Motherboard and CPU help...

Netko · Post by **Netko** » 2006-04-30 05:02pm

Depends on the computer shop.

The ones staffed by greybeards (meaning usualy those that carter to small buisness/proffesionals and are usualy older) tend to recommend Intel even when the issues have been resolved for a good while now on AMD's side.

The enthusiaist shops (usual staff being CS uni dropouts and students) tend to recommend AMD. Hell, they tend to recommend AMD for everything, even stuff where Intel (P-M) is more appropriate (small form factor computers, computers where noise is an issue), unless you happen to find an enthusiaist who values those characteristics over horsepower.

In the large chains/shops it really is a crap shoot if you even get good advice, and both of the above are possible, depending on who you get to talk to and what the corporate policy is.

A bit more on-topic. P4 is a dying processor line, and it is dying because Athlons wiped the floor with it. Intel is currently in the process of abandoning the NETBURST architecture (P4) and basing their new CORE architecture on the P-M, PIII etc. design lineage. That should be all you need to know right there. Right now, Athlon64s are the best bang for the buck on the desktop.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-05-01 10:33pm

One more thing I forgot to ask. Are dual processors any good for gaming?

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-05-02 12:35am

Enigma wrote:One more thing I forgot to ask. Are dual processors any good for gaming?

Dual processors will be good for gaming, but the more intresting thing with them is general usability. On day to day tasks, no single process can slow your PC to a crawl, rather, the desktop will always be smooth flowing.

Darth Quorthon · Post by **Darth Quorthon** » 2006-05-02 07:59pm

Ace Pace wrote:
Enigma wrote:One more thing I forgot to ask. Are dual processors any good for gaming?
Dual processors will be good for gaming, but the more intresting thing with them is general usability. On day to day tasks, no single process can slow your PC to a crawl, rather, the desktop will always be smooth flowing.

I can vouch for that. On my A64 X2 4400+ I can transcode a DVD, rip a CD, watch TV, and surf the web and it doesn't even break a sweat. (Yes, I've tried it)

There should be some gaming improvement with dual processors as game developers are able to write the programs to take advantage of having two CPUs. I don't know if it will be substantial, but it's another feather in their cap.