yeah, I think your supposed to buy a fan for every component anyways.

Aug 07, 2003, 10:12 PM	#12
Mikoyan Digimortal Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,495	I prefer Intel's processors, so i'll say Pentium 4, for it's power.

Aug 07, 2003, 11:50 PM	#13
Turner Deity Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Randomistan Posts: 25,973	I have an Athalon at home. I haven't noticed any problems with it as a processor. Any crash or software not working has yet to be traced to the processor. Guess I'm just lucky. I don't care, really. My understanding is that the Pentium chips run business software better, and the Athalons are better gamers. I'd buy either one.

Aug 13, 2003, 12:16 AM	#16
bobgote Trousers Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Melbourne, VIC Posts: 4,786	dunno if you guys saw the video of what happens when the cooling system is removed from different brand processors. The pentiums just slow down the system hugely. the athlons start smoking and burn out - processor and m/b That said i'm about to buy an athlon.

Aug 13, 2003, 01:38 AM	#17
JonathanValjean Porschephile Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Charlottesville, VA, USA Posts: 1,458	I think the P4 is an excellent chip, but I prefer the Athlon. I have been putting Athlons in my system since they were released in 1999 and haven't looked back. Their price/performance ratio has a lot to do with it, but I also appreciate their overclockability. __________________ PORSCHE: there is NO substitute.

Aug 13, 2003, 11:29 PM	#18
Toasty Old Guard Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,871	How 'bout 'neither? Before you ask, I've used both. __________________ 1.29b2 EQUALITY

Aug 14, 2003, 01:25 PM	#19
Comraddict C.IV Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,697	AMD = more heat for the buck. Yea Eskimos and Russians!

Aug 17, 2003, 09:37 PM	#20
HuckFinn Prince Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Finland Posts: 515	Back in the days when the 1.2GHz Thunderbirds were AMD's top of the line CPU, AMD actually kicked Intel's butt pretty well, because at the same time early P4s were crippled because of a nonexistent level 2 cache, if I remember correctly. That was when AMD for a brief while was both cheaper and faster. These days it is true that P4 is faster than the Athlon AMD claims is equivalent. However, the "bang for buck" argument makes me always buy AMD when I'm building a computer, and in practice, I have never regretted... the performance difference is marginal, and you can spend the money you save by buying other good components that make your system more well-rounded... remember, your PC is not merely your CPU. __________________ -- "Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen..." -- Emperor Palpatine

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