Dual-core desktop CPU bout: AMD vs. Intel

CNET ^ | November 23, 2005 | Rich Brown

[cabojoe]

You may recall a few months back when AMD took out full-page newspaper ads to challenge Intel to a dual-core server duel. Intel declined to take up AMD on its offer, but the challenge got us thinking: what would the results of a dual-core desktop CPU fight look like? Many people equate Windows PCs with Intel Pentium processors (and soon will likely be doing the same with Macs), but we've seen dual-core CPU AMD systems power ahead of dual-core Intel-based PCs on more than one occasion.

To answer the question once and for all, we circled up a bunch of cars in an abandoned parking garage and set ourselves to a no-holds-barred dual-core desktop CPU fistfight. AMD submitted its five dual-core CPUs, and Intel matched with its lineup of four. We built two test beds as nearly identical as we could for the two platforms and ran each chip through a battery of tests. We then ran those results through our price-vs.-performance calculator to find out not only which is the best overall dual-core CPU in terms of raw performance but also which one offers the most bang for your buck. Skip ahead to the official ruling if you want, but the match itself is interesting.

[coconutt2000]

Too bad they didn't test the PPC G5 dual core chips. I'm curious.

[aft_lizard]

The problem of course is that the applications and OS's are different so you wont be able to make a true direct comparison.

[cabojoe]

Any processor that is tied to a front side bus is going to be second rate. I have developed a soft spot for IBM, since they have been working with AMD, they power quite a few computers around here, and of course they get launched into outer space all the time. Yes it would be interesting if they could do it.

[wigswest]

It wasn't even close. After reading the round-by-round account of our dual-core desktop CPU prizefight, it should come as no shock that AMD's Athlon 64 X2 chips are the runaway victors here, laying out the Intel Pentium D and Pentium Extreme Edition 840 chips pins up. If we had to call out one chip, AMD's Athlon 64 X2 4400+ is an outstanding bargain given the competition, but as our results show, any AMD dual-core CPU will serve you better than its similarly priced Intel equivalent.

It just stuns me that Intel was the company that Apple tapped to provide processors. As one who uses their computer for entirely high-end graphics crunching, I insisted on an AMD-based pc when I left the sinking Apple/Mac ship.