Simple CPU question (title edited by mod)

[Youngie1337]

Simple CPU question

Simple question with 1 choice answer. Which is better?

AMD PHENOM II

Intel Core i7 Processor 965 Extreme

Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor QX9770

Some stupid fan boys on some forum keep saying that PHENOM II is the best and runs and overclocks better than both of the ones I mentioned above.

Please prove them wrong and clearly i7 beats the Phenom II and QX9770 does.

Look at the statistics on

http://www.yougamers.com/hardware/stats/3dmark06/priceandperformance/

They will NOT accept that all Phenom II's will not perform better than i7. They won't stop and seem to gang up on anyone who says Intel are leading.

Thanks people.

 

[Mul.]

First, I'd just like to point out that those statistics don't hold very true on the grounds that it's based on 3DMark06, a synthetic benchmark that does not necessarily represent real world performance. Second of all, those "bang per buck" CPU results are terribly skewed because it does not factor in the cost of the motherboard and relevant RAM. Based on the price of the Core i7 920 at £220 alone, it represents fantastic performance per pound, but that diminishes once you factor in that a motherboard will cost £150 upwards and the RAM upwards of £65. With Phenom II, you can get decent RAM kits for around £40 and a quality overclocking board from £70 and once combined with a lower processor cost, it's value for money is actually very good.

You are correct that the Core i7 920 is faster than Phenom II but for a gamer with specific needs, that speed difference is not always noticeable as for most modern games, the hardware dependancy lies at a graphics card level. This is why you see many gamers with heavily clocked Dual Core CPU's and even the Phenom II range because they have enough grunt to complement the latest graphics cards and usually it's the graphics card that'll be the weak point. This excludes games like Microsoft Flight Simulator X, which is very CPU dependant.

So the bottom line of what I'm trying to say is that even though the Core i7 920 is technically faster, it is not always suitable for a given person's needs such as their budget and the applications that they use.

I'm guessing my answer isn't as straight forward as you would've hoped but that's how it is.

To answer your question the short way, naturally the Core i7 965 has a considerable lead. You haven't mentioned, which Phenom II you wish to compare with but assuming you're talking about their top end X4 955 3.2GHz CPU, it'd be slower than the QX9770 but nearer that of the Q9550/Q9650. You have to bare in mind that you're comparing £500+ CPU's against a CPU range that tops out at just under £200

 

[Freak]

Perfect answer Mul.

In benchmarks yes, but dont forget they are just that. Benchmarks.

Looks at real world results. The stuff that you will be dont with a chip[ day to day.

 

[djw746]

PII runs and OC better for the price

The QX outruns i7 in every situation except multi tasking but lacks any real value. PII 955 can outrun i7 with a better OC and lower price. i7 920 is perfect for multi-tasking and still OC with ease to near PII 955/945. The only real questions if you are a new system builder are: 1) Will you use 4 extra threads for about +$120? (or should that go to your GPU 2)which socket will you be able to upgrade from later? (both seem to likely used with future CPUs)

But I still give the performance only nod to QX9770 over everything.

Edit: Mul your all over it, I just didn't see your post when I was writing.

 

[ali_james]

I think Mul's got it all spot on really. The right processor for the right user and the right budget. With a sensible (sadly the word is never applicable to computing) budget and a nod to the future the AMD system gives better value, if it's heavy gaming that is the purpose an AMD system will come out trumps in a given lower budget as there's more finance to throw behind a better GPU.

 

[zak4994]

Again what Mul. said.

 

[Youngie1337]

I see, the only problem is the guys were stating the lower end Phenom are better than i7.

 

[ali_james]

I see, the only problem is the guys were stating the lower end Phenom are better than i7.

But that's the point. It is very easy to argue that the lower end AMD's are better. It just depends on the definition of better. If the better in this case is faster, then no. If the better in this case is value, then the AMD is all over the Intel system.

 

[mayhem]

fan boy antics.

Same fact xbox is better than ps3, ps3 better than xbox , intel better than amd, nvidia better than ATi ...

Its all fan boy rubbish .... There all as good as each other depending on the situation and environment it will be used in. There all rubbish compared to a top end Risk chip lol ...

Nah just don't agree and don't argue leave them in there little world and let them play with there lego mate. They will snap out of it when they reach 16 years of age hopefully..

 

[Youngie1337]

fan boy antics.

Same fact xbox is better than ps3, ps3 better than xbox , intel better than amd, nvidia better than ATi ...

Its all fan boy rubbish .... There all as good as each other depending on the situation and environment it will be used in. There all rubbish compared to a top end Risk chip lol ...

Nah just don't agree and don't argue leave them in there little world and let them play with there lego mate. They will snap out of it when they reach 16 years of age hopefully..

LOL +rep. Nice to see some sense on a forum I <3. Thanks for all the replies guys, but I think they have got the point after looking at statistics in benchmarks and comparison.

 

[nepas]

imo

AMD PHENOM II =bang for buck,awesome

i7 965 Extreme =why bother?the 920 is much cheaper and clocks just as far

QX9770 =why?Q9650 is more or less the same for cheaper(see a pattern with both these Intels?)

 

[Mul.]

LOL +rep. Nice to see some sense on a forum I <3. Thanks for all the replies guys, but I think they have got the point after looking at statistics in benchmarks and comparison.

Indeed, sadly there are a lot of people that take things too far to the point that they have a form of loyalty or attachment towards a brand. I suppose I don't have anything against people for doing this as it's their own money but to force said views on others is unfair and terribly misleading.

The way I see it, if I'm taking the burden of being implicated with someone's expense by a statement that I've made over a piece of hardware, I certainly want to be sure that what I say has evidence and is fully justified. Another problem is that sometimes people are trying to offer the right advice but have failed to justify why that advice is sound. For example, buying a lower end Phenom II such as the Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Black Edition. It's slower than the Phenom II X4 955 3.2GHz Black Edition by a fair margin but for games the difference isn't that significant for example. Many would instead just say, "Buy the 720 Black, it's better!", rather than to say that it offers better value for money. Can be very misleading

It's a shame that too many people are thrown off by sweeping statements made by people that really should not be offering any form of technical advice, especially when their advice involves the person requesting assistance in buying hundreds of ££'s worth of inappropriate hardware.

It sounds like I'm sitting on a fence when comparing manufacturers, but what you should buy depends highly on needs, budgets and future upgrade cycle periods and unless these factors are made clear, it's very difficult to offer any form of clear cut advice!

 

[Rastalovich]

Horses for the courses.

Intel are the big-buck meanie, just as nVidia are, just as microsoft are, just as Apple are, just as Sony are.

.. it goes on really.

If ur happy with what u got - ur money is well spent.