Here's some interesting info from an ng...can't vouch for authenticity
<I work tech support at a computer wholeseller and enduser seller. I test all things computer all damn day.
Intel smokes AMD is support and speed. Les look at this one.
Microsoft makes the operating systems. Microsoft supports intel processors more than AMD, so could we expect faster computing straight out of setup froom AMD and win98? No. Need a stupid patch to run anything in 3dNow accelerated registers. The difference respectfully is:
AMD k6-3 333 running generic game loop demo no 3dnow technology: say 30 frames per sec ok, now with 3dnow: say 31.5 frames per sec(wow huge difference)
Intel p2-333 running same hardware same company motherboard etc: say 32 frames per sec already better, and you can overclock that thing to push up the frames to like 50, why would you want to use AMD?
I have tested the k5, k6, k6-2, k6-3, k7(early sample with motherboard), cyrix 4x86, 5x86, 6x86, intel 8086, 80286, 80386, 80486, 80486x2, 80486x4, 80586, 80586mmx, celeron, p2, p3 oems
I know what the difference is. Intel's new p3's have 133 bus speed and consequently the agp has a low(100) 2/3 speed, they're going for the high speed as well as the support guys, if you can't figure that out, yer just plain ignorant.
So what if AMD reaches a gigahert main platform pc before intel, it'll still be lagging because of support. Ever bought a 3rd party manufactured sdram? Like taiwan chips on a NEC ramboard? How well did yer computer like that? It didn't. I couldn't really tell how fast the k7 system I tested was, because I compared it to a p3-533(133x4.0) k7-600(200x3.0)
Tested all sorts of cpuload programs specially designed by both parties, and the p3-533 was only 10mhz test below the k7-600 on both tests.
the damn k7 motherboard also drew too many watts for my power box to handle(250 watt box). kept shutting down like 5 minutes into the test even though the board was reletively cool.
Point is, intel is still the king and their r&d dept is not lacking in any way, they're just sacrificing unused mhz in the name of support.
Don't assume cuz k7's have a 200bus that they will be faster than intel, they're just overclocking their slot1 (100 on way in, 100 on way out, same way agp2x does it)
So, after all things considered, yah the k7 outperforms the fastest p3 i could get my hands on(barely). Ok the k7 is going to cost less on the mass production, but when the p3-600+ hit the market, everyone is going to buy them for one reason and it isn't a stupid marketing ploy. They are as fast as you can get for the money, and everyone and their mother is supporting them and not AMD.
Believe me I wish AMD sold processors, but as it is, even the k3-450s are a poor man's shortcut to high megahertz. If people fell for prices alone, AMD would be doing huge business, but who cares when ya can even overclock a p3-450 to 633 with more volts/watts. (done it, kicks k7's ass all over)
Oh yah, l2-cache sucks, just thought I'd point that out, even though that was a main-point of k7 architecture. Not only sucks, but sucks BIIIIG time. It BARELY makes any difference at all unless they find some way to speed up the nano's on them.
Gotta admit, the new copper processors are fast, good ol' copper. Have fun AMDers, hope it sells, cuz I aint falling for price over support again. -John Doh! Es> |