AMD 64bit 3200+ VS. Intel P4 3.2E HT

[tpinchback]

I am building a computer and having a hard time choosing which CPU to put in it. I will mainly be using this computer for photoshop CS and some light gamming.

Which one would you choose, and why?

Thanks
Stephen

[neo_xeno]

i have a 64bit 3200+ and it's blazing fast for anything u wanna do. even though it's not running with any 64 bit programs it's still fast on 32 bit ones. just make sure u get good ram and a fast hdd.

[John_T]

I would say your first priority is a good motherboard that will give you lots of drive options, USB2 and firwire.I have two Raid arrays totalling 480GB made up of silent Samsung drives, plus a 120GB IDE array and DVD/CD burners. 2GB dual channel DDR400 RAM. These are the things very important for PS CS and light gaming. And a Matrox graphic card too.

I have a P4 3.4GHz 800FSB CPU, but I think the P4 or the AMD will give you more than adequate speed for your stated purposes.

I also have a Matrox Parhelia 256 and that is really the crowning glory for PS CS, light gaming and anything else I do.

I recently looked at one of the newest generation motherboards and there are some radical changes happening, so you might want to check that out too.

[elfyrulz]

P4 3.2E HT
*best for Video Encoding
*CPU get very hot
AMD 64bit 3200+
*Best for Gaming
*not good for OCing @ more then 200Mhz+

[sGu]

get yourself a G5, that is some serious processing power, not to mention the best LCD monitor you can get for the best colour display, also a huge chunk of digits missing on your cheque ... i think it's worth it.

Mac is the machine that you can keep the value for a long time, also you'll be able to use it for years, unlike pc, you'll need to upgrade the second you walk out the store.

[PacAce]

get yourself a G5, that is some serious processing power, not to mention the best LCD monitor you can get for the best colour display, also a huge chunk of digits missing on your cheque ... i think it's worth it.

Mac is the machine that you can keep the value for a long time, also you'll be able to use it for years, unlike pc, you'll need to upgrade the second you walk out the store.

:D :idea: :D

[tpinchback]

As for the motherboard goes, I am looking into the Asus P4P800-E. Anyone using this current motherboard?? Do you think there are better options for the motherboard other than Asus?

[John_T]

The P4C800 Deluxe might be a better performer, but the MSI 875P NEO-FIS2R would be better.

http://firingsquad.com/hardware/asus_p4c800_deluxe_review/page15.asp

http://www.sharkyextreme.com/hardware/motherboards/article.php/10703_3304101__7

I have the Gigabyte GA-8KNXP and am very happy with it. Solid high performance and about every feature you could ask for.

http://firingsquad.com/hardware/gigabyte_ga-8knxp_review/page16.asp

...but if I was going to buy another motherboard right now, I would go in this direction>

http://www.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/Products/Products_GA-8ANXP-D.htm

[timmyquest]

also you'll be able to use it for years, unlike pc, you'll need to upgrade the second you walk out the store.

Dont you mean you'll be able to upgrade it the second you walk out of the store.

[Jon]

If you're going AMD for the processor, Asus is your best bet for the motherboard. For Intel, get an Intel board. At the very least, make sure the non-Intel board you get is using the Intel chipset. Whatever you get, make sure it's got plenty of well-planned cooling. Computers nowadays run HOT and don't like it (Intel will throttle back, AMD will just burn up). And Crucial or Kingston RAM. Solid (best in the business), lifetime guarantee - what more could you want? Crucial even has very good web prices.

At this time, I don't think there's a real benefit to getting an AMD 64-bit vs. an Intel P4 HT. And in a couple of years, anything you buy now will be obsolescent, especially with the move to PCI-Express and Intel's new form factor (and chipset) for their latest processors. They're starting to ship these now, but it's likely to be a year or more before things have caught up enough that they show a real superiority over the existing technology. In the interim you'll see some teething pains from both the boardmakers and the add-on card developers.

[CyberDyneSystems]

I'd go AMD,. and if PCI express were a concern I'd get an AMD 64 Mobo with PCI X built in..

This is my next board;
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-151-120&depa=0


Asus is fine, but nothing wrong With Tyan's setver boards either,.. or MSI,. or SuperMicro,. or Abit,.

I'm most fond of Corsair Memory.. but that's a hold over from my OC'ing days. Definately go Matrox for the graphics if Image editing and PS is important to you.

[Cadwell]

I've had bad experiences with AMD chips in the past. On two occasions I have seen machines where the CPU cooling has failed and the CPU has caught fire and taken out the motherboard. I don't mean just smoking, I mean flames... My PC often runs unattended and sits in my house - the same house where my camera, other toys and all worldly possesions live. I will never again have an AMD based computer.

[Penguin_101_1]

I've had bad experiences with AMD chips in the past. On two occasions I have seen machines where the CPU cooling has failed and the CPU has caught fire and taken out the motherboard. I don't mean just smoking, I mean flames... My PC often runs unattended and sits in my house - the same house where my camera, other toys and all worldly possesions live. I will never again have an AMD based computer.
WOW! I know AMDs run warm I have never heard of the CPU ceaching on fire! I have always used Intel because I think they are better. I only have one AMD and it isn't bad except for being loud.

[Jon]

Tom's Hardware (http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20010917/index.html) ran a test of a complete loss of processor heatsink where this happened. As a result AMD was going to revise their motherboard guidelines. Me, I use Intel.

[John_T]

I believe P4s have a thermal shut-down, so while you can ruin a P4, collected dust in your HSF is more likely to burn your house down than the P4.

Incidently, I recently bought and installed a Cooler Master Hyper 6 HSF and boy is it good. It needs to be mounted bolted through the motherboard, but it is worth it. My 3.4GHz 800 runs around 32C and I"ve not yet seen it over 40C.

[Jon]

P4s have a thermal sensor that throttles them back when the temperature gets too high, so they stay within temperature bounds. If that failed, the P4 might overheat, but otherwise you'll need to find another way to destroy one. It'll recover just fine once things have cooled down, and give you a chance to fix the problem inexpensively. See, also, the Tom's Hardware article I linked to above.

[tpinchback]

Thanks for the answers, and I am going to go with the P4 without a doubt. For what I have read the 64bit is a good processor, but just a little head of its time considering there is no software to take advantage of the 64bits, also I like my house very much and would be very pissed off if the damn computer caught on fire.

Thanks
Stephen

[Penguin_101_1]

also I like my house very much and would be very pissed off if the damn computer caught on fire.

Thanks
Stephen

:lol: So would I (taking the AMD computer outside of the house) :lol:

[tpinchback]

also I like my house very much and would be very pissed off if the damn computer caught on fire.

Thanks
Stephen

:lol: So would I (taking the AMD computer outside of the house) :lol:

Just dont leave it on. :lol: LOL

[Penguin_101_1]

It really is only on when I am using it. It is a Windows 98 so it is old and I just have files and stuff on it that I don't use a lot.

[blinking8s]

intel blows...AMD has proven to me throughout the years that it is more reliable...

now when intel dual core chips come out...the tides might change for me...but untill then (late 2005? maybe) i am AMD all the way

[John_T]

Joking around aside, they are both good. Intel more for the serious side, AMD more for the gamer's side.
The biggest difference between the two is price... :roll:

[Xeiros]

I've had bad experiences with AMD chips in the past. On two occasions I have seen machines where the CPU cooling has failed and the CPU has caught fire and taken out the motherboard. I don't mean just smoking, I mean flames... My PC often runs unattended and sits in my house - the same house where my camera, other toys and all worldly possesions live. I will never again have an AMD based computer.


LOL!!!

Oh man, thats funniest thing I think I've ever read, as I have never seen a documented case of CPU cooling fail, and the end result is the computer catching "fire". I've seen CPU cooling fail, and the CPU burns up (i.e. all the circuits on it are destroyed), but never catching actual fire. Hell, I've purposely BURNED a cpu up before, and it never did anything like that. Must be some magical processors........or possibly something wrong in the circuitry of the board/PSU that caused a small fire. Yeah, that happens, and yes that causes fires. I've seen a PSU screw up, and it burned out the motherboard. Not a CPU.

[Cadwell]

LOL!!!

Oh man, thats funniest thing I think I've ever read, as I have never seen a documented case of CPU cooling fail, and the end result is the computer catching "fire". I've seen CPU cooling fail, and the CPU burns up (i.e. all the circuits on it are destroyed), but never catching actual fire. Hell, I've purposely BURNED a cpu up before, and it never did anything like that. Must be some magical processors........or possibly something wrong in the circuitry of the board/PSU that caused a small fire. Yeah, that happens, and yes that causes fires. I've seen a PSU screw up, and it burned out the motherboard. Not a CPU.

I didn't say "documented". I said that I, personally, have seen it happen. To two machines. Both with AMD processors.

[elfyrulz]

LOL!!!

Oh man, thats funniest thing I think I've ever read, as I have never seen a documented case of CPU cooling fail, and the end result is the computer catching "fire". I've seen CPU cooling fail, and the CPU burns up (i.e. all the circuits on it are destroyed), but never catching actual fire. Hell, I've purposely BURNED a cpu up before, and it never did anything like that. Must be some magical processors........or possibly something wrong in the circuitry of the board/PSU that caused a small fire. Yeah, that happens, and yes that causes fires. I've seen a PSU screw up, and it burned out the motherboard. Not a CPU.

I didn't say "documented". I said that I, personally, have seen it happen. To two machines. Both with AMD processors.

concur with Xeiros it's probably the PSU not the CPU. PSU gets uberly hot specially if the fans burns out.

[Xeiros]

I didn't say "documented". I said that I, personally, have seen it happen. To two machines. Both with AMD processors.


Isolated incidents, no doubt in my mind. And I wouldn't really say thats the CPU's fault, as the cooling failed on it. I'd venture to say it would take less time for this to happen with the current Prescott's, than it would have for those AMD computers. It wont happen in a matter of minutes. It has to be that way for a while for that to even remotely have a chance of happening. I mean way after the CPU has fried itself to an unusable form.


Also, boards now a days have a safety feature, so that when either A) the CPU fan dies, or B) The CPU gets to a certain temperature, the system will shut itself off to prevent further damage. Prescott's run hotter than the Athlon 64's. Trust me, it's my business to know this.

[elfyrulz]

Trust me, it's my business to know this.

:shock: what's your business? **still waiting for my ipod**

[Cadwell]

concur with Xeiros it's probably the PSU not the CPU. PSU gets uberly hot specially if the fans burns out.

LOL... I *do* know the difference.... I've worked in IT since before the PC was a twinkle in IBM's eyes ;) but I don't intend to get further into this debate. I normally make it a rule never to discuss computer related issues on-line. My statements stand as is. If you choose to accept them fine, if not; well that's fine also.

[John_T]

Wish I had bookmarked them. There are a number of sites with pages and pages of all the unimaginable things that happen with PCs of all sorts, kinds and colors. If it can happen, it will. In that sense, I will easily believe anybody's story. You can laugh and shake your head, yet there it is.

And yes Caldwell, I have seen confirmation of your experiences as well.

The most common cause of fire in a computer is dust and fur balls, and PSUs.

[chris.bailey]

I hit the get something else button as I dont see the point of buying the latest and greatest processors. The P4 2800 is now available at less than 1/3 of the price of the 3200 so your could get that now, upgrade it in 3 months time when the 3200's have come down in price and still be ahead. I doubt that you would even notice the speed difference between the two and choice and amount of memory is probably more important for PS other than for some of the render commands.

[Jon]

I've had bad experiences with AMD chips in the past. On two occasions I have seen machines where the CPU cooling has failed and the CPU has caught fire and taken out the motherboard. I don't mean just smoking, I mean flames... My PC often runs unattended and sits in my house - the same house where my camera, other toys and all worldly possesions live. I will never again have an AMD based computer.


LOL!!!

Oh man, thats funniest thing I think I've ever read, as I have never seen a documented case of CPU cooling fail, and the end result is the computer catching "fire". I've seen CPU cooling fail, and the CPU burns up (i.e. all the circuits on it are destroyed), but never catching actual fire. Hell, I've purposely BURNED a cpu up before, and it never did anything like that. Must be some magical processors........or possibly something wrong in the circuitry of the board/PSU that caused a small fire. Yeah, that happens, and yes that causes fires. I've seen a PSU screw up, and it burned out the motherboard. Not a CPU.

Follow the link I gave above to the Tom's Hardware test. They have video of the CPU as it failed. And if you'll note, Cadwell didn't say the m/b burned, just that the CPU burning took out the m/b, which I would expect since it for sure exceeded the temp. specs for the ICs on the board, to say nothing of melting a few solder connections, causing shorts.

[John_T]

Fine entertainment that video. Thanks Jon.

I had a chipset burn up along with the board a couple of years ago because the chipset HSF fan failed. Gigabyte replaced the board without a blink.

The current P4 HSFs included with the chip are quite good, however since my machine runs 24/7 and I like a reasonably quiet and cool machine, I always clamp/bolt on a monster HSF. I replace the chipset and DPS HSFs too. My GPU runs happily at 47C-52C and blows a lot of heat in the box, but I leave that one alone because it doesn't make much noise.