Processors - Intel vs. AMD

[smallcompany]

In determining what to buy for a new workstation expected to perform well, dual processor, what is your experience with Intel (Xeon or other) and AMD?

Today, is there anything you know about them which would influence your decision?

First thing some will say is “go Mac”, I know, but not in this case.

Thanks

[kaled]

I'd go for whichever is cheaper and spend the difference on more memory, better hard disk or whatever. Also, I think AMD are doing quad-core CPUs at sensible prices, but I haven't looked at this stuff recently.

Kaled.

[jtara]

They've been playing leap-frog for a while. Currently, Intel has the edge. Quite an edge, actually - in processor power, energy efficiency, and cost.

I've got one of each. Just depends on who's on top when you buy.

[Grandmas Cookies]

I'd go Intel on this one for sure!

[kaled]

When comparing AMD and Intel CPUs always go further than the claimed figures. Intel invariably exaggerates and AMD tends to be conservative of its claims - if you go solely on manufacturer headline figures, Intel will win every time, even with poor CPUs.

I'm not uptodate right now, but for instance, Intel used to claim lower power consumption for their CPU than AMD but omitted the power consumption of the separate memory management chip required by Intel but included in the AMD package.

The only realistic comparisons are between fully built systems. In my experience, AMD will usually win in real-world tests (but later Celerons for the mobile market were/are a good chip).

Kaled.

[SEOMike]

As with any processor, heat is the enemy. Unfortunately, in my experience, AMD can't take the heat. I worked as a server admin for a while. (on top of SEO duties, ugh) With a room full of servers (40+) the only ones that gave me problems were the AMD servers. Even though they were cleaned as regularly as the Intel ones and had more than adequate ventilation, they gave the strangest errors and would eventually cook themselves to death. I thought it was due to the cases which were different, but I changed them to the same 2U cases as the Intel servers and the AMDs still gave up. The motherboards were reportedly the same quality as the Intel ones, and I used the same RAM and HDDs too. Oh, and every consumer level AMD that has come to me from friends / family has suffered the same fate. In my experience Intel builds a more robust processor.

My experiences with this can't be typical or the AMD be in business. You asked, so I dropped my two cents.

I haven't wanted to answer AMD v Intel posts for a couple of years because last time the AMD fans jumped all over me. With 20 years experience working on computer hardware and plenty of college, I promise I'm proficient.

[quintox]

Intel for servers, AMD for gaming. :)

[mjwalshe]

at the moment its intel quad core for work stations the only use for macs is if you are doing audio and are locked into or perfer pro tools. (and if you can aford pro tools thr cost of the mac isnt an issue :-) )