Which CPU/memory combo is the fastest?

[dmicek]

I'm looking to buy a "sweet spot" level system that is going to give me the most value/performance for my dollar today. I'm going to be doing about 70% gaming and the rest normal business application stuff.

I may try some light over-clocking but nothing extensive.

So here's my question... with all other components being equal....which one of these two CPU/mobo/memory platforms will give me the fastest overall performance?

1) AMD Athlon XP 2400+
ASUS A7N8X Deluxe
512kb Corsair XMS-3500 DDR

or

2) P4-2.4mhz 533fsb
Gigabyte GA-8IHXP
512Kb PC800 Rambus RDRAM

Thanks for your help.

 

[Spitfire_x86]

The AMD setup will be faster. If you use PC1066 RDRAM with P4, then they will be almost equal.

I recommend getting the AMD setup

<A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=26708#26708" target="_new"> Go to my CPU Vendor Poll </A>

 

[Andyddr]

Yeah Spitfire is right. The P4 will be faster in Quake3 and a few other apps but in general the AMD is king (and cheaper too!!!). If you want to overclock then I`d read some of the forums here first `cause there is still a lot of confusion if the A7N8X Deluxe can unlock the multipliers. The A7N8X standard seems to be able unlock....

Your new hardware is out-of-date

 

[cagemusic]

I am confused... Most of the comparisons I see on Toms and Anadtech show the P4 2.4 beating the Athlon 2400 in 3D mark 2001 as well as Open GL-Q3. Why is it that everyone thinks the AMD setup would be so much better than a P4 with DDR400 or DDR333? I have also been debating between these two combinations.

Also the P4 2.4 and the XP 2400 are the same price! The mobos are within a few dollars of each other. Why is everyone saying AMD is cheaper? Maybe 6 months ago that was true, but not now.

 

[dmicek]

Yes .. I agree for a apples to apples comparision should have the Intel using the PC1066.

And in doing fairly extensive pricing.. these two systems come out very closely price wise.

I won't be doing extensive overclocking.. just playing with it a bit. So high performance gaming and stability are my top priorities. From several test I've seen it appears the Athlon will win on performance at this level.

Also.. I like that the ASUS board supports AGP 8x because I'm going to be getting a GeForce FX w/AGP8x.. so I would squeeze out a little more performace there.

 

[cagemusic]

Check out this link with 3D mark 2001....The P4 2.4 with rambus beats the XP2400 by 830 points. With DDR333 do you think it will fall more than 800 points....I don't think so..So if the P4 is higher in Open GL and in Direct X how is the Athlon better?
http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20021001/xp_2800-13.html

 

[cagemusic]

I am not really a P4 fan boy. (so don't slam me) I am just curious why everyone on this forum says AMDs are faster when many of the tests I see point to the P4. Are the nForce boards the difference maker?

 

[dmicek]

Thanks Wusy.. I agree with you.. from what I've read the OCZ EL memory beats the corsair on the AMD system.

But why the motherboard change on the P4 system?