-=PCTechTalk=- Re: processors, AMD vs. Intel?

  • From: "cristy" <poppy0206@xxxxxxx>
  • To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 3 Jan 2009 00:03:43 -0500

Hi Gman,

First off, what does this mean briefly?  lol..(AM+ socket)

Also, I had a computer custom built once at the local Best Buy store years 
ago and was very happy with it for the most part. But not sure now where I 
would go or who online to ask for a custom built one.  I will not spend what 
I did back then though, more tight budget now.   Vid cards are confusing, I 
know I need at least 512 mb of memory for that and I dont know what exactly 
"shared memory" .  I'm getting somewhat frustrated as I don't want to spend 
but so much more time researching this but since money is a crunch, 
obviously want as much as I can get for my bucks.

I put off buying a new one since last summer since other priorities came up. 
I do realize I can only get but so much for a certain price though.  Maybe 
its time to try an AMD processor who knows, there was a computer this wkend 
at circuit city advertised for 509 with AMD processor , was orig 750.00 or 
so.  The guy said the vid card could be upgrade and memory.

Here are the specs that I have
AMD Phenom X4 Quad-Core processor 9100E Computer Model DX 4200-09

windows vista home premium 64-bit
4gb ddr2 memory
640GB hard drive
Reads and writes
Dual-Layer DVDs and CDs
w/Labelflash
include keyboard and mouse

salesman said it  had an integrated vid card but a good one
and memory he said could be upgraded as well as vid card



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gman" <gman.pctt@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 11:01 PM
Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: processors, AMD vs. Intel?


> Well, Cristy, I can't touch this reply for 'breath of scope', so I'm not
> going to even try.       lol
>
> What I will say is that AMD scores better than Intel for most multimedia
> tasks (both audible and visual).  Intel ranks MUCH better than AMD for 
> most
> productivity tasks (Office, etc.).  Today's better AMD chips run hotter
> because they are grown using a larger sized transistor (65nm.) than 
> Intel's
> better chips (45nm.).  Chances are VERY good that you're currently running 
> a
> processor (from either maker) that's made with larger transistors than
> what's being used today.  The smaller they can make the transistors, the
> cooler the chip can be made to run.  Intel has the upper hand in 
> transistor
> size because they have a LOT more money to toss at R&D for studying
> fabrication techniques (AMD spent their budget on buying up ATI, the
> graphics card maker).  But even with all of that money, they still look to
> AMD for ideas on what direction they should be heading.  To me, that means
> AMD is the more innovative company.
>
> Combining all of this with what Disastar has already mentioned should 
> point
> you towards getting at least a dual-core AMD processor (AM+ socket) with
> matching motherboard & RAM.  Since these three items are the core 
> components
> of any computer system, I wouldn't skimp on any of them (~$400 USD for all
> three should be a good starting point).  It can be convincingly argued 
> that
> the graphics card has become a fourth 'core' component of any modern 
> system,
> so I will give the same advice on that.  Your target for a video card 
> should
> be at least $200 - 250 USD alone for the things you want to do with your 
> new
> system (and that should take care of most 'gaming' you choose to add 
> later,
> too).
>
> As Disastar also said, it takes several days of intense research to "throw
> together" a decent system these days.  Many, many things have to be taken
> into consideration and having one part that doesn't quite fit in can 
> really
> hurt an otherwise good build.  You need to decide whether or not you'll 
> need
> a case (or reuse an older one).  How many parts can you bring over from 
> the
> old system if that's to be retired?  How much can this new build be 
> upgraded
> as time passes?  What else will you need?
>
> Give some thought to all you've heard so far and let us know whatever
> questions come up.  Several of us have been putting together custom 
> systems
> for a long time and you can be assured we'll do what we can to steer you 
> in
> the right direction.
>
> Happy Holidays,
> Gman
>
> "The only dumb questions are the ones we fail to ask"
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Disastar" <disastar@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: <pctechtalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, January 02, 2009 8:38 PM
> Subject: -=PCTechTalk=- Re: processors, AMD vs. Intel?
>
>
>> Yes, it is often hard to tell the difference and it depends a lot on how
>> you
>> use your computer.
>>
>> This is a very tricky question to answer.  They both have their pros and
>> cons and its hard to compare the two because you just can't go by the MHz
>> speed and one might be better while running one program, but the other
>> might
>> be better running another program.  You also have the same problem
>> comparing
>> different processors from the same manufacturer.
>>
>> Example:  Which is better, a faster single core CPU or a slower dual 
>> core?
>>
>> Answer:  It depends a lot on what programs you run and how you use your
>> computer among other things.  If you almost always run more than one
>> program
>> at the same time then dual core would be better and quad core even better
>> (most likely).  But, if the program you use often is very CPU intensive
>> and
>> is not designed to run on multiple cores, then the multi-cores wouldn't
>> help
>> unless there are other programs running at the same time that slow the 
>> CPU
>> down.
>>
>> Confused?  I'm sorry, but this is only the main points and it only gets
>> more
>> complicated.  Maybe Gman can explain it better... he has a way with words
>> that I can't touch.
>>
>> OK, maybe this will help:
>> - AMD is usually cheaper for the performance you get, but they usually 
>> run
>> hotter, so they often have a noisier fan cooling them.
>> - Multiple core CPU's usually give a snappier feel to Windows especially
>> if
>> you run more than one program at a time.
>> - Movie editing and graphics editing will usually benefit from having as
>> many cores as you can afford, but spending extra money on a better video
>> card might improve these tasks better.
>> - High tech action games are also more dependent on graphics card than
>> CPU,
>> but you still need a decent CPU.
>> - If you don't run any CPU hogging programs, then anything new would feel
>> a
>> world better than an old PC, but a dual core would probably feel more
>> responsive.
>> - If you are just trying to get Vista to run better, then get something
>> with
>> 3 or 4 Gigabytes of RAM, good video card (better video card if you plan 
>> on
>> running Vista's Aero), and as fast a dual core as you can afford.
>>
>> As you can see, the graphics performance often matters as much as the CPU
>> (sometimes more so), so I'm guessing your next question will be about
>> video
>> cards.  Unfortunately video cards are at least as complicated.  When I 
>> buy
>> computer parts I spend days doing google searches for reviews and
>> comparisons of everything I'm looking for.
>>
>> The more info you give us on what programs you plan on running, the 
>> better
>> advise we can give you.  ;)
>
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