Rookie Question

[LeRoy]

This may sound extremely basic for most of you but i have a quick question. I am looking to buy a mid-high end computer for some gaming and CAD drawings and other engineering software. I have most of the specs i want decided upon, except for the processor/motherboard. I was to go with an Asus motherboard but am undecided as to whether to go with Intel or AMD. I would be choosing between the Intel P4 3.0 Prescott and the AMD Athlon XP 3000+. I have noticed that the AMD chip runs at only 2.0GHz. What do AMD chips have to make up for this lower frequency, and which chip would you personally reccommend for my solution? Thanks for your time.

 

[Cybercraig]

AMD executes instructions in less clock cycles. Six compared to nine for INTEL, I believe. Get an A64-3000+ over the stock socket 462. You'll be ahead of the game down the road.


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[Xeon]

Six compared to nine for INTEL

You are aware that x86 CISC CPU's can not retire more than 3 instructions a cycle right? So if that’s the case I take this unbelievable statement as a joke and move along.

Xeon

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[Zoron]

AMD has a higher IPC (Instructions per Clock) rate than P4 CPUs. This means that AMD processors can do more work with fewer clock cycles. P4s lower IPC require higher clock rates to compensate. So even though the AMD chip is clocked at 2.0GHz, it's capable of doing the about the same amount of work in the same amount of time as a higher clocked P4.

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[TheRod]

Here is a little table to show you the performance between different CPU architecture :

Athlon XP 3000+ is comparable to P4C 2.6GHz
Athlon XP 3200+ is comparable to P4C 2.8GHz
Athlon XP 3200+ is comparable to Athlon 64 2800+
Athlon 64 3000+ is comparable to P4C/E 3.0GHz

So, you can't compare an Athlon XP directly to P4C. The Athlon XP rating was good versus old P4, but since P4C. The Athlon XP rating is quite confusing. The Athlon 64 rating can be use to compare vs P4C/E.

--
It's tricky to use words like <b><font color=green>AMD</font color=green></b> or <b><font color=blue>Intel</font color=blue></b> in a signature some users could think your are biased.

 

[Cybercraig]

I meant to say that AMD does the amount of work in six clocks that Intel does in nine. That's the ratio that was stuck in my head, and that's why we have an Athlon CAD Station. I'm so bad at it anyway, you could have a P-5/120 running it and it would keep up with me. So, what does this guy buy?

Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, MSI!

 

[Xeon]

I meant to say that AMD does the amount of work in six clocks that Intel does in nine.

Unfortunately it doesn’t work that was either. Average code execution is generally less than 1 a cycle, especially for larger x86 instructions. Generally the Athlon 64 is slightly over 1 and in controlled streams SSE2 can do 2, and P4's last I checked do 0.65-0.95.

So, what does this guy buy?

P4C or wait for a P4J.

Xeon

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[Cybercraig]

Are you saying that a P4 Northwood is faster at CAD than an A64? I must be going brain-dead here!

Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4 - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - THAT'S MORE LIKE IT, MSI!

 

[Xeon]

No... I said the A64 generally executes 1 x86 instruction per clock. The P4 sits at 0.65-0.95 instructions per clock and under controlled situations the P4 can do 2 instructions per clock via SSE2 calls.

Xeon

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<font color=white>For all emotional and slanderous statements contact THG for all law suits.</font color=white>

 

[endyen]

We might also mention that the A64 does less IPC in SSE2.

 

[Xeon]

Yes we might.

Xeon

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<font color=white>For all emotional and slanderous statements contact THG for all law suits.</font color=white>

 

[P4Man]

>We might also mention that the A64 does less IPC in SSE2

Actually, no. IPC is about the same executing SSE2 code (except in 64 bit long mode, when it should be a bit higher), which obviously favors the P4 due to its higher clock.

Still, "IPC" is such a meaningless term when it comes to evaluating performance... at least when you try to put a number on it.. what does it tell anyone when you say IPC varries between 0.008 and 3 ?
:|

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[Xeon]

Actually, no. IPC is about the same executing SSE2 code (except in 64 bit long mode, when it should be a bit higher), which obviously favors the P4 due to its higher clock.

It's all in how they implemented the technology, in the case of the P4 I would almost have to say the core was designed around the idea of HT, SSE, and SSE2.

Still, "IPC" is such a meaningless term when it comes to evaluating performance... at least when you try to put a number on it.. what does it tell anyone when you say IPC varries between 0.008 and 3 ?

True under different code different machines can have drastic performance changes.

Xeon

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