Intel vs. AMD

Building your own computer can be a no-brainer when it comes to choosing your CPU. The CPU is your computing device and is truly the brain of your computer that is responsible for the fast movement of data and tasks.

So what is a no-brainer? If I'm building a computer, I'm on my way to Intel, right? Not so fast. AMD also suits gamers' needs well.

It is an industry that Intel manufactures the fastest processors on Earth. But while this factor is huge, AMD has made a positive impression on the gaming community with lower process prices and close to Intel performance.

If you build a computer, both Intel and AMD are user-friendly and adjustable. In the current market, both AMD and Intel processor technology should stay where it is for the next few years. So do not worry about your processor becoming obsolete tomorrow.

When looking at new processors for your gaming computer build, keep an eye on gigahertz (GHz). A gaming computer that needs to handle multiple tasks quickly can operate at 2.5 GHz, but to achieve optimal performance must be within the 3.5 GHz plus range. The top computers usually achieve a 4.0GHz output.

The more CPU cores, the better for gaming. If budget is an issue, for your money you get fewer cores with Intel settings and more with AMD. With that said, however, Intel cores are more efficient, so it may be decision on apples for apple.

All the top Intel and AMD processors are in the sweet spot 4.0 GHz multi-core output. They range in price from around $ 70 to over $ 300 depending on the number of cores and GHz output.

It's hard to beat Intel, but I'm not afraid to use an AMD processor for gaming if it meets all my needs and falls within my budget.

The most modern Intel processors are Intel Pentium G3258, Intel Core i54690K and Intel Core i74790K.

On the AMD side of the main box, look for the AMD Athlon X4 860K, AMD FX 6300, AMD FX 8320, AMD FX 8350 or AMD FX 9590.

The ultimate winner of games in the Intel-AMD battle?

You are the judge of it!

A controversial issue - Intel Vs AMD

As many of you know, Intel always seems to be one step ahead of AMD when it comes to CPUs. Everyone says "Intel kicks AMD's ass". But is this really true?

Just a few years ago, AMD kicked Intel's ass off with their own new dual-core processor, the Athlon X2's. They were one step ahead of Intel at the time when Intel was still in the Pentium series and all had an AMD CPU. AMD was inside and Intel seemed to slip away.

Two years ago, however, Intel countered AMD with their own dual-core series of CPUs, Intel Core2Duo's. This was a big monster; it beats virtually any AMD CPU. From overclocking capabilities to processing power, the Intel Core2Duo left the AMD CPUs in the dust. Since then, Intel has always been one step ahead of AMD, be it from quad-core CPUs to developing 45nm CPUs.

Looks like Intel seems to be a lot better than AMD, right? But that is not the whole truth. Intel CPUs beat AMD CPUs on certain benchmarks, but when it comes to running an Intel CPU and AMD CPU side by side with all the default settings, they are actually quite close. Remember, numbers do not tell the whole truth. It's like a graphics card: you have the largest benchmark number in your group of friends, but you won't notice much difference between the two monitors. Same with CPUs; Intel surpasses AMD when it comes to overclocking and other non-default settings, but when it comes to raw performance on storage settings, some AMD CPUs actually come close to Intel's CPUs.

So why does everyone think Intel is so much better than AMD? Mainly due to marketing and the media. We are all swayed by the media without noticing it, and unless someone pays enough attention, putting an Intel CPU benchmark and AMD CPU benchmark side by side, no one will notice.

Intel, is it on your computer?

Have you ever wondered where parts of your computer came from? Intel was formed in 1968 by founders Bill Noyce and Gordon Moore. This company has for many years supplied computer manufacturers with internal parts. Originally named NM Electronics, the company switched to Intel shortly after its formation.

The first 10 years of Intel's creation proved to be very busy and eventful. Intel's first product produced was the 3101 Schottky bi-polar random access memory along with the first metal oxide semiconductor static RAM or otherwise known as 1101. Silicon chips became very popular at this time, and Intel quickly became one of the leaders in manufacturing this product. Other products that Intel produced at this time were integrated electronics, erasable ROMs, global factories, expanding product lines, high-level language development for microprocessors, becoming part of one of the first PCs produced, "bunny suit", 8080 the microprocessor and develops "bubble memory".

The second decade proved to be just as profitable as the first. Listed on the Fortune 500 list in 1980, Intel became a more powerful company after merging with DEC and Xerox to work on the Ethernet project. Perfect timing where Local Area Networking becomes very popular, leading Intel to a profitable account with IBM. Intel's 286 chip soon found its way into many computer systems. They then improved on current microprocessors, making them preform faster with less power. By the end of the decade, they had already improved 286, renamed it 386, and entered the flash memory market.

By 1990, Intel had been named the world's largest supplier of semiconductors. It was then that Intel came up with their ever famous logo "Intel Inside". Eventually, they produced another version of their processor named 486. This was quickly replaced by another that was five times faster, called the Pentium. Also this was replaced in 1977 with Pentium II. Intel created a software program that enabled system administrators to streamline access to computer network management.

With the 40th anniversary of Moore's law, a law on the number of transistors in a chip must increase every two years, the next decade provided several new products such as Celeron processor, Pentium III and IV, wireless technology, hyper-threading technology, Itanium, Xeon, Centrino, Viiv and Core 2 Duo processors. By 2006, Intel had modernized its entire business with new marketing strategies and a new logo, "Leap Ahead". This new logo summed up Intel's new momentum for the future.

Today, Intel is still strong and has a part in most computer products. Personal computers, laptops, servers, workstations, Macs, and several different processors for desktops and notebooks are just some of the products that have Intel parts.

Buying a Computer Processor - Intel Vs AMD

Computer processors or central processing units (CPUs) are what execute programs on computers. A powerful CPU can get more things done than a slower processor. There are two leading CPU manufacturers in today's computer market: AMD and Intel. Both are pretty popular with a large following so it is a difficult decision to prefer one over the other. Some factors that are helpful to consider when comparing the two large brands are price, performance, life span, and overclocking potential.

* Price

Price differences between Intel and AMD are constantly fluctuating so this can only be a reliable factor to consider if you are actively following computer trends and developments. Every time a new CPU technology is discovered and introduced by either Intel or AMD, the prices of the previous generation of their processors go down. Price battles between Intel and AMD are as much technology wars on who gets to develop a better and improved CPU first.

* Performance

CPU performance largely depends on the generation of the processor. There was a time when AMD ruled the PC gaming niche and offered more value for the dollar. Ever since Intel released the Core 2 Duo processor, however, the company has been offering faster and more stable processors than AMD at very affordable rates. Intel is currently king when it comes to high-performance CPUs, especially with its newest technology: the Quad Core technology. AMD still offers high-performance CPUs but they are usually more expensive than their Intel counterparts. This could change in the near future.

* Life Span

AMD processors usually build up a lot of heat when performing intensive user applications like games and multiple graphics software. Oftentimes, standard cooling features are not enough to protect AMD processors from damage due to overheating. Intel's Core 2 Duo line of CPUs, on the other hand, show remarkable tolerance to heat even with a standard heat sink and fan. Nonetheless, if overheated, processors from both AMD and Intel can be damaged beyond repair. The life span of a CPU is not really such a big issue since the average computer user generally upgrades his or her computer every three or so years.

* Overclocking Potential

Only hardcore gamers and heavy multimedia users can relate with CPU overclocking. Overclocking involves running the CPU at speeds greater than its specifications. For example, it is possible to overclock Intel's E6600 from 2.4GHz to 3.2GHz. That is a whopping speed increment of 800MHz! Generally speaking, overclocking a CPU can increase overall system performance. For now, many Intel processors have greater overclocking potential than AMD processors.

Intel processor based computer?

Why would anyone buy a computer with an Intel processor instead of an AMD or a Motorola processor? Let’s look at some stories to find out why Intel has the edge over the other two main processor products.

In 1975, the main processors for home computers were either 4-bit Motorola 6800 or MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) technology 6502, even though these were real computers. They had no keyboard or video, they relied on a TV to show the video and 'Joy' sticks to control the work. These were considered 'game' machines. At the same time, Texas Instruments developed a system called the TI 99. It debuted in the late 1970s and would introduce the external components for storage.

When IBM needed to compete with these 'gaming' machines, they took it a step further and went for big business. With the advent of the 8 bit 8088 processor from Intel, IBM created the first true personal computer (PC). Because this new computer would be a stand-alone system, it would require its own video and keyboard. It contained additional items such as a printer port, serial port, and a disk operating system (OS) that did not stand on a built-in OS that would be limited to the cmos capacity (4) 8 kilobytes.

In fact, the IBM PC was truly a work of art. IBM would gather resources from across the country to produce the new wave in electronics. In Seattle, a young software engineer and his company wanted to make money by developing the Disk Operating System (DOS) from CP-M OS for IBM to license. From Arizona, IBM would buy the Intel 8088 and then later the 8086 processor and the associated I / O chips to build the computer. From New York, IBM licensed the rights to the 180-kilobyte and then 360-kilobyte floppy drive. From California, they licensed the various types of I / O chips for video, parallel, serial ports, and memory control.

When IBM introduced the IBM PC, there was no real competition. It may have cost a little more than a new car, but business needed this new tool to bring it out of the deep recession it had been in for the past seven years. This was not a slot machine. It was not as fast as a mini (a mini-computer is not as powerful as a mainframe, but has all the components of a mainframe), and not as powerful as a mainframe, but it had more than enough power to do word processing, complex mathematical calculations and display the results on a video screen. It can also save the work to a diskette or print a hard copy of the document or results.

At the same time, Apple II, produced by Apple Computers, was out of gas; it did not have the computing power of the IBM PC, although the video and floppy disk drive space was comparable. It just did not have enough steam. When Intel introduced the first 8-bit processor, the 8088, Motorola was also working on an 8n-bit processor, the 68000. Apple II used a 6502 processor, and Apple Computer Company wanted to produce a new computer that would compete with the IBM PC. The concept was to be Mac, using the Motorola 68000 processor, adding the video to the case and a higher capacity floppy drive. The Mac also introduced us to the GUI (graphical user interface) and pointing device called a mouse.

In 1981, Apple was already playing catch-up, and they were behind the IBM PC for about two years, and at the rapid pace of computer technology, two years is the same as two decades. Even with the innovation incorporated in the Mac (GUI from Xerox, all the components in one case), Apple could not get Big Blue. The battle for PC market share was on. The first match would go to IBM, and the next two would go to Apple. But in the end, the one who maintains the lead in technology will win.

The AMD and Intel MHz controversy

I've been into computers since I was like 10 years old, now 25. Ever since, I've always thought that Intel jacked up their clock speed to make it work faster than AMD processors for the average computer user. Until a few years ago, it's still what I did though that Intel tried to fool everyone. I now know what the difference is and that Intel is not lying about their clock speeds, they just had different factors that made it higher.

This post is aimed at people who share the same beliefs and set the record straight. This is by no means meant to be an in-depth article in pipelines and how cpu works etc. This is just to give you the basic idea behind why there is a difference between an AMD MHz and Intel MHz.

First, a MHz is a MHz, no matter what, there is no difference in any MHz. one MHz is a unit of measurement equivalent to one inch, feet, etc. One MHz is one million hertz, MHz is an abbreviation for megahertz. MHz is used to measure the transmission of data on electronic devices. Basically, 1 MHz means that the device can process the data one million times per second. Now let's move on to how AMD and Intel differ.

A computer program runs on your computer and sends instructions to the CPU to be executed. The program sends the instructions in sequence as 1,2,3,4,5, but the CPU can execute the instruction as such 3,4,1,2,5, this is called "execution of order". The CPU breaks down each instruction into pieces like 1a, 1b, 1c and so on, but the CPU may possibly execute 3a before 1a and 2a last because it is waiting for data from 1c. It gets very complicated and I could never explain how it all works. This is just so you understand that the CPU is very complex and the execution of programs is very complex.

Basically, this is where Intel and AMD differ. The speed difference comes from how fast the CPU can execute instructions out of order and how fast the chips can execute. Imagine that you need to build a brick garage and that you have 22 or 31 small trucks to carry the bricks to the construction site. Then imagine in another place that you have 12 larger trucks to carry the bricks. Which do you think will be done faster? If you chose the 12 larger trucks, you have your right, and that's the way AMD chose. Intel chose the second path that turned out to be the wrong one (The information on the pipeline refers to the older Intel and AMD processors).

What happens here is that for an Intel CPU to perform a simple task, it must perform 22 or 31 things, and an AMD CPU only needs to do 12. This means that you have an AMD CPU running at 3.0GHz and an Intel runs at 4.0 GHz, the Intel chip performs less work per. Clock cycle and several cycles. Basically, the Intel chip runs faster in MHz, but does a lot more work for the same result.

This is why Intel and AMD MHz do not agree because there are many other factors that go into calculating the clock. Just because an Intel chip has a faster speed does not mean that it is faster in real-world applications than a slower AMD chip.

Since Intel dumped the Net Burst model for their CPUs, they now use a 14-step pipeline, which is much better. Using multiple pipelines and driving at high times still caused them overheating and other problems. These new Intel CPUs require less power and can operate at cooler temperatures. So here's one for Intel, now just tell AMD they were right all along and I'll be happy. AMD has maintained the 12-step pipeline in their Phenom processors.

Again, this article was just to bring some of the misunderstanding to rest, how AMD and Intel calculated clockwise, and why a slower AMD CPU clockwise could outperform a fast Intel CPU. This is true of the older AMD and Intel CPUs, AMD is losing the speed battle now that Intel has cut the number of pipelines. If you find any of my information inaccurate, please leave a comment or send me an email using my contact form.

How to buy a gaming desktop computer

You want to buy a new gaming desktop computer, but the choices available are overwhelming. Choosing the right gaming PC can be hit or miss. Do you really need all the smart options for the most expensive models? If you reduce your purchase, will you regret it in six months because it does not run the latest game? Here are two important tips to help you make a smart purchase of your next gaming PC.

Best picture

1. Resolution - Whether you are buying a new LCD monitor or using one you already have, make sure your PC supports your LCD's original resolution, and ideally its maximum resolution as well. The original resolution means the number of pixels it supports, without scaling the image up or down. For example, if you Having an LCD with a resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels, but the video card on your PC does not support this, you will need to scale the image to fit that display, and it will rob you of the image quality.

2. Interface type - DVI cables usually provide better picture quality than VGA. Make sure the video connectors on the PC match the screen. You can buy converters, but sometimes they do not work and you sacrifice image quality.

Choice of video processing: integrated or expansion card

If you are interested in high end Gamer PC, do not buy a computer with integrated video. This is a cost-saving approach that focuses on price rather than quality. This will probably mean that other components are chosen for price vs. performance. Instead, buy a PC that uses a dedicated graphics card. Google the model number and read reviews, or check tomshardware.com to find out if the card is powerful enough to play the game you want in a given video resolution. Go with a PCI express 2.0 card. If you only play flash-based or Facebook games, embedded video should be good enough.